I am a licensed clinical psychologist in New York City, providing evidence-based, holistic, and culturally attuned psychotherapy to individuals and couples in New York and California.

Therapeutic Approach

As an integrative and holistic psychologist, and certified yoga teacher, I blend psychodynamic insight with action-oriented interventions drawn from third-wave cognitive behavioral models, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). My purpose is to support clients in building self-awareness, interrupting maladaptive coping strategies, and living more fully in alignment with their values.

I also incorporate mindfulness-based and somatic interventions from Western positive psychology, and its roots in Eastern contemplative traditions, to facilitate deeper awareness and interoception, acceptance, compassion, and embodied presence.

Through a strengths-based perspective, I believe that therapy should not only reduce suffering but foster vitality, integration, and authentic connection—to self, others, and community.

Cultural humility is central to my clinical practice. With a bicultural background and a commitment to social justice, I value diversity and recognize the influence of sociocultural and systemic factors on psychological experiences. Accordingly, I adapt my approach to meet each of my clients’ needs and preferences.

Specialties.

I specialize in issues related to trauma and adversity, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, addictive behaviors, obsessive and compulsive behaviors, low self-esteem and self-criticism, relationship challenges, identity exploration, and major life adjustments and transitions.

The formats of treatment I provide are individual, couples, and family therapy (in-person and virtual).

Testimonials

"Working with Ida has been truly transformational for me. I started working with her at a time when I was struggling with anxiety and depression. She helped me to understand my thought and behavior patterns in an entirely new way and to use that understanding to create more peace and trust in myself. Her thoughtful, funny, kind and caring approach has helped me through challenging life stages and has given me the self-awareness and the tools to take on the future. She is an amazing therapist, and I would absolutely recommend working with her!"

— Anonymous
"My husband and I worked with Ida during a particularly difficult period in our relationship and saw her regularly for 2+ years; we are incredibly grateful for her guidance and support. She is an exceptional therapist—thoughtful, insightful, and deeply committed to helping her clients grow and heal. What stood out most about working with her was her ability to ask the right questions and her ability to remain neutral and provide a safe space for both parties to share openly. She has a remarkable talent for connecting dots and offering perspectives we hadn’t considered, which helped us better understand each other and the patterns we were stuck in. Her approach is practical and grounded—she doesn’t just talk through issues but offers actionable strategies that we could integrate into our daily lives. These tools made a real difference and helped us move forward with more clarity, empathy, and connection. We always felt heard and supported in her sessions. If you’re looking for a therapist who combines deep insight with practical tools and genuine care, I can’t recommend Ida highly enough."

— Anonymous
"I came to Ida during a real low point, when I had just begun to recognize the weight of my depression. From the very start, she created a space where I felt deeply understood, in a way that’s hard to fully describe. She is not only a thoughtful and attentive listener, but also seemed to instinctively sense when I needed comfort and when I was ready to gently face the harder emotions. Her warmth, insight, and steady support made me feel like I had someone genuinely on my side — someone who wasn’t just helping me process what I was going through, but walking alongside me through it. She gave me the strength and tools I needed to start facing my challenges, and I’m so grateful to have found her when I did. Being in therapy with her has been a truly important part of my journey toward feeling like myself again."

— Anonymous

Education & Training.

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara (APA-accredited)
M.A. in Counseling Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A. in Psychology, San Francisco State University
Graduate coursework in Clinical and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Mind, Body, and Spirituality, Teachers College, Columbia University
Doctoral Internship, New York University School of Medicine – Bellevue Hospital Center (APA-accredited)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Williamsburg Therapy Group, NY
Certificate of College and University Teaching, University of California, Santa Barbara
Yoga Teacher Training Certificate, YogaWorks
Foundational Training in Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Center for Trauma and Embodiment
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training, Mindful Harlem

I have received extensive training in treating a wide range of mental health conditions across a culturally diverse population. My clinical experience includes individual, couples, group, and family psychotherapy and psychological assessment for adults, adolescents, and children in inpatient and outpatient hospital, college counseling, community mental health, and private practice settings.

In addition to clinical work, I have over five years of experience in teaching yoga and university-level psychology courses.

My research examines the impact of mindfulness and yoga on individuals with traumatic and adverse life experiences. This research can be found in my publications below.

Research & Magazine Publications

Journal of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Yoga as “A Practice of Liberation”

Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention

Perceptions of Adjunctive Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Prevent Suicidal Behavior among High Suicide-Risk Outpatient Participants

National Geographic Magazine

‘Urgency Culture’ Might Lead You to Burnout. How Can You Combat It?

Read here for my other publications on yoga and holistic healing, diversity issues, equitable prevention science, and modern dating.

Events & Collaboration

I am open to collaborating in community- and university-based events, and sharing knowledge and skills in professional and academic settings through consultation and structured learning formats.

Professional Affiliations

American Psychological Association

APA Division 29's Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy

American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association

Yoga+Psychotherapy

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Yoga, originating in South Asia and India from 5,000 years ago, means “to join.” It is a practice that cultivates the union of the mind and body through physical forms, breathing exercises, and mindfulness meditation techniques. Numerous short- and long-term mental and physical health benefits are associated with yoga, and promising evidence points to the psychologically transformative effects of integrating yoga and psychotherapy.

As a certified yoga teacher, I also integrate yoga with psychotherapy sessions, if it is clinically appropriate and of interest to clients. The style of yoga I facilitate is Hatha with some trauma-informed principles derived from Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga.