Therapist
Individual Therapy
347-620-5685
paula.peaceofmindtherapynyc@gmail.com
Virtual sessions for NY
All About Paula
Paula is a compassionate, dedicated, neurodivergent-affirming therapist with a strong background in trauma-focused therapy. She specializes in working with children, teens, and adults. Her priority is to provide a safe, validating, and affirming environment while equipping clients with the tools to cope with their pain and life stressors.
Paula began pursuing a career in psychology when she realized one of her greatest strengths is her empathy, openness, and acceptance of others. Having encountered her own life challenges, she understands the importance of providing individuals with a space where they feel seen and heard.
Through her work in community mental health settings, in-treatment centers, and private practice, Paula has extensive experience with clients from diverse backgrounds, providing culturally sensitive care that honors each individual's unique experiences. Her experience ranges from providing crisis prevention and intervention to supporting individuals throughout life transitions and challenges. She has worked with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, medical trauma, intimate partner violence/domestic abuse, narcissistic abuse, intergenerational trauma, and disability/race/gender-based discrimination and trauma.
Her Philosophy
As a neurodivergent-affirming therapist who celebrates her clients' neurocognitive differences, she helps all of her clients foster the confidence to work with their unique differences and improve their quality of life, rather than struggling to fit in or meet unrealistic expectations placed by others and society. With a sense of curiosity, non-judgment, warmth, humor, and empathy, Paula tailors her therapeutic techniques to meet the specific needs of her clients. Her Person-Centered philosophy, combined with a Strengths-Based approach that utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing, ensures that every session is supportive, enlightening, and empowering.
Paula's sessions are designed to challenge clients, helping them to explore their past, target maladaptive patterns in the present, and uncover their inner resilience. Through fostering trust and collaboration, Paula creates a therapeutic environment where clients feel seen, heard, and supported on their path to achieving meaningful and transformative change.
Specialties
- Trauma
- Autism
- ADHD
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety
- LGBTQIA+
- Life Transitions
- Relationship Issues
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Certifications & Trainings
- DBT for Neurodiversity (2023)
- Treatment considerations for ADHD, Autism, and ARFID(Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) (2022)
- Eating Disorders, Nutrition, and the HAES model (Health at Every Size) (2022)
- Risk assessment and treatment of sexual abuse perpetrators (2019-2021)
- Trauma and Dissociation, Victimology, Family Violence and Disputes (2018-2020)
- CBT Certification (2018)
Education
- M.A Forensic Mental Health Counseling - John Jay College of Criminal Justice (2020)
- B.A. Psychology with a minor in Art, American Sign Language - CUNY College of Staten Island (2016)
- Candidate at Postgraduate Trauma Studies Center at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (Present)