Specialties

I am passionate about working with teens, young adults, and adults wanting to heal from all forms and experiences of:

  • Relational trauma

  • PTSD & C-PTSD

  • Anxiety

  • Codependency in relationships

  • People pleasing

  • Low internal self-worth

  • Perfectionism

  • Alcohol use & sober curiosity

  • Stress & burn out

Together we will improve your:

  • Trauma responses and manage anxiety

  • Ability to regulate your emotions and cope with stressors

  • People pleasing patterns and expressing needs

  • Self-esteem & self-worth

  • Ability to trust yourself and be self-compassionate

  • Interpersonal challenges & boundary avoidance

  • Burn out and self-care practices

  • Mind-body connection

  • Shame & unhelpful guilt

I also have extensive experience working with emotional dysregulation and self harm, ADHD, executive dysfunction, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and have provided crisis intervention in intensive settings.

I welcome all ages, races, sexualities, gender expressions, nationalities, abilities, and body sizes.

Education And Clinical Experience

  • Master of Social Work degree
    New York University

  • Bachelors degree in Psychology

    Rutgers University

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

  • Licensed in NY (#093839), NJ (#44SC06281300), MD (#23919), and Washington DC (#LC200003326)

  • My professional background has been providing individual and group therapy, clinical coaching, and parent support in various partial hospital and intensive outpatient programs for both teens and adults, as well as therapeutic day schools for children. I will work with someone recently out of PHP/IOP and needing a step down therapist.

I am also currently a clinical supervisor to other therapists, group developer and leader, director of groups program, and seeing clients at Bhava Therapy Group in Manhattan.

My Approach

I bring a trauma, somatic, relational, and holistic approach. I hold compassion, empathy, and a warm therapeutic space. I believe that healing and working on yourself involves attending to your physical, mental, and emotional health alike.

Where appropriate, I will integrate experiential practices like somatic strategies, mindfulness skills, self-compassion development, creativity, guided meditations, and help connect your mind and body. Although therapy can be hard, I want it to feel fun and judgement-free at all times. It’s important for me to get to know the authentic you and bring in your personality and humor, as I do myself. I know it can be hard to open up and I want to take the time to build that trust between us. You will never feel pressured by me, I will hold space until you are ready.

I find that the most important part of the process is the human and therapeutic relationship, so I will always prioritize creating a safe connection. I believe in working collaboratively to individualize treatment, one approach doesn’t always fit all, and I will work to attend to your needs and goals.

I love to empower and challenge my clients to achieve their best, heal from the past, and develop new more helpful ways to cope with difficulties. We will work together to become a more confident and authentic version of yourself, one that prioritizes your own needs. It’s about finding a combination of developing insight into how your past impacts your patterns, while also focusing on the here and now and taking action toward change. I will offer a space to listen, hear you, validate you, I will also reflect back patterns I see and guide you to look at the root cause. I offer guidance, feedback, strategies, and will always bring it back to your therapy goals. I find that everyone has an innate ability to heal and progress and the therapeutic process is meant to unlock that.

Trainings & Consultation

More formally, I have extensive training in EMDR and DBT and will utilize DBT/CBT skills when needed or incorporate EMDR as part of the treatment plan.

I am currently in the Trauma Therapist Network to receive support, consultation, and training in Trauma work. I am also currently training to get certified in Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies.

Formal Trainings:

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing at EMDR Consulting (EMDRIA Approved)

    • 10 hours of lecture, 10 hours of practicuum, 10 hours of consultation

  • DBT Intensive at Behavioral-Tech

  • Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies by Dr. Linda Thai

  • Therapeutic Crisis Intervention

Personal Relevant Courses

  • 8 week Mindful Self Compassion (by Dr. Kristen Neff & Christopher Garner) at The Krame Center for Mindful Living

  • 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at New York Insight

Searching for a therapist can be an overwhelming and daunting process. Here is a little bit about what to expect if we began the therapeutic process together, who I am, and my professional background!

“See if you can allow gentle self-acceptance to co-exist with the active drive for self-improvement.”
— Dr. Kristin Neff

Alyssa Kushner, LCSW She/Hers

I prioritize my own self-care so I can show up better as a clinician! I enjoy lifting weights, cooking vegetarian meals, journaling, and hiking in mountains. I have a regular hot yoga and breathework practice myself. I have a background in singing, playing piano, and appreciate live music and broadway shows, they bring me joy!