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WK Portrait of Wendy Kesel

Wendy Kesel

Compassionate, experienced New York clinician

LCSW-R New York

Experience
26 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Family, Parenting
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Wendy

About Wendy

Wendy Kesel is a New York licensed clinical social worker with 26 years of professional experience who focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship and family conflicts, and parenting challenges.

Background and approach

She blends practical skills with an empathetic, client-centered stance to create a space where thoughts and emotions can be explored without judgment. Her practice emphasizes collaboration and realistic steps toward change, drawing on approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside other evidence-informed methods.

Clients find that Wendy balances structured interventions with attentive listening, offering strategies for coping with life transitions, grief, mood concerns, and issues related to identity and intimacy. She also addresses a wide range of additional concerns including ADHD, trauma, self-esteem, career challenges, and caregiving stress.

Wendy frames therapy as a courageous step and positions herself as a supportive partner in the process of working toward greater wellbeing and clearer direction.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Wendy commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in her online work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression and to build practical coping skills. ACT emphasizes accepting difficult internal experiences while clarifying values and committing to meaningful action, which can help with life changes and persistent emotional challenges.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Wendy works with clients to explore their goals, preferences, and the problems they want to address, and then adapts techniques from CBT, ACT, or related modalities to fit each person's needs and pace.

Online formats such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to maintain continuity of care around busy schedules and geographic constraints. These options allow flexible ways to practice skills between sessions, receive timely support, and engage in therapy from a location that suits the client’s daily life.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
Wendy works with a broad set of concerns including stress, anxiety, relationship and family conflicts, parenting, grief, trauma and mood-related issues such as depression and bipolar disorder.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She uses a collaborative, client-centered approach that combines practical skills training with empathic listening to help clients explore feelings and develop coping strategies.
How much experience does she bring?
Wendy has 26 years of professional experience working with individuals facing a range of life and mental health challenges.
What are her credentials and location?
She holds the LCSW-R credential and practices in New York; the license number is NY LCSW-R 061150.
Does she work with non-English speakers or international clients?
Sessions are conducted in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are offered?
Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are billed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsParenting issuesCoping with life changesADHD

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoaching

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

26+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English