Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Valley Stream, NY covered by Cigna

Hi, I’m Yitzchok Wagshul. One day, my young grandson asked me what kind of doctor I am. I’m a clinical psychologist, so I replied, “I’m the kind of doctor who helps sad people feel happy.” He looked at me and said, “Zaidy,” (that’s “Grandpa” in Yiddish) "that’s not being a doctor, that’s just being nice!” That’s a cute story, but I want to tell you something: the better part of therapy is “being nice.” I know a lot of psychology. But if I didn’t respect each person I work with, if I didn’t view them with complete acceptance and unconditional positive regard, all of that would be worthless, because no one would listen to me.

Hello and welcome to my practice. I specialize in treating young adults who’ve experienced anxiety, trauma, and OCD. I’m level 1 trained in IFS and have extensive training in depth psychology.

Are you... A young adult struggling in the attempt to to navigate life transitions, school, the workforce, family life or other issues?
Or a couple having trouble finding the right words to communicate and find expression in your relationship?
You can thrive.

Hi! I’m Hudi Kowalsky, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a passion to help teens and young adults find meaning and purpose in their lives.

How my practice is different:

Goal Focused Therapy. I believe in short, goal-focused therapy. That’s why, we set goals and together we hit the ground running. If you put in the work, you’ll see results within 12 weeks. I know that’s a bold statement, but my past clients can attest to that.

Client Feedback. I check in periodically on your thoughts about the process. I want to hear from you, what’s working? What isn’t? Is there anything that you’d like to see different? And then I tweak it accordingly.

I know it can be hard to find the right therapist. Maybe you think it’s only for people with “serious” issues. Maybe you’ve been to a few therapists but you didn’t see change and you’re wondering what another therapist can offer you. Maybe you’re afraid of what people will think of you if you go to therapy. Maybe you’re not sure therapy is worth the investment.

I understand. That’s why I’m here to answer any questions you may have prior to booking an intake session.

The core of my work has been to help people find solutions that work, to problems that prevent them from moving forward and living satisfying lives and relationships. I help people who feel stuck, to overcome life’s challenges, regain control of their lives and become the managers of their own self. Over the last 17 years I have been working with adults, teenagers and children from different cultures both in the US and overseas. Through my specialization and experience in severe and persistent mental illness I help people tackle emotional and communication difficulties that interfere with their relationships with friends, family

and the workplace. In my clinical work, I use evidence based psychotherapeutic approaches that have been proven effective through time. In a compassionate, and supportive environment I help people deal with a variety of problems like anxiety, trauma, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, personality disorders,

emotional, relationship issues and divorce. I have extensive experience working with veterans, college students, substance abuse and LGBD individuals. In addition to individual therapy I do parent consultations for children and teenagers.

I've worked successfully with race-and class-diverse, LGBT and straight clients from teens to seniors. Many are new to NYC or in other life transitions. Clients come with anxiety, identity issues, relationship or work problems, trouble managing anger...My style is warm yet analytical, and interactive. I encourage laughter! I find that people want to understand themselves, break free from self-damaging patterns, and live more fully--and joyfully.

I have worked within the mental health field as a school psychologist and a licensed mental health professional for almost 30 years. my experience includes, but is not limited to, anxiety, depression, children and adolescents, parenting skills, self-esteem, empowerment, life transitions, and divorce.