KASSIDY LOY (she/her/hers), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, MS, MEd – Focusing on Individuals, Couples, and Families
Availability Weekdays, in person with some telehealth availability.
Accepting Private Pay and BCBS.
I specialize in working with individuals, families, and couples through an “attachment lens,” that encourages acceptance and empathy to increase self-awareness and healing.
I obtained a degree in molecular biology from Meredith College in 2006 and a master’s degree in adolescent education from Pace University in 2009. As a New York City teaching fellowship recipient, I worked with a diverse population of students and families in underserved communities in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
During this time, I realized my desire was to work with children, families, and couples by helping them build pathways for open communication, honesty, trust, and love. I realized I could fulfill this role more effectively as a counselor and I received a master’s degree in counseling and psychotherapy from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, in 2012.
My counseling practice is based on the inherent dignity of every person. I draw primarily from Humanistic and Person-Centered counseling theories: the pillars of which are empathy, acceptance, genuineness, and non-judgment. I have a special interest in working with couples and I incorporate the Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) model to help them improve their relationships and achieve greater emotional connection. I begin by recognizing that human beings are inherently social and rely on secure emotional bonds with their partners. I emphasize the importance of healthy attachment and the role it plays in providing comfort, support, and strength.
To address distress in relationships, I help couples identify and understand the negative cycles or “dances” that develop when there is a loss of emotional connection. By mapping out these patterns, partners can gain insight into their triggers, behaviors, and emotions that perpetuate the cycle. Through compassionate and empathetic communication, I assist couples in expressing their needs, vulnerabilities, and desires in a way that fosters understanding and empathy in their partner.
By facilitating open and honest dialogue, I aim to create a secure and nurturing environment where couples can explore and address their emotional needs. I guide them in developing a deeper understanding of each other’s fears, insecurities, and desires, fostering trust and safety within the relationship. Through this process, couples can break free from negative cycles and cultivate a more loving and compassionate connection.
I emphasize active participation and commitment from both partners. I encourage individuals to reflect on their own emotions, vulnerabilities, and patterns of behavior, while also encouraging them to listen and empathize with their partner’s experiences and needs. By utilizing the principles and techniques of EFT, I help couples build stronger, more fulfilling relationships based on secure emotional bonds and increased intimacy.
If I’m working with you as an individual, based on your therapeutic goals, I may also incorporate other counseling modalities such as Collaborative and Proactive Solution (CPS) Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, Attachment Theory, and Trauma Informed Therapy.
With all my clients I work to create a collaborative environment, offering a nonjudgmental space that is client-led and where you are free to explore your emotions, circumstances, and behaviors with the goal of wholeness and greater self-awareness. My therapeutic process is ultimately grounded in the understanding that all human beings have an intrinsic drive toward love, growth, acceptance, and self-determination.
My practice recognizes individual and collective sociocultural context and history. I come to this work with the belief that all human beings are entitled to live dignified, fulfilling, and self-directed lives. With acceptance and understanding, I believe we can all heal.
Please click on the link below and schedule a free, 15-minute call to see how working with me may help you.