Alanna Kardon-Alkalay, LCSW

Alanna Kardon-Alkalay is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in New York. She has 15 years of experience across agencies, schools, and private practice. Her work often centers on helping adults manage depression, anxiety, ADHD, and relationship or parenting concerns. She aims to make therapy clear and practical for people facing life transitions.

Before private practice, Alanna worked in preventive services with children and families and supported students through a New York public school contract. She also provided counseling in an adult mental health day program. These varied roles shaped how she understands everyday stresses and long-term challenges.

Alanna uses a mix of approaches to match each person’s needs. She commonly draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. She also uses client-centered and narrative ideas to help people tell their story and find meaning.

She builds treatment plans together with clients and adjusts them as life changes. Sessions focus on concrete goals - learning skills for anxiety, improving communication, or coping with grief and loss. Mindfulness practices are offered when they fit a person’s goals, whether that means meditation or simple present-moment exercises.

Alanna values trust, dignity, and professional ethics in the therapy relationship. She encourages clients to use their existing strengths while learning new ways to handle stress, addictions, trauma, or shifts in life purpose. If someone is facing a midlife re-evaluation, she helps them clarify next steps and cope with the uncertainty that can follow.

How approaches like CBT and client-centered work online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding what matters to the person. It helps people explore goals, values, and what gives their life meaning, often useful when coping with big changes or midlife questions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses practical exercises and homework to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and address unhelpful behavior patterns.

Mindfulness therapy teaches simple awareness exercises that reduce rumination and improve focus on the present. These practices can be brief and woven into daily routines, which helps with stress, grief, and compassion fatigue.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, preferences, and life circumstances. Plans are adjusted over time as needs shift.

For session logistics, confirm current options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow people to check in from quieter surroundings or during a work break. It can also allow shorter focused check-ins or longer weekly sessions depending on what works best for the client.