Dr. Thomas Smith

Dr. Thomas Smith, PhD, is a New York State-licensed Psychoanalyst and Mental Health Counselor. He completed a four-year postgraduate program in Gestalt therapy and psychoanalysis at the Gestalt Center of New York and holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Dr. Smith worked with adolescents and adults, integrating psychodynamic, Gestalt, CBT, and IFS approaches. His collaborative, reflective style helps clients deepen self-understanding while developing practical tools for growth. In addition to his clinical work, he holds a PhD in Political Science and has taught for many years at the City University of New York, bringing a broad social and cultural lens to his therapeutic practice.

My client population has generally included people overwhelmed by depression, lack of self esteem, social anxiety, and unwillingness to challenge parents, bosses, romantic companions who cross their boundaries to oppress them. If you have such problems, we will work on the aggression and anger you may have bottled up and turned against yourself, enabling you to be more assertive and feel better

During the course of our work, we will use a combination of techniques from Gestalt therapy, including chairwork, moment-by-moment exploration of feelings, inner-child work, and IFS "parts" work. Irrational schemas you reveal (via CBT), are clues to the underlying emotions, personas, and characters that hang you up out of awareness, to protect yourself from past traumas.