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Irina Firstein, Individual, Marriage & Couples Counseling in NYC

Irina Firstein, LCSW
Top Three Best Marriage Counselors in New York, NY

My name is Irina Firstein, LCSW and I am a licensed New York City therapist providing couples therapy, marriage counseling and individual therapy to Clients throughout the 5 Boroughs of NYC from downtown to midtown to uptown (10075 area) and beyond. I’ve helped individuals and couples resolve relationship issues for over 27 years. I provide services to couples in New York who are married, who are going to get married, and anyone in a relationship who needs help. I also work with individuals on a range of personal issues including trauma, depression, anxiety, addiction as well as most other issues they may face.

What To Look For In A Therapist

Finding the best individual or couples therapist in NYC does not have to be a daunting process. A therapist should have the experience treating the type of psychological conditions you are facing, be compatible with your own personality and needs, be licensed in New York, and have a strong online presence with trust-building reviews. You should see a therapist that has the right combination of temperament, education, training and experience. Often someone with a Clinical Social Worker or LCSW background, like myself, may be the best fit, depending on the mental health issue, personal problem or challenge you want to address.

The goal of my work is to enhance and expand my client’s ability to experience a deeper connection with themselves, their partners and others. That connection is the key to physical and mental health and feeling alive.

Give me a call at (212) 953-1388 to talk.

Irina Firstein, LCSW – Individual, Marriage & Couples Counseling NYC Office Locations

Starting Couples Therapy or Individual Therapy

I am open for business and taking new individual & couples therapy Clients. I have both a therapy office location in Manhattan (370 Lexington Ave #514, New York, NY 10017) and the ability to see Clients virtually. Please call (212) 953-1388 to talk or get in touch online here.

In-Person Midtown Manhattan Office

Location: 370 Lexington Ave #514, New York, NY 10017

Phone: (212) 953-1388

Description of Location: Furnished in-person therapy office in Midtown (by appointment).

Areas Served: All of NYC.

Information on in-person sessions: http://www.irinafirstein.com/contact/

Directions: http://www.irinafirstein.com/directions/

Nearby Landmarks: Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, and the United Nations Headquarters.

Virtual Upper East Side Office  in 10075

Location: 10075 (private building) for Virtual Zoom/Skype Appointments (part of Upper East Side).

Phone: (212) 953-1388

Description of Location: Yorkville area of Manhattan (including 10075, 10028 and 10128) with private virtual office for Zoom/Skype sessions.

Areas Served: All of NYC, NJ and beyond.

Information on virtual sessions: http://www.irinafirstein.com/sessions-on-skype/

Nearby Landmarks: Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Gracie Mansion

Information for couples living in 10075: http://www.irinafirstein.com/couples-therapy-upper-east-side-manhattan-ny/

We are especially convenient to Clients near Grand Central Station which makes it easily accessible to Midtown Manhattan, all Downtown, Times Square (10018), Lower Manhattan (10007), Upper East Side (10075), Upper West Side (10024), East Village (10009), Murray Hill, Flatiron (10011), Rockland County, Westchester and all areas of New York City including Brooklyn and Queens. I do my very best to accommodate all potential clients with timely appointments.

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How Therapist Irina Firstein, LCSW Will Help You

It is my belief that relationships are crucially important and without close and secure connections with others, we as human beings can not thrive in everyday life. Disruption of such connections is the reason we feel emotional pain and suffering. If you are feeling this way, I want to help you and your partner heal, grow and change your life and your relationship. Most issues that people bring to me are, inevitably, an exploration and healing of relationship trauma or disruption of connection with a significant person or people in his or her life.

Let’s get to know each other. You probably found my website by searching Marriage Counseling NYC or some other issue related to therapy for which you have a need. Now that you found me, you can email me or call my New York City Office at (212) 953-1388. Take the first step and I will begin to help you.

Whether you have been married for decades, you’re a newlywed couple or you are transitioning to become parents or retirees, a marriage counselor helps you build a better life together.

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Benefits of Marriage Counseling

  • Work through major life transitions together
  • Resolve ongoing problems related to schedules, finances, & communication
  • Release and prevent resentment
  • Identifying what’s most important in your marriage
  • Keep your marriage on track by minimizing conflict
  • Open the flow of communication
  • Learn to share and frame your feelings
  • Become proactive in how you manage your relationship
  • Reconnect and rekindle the romance in your marriage

Benefits of Couples Therapy

  • Forge tighter, closer relationships by creating trust and safety
  • Learn to talk about common points of conflict i.e. money, sex, intimacy, infidelity, children, family, etc. without escalating into fights
  • Build a closer, deeper connection through willingness to be vulnerable
  • Improve general communication by better listening with more empathy and care about the other
  • Learn to discuss problems without falling into a negative cycle
  • Learn to communicate from a more emotionally vulnerable place
  • Address unresolved resentments in a way that leads to greater connection and understanding

Irina Firstein, LCSW
Licensed Couples Therapist in NY, NY

I am a licensed New York City couples therapist who provides services to individuals seeking couples therapy, marriage counseling and individual therapy for trauma, depression, anxiety, addiction as well as most other issues they may face.

My Approach To Working With Couples

While the basic approach I use in working with couples is based on Emotionally Focused Therapy, as most therapists, I bring my own personality and style into the experience as well as being in a marriage for over 20 years. I understand personally and professionally what couples are going through. I also make it my business to get training and am continuing to do so in areas that are essential to working with couples, such as sex therapy and sexuality as well as understating and treatment of trauma. I dedicate my life to the mysterious nature of relationships and what makes them work.

