About Alanna
Alanna Kardon-Alkalay is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in New York. She brings 15 years of experience in agencies, schools, and independent practice to her work. She helps people facing anxiety, depression, parenting stress, relationship struggles, and trauma-related concerns.
Her early work included preventive services with children and school-based support. She has also counseled adults in mental health day programs and ran a independent practice focused on mood, attention, eating, and intimacy issues.
Background and approach
This range shaped a flexible approach to care. Alanna earned a Master’s degree from Fordham University in Tarrytown, New York, where she trained in individual counseling and family systems. She most often uses cognitive behavioral strategies to help people change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
She also draws on client-centered, narrative, mindfulness, and psychodynamic ideas when they fit a person’s needs. Each person brings a unique history and goals, so Alanna builds treatment plans with input from the person she’s working with. Plans are adjusted as needs change and progress is made.
The therapist takes cues from the client and focuses on realistic, step-by-step goals. Mindfulness tools such as breathing, present-moment noticing, or simple meditations are offered when helpful. Alanna emphasizes respect and integrity in the relationship and supports people in using their existing strengths to face life changes and challenges.
Approaches for online work and practical tools
Client-centered therapy focuses on the person's experience and priorities. The therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps the person decide the goals and pace of work. This approach helps when someone needs understanding and space to make sense of their story.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. It uses concrete exercises and small experiments to reduce anxiety, manage mood, or change unhelpful patterns. CBT is useful for worry, depression, ADHD-related habits, and stress management.
Mindfulness practice is often offered as a tool for calming the mind and noticing the present moment. Simple breathing, short meditations, or awareness exercises can be suggested to handle strong emotions or overwhelming days.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust as needed. This collaborative process helps shape a plan that feels practical and doable for daily life.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions take less bandwidth and can fit a break at work. Chat and messaging make brief check-ins or ongoing support easier between longer sessions. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into a busy life.
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Eating disorders
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 15 years
- Licensed
- New York
- Languages
- English