Headshot of Alena Gerst, LCSW
Alena Gerst(She/Her/Hers)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
New York

In-network with

Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield New York (formerly Empire), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Cigna, Oscar Health, Oxford, and United Healthcare

Specializes in

Anxiety

Great to meet you!

After completing my BS in Psychology, I moved to NYC to challenge the boundaries of my resilience as a theater professional for 10 years. Always knowing I'd eventually return to mental health, I completed my MSW at Columbia University, with the goal of eventually opening my own mind/body focused private psychotherapy practice.

I'm also the owner of Inside Psychotherapy, a private pay practice offering slide scale fee options.

A bit about my approach to therapy

I am a deeply supportive, solutions-oriented therapist. We will spend plenty of time getting to the "why" of your choices and barriers to your goals. We will also work together to challenge your rooted negative beliefs, and work to implement more positive (and realistic!) behaviors while reframing your thinking patterns.


While this work can at times feel challenging, it is also incredibly rewarding (for us both!) and I will enthusiastically cheer for your victories too.

What you can expect from our first session

A lot of my work is rooted in the teachings of The Artists Way by Julia Cameron. This teaches the idea of not only creating art, but also of creating your life, through small, intentional, and increasingly significant choices.


In the end, your progress is entirely yours to celebrate, because you will have shown up for yourself in therapy. But I will be right there cheering you on.


Alena's style is

Affirming
Open-minded
Holistic

Insurance carriers Alena accepts

Aetna
Anthem
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
Oscar
Oxford
UnitedHealthcare

More about Alena

MSW (Master of Social Work) at Columbia University School of Social Work
License type: LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Languages: English
Works with: Adults
More specialties: Women's Issues, Family Issues, Depression, and Stress
Modalities: Strength-Based, Mindfulness-Based (MBCT), Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention, and Positive Psychology

Locations

1 / 3
119 West 57th Street
NEW YORK, NY 10019