- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- ACT and CBT skills
- Bilingual English Spanish
About Sylvia
Sylvia Leal is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New York with 20 years of experience. She runs a bilingual practice in English and Spanish and focuses on stress, anxiety, relationships, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes.
Sylvia works with individuals and couples who are facing trauma, difficult transitions, and relationship challenges. She helps people notice unhelpful patterns, improve communication, and build practical skills to manage emotions and day-to-day stress.
Her approach draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment-based work, client-centered methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She uses these approaches to help people understand emotional patterns and shift the ways they relate to themselves and others.
Sylvia describes therapy as a collaborative process. Sessions include noticing how past relationships shape present responses and practicing new ways of responding. She often combines insight about patterns with skill-building for emotion regulation and communication.
Clients who come for relationship concerns may work on attachment wounds and commitment issues. Those dealing with life changes or health challenges can get help with coping strategies, boundary setting, and reducing self-criticism. Sylvia aims to help people move toward clearer values and more manageable daily routines.
How EFT and related approaches are used online
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and shifting emotional patterns that affect relationships. It helps people name hard-to-recognize feelings and change how they respond in close interactions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches skills for living according to personal values while accepting difficult thoughts and emotions, which can help with anxiety and life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relational experiences shape current relationship patterns and helps people try new ways of connecting.Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist works collaboratively to see whether EFT, ACT, attachment work, or a mix fits a person’s needs and goals. That choice can change over time as concerns and goals shift.
Session formats are not specified here, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example a shorter check-in can work during a lunch break, phone calls can use less bandwidth, and remote meetings avoid travel time. These practical benefits help people maintain continuity of care while they practice new ways of relating and managing stress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
New York, Connecticut
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes, plus related issues like abandonment, communication problems, and caregiving stress.
What therapeutic style does she use?
Her practice centers on Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) and also draws on ACT, attachment-based work, client-centered techniques, CBT, and DBT for skills and insight.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 20 years of clinical experience working with a range of relational and emotional concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, holding CT LCSW and NY LCSW credentials, and practices in New York.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.