Profile / United States
Toni Spera, LCSW
New York
LCSW - addiction and trauma support
See online therapy options- Addiction recovery
- Trauma care
- CBT and DBT methods
About Toni
Toni Spera is an LCSW licensed in New York with five years of clinical experience. She helps people address addiction, LGBTQ concerns, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, parenting strain, grief, and related stressors. Toni frames work around practical steps and clear goals rather than abstract talk.
Her approach is straightforward and focused on actions people can try between sessions. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice and change unhelpful thoughts and patterns. Toni also draws on client-centered skills to listen and DBT and mindfulness tools to manage strong emotions.
In early sessions she clarifies immediate concerns and sets concrete objectives. Sessions often include skill practice, behavioral experiments, and short homework tasks people can use in daily life. The aim is to build coping skills that help with mood, relationships, and cravings.
Toni has particular experience with addiction-related issues, process and sex-related compulsions, and trauma after assault or violence. She also supports people navigating relationship endings, caregiving for older adults, and stress tied to first responder or veteran roles.
People who choose her can expect a practical tone with focus on measurable progress. She works in English and is based in New York. Before booking, confirm current session options and any logistical details you need to plan your first visit.
How CBT and related methods translate to online work
CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. Online sessions can guide short experiments, worksheet completion, and behavioral planning that carry over into daily routines. Client-centered work emphasizes active listening and checking in on what matters most to the person, which helps build clear goals and priorities during remote sessions. DBT adds concrete emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills, useful when strong feelings or urges arise. Choosing the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will review concerns, try a method, and adjust based on what helps. That process means initial sessions often test a few techniques so the person and therapist can agree on a plan. Confirm current session formats before booking, as this profile does not list specific options. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into work breaks, reduce travel time, or use shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. They also let people practice skills in the settings where challenges occur, while the therapist and client review what worked and what to change.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address most often?
She commonly helps with addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship problems, anxiety, depression, grief, and parenting-related stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
The style is practical and goal-focused, using clear steps, skill practice, and short tasks to try between sessions.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
She has five years of professional work experience and has worked with addiction-related concerns, trauma, and stress linked to first responder and veteran roles.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an LCSW licensed in New York and practices from that location.
In which language are sessions conducted?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with clients outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what is the cost structure?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin work 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.