Peta-Gaye Sandiford, LMHC
Mental Health Counselor in The Flatiron District, NYC
Working With Me
What Empower means to me: Empowerment to me means having the personal freedom to choose what direction you want to take in your life. It means, YOU being in charge of YOU!
My Philosophy: It is okay not to be okay all the time, but with the right support and healthy resources, you can heal. I treat each person as a unique individual with unconditional acceptance and respect.
What sessions with me look like: I meet you where you are at. I will focus on your strengths and build upon them to help you reflect on and understand your feelings, thoughts and emotions. During our sessions, it will be a safe, supportive, collaborative and nonjudgmental environment to help you build self-awareness and identify ways to cope with your current stressors to move closer to the life you wish to have. I will also help you learn how to advocate for yourself by learning your wants, needs and expectations. We will work together because you know you better than anyone else!
SPECIALTIES
Trauma
Anxiety
Depression
Multicultural Issues
ADHD
Life Transitions
EDUCATION
Pace University, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences (Pleasantville, NY): Master of Science, Mental Health Counseling – 2015
Pace University, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences (Pleasantville, NY): Bachelor of Arts, Psychology – 2010
More About Me
I first realized that I wanted to become a therapist when I took a psychology class and learned that it was a way in which I could help people. Growing up, I convinced myself that I wanted to become a pediatrician, but realized that it was not my dream, it was my parents’ dream.
I have also worked in the foster care/child welfare system where I saw so many inconsistencies that contributed to people not being able to achieve their dreams, not having the support they needed and how it negatively impacted them.
Throughout my career as a counselor, I’ve learned so much about myself and how I can contribute to someone else’s personal success. With me as your therapist, I will work with you to fulfill your purpose and feel empowered with direction and understanding.