Irina Simidchieva

I am a psychotherapist who has European, as well as American training. In my clinical work, I utilize a variety of different methods, models, and modalities. My approach is creative, eclectic, and contemporary and differs depending on the individual patient and their needs; but I always approach the clinical work from an integrative/psychodynamic perspective. I have experience with diverse populations and all age groups. The onset of my career was marked by caring for the most vulnerable, underserved, and marginalized populations of NYC, those at risk and mentally ill. My work in a busy NYC-based clinic, prior to me starting a private practice, gave me the experience of working with patients with different levels of functioning and literally all mental health statuses. My post-graduate training in psychoanalysis at the Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis advanced my therapeutic expertise. I currently specialize in relational psychotherapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

I come off the belief that the therapeutic process is a creative process. The therapeutic space is a micro-real world where we bring and repeat our past behaviors. We create a parallel imaginary reality in which we participate with our real feelings, thoughts, and desires—and that makes it meaningful and real. I also come off the belief that the therapeutic process is two-person psychology, not one-person. No matter the approach (and many of them claim to be evidence-based), the only ‘proven’ and recognized healing and helping tool in this diverse profession is the therapeutic relationships. As a therapist, I pay special attention to therapeutic relationships because this is what heels in therapy.