EMDR THERAPIST IN NYC & ACROSS NY & NJ

A space to find clarity.
Support from someone who gets it.

Meet Patrycja Szymczak, LMHC, LPC, NCC

You’re tired of only being able to rely on yourself. Luckily, you don’t have to anymore.

I WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO…

  • Have built a solid life on paper but feel stuck, like something important is still missing.

  • Notice the same patterns showing up—people-pleasing, overthinking, avoiding hard conversations—and are ready to do something about it.

  • Are at a turning point after a loss, a breakup, a big move, or a career change, and are wondering: “what now?”

  • Still feel they’re not “good enough” despite career success and shouldering a lot of responsibility at home.

  • Want meaningful relationships but struggle to trust, set boundaries, or let others see what’s really going on inside.

  • Sometimes worry it’s too late to build the kind of life or relationship they truly want—but know something needs to change if they’re ever going to.

How we will work together

Helping you look at the bigger picture & connect to what really matters to you.


In our work together, we’ll slow things down so you can actually hear yourself think—without all the noise of outside opinions or the worries that might be holding you back. I’ll guide you in tuning into what’s going on underneath the surface, and we’ll get curious about the patterns that are keeping you stuck so we can gently start shifting them. I’ll help you find clarity about and act on what matters to you, not just what’s expected of you.

Therapy with me is…

  • I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Some days you may come in knowing what you’d like to work on, and others you may just need to sit and breathe—I’m here for you either way. I pull from different tools and approaches depending on what you need that day: that might mean helping you get out of your head with grounding exercises, or unpacking that hard conversation you keep replaying. And you won’t be expected to dive into your whole life story on day one—we'll start with what’s going on for you right now, and navigate forward from there.

  • In our sessions, I take a holistic approach where physical sensations are just as important as our thoughts. Because our feelings don’t just exist in our minds, but in our bodies, too. The body has a way of letting us know when something’s not right—tightness in your chest, knot in your stomach, constant tension in your shoulders—and it’s important we pay attention to that. When we can slow down and notice what’s happening on a physical level, it helps us get clearer on what you actually need. 

  • This work is about reconnecting with yourself. You may have spent years doing what was expected—climbing the ladder, saying yes when you wanted to say no, staying quiet to avoid conflict. I believe that behind every behavior there is a need, and I’ll help you understand what those underlying needs are so we can find more effective ways of getting them met. Together we’ll start making space for your voice, your vision for your life, and what actually feels right for you. This is your space to be honest, messy, and real without judgment.

  • I’ve worked extensively with clients facing grief, uncertainty, major transitions, and the sense of not quite belonging—experiences that are often hard to put into words but deeply felt.

    In addition to formal training in approaches like EMDR, CBT, parts work, mindfulness, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), therapeutic hypnosis, my perspective has been shaped by years of observing and engaging with people in the context of everyday life. 

    Before becoming a therapist, I spent over a decade working closely with families from a wide range of cultural and relational backgrounds. That time offered a unique view into the dynamics of connection, conflict, and resilience that unfold in private spaces—insights that now inform the work I do in the therapy room.

    My path into this profession wasn’t linear, and that has given me a profound respect for the complexity of real-life change. Therapy, in my experience, is most powerful when it honors both what you’re working through now and everything it took to get here.

Education & Licensure

Trainings & Certifications

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (NY) with Diagnostic Privilege

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (NJ)

  • National Certified Counselor (NCC)

  • Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling - Brooklyn College

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology & Sociology - Hunter College in New York

  • Trained in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

  • Trauma- Informed Counselor

  • Certified in Advanced Grief Counseling (CAGCS)

  • Certified Trainer/ Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Eriksonian Hypnosis

You do not have to stay stuck.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY STUCK.

Together we can figure out what’s next.