Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Rensselaer, NY covered by Aetna

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, with eight years of experience providing therapy to children, adolescents and adults. My primary focus has been helping individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, and low self-esteem. I aspire to empower my clients while also building a safe space for self-exploration and growth. It is truly a privilege to be a part of the healing journey and helping clients find freedom from distressing symptoms.

I have had extensive experience with trauma in individuals from adolescence to late adulthood. I believe that trauma looks and feels different to every person. Two people experiencing the same event will have different outlooks and understandings of it. A traumatic event can take many forms. I want to help you pick up on where your thoughts, feelings and behaviors come from, even if you have never experienced “trauma".

Are you feeling alone and stuck in a transitional period in your life and that your mind is filled with negative thoughts directed towards yourself creating conflict or distance in your relationships with others? You are feeling hopeless and are having low energy, like you are about to give up? While you may not know the tools to help you, you do know what has not been working for you. Together we can build your own toolbox for you to help embrace control in your life!

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience providing counseling to individuals, couples, and families in New York State. I have a unique background in the medical field, home education, nutrition, and addictions through my work in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, home-based care, education, addiction treatment programs, medical offices, and private practice. I am a dedicated professional and proud alumna of the University at Albany.

Hi, I’m James. I’ve worked as a psychotherapist developing positive client relationships since 2005.

Helping you reduce anxiety levels with breathwork and improve physical health with mindfulness and meditation techniques.

I’ve learned cognitive-behavioral treatments to assist you with overcoming addiction and anger management. And (how to) provide in-depth talk and mental health therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families.

At Rusk Therapy, each relationship between therapist and patient is individual and implements a variety of treatments. Once a course of action is agreed upon, we’ll approach therapy by incorporating the whole mind-body approach.

That includes the relationship between mental, emotional, and physical health, along with incorporating nutrition, supplements, and exercise. Working together, you can create an improved lifestyle that supports your best life.

The process of a successful therapeutic relationship depends on your effort and our compatibility, along with clear boundaries and feeling safe.

I believe it’s essential to find the right therapist, and doing this takes a phone call, a first session, or a few sessions. I welcome you to schedule a complimentary call to explore a possible therapeutic relationship.

I'm very experienced, dedicated, flexible in terms of days and hours, and able to be both supportive and appropriately challenging when needed. I especially enjoy working with couples and families as I can "hear" all parties and focus on helping each person speak their truth safely and also to listen. Professionally, I have an LCSW, authored or coauthored 4 books, 3 with HarperCollins and W. W. Norton. I've produced dozens of award-winning videos addressing addiction and relapse prevention widely used in treatment and corrections. I also have raised 3 children and served as both a foster- and adoptive- parent. Above all, I have integrity, a depth of experience, and good humor.