Alison Restak, LCSW, MBSR Teacher

Do you feel unsure of your purpose in life? Are you unsatisfied with your life's direction or the quality of your relationships? Do you have goals or aspirations and struggle with getting started? The good news is that you already have what it takes to be happier —  wisdom is an innate capacity often clouded over by negative thinking and habitual behavior patterns holding you back.

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I always knew I wanted to be a therapist from a young age. I loved listening to people, understanding their struggles, relating, and offering support and suggestions. I grew up playing the harp and piano and often played and listened to music to soothe myself during difficult periods. Music was my medicine, and I decided early on to pursue a career path that would bring together my two passions — music and therapy — to benefit others.

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Over the last 18 years, I've worked in various clinical settings — from music therapy in schools with children experiencing developmental challenges to providing career coaching to veterans transitioning back to civilian life. Most of my clinical experience has been in outpatient mental health settings and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) in hospitals and corporations. At Ernst & Young (EY), I offer emotional health support and teach Mindful Leadership, an 8-week course for firm leaders and employees across the Americas.  I am a certified dialectical behavior (DBT) clinician and employ a strengths-based therapy approach with clients, emphasizing resilience and self-capacity for positive change. 

 

I am inspired daily by my clients doing their best to transition through difficult periods, grow, and achieve their personal and professional aspirations. There is much to be gained by reaching out for help and connecting with a therapist who is there for you, willing to listen without judgment, and understands that your healing journey is your own.

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A long-time meditator, fitness enthusiast, and avid runner, I strongly believe in a holistic approach to therapy that emphasizes the mind-body connection and mindfulness practices to encourage increased self-awareness, self-acceptance and compassionate engagement with the world.

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A fully certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher, I completed professional training in MBSR with senior faculty at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness and mentorship hours with Steve Hickman at the University of California San Diego Center for Integrative Health (UCSD).

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For more information about individual psychotherapy services, mindfulness groups/ workshops, and MBSR classes in Brooklyn and Manhattan, please contact below:

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