Elise Joffe (she/her)

I have been working in the field of mental health for over 20 years in a variety of settings: a center for children and families, an outpatient mental health clinic treating mental illness and substance abuse, and a domestic violence shelter. I formed my private practice as a psychotherapist in NYC in 2006.

Prior to my career in mental health I worked as a dancer, actor and choreographer.

I earned my BA from Brown University and my MSW from New York University. Further studies and certifications have included: Nondual Kabbalistic Healing, Minfulness Meditation, Gestalt Therapy and Attachment Focused EMDR.

I work with people presenting a wide range of issues that include: depression, anxiety, career confusion, grief, trauma and post-traumatic-stress symptoms, eating disorders, relationship difficulties, reproductive issues and parenting struggles. I am very comfortable working with people of every sexual orientation, gender identity, race, culture and socio-economic background.

Regardless of whether you are experiencing an immediate crisis or are struggling with long-term distress, I can help you to alleviate the intensity of your feelings, gain insight into why you’re suffering and develop means to cope and change.

The underlying philosophy of my practice is:

TRUTH

Know Yourself - Know your “story” and understand what in your past has shaped your perception of life, your emotional responses and your behavior. What about the way you behave now is an expression of who you really are and want to be, or an expression of past habits, relationships and defenses?

LOVE

Find Compassion for Yourself - The many ways we berate and judge ourselves lead to personal suffering and often inflict suffering on others. Cultivating compassion changes your relationship to your inner critic and creates more space for tenderness and happiness.

CHANGE

Liberate Yourself -Once you recognize your story, or the way your history prevents you from growing, you can begin to free yourself of it. You can empower yourself to be in the present and bring about the changes you need to live a full and realized life.