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Top therapists in New York accepting new patients
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I specialize in working with clients who feel stuck, disconnected from their body, or who carry an extensive trauma history. Whether you’re highly analytical and struggling to drop into your body, or finding it hard to feel and name your emotions, I offer approaches that meet you where you are. Using somatic and body-based methods, including movement, mindfulness, imagery, and metaphor, I help clients access their inner world, integrate difficult experiences, and break through old patterns.
I am a seasoned Psychotherapist and Clinical Doctor of Social Work, with over 20 years of experience, I am dedicated to serving the mental health needs of underserved, marginalized and affluent communities in New York City. Promoting social justice and empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives. I am a proud mixed heritage, native New Yorker and former U.S. Army combat Soldier. My educational background includes degrees from esteemed institutions, including New York University, Adelphi University, and Long Island University, I brings a profound depth of knowledge and expertise to the mental health and addictions field.
You’re successful on the outside—but inside, something still feels stuck. You’ve done the work. You understand your patterns. You know what should help. And yet, anxiety, burnout, overwhelm, or old emotional loops keep showing up. It can feel frustrating, even discouraging, to have so much insight but still feel like you can’t fully shift.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. Many of the people I work with are high-functioning, self-aware individuals who feel caught in what I call a “mental and nervous system loop”—where insight alone isn’t enough to create real, lasting change.
This is where our work begins.
There are times in life when we feel stuck, lonely, anxious, or disconnected from ourselves. While these experiences can be painful, I believe they often serve as powerful catalysts for growth, healing, and transformation. Earning your trust and helping you establish a secure, empowering baseline for your care is an honor I hold deeply. Over my five years of practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I have found profound meaning in supporting adults and couples through their most difficult moments. I specialize in helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, eating disorders, OCD, and trauma. I am also fiercely committed to providing affirming care for the LGBTQIA+ community, offering a safe harbor for those seeking an inclusive, sex-positive space. It is a privilege to support people as they develop greater self-awareness, strengthen their resilience, and move toward a more authentic version of themselves.
Hi, I'm Mel Joy, a healer with 25+ years of experience witnessing how resilient people can be. We all experience ebbs & flows of transitions and struggles, while constantly evolving. Life can be both beautiful & messy, and I'm humbled and honored to help you sort through it in individual and/or group therapy. Our minds & emotions uniquely shape our perception of reality. No two people have the same experience, and there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" treatment modality. No matter how different we may be, one thing we all share is the capacity for joy & pain, and everything in between.
As a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and a proud graduate of D'Youville College, I provide a compassionate, faith-based approach to mental health care. My work stems from my belief that healing is always possible and that hope is a powerful force for change. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or life transitions, I offer a safe, welcoming space where we can work together to rediscover your strength and resilience. I believe that setbacks help us grow rather than define who we are. Starting over, sometimes, is the bravest thing we can do.
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