Liz Wallenstein, LMHC

Turn Your Biggest Problems into Your Biggest Opporutnities

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Liz Wallenstein, LMHC's style

Why Liz Wallenstein, LMHC chose to be in the helping profession

Have you ever felt like you have a lot going for you, but no matter how hard you try, you just can’t make happen the thing you want most?

Like you’re sitting on the sidelines of life, watching others easily enjoy something that just keeps seeming to elude you?

I’ve been there. And there’s a way out!

I help people turn their biggest challenges into their biggest opportunities. I’ve been able to do that several times over in my own life, and I’m passionate about helping others to do the same. Whether the challenge is in a relationship, their health, at work, how they want to feel or something they want to accomplish- I help people break through.

I work with adults and young adults facing various life challenges, but my areas of specialty are based on things where I was able to go from significant struggle to best possible results:

Healing Chronic Pain & Illness through Mind-Body Connection:
I bring firsthand experience as a former patient of Dr. John Sarno, coupled with extensive training in mind-body methods. I assist individuals in discovering the missing pieces for a more comprehensive recovery, transforming the journey into a life-changing experience. (Visit my website for more details.)

Assisting Singles Seeking Different Results:
I specialize in providing clarity in decision-making and fostering confidence in approach for single women and men. Singles share how helpful, reassuring and refreshing it is to get help from the perspective of a professional who has been there themself! Check out my YouTube series, "Solving Jewish Singleness: Real-Life Advice from the Therapist that Gets It!"

Faith-Informed Therapy:
By treating life challenges as a call to step into our greater selves and viewing what happens to us in the context of a larger picture, I offer spirituality-informed therapy. I also create a safe space for individuals of faith to explore the roles of God and spirituality in their struggles and healing, regardless of religious level and even religion (I’ve worked with traditional Jews and religious Christians). My personal motto is “Therapy helps you heal, grow and change; spirituality makes you limitless!”

In essence, I am an advocate for the human spirit. I derive immense satisfaction from helping individuals realize their capabilities, find meaning in their experiences, align with their purpose, and fall in love with who they uniquely are. It is both a privilege and a joy to be part of someone's journey toward growth and healing.

Liz Wallenstein, LMHC's approach

With nearly 18 years of experience, my commitment is to provide clients with the most effective results in the shortest time possible. I tailor my approach to each client's needs, drawing upon a diverse range of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral, attachment, somatic, psychodynamic, and Internal Family Systems (IFS).

However, my preferred modality is Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), designed to move therapy beyond an insightful conversation and tap into parts deeper within, to create change you can start feeling right away. This approach seamlessly integrates the relational and insightful aspects of psychodynamic therapy with somatic techniques, leveraging the body's inner wisdom. Additionally, it incorporates the latest findings from neurobiology, crafting a therapeutic experience that fosters lasting change.

I've observed that individuals who may have felt disillusioned with prior therapeutic experiences often encountered approaches that remained solely at the intellectual level. My emphasis is on more than just raising awareness and facilitating learning; it extends to ensuring that feelings are completely worked through using emotional processing. I possess the ability to swiftly identify and address the core issues, avoiding the common pitfall of treating symptoms as the problem itself. As a result, clients often find that the therapeutic work progresses both faster and deeper than their previous experiences.

What you can expect from sessions with Liz Wallenstein, LMHC

It's important to me that my clients feel deeply heard, seen, cared for and appreciated unconditionally.

Unlike a passive "uh-huh" therapist, I actively engage with you. I ask questions, offer insights, and make observations throughout our conversations. Regular check-ins ensure that the therapeutic approach is beneficial, and I encourage you to share your reactions and questions as integral parts of the therapy process. I am fully committed to giving my best to help you achieve what you need.

While I may incorporate therapeutic exercises or teach skills that extend beyond our sessions, the core of our interactions is open, honest conversation. I believe that genuine growth occurs in these dialogues. My questions are purposeful, guiding you toward meeting your needs. Throughout our time together, I'll guide you to tune into your body, deepening your awareness and healing by tapping into the body’s felt sense in a refreshing, non-awkward manner.

I don’t adopt a distant, anonymous role as some therapists do traditionally. Clients often describe me as real and relatable, fostering an environment where they feel comfortable opening up and being themselves. My goal is for you to feel as at ease with me as you would with a close friend while still walking away with something you can’t get from anywhere else.

Liz Wallenstein, LMHC's experience working with the Jewish community

I bring a wealth of experience and comfort in working with individuals across the diverse spectrum of Jewish backgrounds and observance levels. Whether secular, traditional, baal teshuva, modern orthodox, YU, yeshivish, or chassidish, I welcome and appreciate the uniqueness of each individual. From those yearning for more within their traditional practices to those harboring resentment towards religion, all perspectives find a supportive space in my practice. I refrain from making assumptions based on appearances or lifestyle, allowing individuals to define themselves – sharing who they are, their beliefs, their values, and where they’re holding. My approach is one of genuine curiosity and respect, free from judgment.

On a personal level, I grew up in a modern orthodox setting (Young Israel/day school) and deepened my observance and Hashkafa during my time studying in Israel. Although Ashkenazi by background, I am married to a Sephardi, and I spent time working closely with the Chabad and Syrian communities, so I have first-hand experience in multiple Jewish cultures! I am an advocate for growth through Torah, in addition to psychology, but I prioritize creating a space where individuals feel comfortable expressing their beliefs and interests without any imposition of my own.

Liz Wallenstein, LMHC's Book Recommendation Zone

• It's Not Always Depression
• How to do the Work
• Attached

Approaches

• Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
• Attachment-based
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Existential
• Inner child work
• Life Coaching
• Narrative Therapy
• Premarital Counseling
• Psychoanalytic Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Somatic Therapy

Concerns

• Dating
• Divorce/Separation
• Life purpose and meaning
• Pain Management
• Relationships
• Religious Identity Issues
• Stress management
• Transitions & Change
• Trauma

18 years in practice

Licences

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor by New York state 2009. License number 004253

Degrees

• Masters in Counseling by Columbia University 2006
• Masters in Education by Columbia University 2006

Trainings

• AEDP by AEDP Institute (NY) 2015
• Psychodynamic by William Allanson White Institute 2012
• Psychodynamic by Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies 2011
• Psychotherapy Networker Conferences by PESI 2018+

Affiliations

• Nefesh Alliance for Orthodox Mental Health clinicians by Nefesh Intl 2007
• Relief mental health network by Relief.org 2007

Payment Methods

• Cash
• Check
• Credit Card
• Zelle Quick Pay
• Venmo
• PayPal

Insurances

• out of network