Nicolette Makedon

Most people who come to therapy aren't broken — they're stuck in thinking patterns that feel true but aren't actually serving them. That's the lens I bring to every session, shaped by my primary certification in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) from the Albert Ellis Institute, the NYC-based organization that carries on the legacy of one of the founders of modern cognitive-behavioral therapy.

I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, relationship challenges, and identity — and I do this work because I genuinely believe that the right kind of targeted, honest conversation can shift how someone experiences their own life. Not after years of slow processing, but more quickly, once the right patterns are identified and examined.

I practice at MindWell NYC, trained at Queens College (CUNY) and Adelphi University. I bring directness and warmth to every session — and when it fits, genuine humor. I don't believe therapy has to feel heavy to be meaningful.

My approach centers on CBT and REBT — both rooted in the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behavior, but REBT goes deeper into the irrational beliefs and absolutistic thinking that drive emotional disturbance. Together, these frameworks give us powerful, precise tools for change.

I use Motivational Interviewing to work with ambivalence — meeting you where you are with change rather than pushing past it. My style is collaborative, direct, and grounded in compassion. I pay close attention to the patterns in what you say, and I'll point them out when it's useful — not to challenge you, but to help you see what you might not be seeing.

Therapy with me is serious work. It's also allowed to have a little humor.

We begin with a brief intro call — a low-pressure chance to connect and make sure this feels like the right fit before we commit.

The first full session is about getting oriented. We'll talk about what's brought you here, what you're hoping changes, and start identifying the specific patterns — in thinking, in relationships, in behavior — that we'll work on together. By the end, you'll have a clear sense of what the work will look like.