Profile / United States
Mali Austriyak Mikhli, LCSW-R
New York
LCSW-R - Stress and relationship concerns
See online therapy options- Cognitive behavioral work
- Emotionally focused methods
- Client-centered listening
About Mali
Mali Austriyak Mikhli is a New York LCSW-R with 40 years of clinical social work experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting strains, anger, self-esteem problems, career questions, bipolar challenges, and life transitions. Mali meets clients in English, Spanish, and Yiddish.
She describes her practice as a mix of supportive and psychotherapeutic work. Sessions are interactive and focused on practical steps for coping and change. Mali uses elements from cognitive behavioral therapy along with client-centered and emotionally-focused approaches to help people notice patterns and try different responses.
Her background includes long experience across life stages and many cultural and religious backgrounds. She has a particular history working with PTSD, bereavement, and early childhood disruption and trauma. That history informs how she listens and plans next steps with each person.
Mali often combines short-term problem solving with deeper exploration when needed. She helps people with skills for managing symptoms and with conversations that address relationship and family problems. Work may include looking at unhelpful thoughts, changing behaviors, and practicing new ways of communicating.
Practical matters such as coaching, parenting strategies, and managing caregiver stress are common topics. She also addresses attachment and abandonment issues, adoption and foster care concerns, aging and geriatric issues, autism and Asperger Spectrum questions, codependency, and separation or divorce adjustments.
How her approaches translate to online work
Mali commonly draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test alternatives in daily life. CBT sessions often focus on concrete skills like behavioral experiments, thought records, and activity scheduling to reduce anxiety or depression.She also uses client-centered methods that emphasize listening and the client’s own goals. This approach supports people who need space to talk through feelings and to set priorities for change. Emotionally-Focused Therapy is used when relationship patterns and emotional responses are central; it helps people recognize interaction cycles and try new ways of relating.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Mali will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, preferences, and the problems they want to address. That might mean starting with skill-based CBT exercises, moving into emotion-focused conversations, or blending methods.
Session formats are not specified in the original biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving, or travel, and can allow shorter check-ins or meetings when bandwidth or time is limited. Therapists and licensed professionals often use those practical advantages to keep therapy consistent with everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English, Spanish, Yiddish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, parenting issues, anger, self-esteem, career matters, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her sessions are described as interactive and supportive, combining practical skill work with psychotherapeutic conversation to address patterns and behaviors.
What experience does she bring to therapy?
She has 40 years of social work experience, including work with PTSD, bereavement, and early childhood disruption and trauma across many cultures and life stages.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW-R licensed in New York and practices from that location.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, and Yiddish.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She accepts international clients; confirm any time zone or legal considerations when arranging sessions.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.