Profile / United States
Sylvia Leal, LCSW
New York
LCSW - Anxiety and Relationship Concerns
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Bilingual English Spanish
About Sylvia
Sylvia Leal is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 20 years of clinical experience based in New York. She conducts a bilingual practice in English and Spanish and addresses stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Her background includes a range of additional focus areas such as attachment issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and communication problems.
She uses practical, skills-based methods to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and patterns. Sylvia draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to work on thoughts, behaviors, and values. She also uses attachment-based ideas to look at how early relationships shape current responses.
Sessions aim to teach straightforward tools for managing symptoms, improving communication, and reducing self-criticism. Expect structured work on cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and learning emotion regulation skills when those approaches are appropriate. She also incorporates strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy when clients need skills for managing intense emotions.
Sylvia emphasizes collaborative planning. She helps clients set concrete goals and practices between sessions to test new ways of responding. Her practice supports people dealing with divorce and separation, codependency, body image concerns, and issues tied to aging or disability.
People who prefer to speak Spanish can do so in sessions. She does not accept international clients. Costs vary by location and sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
How CBT, ACT, and Attachment Work Online
Many of Sylvia's core methods translate into clear steps that people can practice between sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to change how someone feels and acts. CBT is useful for anxiety, low mood, and stress that comes from repetitive thought patterns.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches values-based action and acceptance of difficult feelings while still moving toward meaningful goals. ACT can help when someone wants to live by their values even while they experience anxiety or loss.
Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships influence current patterns. This approach helps people recognize relational triggers and build different ways of connecting and communicating.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Sylvia will review goals and preferences with each person and use collaborative planning to decide which methods to emphasize. That decision is based on the client’s needs, the issues presented, and what practical skills are most helpful.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since formats were not specified in the biography. Ask about available session types when you schedule. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time so clients can practice skills in their everyday settings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
New York, Connecticut
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What types of concerns does she address most often?
Sylvia focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. She also works with concerns such as abandonment, attachment issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and communication problems.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in sessions?
CBT is used in a structured, collaborative way to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. Work often includes cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation to reduce symptoms and build practical skills.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has 20 years of experience as a clinician. That experience informs a mix of skills-based and insight-oriented approaches across a range of concerns.
Where is she licensed and located?
Sylvia holds LCSW credentials in Connecticut and New York and practices from New York.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription billing model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the See online therapy options button, fill out the 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.