I saw Irina Firstein when I had a difficult time in my life a few years ago. She very quickly helped me resolve the crisis I was experiencing. Recently I had another very difficult situation. I reached out to her, she saw me within 48 hours and I, again, was helped by her. She is sensitive, very smart, really understands me and quickly tunes in. I highly recommend her for individual therapy. - Macey D.

Irina is a fantastic therapist. She is a great listener, very insightful and tells it like it is, but very sensitive and empathetic. She has just the right mix of what one would want in a couples or individual therapist. I did both with her at different times. I recommend her highly. - Gabriella A.

Irina Firstein is second to none. She is straight forward yet warm, and has the sharpest, most refined sense of perspective you know is coming from the best of places. She is the essence of compassion, honesty, and absolute trust. - Diana V.

What To Do If Your Relationship Is In Trouble

If you are experiencing tension or trouble in your relationship or relationships, you may be feeling rejection, abandonment, lack of empathy, disappointment, hopelessness and helplessness, shame, and many other feelings. These are common human experiences that traumatize all of us and become symptoms that are manifested by depression, anxiety, addictions, health problems and all other symptoms and illnesses. If you feel that you need advice, work with a compassionate couples & marriage therapist–someone who will really listen to you and provide you with the marriage and couples counseling that the relationship you care about most needs. Work with me. I have helped thousands of individuals and couples both emotionally and spiritually.

New York City-based Therapist, Irina Firstein has discussed several topics such as pre-marital counseling and her philosophy on individual and relationship therapy in the Daily News, About.com, CNN, Forbes, and more.

What Happens in Therapy Sessions?

If it’s your first time, you may have a sense of trepidation about seeing a therapist. Rest assured there is nothing to fear. The stigma of seeing a professional therapist is a thing of the past. Why close the door to an opportunity of repairing and saving your relationship and live a fuller life?

My clients consider me a straight-forward and active therapist, and this is what you can expect in our sessions. As a result, most of my referrals come from past and existing clients. I have spent my professional career learning and searching for the root causes of human suffering and the issues that divide couples and strain relationships. I utilize the most efficient, effective and innovative ways to help my clients. To this end I use “old school” proven therapeutic modalities as well as the latest research and cutting edge techniques, such as EMDR and EFT.

Also, in my job as a couples counselor, I help couples close the gap between where they are right now and where they want to be. I also provide counseling and therapy sessions to Russian-speaking clients. If you are looking for a Russian Speaking Therapist near you, contact Irina Firstein, LCSW. Sessions are available in person, by phone or by via Skype/Zoom.

As a Couples Therapist and an Individual Therapist, I will give you all the information, tools and assistance you need to get relief from pain and to find connection.

For an Appointment with Irina Firstein, call (212) 953-1388.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Q: How do I go about making an appointment with you?

    A: Please email me your request or call me on my office phone #. It is helpful if you visit my website and take a look at the page about the issue you need help with. It is also helpful to look at my Practice/Fees Page. Another helpful point is to let me know what days or times work for you so I can give you the best appointment time for both of us.
  • Q: Do you offer Pre-Marital Counseling services in NYC?

    A: Yes I do. The Pre-Marriage Counseling I offer is not the same as provided by religious organizations. I offer two kinds of counseling. One is a more open ended counseling to address any issues the couple is struggling with and wants to resolve or have a better handle on prior to marriage. It is usually a relationship issue. Another type is a more structured short term counseling to address specific topics a couple should discuss in a safe atmosphere, such as children and parenting ideas, finances, families of origin, where to live, friends and leisure, work/careers after baby. Also pre-marital counseling can be very helpful for those previously married as there are often issues of ex-spouses and children that need to be discussed and thought about.
  • Q: Should I get Marriage Counseling/Couples Therapy?

    A: Chances are if you are asking yourself this question, the answer is YES. If you and your partner are having same fights which get more and more escalated and eventually you move on without resolution because you can’t stand the conflict, only to get into the same argument at a later time, it is a good idea to consider professional help from a marriage counselor. My sincere advice is that if this has been going on for a while and keeps happening and you feel that you are getting more and more disconnected from each other, do not wait. So many couples say to me after a session or two, “We should have been here 3 years ago…” Sometimes, couples come in when it may be too late or the damage is so deep that it takes a long time and very hard work to re-establish connection.
  • Q: What are the everyday signs that my relationship needs Marriage Counseling?

    A: My personal perspective is that you do not run to see a marriage therapist at the first sign of trouble but that it is not a good idea to have same chronic issues for a long time. If same argument or conflict comes up over and over with discussions leading to further escalation and disconnect, it would be a good idea to seek professional help. Conflicts usually do not resolve themselves; marriage counseling will provide an opportunity to hear and understand your partner, to take in their way of seeing things in a new and different way and maybe develop tolerance or empathy about your differences that may not be possible if you try to do it alone. Counseling for married couples provides a safe atmosphere and becomes a safe place to be yourself, to be seen and heard by your spouse as well as to learn to have difficult conversations.
  • Q: How do we know you are the right therapist for us?

    A: I think this is a hard decision. The best suggestion I have is to visit my website and read the pages. I wrote every word of this. Also take a look at the About.com and CBS videos. They give you a true sense of me in person. Take a look at some of the articles as they truly express my views and positions on different issues pertaining to relationships. My “Connections Blog” is also a helpful resource.

    Schedule A Virtual or In-Person Appointment Today

     

    FROM OUR CONNECTIONS BLOG

    Sessions available in person, by phone or on Skype.