Lucía García-Giurgiu, LCSW
Message from Lucía
Welcome, my name is Lucia and it's an honor to accompany you in this journey of self-discovery and personal growth. In our work together, I’ll help you reach your potential and provide you the tools to live a purposeful, balanced, and authentic life free of anxiety. Together, we’ll explore any blocks that might be holding you back, designing a plan to help you build confidence, ease worry, get in touch with your true self, and reach your greatest ambitions. My role is simply to serve as your guide, helping you uncover your unique gifts and becoming the hero of your own life story. You can learn more about me at my personal website: https://mindbodysouling.com/
About Lucía's practice
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Weekdays After 5pm
Weekends 9am - 5pm
$$
Sliding scale
Directive
Reflective
Body-based
In-person available: No
Virtual available: Yes
Life Transitions
Depression
Anxiety
Anger
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Trauma
Self-Esteem
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
Oscar
Harvard Pilgram
Student Resources
UMR
Wellfleet
Aetna
Cigna
United / Oxford
Blue Cross Blue Shield BCBS
Oxford
Optum
NY
Why state matters
Get to Know Lucía
Are there any philosophies or values that inform your work that I should know about?
I take a strength-based, holistic approach in my work with clients. I combine a wide range of treatment modalities, which allow me to tailor my treatment to your unique needs and create more meaningful change. My main treatment modalities include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). These are interwoven with elements of humanistic, psychodynamic, and family systems theories. This comprehensive approach allows me to target the different layers of your presenting challenges, and thus create meaningful change in your life. I am a trauma informed therapist and am sensitive to the cultural elements that influence our experiences.
Do you have experience (5-10 years+) working with any types of obstacles or people in particular?
I have extensive experience working with people struggling with anxiety and depression and with those who have difficulty maintaining work-life balance. I also have supported many people going through life transitions, such as moving to a new city, starting a new job, ending a relationship or losing a loved one. Additionally, I work with people with a history of trauma, addictions and OCD.
How long should I commit to being in therapy, at least in the beginning?
Because each person is unique and wants to work on different issues, this can vary. However, I have found that starting with a 6 month commitment works best to create some meaningful progress.
Where did you work before going into private practice?
I used to work at the Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy, where I offered bilingual psychotherapy to adults and children with a wide range of challenges stemming from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Before this I worked in private practices in Manhattan, offering support to high-stress working professionals and creative entrepreneurs. My past experience has also included providing play therapy to children at a therapeutic nursery, and working with adolescents with co-occurring mental health diagnoses and substance use at an outpatient mental health program at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital. Previous to this, I was also a therapist at the Metropolitan Center for Mental Health.
What led you to become a mental healthcare practitioner?
I have always been fascinated by the power of the mind and realized at a young age that it can be one’s best friend or one’s worst enemy. I was lucky to meet some talented mentors, who inspired and supported me during my late adolescence, when I was going through some challenges of my own. Since then, I have continued to cultivate my passion to empower individuals to live a purposeful, balanced life and to use their minds as a tool that will support them in achieving their full potential.
What is unique about the work you do, or how have you found your work to be different than your colleagues'?
I was raised in a bicultural (American and Spanish) household, which helps me to identify with and understand different cultures and sets of values. I believe this increases my ability to empathize with people from diverse backgrounds.
What is the best part of the work for you?
I get satisfaction from achieving significant results with my clients, thanks to my holistic and integrative approach, which allows me to address the multiple layers of your life. I also feel very rewarded by learning from each of my clients, from whom I learn invaluable lessons. Overall, although demanding at times, I consider my work very gratifying and fulfilling.
Please share 2-3 anonymized examples of how the work can play out and/or look in the room so that I can form a visual or narrative of what to expect.
I use many mindfulness practices in my sessions. These provide support to clients by focusing their attention on the present, instead of constantly thinking about the past or future. Also, mindfulness allows people to develop a more empowered relationship with their thoughts and feelings and avoid feeling victimized by them. For example, I often use the metaphor of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings being like waves you have to learn to surf until they eventually crash. I also encourage my clients to engage in breathing practices during which they focus on their breath and let thoughts pass by as if they were clouds in the sky. Furthermore, the sessions integrate cognitive-behavioral skills, such as encouraging my clients to challenge some of their automatic thoughts. My aim is not to convince anyone to think positively all the time, but rather to create a more realistic perspective on life events and in achieving psychological flexibility. For those open to it, I may additionally suggest tailored kundalini yoga practices that can include meditations and physical exercises to further advance their progress.
Is there ever a time when you would encourage me to leave or graduate? Or how do I know when it's time to end or move on, or time to stay and explore more?
My ultimate goal is to empower people to live independent lives and have the tools to face any unavoidable challenges that life will bring. During our work together we will start by setting goals, and once these are reached, it’s your choice whether to terminate or to continue with sessions for maintenance and prevention. Oftentimes clients find it useful to integrate therapeutic sessions in their routines in order to maintain a healthy mind, just like people regularly exercise in order to maintain a healthy body.
If I have never been to therapy before, what should I expect? How do I know if I should go, and how do I start?
In the same way we invest in our bodies by going to the gym and exercising, therapy can be considered an investment in mental and emotional fitness. It is always a good time to start.
How will our relationship be different than relationships I have with friends/loved ones?
Talking to friends and family can be a great support, however, people who are close to us are oftentimes too emotionally involved to provide us with adequate guidance. Additionally, being a trained therapist provides certain knowledge and experience that enables professionals to better address certain issues. In our sessions, I will offer a more objective perspective and act as a guide for you to make the best choices in your life.
How should I prepare for my first session with you?
There is no formal preparation needed, however, if you want you can reflect and journal about what areas you want to work on.
How participatory are you during sessions?
During sessions, my role is to act as a guide. I will ask questions I find could bring insight to my clients, engage them in experiential exercises, and provide tools to work with.
How much do you share about yourself during our time together and why?
I believe in keeping the relationship real and authentic, while also maintaining necessary professional boundaries. I will only share personal issues if I believe they could be of benefit to the person I am working with.
How do you approach diversity in the room or working with clients who may come from a different background than you?
I am always eager to learn about different cultures and approach diversity with curiosity and respect.
How can you tell if I am feeling stuck, unseen, or unheard?
Because trust and honesty are crucial during our work together, I encourage people to express any feelings that might arise concerning our sessions. In these cases, we can together explore these challenges, identify the main triggers and try and resolve them.
How can you tell if I am benefiting from working with you?
You will be benefiting from our work when you start developing a more curious and empowered relationship with your thoughts and feelings, using them as guides and not obstacles. During our session you will also connect to your values and start taking actions towards your personal goals, beginning to actively create a life that is more aligned with your authentic self.
Have you received any particular training beyond your post-Bachelor's training?
I hold three master’s degrees in the field of psychology and mental health: A master’s in Social Work from New York University, a master’s in Child Development from Sarah Lawrence College, and a master’s in Psychology from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid, Spain. In addition to these, I am also a certified kundalini yoga teacher by the KRI (Kundalini Research Institute).
From your perspective, what is therapy?
Therapy represents a journey of self-discovery and personal development. I will act as a guide who will provide support to you so that you can get in touch with your true self, uncover your unique gifts, and identify any obstacles so that you can reach your full potential.
Do you assign homework, activities, or readings for me to do between sessions? Why or why not?
I do provide clients with tools to work with, which can include meditations, activities and readings. These tools strengthen the work done in sessions and ultimately prepare people to master the resources they can use to be independent.