Trauma & Relational Therapy for Adults in New York
Limited Permit Mental Health Counselor
You tell yourself this relationship will be different.
Then a few weeks later, you're rereading text messages, wondering if you said too much or not enough. You replay conversations on the drive home, convince yourself you probably misunderstood something, and start pulling back before anyone has the chance to pull away first.
You can see the pattern happening.
You just aren't sure how to stop it.
What Brings Someone Into Therapy at This Stage
Most people don't come in because of one event. They come in because they're tired of feeling stuck in patterns they understand but can't seem to change.
Maybe another relationship ended in a way that felt painfully familiar. Maybe you're starting college, beginning your career, moving out, or entering a new chapter and expected to feel more confident than you do. You may have more independence than you've ever had and still find yourself questioning your decisions, replaying conversations, or wondering where you stand with people.
You might be dealing with:
- A breakup that brought up feelings or patterns you thought you'd already worked through
- Repeating relationship patterns that leave you feeling unsure of yourself
- Overthinking conversations and constantly wondering if someone is upset with you
- Pulling away or shutting down when relationships start to feel overwhelming
- Difficulty trusting your own decisions or knowing what you actually want
- Feeling disconnected from yourself or unsure who you are outside of other people's expectations
Clients often describe feeling stuck, on edge, emotionally drained, or frustrated with themselves because they know something needs to change but don't know how to make that change happen.
How We Work Together
Therapy with me is focused on helping you understand what happens in those moments when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, pulling away, shutting down, or questioning yourself.
We slow things down and look at what is happening in real life, not just talk about your patterns in the abstract.
During sessions, we might work on:
- Understanding relationship patterns and why they keep repeating
- Recognizing emotional triggers and what happens in your body when something feels unsafe
- Working through the urge to avoid, shut down, isolate, or detach
- Building more confidence in your own thoughts, feelings, and decisions
- Learning how to respond differently when old patterns show up
- Getting clearer about what you want instead of automatically doing what feels familiar
We also explore the beliefs you've developed about yourself, including beliefs about your worth, confidence, identity, and whether you deserve the relationships and life you want.
Exploring Identity and LGBTQIA+ Experiences
For LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse clients, therapy can also be a place to explore who you are without having to fit yourself into someone else's expectations.
You may be questioning your identity, feeling disconnected from yourself, or trying to understand what feels authentic to you after spending years adapting to what other people expected.
Narrative therapy can be part of this work, giving you space to look at the stories you've learned about yourself and decide which ones still fit and which ones you want to change.
Therapy can also provide space to explore the impact of family relationships, culture, gender expectations, and other experiences that have shaped how you see yourself.
Why Marcella Is a Strong Fit for This Work
A lot of the people I work with have already spent a lot of time trying to understand themselves.
They've read about attachment. They've watched the videos. They've talked things through with friends. They may even know exactly what pattern they're repeating.
The difficult part is knowing what to do when that pattern shows up in real life.
My role is to help you notice those moments sooner, understand what's happening, and practice responding differently. We work together at a pace that feels manageable while making room for both the emotional and physical parts of your experience.
My approach is trauma-informed, person-centered, and tailored to each client's experiences and goals. I incorporate narrative and somatic approaches, along with an awareness of the cultural and social factors that can shape identity, relationships, and self-worth.
Over time, clients may begin to notice that they're spending less time replaying conversations, feeling more confident in their relationships, understanding their emotional reactions more clearly, and trusting themselves more when making decisions.
Professional Background
I am a Mental Health Counselor practicing under a New York State Limited Permit while working toward independent licensure. I earned my Master's Degree in Mental Health and Wellness from New York University (NYU) and hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from Siena College.
My clinical experience includes working in a women's center and a domestic violence shelter, supporting adults navigating relational trauma, identity development, life transitions, and relationship concerns.