Denise Rayvid

Denise Rayvid is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years experience working with individuals and families. She has a private practice in Manhattan’s Upper West Side treating adults, adolescents, children, parents/couples and elders with a wide range of social emotional difficulties. These issues include anxiety, depression, trauma, difficulty navigating social dynamics, life transitions, behavioral and learning challenges, and complicated family relationships. With understanding and support, Denise joins individuals in the process of becoming more self-aware, developing a greater understanding of personal goals, obstacles, and identifying effective coping strategies to overcome them.

In addition to working with adults, Denise has extensive experience working with adolescents (tweens/teens) and young adults who are having trouble transitioning to the next phase of life. She works with individuals on issues surrounding social/peer difficulties, exploring romantic relationships, learning challenges, low self-esteem, gender/sexual identity, impulsivity, stressful family relationships and changes in families.

Parent guidance is a strong component in Denise’s work with children and adolescents. The goal is to understand each child's unique needs, strengths and how best to support them. This includes learning how to communicate more effectively, create healthy boundaries, promote self-confidence, build independence, and strengthening parent-child connection. This can be done with or without the child being seen for therapy.

Prior to opening her practice, Denise worked as a school social worker in Westchester and Long Island with students in grades K-12 in both general education and alternative settings. She is well versed in the many facets of the school system and understands the myriad of social and academic demands facing young people today. She partners with parents, teachers, and clinical staff to create a plan that enables the child to experience success socially, emotionally, and academically. For children who may require additional school supports she helps parents navigate the special education system, determine appropriate services, school setting and with IEP/504 planning and implementation.

Denise’s treatment approach incorporates a variety of therapy techniques. Grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy, she uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), play therapy, mindfulness and psychoeducation based on the needs of each individual. Her style is empathic, supportive, collaborative, and interactive.

Denise Rayvid graduated from Simmons college with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Communications. She received a master’s degree Hunter College School of Social Work (1999). Denise completed DBT/CBT training with Cognitive Behavioral Consultants. Currently she participates in psychoanalytic psychotherapy training and at the William Alanson White Institute.