Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Wantagh, NY covered by United Healthcare

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf" is a Jon Kabat-Zinn quote relevant to these challenging times. I'm a seasoned mental health counselor with experience in supporting individuals to find creative solutions for anxiety and depression, as well as relationship issues and family dynamics. I will provide a safe environment to help facilitate positive changes in your life. I have a specialization in life transitions, and working with people pleasers and stuck creatives.

Do you feel overwhelmed and consumed by stressful life situations? I just may be your answer to relieving some of the emotional stress experienced as I specialize in providing individual therapy. Everyone has the right to feel emotionally healthy and live stress free. I believe this begins with giving yourself permission to address those emotions/behaviors that are disrupting your life. For some of my patients their treatment includes resolving issues from their past and moving forward. My style with patients is always collaborative, interactive and motivating. I use empathic and deep listening to HEAR my patients.

I use therapeutic approaches that are appropriate for each individual situation. I’m a culturally competent therapist who is passionate about helping you understand yourself, experiences, relationships and the world you live in. My therapeutic approach includes a combination of insight-oriented psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Of most importance to, me is working with you to achieve your goals through counseling session. I strive to meet you “where you are” and move you forward to heal, change and grow in positive ways. I provide counseling on a wide range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, educational concerns, work and life balance.

My motto is: "Helping People Help Themselves to a Better Life. I support people with a smile and a reassuring description of my skills and abilities. I reinforce my respect for their choices as we engage in therapy together. I work to create a safe space for clients to address their issues.

I received my Masters from Antioch University of New England, Bachelors from SUNY Empire State University, and Associates from Cortland Community College. I own a private practice and offer both in person and telehealth sessions in Oswego NY. I teach at SUNY Empire State as well. I have experience working with both behavioral and cognitive mental health and specialize in grief and loss, anxiety, and life changes. I am a mom to 5, have two dogs, and love designing and renovating.

life issues are like scars that healed all infected (I know what an opener but stay with me). They can be emotional, physical, spiritual, psychological or all the above. With trust & time it can be cleaned. That journey is not easy, but scars become beauty marks. A testament of what could have ended you but didn't. My background is colorful w/ 10+years.I have experience in a little of everything. The journey to seek help is not easy. I'm proud of you. Oh, and remember BROKEN CRAYONS STILL COLOR!

Deciding on a therapist can be a daunting experience; I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience. I provide psychotherapy services via video and phone sessions. I have always known there was a need for high-quality mental health providers. Therefore, I focus my clinical practice on providing high-quality services and evidence-based interventions to my clients. I have treated many clients with a variety of diagnoses including: addiction, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, PTSD and attention deficit disorder.

I have a strong passion to help people, and truly believe in each individual’s strengths and abilities. Some of the treatment modalities used are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and a Strengths-Based approach in an unbiased and non judgmental manner. Thus allowing me to create the holding space my clients need.

I have realized that when we understand our strengths and have developed them we are able to improve and or have a better quality of life. Sometimes we do not understand that a crisis can affect many different areas in our life and recognizing and acknowledging it is the first step in our journey to healing.

I graduated from Columbia University with a Master’s of Science Degree in Clinical Practice of Social Work. I found my niche after completing undergraduate in Early Childhood Education (kudos to our teachers!) and Sociology/Psychology. These experiences paved the way to my clinical social work journey. I obtained clinical licensure by working with adolescents in both school and therapeutic settings, foster/adoptive families, and adults with serious persistent mental illness.

Hello! My name is Peter Curkendall.

As a Board Certified licensed professional counselor and certified integrative life coach, my focus is on integrating mind/body modalities to help individuals, couples, and groups reach their full potential. My counseling style is inviting and interactive and is grounded in wellness, humor, and pragmatism with a client-focused, strength-based approach. I employ an empathetic, direct, and practical counseling style, using a wide range of evidenced based tools to make our time most meaningful and enhance your everyday life concerns.

I view clients through a developmental lens and use an eclectic approach, from an evidenced based perspective, and meet people where they are. This includes skillful and strategic use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Existential, family systems, Rogerian, Narrative therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Behavioral approaches. I seek to collaboratively develop an individualized, person-centered focus and existential theoretical framework. I have worked extensively with individuals, groups, and families around trauma and sexual abuse. While helping people develop tools and skills to empower them and help them achieve their goals, I support people through their process and share their journey. Empathy, compassion, trust, and respect are cornerstones of my approach.

I provide a holistic, eclectic, flexible approach. Interventions are customized for the individual and believe a good relationship between therapist and client is key to the process of counseling. Please let me know what you want to achieve through the counseling experience and I will assist you with creating a more dynamic environment to achieve your goals. I bring scholarship and academic knowledge to the practice of psychotherapy and seek to build a collaborative bond with clients in order to work together to achieve better mental health.

People say I'm easy to talk to. Here's a little bit about me. I received my graduate degree from NYU and have completed extensive post-graduate training in the treatment of mental health and addiction disorders. Why work with me? I'm a seasoned clinician who has supervised graduate-level Psychology and Mental Health Counseling students from Universities on Long Island and NYC. I'm passionate about the work we'll do together and am excited to join you on your journey.

I believe that you and I will work as a team to find the best solutions for you. I am so glad that you have made the hardest step in therapy- seeking help. In the time that I have been practicing, I have had many types of clients with many different issues they wanted to address with my help. I like to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere from the start of our time together.

Sometimes life can be so beautiful, and sometimes it can seem daunting, scary, and overwhelming. I am here to walk on one’s journey with him/her/them to help make sense of this crazy and complicated thing we call life. I believe that no problem is too big when one views the person behind the suffering. I have found myself drawn to cases that are often avoided and cast out within the system, those that others struggle to help and find an answer for.

Whether working with adolescents, adults, or couples, as a licensed clinical psychologist, I aim to provide a warm, non-judgmental environment in which my patients can examine the challenges that have emerged in their lives and explore barriers to meaningful change. I utilize an integrative approach that combines insight-oriented and goal-directed interventions informed by Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Attachment, Relational and Psychodynamic modalities. My couples work draws from Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy models.