Laura Johnson-Rodriguez

I've been doing this work for a long time, and one of the things that sets me apart is that I've also worked on the other side of the healthcare system - managing behavioral health benefits for a major insurer. I know how confusing and frustrating it can be to navigate insurance, and I want that to be one less thing you have to worry about when you're trying to take care of yourself. I trained at Adelphi University and I've worked with individuals across a wide range of settings — private practice, state-level consulting, and agency work. My clients tend to be adults dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, and major life transitions. I work with people from all backgrounds, cultures, and identities. I practice fully online, which means you can see me from wherever you are in New York or New Jersey - no commute, no waiting room.

I'm a great listener who always seeks to empower and uplift my clients. I like to create a safe, judgement free space where someone will feel encouraged to express themselves while working on solutions collectively.

I use CBT, cognitive reframing techniques, and solution-focused therapy as my primary frameworks. CBT helps us identify the thought patterns that are running in the background and keeping you stuck. Solution-focused work keeps us moving - we spend time on what you want to be different, not just what went wrong. I'm direct and practical. I'm not going to have you sit in silence hoping insight appears. We'll have real conversations, I'll offer perspectives you might not have considered, and we'll build strategies you can actually use between sessions. I also know that getting started can feel like a big step - I try to make it as low-pressure as possible.

The first session is a two-way conversation. I'll ask about what's bringing you in, what's been going on, and what you're hoping to get out of this. You don't need to have a perfectly organized story - most people don't. We'll figure it out together. I also want to make sure the fit feels right. Therapy works best when you feel comfortable with your therapist, and I'd rather you tell me early on if something isn't clicking than wonder about it for weeks. By the end of our first session, you should have a clearer sense of what we'd focus on together and what working with me would actually look like.

A client can expect someone that wants to learn about each clients unique strengths. I will tailor my approach to each clients needs.