Colleen Sullivan, LMSW
Message from Colleen
Hello and welcome! Therapy should feel like a safe, non-judgmental and supportive environment where we collaboratively work through underlying causes of unhappiness or dysfunction that prevent us from reaching our full potential. I focus on identifying pre-existing strengths that can be built upon to foster better mental and emotional well-being. I love working with clients to help them find their purpose and discover their needs, empowering them to live as their most authentic selves. Prior to transitioning into psychotherapy, I spent many years working in the financial and technology sectors. I understand the pressure that can come with balancing life with work, and want to help you make space to prioritize your wellbeing and happiness. I tend to favor a psychodynamic, person-centered approach, and often bring elements of mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy into my work. I am theoretically grounded in attachment-based treatment, as I believe past relationships deeply inform the way we relate to the world today. Understanding those past relationships and their effects on us can help to change the way we function with friends, family, and partners. I believe that therapy should be a nurturing and collaborative experience. I encourage open communication throughout our work together, and I tailor treatment to most effectively achieve your unique set of goals. Please reach out to me for a 15-minute phone consultation to see if we are a good fit!
About Colleen's practice
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Weekdays After 5pm
Weekdays Before 9am
$$
Sliding scale
Directive
Reflective
Body-based
In-person available: Yes
Virtual available: Yes
Depression
Career-Related Stress
Burnout
Anxiety
Perfectionism
Romantic Life
LGBTQIA-Related Stress
Life Transitions
Out of network providers
NY + 1 more
Why state matters
Get to Know Colleen
"Colleen is a wonderful therapist. She is able to really listen, understand what you're saying, and help you find a better understanding that you hadn't even thought about. She used to work in business before becoming a therapist and you can tell she has a really good understanding of what work pressure can be like in that world. She really gets anxiety and work stress and perfectionism and stuff like that and is really helpful in managing it. I highly recommend Colleen as a therapist!"
JA, Client
"Working with Colleen has been a game changer! I always leave our conversations with a more clear focus on how I am feeling and next steps toward my goals, especially in my career"
AG, Client
"Colleen is everything I had been looking for in a therapist. She’s empathic, smart and super dialed-in to the issues that I bring into sessions. I feel heard, validated and…a bit lighter after our visits. Sometimes the work is difficult and she challenges me to press on, motivating me to stay present. I cannot recommend her highly enough!"
AA, Client
"Colleen is a great therapist! She pushes me when I needed to be pushed while always making sure I felt safe and supported. She has a warm, comforting presence and you can tell that really cares about her patients. I have already felt myself growing and learning from her and implementing what we have talked about in therapy."
CC, Client
What are your policies and practices around insurance?
***While we are not in network with any insurance companies, we do assist you with getting reimbursement for your out of network benefits. Our office staff will help get you all of the necessary information that you need from us in a compiled "Superbill" to make you getting your reimbursement as easy as possible. We will also speak to the insurance company to confirm information when necessary. You can submit this Superbill for reimbursement with any major insurance company where your out of network benefits apply. Typically clients are reimbursed anywhere from 30% to 80% of the sessions cost once their deductible is met. For more information, please inquire with the practice administrator.
What degrees do you have and what techniques are you trained in?
I also specialize in Couples Therapy. I have had amazing results using what is called Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). With EFT, I start by identifying specific areas where a couple is having communication break down, resulting in seemingly very similar disagreements over and over again. Couples are left feeling frustrated with either partner and at a loss as to how to express their feelings to one another in a way where their partner actually understands them. Typically defensiveness arises in place of understanding. I help break down these defenses and empathize with each other's side of the argument. I also help couples understand their partner's triggers that stem from their own development history and help interpret and provide insights as to how it causes a breakdown in their dynamic. Tools for moving forward are then created and utilizes bringing back a connected, healthy unit!
How can you tell if I am feeling stuck, unseen, or unheard?
I work collaboratively and encourage honest feedback. I conduct frequent check-ins, working to understand your progress both in and outside of our sessions. Based on your needs, we will continuously recalibrate to incorporate the best techniques to encourage your healing, growth, and change. We will figure our what works for you, and work together to develop the skills that you can utilize to meet your goals.
Do you assign homework, activities, or readings for me to do between sessions? Why or why not?
I am trained in mindfulness and meditation, and will often times bring a specific, implementable technique into a session that can be utilized outside of our time together. Mindfulness helps us to become more aware of the present moment we are living in. Practicing mindfulness allows us to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing. These techniques can help us to become more resilient in the face of stress, allowing us to stay grounded in a baseline of calmness. In our work together, you can expect to feel equipped with new tools that you can access outside of our sessions, as often as you feel you need.
Are there any philosophies or values that inform your work that I should know about?
I believe that all of us encounter challenges in life, and that having a space to talk about these challenges with an empathetic, non-judgmental therapist can help surface strengths that can be used to overcome these challenges. I feel grounded in and guided by the empathy framework, meeting people where they are at while acknowledging the broken systems that may have brought them there. I will challenge my clients in a kind, respectful way that will help to break negative patterns and start to eliminate the unwanted symptoms that stem from them.