Jihan Nacel

I'm Jihan — a bilingual LCSW, second-generation Cuban/American Latina, and relational therapist

based in New York City, offering Telehealth sessions across New York State. I have four years of

clinical experience working with adults and adolescents across a range of concerns: anxiety, grief,

ADHD, major life transitions, trauma, burnout, and the kind of identity work that comes with being

young, bicultural, or figuring out who you are in a world that doesn't always have room for

complexity.

I'm proudly LGBTQ+ affirming and see clients across the gender and sexuality spectrum.

I work best with adolescents, young adults, and adults in the middle of something — a transition, a

loss, a recognition that old patterns aren't working. I'm not here to foster dependency or give you a

script for your life. I'm here to help you build the kind of self-understanding that goes with you.

My approach is relational first. That means before I introduce any framework or technique, I invest in

actually knowing you — your history, your patterns, what you've tried, what's helped, what hasn't. I'm

trained in CBT, attachment-based therapy, SFBT, IPT, psychodynamic work, EFT, MBCT, and more —

but I don't believe in applying tools generically. I assess what you need and introduce approaches as

they become relevant to your specific goals.

What that looks like in practice: I pay close attention to patterns across your relationships, your inner

dialogue, and your body. I'll name things I notice, invite you to reflect rather than accept my

interpretation, and stay curious rather than directive. I believe sustainable change comes from insight

you've genuinely earned — not from a protocol I've assigned you.

A real conversation — not an intake form read back to you. The first session is low-pressure by

design. You set the pace. You share what feels right to share. We'll talk about what brought you here,

what you're hoping for, and what's felt missing from prior experiences (if you've had them). I'll ask

questions, but I'm not rushing toward a diagnosis or a treatment plan in session one.

It's also completely okay to come in without knowing exactly why you're there or what you want.

That's actually where a lot of the most important work starts. You don't need to have it figured out —

that's what we're here for together.