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CM Portrait of Cynthia Malek

Cynthia Malek

Compassionate, cognitive-behavioral focused care

LCSW New York

Experience
14 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Cynthia

About Cynthia

Cynthia Malek brings a practical, evidence-informed approach to psychotherapy rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy while drawing on several complementary methods to address complex emotional and behavioral concerns.

Background and approach

As an LCSW practicing in New York with 14 years of clinical experience, she helps clients untangle patterns related to stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addictions. Cynthia blends structured skill-building with a thoughtful exploration of life history to support changes in thinking, feeling, and behavior.

She also integrates client-centered listening, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic perspectives, and trauma-focused techniques when they fit a client’s goals. This flexible mix allows her to tailor sessions to needs such as attachment and abandonment wounds, communication and relationship struggles, issues with control or codependency, and concerns around substance use.

Cynthia’s training and years of practice inform a steady, collaborative stance that balances practical tools with deeper exploration to help clients move toward greater emotional regulation and clearer decision making.

Practical therapy approaches for online care

Many clients find cognitive behavioral therapy helpful for identifying and changing unhelpful thought and behavior patterns; CBT typically involves structured exercises, skill-building, and goal-oriented work useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and substance-related concerns. Client-centered therapy focuses on empathic listening and supporting the client’s own capacity for growth, offering a gentle foundation for exploring relationship, attachment, and self-esteem issues. Motivational interviewing helps people increase motivation and resolve ambivalence about change, which can be especially useful when addressing addictions or readiness for new habits.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to consider goals, preferences, and the presenting concerns and then adapt methods so the work feels focused and relevant. That collaborative stance helps tailor whether sessions emphasize skills practice, deeper exploration, or strategies to support behavior change.

Online formats - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to fit therapy into daily life and maintain continuity between sessions. These options provide flexibility for scheduling and allow licensed professionals to deliver structured interventions and conversational support in ways that suit different routines and comfort levels.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
Her practice focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, relationships, trauma and abuse, and depression, with additional attention to attachment, codependency, body image, and related issues.
What is the therapeutic style like?
She uses a blend of client-centered listening, cognitive behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic ideas, and trauma-focused work to match methods to each person’s needs.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Cynthia has 14 years of experience working in clinical settings and applying a range of therapeutic approaches to treat complex emotional and behavioral concerns.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is an LCSW practicing in New York and holds the license number NY LCSW 082979 as provided in her professional details.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are conducted in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Clients can work with her through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits their needs.
How are fees and payment structured?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBody imageCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapySystemic Therapy

Experience

14+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English