Malka Liss

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” — Maya Angelou

Malka Liss's style

Why Malka Liss chose to be in the helping profession

I chose to be in the helping profession because I have always been drawn to people, their stories, their experiences, and understanding what makes them who they are. I’m curious about why people think, feel, and respond the way they do, and about the many different pieces that shape a person over time. Our experiences, relationships, strengths, struggles, patterns, and circumstances all play a role in who we become, and I find it meaningful to help people connect those pieces and understand themselves within the context of their lives. I believe that when we have a better understanding of where we have been and where we are, we can begin to recognize the strengths and possibilities that already exist within us.

To me, therapy is not simply about focusing on what feels difficult or what brings someone into therapy in the first place. It is about taking the time to understand the bigger picture and making sense of the different parts of our experiences. I find it meaningful to help people see themselves with greater understanding and curiosity, while also feeling empowered to think about what is possible moving forward. Therapy can be a place to understand where you’ve been and where you are, while creating space to recognize where you can go.

Malka Liss's approach

My approach is centered around understanding the whole person, not just the problem, circumstance, or diagnosis that brings someone to therapy. I see each person as part of a larger system, where experiences, relationships, environment, patterns, emotions, strengths, and different parts of the self are all connected. A person’s whole story helps us understand what is happening in the present, because no detail exists entirely on its own. Taking the time to understand those connections can help us make sense of experiences that may otherwise feel confusing, overwhelming, or disconnected.

I see therapy as a place to look at and into ourselves, to notice, reflect, and connect the pieces of our story. It can be an opportunity to become more aware of the ways our past and present experiences continue to shape us, while also thinking about our potential and what we want moving forward. I believe there is value in slowing down enough to understand our patterns, relationships, emotions, and different parts of ourselves with greater curiosity. Through that process, we can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and feel more connected to our past, present, and potential.

What you can expect from sessions with Malka Liss

You can expect our sessions to be collaborative, open, and focused on what feels most important to you. We’ll talk, reflect, ask questions, notice patterns, and make connections, sometimes looking deeper into experiences and relationships, and other times focusing on what you need right now. I’ll bring curiosity, honesty, perspective, and practical tools when helpful, while creating a space where you can explore yourself and your experiences without judgment. I want our work to feel like a process we are navigating together, rather than something being done to you.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, and our work will be shaped by who you are, what you need, and where you are in the process. Some sessions may involve looking more deeply at the pieces of your story, while others may focus on something that is happening in your life right now. Together, we’ll work toward greater understanding and connection, while also building confidence in yourself and your ability to move forward. My hope is that therapy becomes a place where you can better understand yourself, recognize your strengths, and feel more empowered in the choices and possibilities ahead of you.

Malka Liss's experience working with the Jewish community

I have extensive experience working with children, teens, adults, couples, and families within the Jewish community across a variety of clinical settings. This experience has given me a deeper understanding of the many factors that can shape each person’s experience, from religious background and level of observance to family dynamics, community, school systems, place of origin, and the different roles and expectations we may carry. These pieces can all influence how someone understands themselves, their relationships, and the challenges they are experiencing. I bring this understanding into my work while remaining curious about each person’s individual story and experience.

At the same time, I do not make assumptions about what religion looks like for each person. Every person has their own relationship with religion, their own experiences, and their own questions, and I respect where each client is in that relationship. Some people may want their religious values and beliefs to be an important part of therapy, while others may want to explore other aspects of themselves without focusing on religion. I respect the role each client wants religion to have in their life and in therapy, and I aim to create a space where all parts of their experience can be explored openly and authentically.

Malka Liss's Book Recommendation Zone

• The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk
  Explores how trauma and difficult experiences can be held not only in our thoughts and memories but also in the brain, body, and nervous system. It emphasizes understanding the whole person and the different ways past experiences can continue to show up in the present.
• No Bad Parts — Richard Schwartz
  Introduces Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the idea that we all have different “parts” within us, even the ones we struggle with, that developed for a reason. It focuses on understanding these parts with curiosity rather than judgment and developing a stronger connection to the Self.
• Good Inside — Dr. Becky Kennedy
  Based on the idea that behavior does not define who a person is. It encourages parents to look beneath difficult behaviors, understand what may be happening internally for a child, maintain connection, and set healthy boundaries without shame.

Approaches

• Attachment-based
• Breathwork
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Couples Counseling
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Family Therapy
• Inner child work
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Motivational Interviewing
• Person-Centered Therapy
• Postpartum Recovery
• Premarital Counseling
• Somatic Therapy

Concerns

• Anxiety
• Body image
• Dating
• Depression
• Divorce/Separation
• Emotion regulation
• Money & Relationships
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Panic attacks/panic disorder
• Parenting
• Postpartum depression
• Prenatal, perinatal, & postpartum mental health
• Relationships
• Religious Identity Issues
• Stress management
• Transitions & Change
• Trauma

5 years in practice

Licenses

• LSW by NJ Board of Social Work Examiners 2023-Current. License number 44SL07041900

Degrees

• Masters in Social Work by Daemen College 2021- 2023
• Bachelors in Science by Excelsior College 2018 - 2019

Trainings

• The Impact of Social Media on Attachment and Mental Health in Kids and Teens by Neuhoff Psychological Consulting, PLLC 2026
• Must-Know DBT Skills Every Therapist Can Use Right Away by Ecare Behavioural Health Institute 2025
• The Missing Piece: The Body in Therapy Ricki Bernstein by NEFESH: The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals 2026
• Overview of DBT Skills and Skills Training by Neuhoff Psychological Consulting, PLLC 2026
• Enhancing Peer Support in Substance Use Recovery by Relias 2026
• Introduction to Hypnotherapy by The Knowledge Tree 2026
• CBT for Depression - Integrating Evidence-based Strategies by Neuhoff Psychological Consulting, PLLC 2026
• Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Clinical Practice in Behavioral Health by Relias 2025
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Essential Skills by Neuhoff Psychological Consulting, PLLC 2025
• Psychopharmacology for Non-prescribers – 2025 Update by Neuhoff Psychological Consulting, PLLC 2025
• Attachment, Trauma, Play Therapy by LCSC 2022-2023

Average costs per session

$150 - $175

Payment Methods

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