Mariana Castilla

I’m a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience supporting children, teens, adults, and families. My background includes many years as a school social worker, where I’ve helped students and parents navigate academic stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges. I completed advanced training in Child, Adolescent, and Parent Psychotherapy at the Westchester Center for the Study of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy and am trained in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions). My approach is warm, collaborative, and psychodynamic, helping clients better understand themselves and create meaningful, lasting change.

My approach is collaborative and grounded in a psychodynamic perspective. I help clients explore how their experiences and relationships shape the way they feel and respond today. Together, we work toward greater insight, self-understanding, and emotional balance. I also integrate practical strategies to manage anxiety and strengthen relationships. For parents, I incorporate SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to reduce family stress and support children’s growth.

In our first session, my goal is to create a comfortable, supportive space where you can share what’s been going on at your own pace. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what you hope to change, and begin identifying patterns that may be getting in the way. Clients often leave the first session feeling heard, understood, and with a clearer sense of direction for our work together.