Gidget Rafus-Rousell

Working with me means you don't have to edit yourself before walking through the door. I work with adults across New York who are navigating trauma, grief, postpartum struggles, OCD, identity, and the exhaustion that comes from surviving things most people don't talk about out loud. My clients often tell me they've spent years feeling like "too much" - too emotional, too complicated, too much history. My job is to be the one who's not overwhelmed by any of that. I'm a Black woman clinician, and I bring that lived lens into my work with intentionality, not as a side note. If you're looking for a therapist who will meet you where you are - and also gently challenge you when you're ready - you're in the right place.

My approach is relational first - I believe the relationship between therapist and client is itself therapeutic. From there, I draw on a wide toolkit: EMDR for trauma processing that doesn't require you to retell every detail; IFS to help you understand the different parts of yourself that may be in conflict; somatic techniques when the body is holding what words can't reach; and ACT for building a life that feels meaningful even when things are hard. I don't believe one method fits everyone, and I don't work from a script. Sessions are collaborative - I follow your lead on pace while bringing clinical structure to keep us moving. I'm particularly trained in OCD (including ERP), perinatal and maternal mental health, and complex PTSD. I also hold space for substance use and recovery without shame.

The first session is a conversation, not an evaluation. I'll ask you about what brought you here and what you're hoping things will look like when you're on the other side of this. I want to understand not just your symptoms, but your life - your relationships, your history, what you've already tried, and what's mattered to you. You don't need to have it together or know exactly what you need. Most people leave that first session feeling lighter just from having said things out loud. I see clients via telehealth throughout New York - sessions are available weekdays and select evenings to accommodate working adults and parents. If it feels right after we talk, we'll build a plan together.