Lina Barbenès Santiago (she/her/ella)

LCSW
Accepting Clients

Hello! I'm Lina, a compassionate psychotherapist specializing in complex trauma, anxiety, depression, relational issues, and self-esteem.

Clinical Social Worker in New York

Services
  • Individual
  • Couples
  • Family
  • Adolescent/Teen

About My Clients

I work best with people who are trying to understand themselves on a deeper level—especially those who feel caught between identities, relationships, cultures, or expectations. Many of my clients are navigating questions of belonging, desire, and agency, often while carrying the weight of trauma, migration, family pressure, or systemic marginalization. They tend to be reflective, curious, and ready to look closely at the patterns that shape their internal world.

My Background and Approach

My approach is grounded in contemporary psychoanalytic practice with a strong emphasis on collaboration, careful listening, and thoughtful inquiry. I work at a measured pace that allows clients to reflect deeply rather than move toward quick or superficial solutions. My style is steady, attuned, and oriented toward helping people understand the emotional and relational patterns that shape their lives—especially during periods of overwhelm, conflict, or disconnection. Trauma-informed care is central to the way I practice. I pay close attention to the body, to dissociation, and to how trauma can fracture a sense of identity, safety, and agency. My aim is to create a therapeutic space where clients can approach painful material without being rushed, dismissed, or retraumatized, and where difficult feelings can be held long enough for genuine change to unfold. I am particularly interested in questions of identity, migration, language, and the experience of moving between cultures.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

As an immigrant myself, I bring a unique perspective to my practice, combining professional expertise with personal understanding. I believe in strength-based, culturally sensitive therapy. By integrating family therapy, attachment theory, and psychodynamic components, I help my clients explore their thought patterns and root conflicts. I also incorporate critical race theory, queer theory, and feminist perspectives to contextualize experiences and empower change.

Techniques I Use

Other Techniques
  • Attachment Theory
  • Family Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy

Issues I Treat

Specialties
Anxiety Attachment Depression
Other Issues
  • Abuse
  • Anger Issues
  • Anxiety
  • Attachment
  • Bipolar
  • Body Image Issues
  • Burnout
  • Cancer
  • Codependency
  • Depression
  • Dissociative Disorders
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence
  • Eating Disorders
  • Family Conflict
  • Gender Identity Therapy
  • Grief or Loss
  • Historical/ Intergenerational Trauma
  • Immigration/Acculturation
  • LGBTQ-Friendly Therapists
  • Marriage Counseling
  • Polyamorous and Open Relationships
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Racial Identity
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Self-Harm
  • Sexual Abuse or Assault
  • Suicidal Thoughts
  • Systemic Oppression Therapy
  • Teen Issues
  • Women's Issues
I offer online counseling in the following states:

At A Glance

  • Experience: 7 years of practice
  • Languages: English, Español, Français
  • Rate: $175/session

Reach out to Lina