Natalia Frankel

Hello! I am Dr. Natalia Maria Frankel, a licensed, Clinical Psychologist with approximately 20 years of experience as a caring mental health professional. Currently, I provide therapy services online to adult clients who live in Florida and Virginia. I prefer working with clients remotely, through the use of the internet and have found that it works just as well as in-person therapy.

My approach

I consider myself an eclectic practitioner of therapy, who uses evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. I help my clients examine their current life circumstances, particularly their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to stressful situations, and assist them to find ways to change their perspective, increase their ability to feel better, and enjoy their lives.

My focus

I specialize in working with adult individuals who have been experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression and are ready to make changes that will help them feel better. I believe that for some people it is difficult to talk to friends and family about difficult and stressful life circumstances, and that opening up to a therapist, who is unbiased and trained to help in such situations, is useful for people from all walks of life.

My communication style

I am the type of person that people find it easy to talk to and open up about their problems and inner thoughts. I consider myself a very empathic, supportive, and understanding person, who does not pass judgment on others. I have a calm disposition, which helps others be at ease, and I like to actively listen versus share about myself. However, I am comfortable directly sharing information during therapy sessions, and helping my clients learn from my training and knowledge of psychology and therapy treatments that work.

My journey to mental healthcare

One of the things that I would like for clients to think about before their first session is whether they have expectations of therapy, and what they would like to accomplish, improve, or change with the help of therapy. We would discuss these thoughts and collaborate on setting attainable goals within a specific time frame.

My goals for you

During the first session, I provide information about online therapy, such as confidentiality and privacy matters, setting appointments, and preferred ways of communicating in between sessions. This is followed by a series of questions, which are intended to help me find out as much as I can about my clients so that I can find the best way to help them. These questions are similar to those asked by a primary care doctor during the first visit; however, the focus is on the client’s life circumstances and mental health history. Also, I answer any question that comes up regarding the therapeutic process, and we discuss whether online therapy is appropriate for your needs and goals.

My first session with you

I have always been an inquisitive person, and interested in learning about psychology, and what makes us who we are as individuals. At an early age, I often helped family and friends who were going through tough times, and later on in life decided to get an advanced degree and practical, hands-on training to be a practitioner of psychology. I have a master’s degree from a counseling psychology program and a psychology doctorate from a clinical psychology program, both in Florida. I had internships, fellowships, post-doctoral training, and work experience from different sites, which included two different university counseling centers, a family practice medical group, a rehabilitation hospital, and several private practices. Currently, I enjoy helping others as an online therapist and expanding my practice through this medium.