About Novena
Novena Riojas is a licensed clinical social worker in New York with nine years of practice. She focuses on practical help for stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and relationship concerns. Novena also offers coaching to boost motivation and confidence.
She meets people where they are and treats them as the expert in their own life. Sessions aim to identify strengths and build small, doable steps toward change. Novena listens for patterns like communication problems, guilt, shame, and social anxiety so those areas can be addressed directly.
Background and approach
Her approach is straightforward and collaborative. She helps people name what feels hard, try new ways of handling tense moments, and practice skills between sessions. Conversations are paced to the client’s needs and focus on what will make daily life feel more manageable.
Novena uses techniques drawn from evidence-based therapeutic methods to guide work on thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. She explains tools in clear language and adjusts them to fit each person’s situation. Progress is tracked in practical ways so people can see what’s changing.
She provides sessions in English and accepts clients from outside the United States. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a time that works for them. Novena supports clients as they take the next steps toward feeling steadier and more confident.
Approaches that translate to online work
Novena uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on thoughts, feelings, and behavior. One common approach addresses unhelpful thinking patterns and teaches practical ways to reframe worries and reduce anxiety. This is useful for social anxiety, general worry, and low mood.Another set of techniques concentrates on behavior changes through small experiments and skill practice. These methods help with motivation, breaking avoidance, and improving confidence by trying new actions and reviewing results together.
Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will discuss options and try methods that match the client’s goals and comfort level. Adjustments are made as progress is tracked so the plan fits the person rather than the other way around.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy fit into busy lives. Video is helpful for full conversation and visual cues, while phone calls can work when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging allow for shorter check-ins and ongoing support between sessions. These formats give flexibility for scheduling and for using therapy in different moments of the week.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
Also works with
- Experience
- 9 years
- Licensed
- New York
- Languages
- English