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

Great to meet you!

My name is Haydee Cerezo and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I am a trained psychotherapist with specialization in treatment for depression, anxiety, grief/loss and life transitions. With 20 years of experience, I understand that seeking help can be challenging and takes courage. Congratulations on taking the first step. Prioritizing one's mental health can lead to a happier and stable life.

I have been trained in expressive arts therapy and is a certified gestalt therapist. I utilizes the arts according to each person’s abilities to imagine and develop body awareness. My eclectic approach suits people who seek to find themselves in mental health. As a blind Japanese immigrant, I work especially well with differently-abled people and Pan Asians.

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 work with people who are stuck at certain crossroads in their life. Typically, the external problems seem to solve themselves once therapy reaches a certain point. This applies to work, relationships, life goals, and creative pursuits. My job is to help you transform mental or physical pain into something that is bearable and makes life worth living.

I work with a wide range of clients.

I welcome any questions you have. Feel free to give me a call or email with any questions you have about starting therapy.

As a humanist, I believe in the inherent worth to every single human being. I am guided by the ethos of a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, and it is with each movement that we get closer to where we want to be. Through intentional effort we encounter change, embrace healing, and a foster a fruitful fulfilling life.

Psychoanalytic therapy is often maligned but it remains for me one of the few treatments that seeks to address the innermost, often hidden, parts of ourselves. Psychological symptoms are not only a source of suffering, they are also a message that speaks to desires, conflicts, and pain that comes alive when spoken to a professional listener. The flip-side of anxiety is always a passionate dream that has not been encountered as such. The intimacy of speaking and listening is rare and a gift.

What I want clients to know about me is that I am not the kind of therapist who will just sit back, nod, and ask, “How does that make you feel?” I am warm, honest, direct, and very involved in the work we do together.

My strongest area of work is relationship and family dynamics. I help individuals, couples, and families understand the patterns that create conflict, distance, resentment, poor communication, and emotional disconnection. Many of my clients come to me feeling unheard, disrespected, emotionally exhausted, or unsure of how to move forward in an important relationship.

I also work with people who grew up in difficult or dysfunctional family environments and are now recognizing how those experiences may still be affecting their boundaries, relationships, parenting, self-worth, and emotional responses. I help clients understand not only what is happening, but how the pattern developed and what they can begin doing differently.

I believe insight is important, but insight alone is not enough. I want therapy to help you connect the dots and develop practical ways to communicate, set boundaries, manage conflict, and respond differently. I will support you, but I will also challenge you when I believe you are minimizing your needs, repeating unhealthy patterns, or avoiding something important.

I am not here to judge you, label the people in your life, or tell you what decisions to make. My role is to help you see things more clearly, understand what is within your control, and feel more confident in how you choose to move forward.

In addition to relationship and family concerns, I also work with anxiety, ADHD, emotional overwhelm, life transitions, and the impact these challenges can have on everyday functioning and relationships.

I view therapy as a collaborative process where clients are invited to make sense of their experiences in a way that feels authentic to them. Rather than directing the process, I focus on creating a supportive environment where individuals can speak openly, reflect at their own pace, and gain insight into their thoughts and emotions. In the midst of busy and often overwhelming daily life, having intentional time to pause and look inward can be a powerful part of personal growth.

Creating room for reflection can open the door to new perspectives and a deeper awareness of internal experiences. As clients begin to better understand their emotional responses and patterns, they often find greater clarity in how they relate to themselves and others. This increased awareness can support more intentional decision-making and help guide the next steps in their personal growth.