- Client-centered focus
- CBT and mindfulness
- Family system experience
About Alanna
Alanna Kardon-Alkalay is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in New York. She brings about 15 years of experience in agency, school, and private-practice settings. Her work focuses on helping adults navigate stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting concerns, and other life changes. She also supports people coping with trauma, addiction, eating issues, and ADHD.
She trained at Fordham University in Tarrytown, New York, where she received clinical education in individual counseling and family systems. Much of her background includes preventive services with children and families and counseling in adult mental health programs. She has also worked under contract with a New York public school system to support student needs.
In sessions she often uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which looks at how thoughts and actions affect feelings. She also draws on client-centered and narrative approaches that help people tell their story and find meaning. Psychodynamic ideas and mindfulness practices are available when they fit a person's goals.
Alanna designs treatment plans with input from each person. Plans are adjusted over time as needs change. She emphasizes practical steps and attention to present-moment experience, whether that means guided meditation or noticing strengths already in use.
Trust and professional ethics guide her work. Alanna aims to build a respectful space where clients can talk through issues like codependency, family of origin problems, abandonment, caregiver stress, and challenges around intimacy and communication.
How therapeutic approaches shape online work
Alanna often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and to practice small changes that reduce distress. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, and many everyday struggles.She also uses client-centered methods that prioritize listening, validation, and the client's own goals. This approach supports people who need a calm space to sort through feelings and decisions. Mindfulness is another tool she integrates, offering simple practices to help people focus on the present and manage stress or strong emotions.
Finding the right mix is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each client about their needs, goals, and preferences and then shape an approach together. That collaborative process may mean trying different techniques and adapting as circumstances change.
If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking. Different formats suit different needs - for example shorter check-ins can fit a busy schedule, audio-only sessions use less bandwidth, and video sessions allow face-to-face conversation. Discussing logistics and format happens early so sessions can fit into everyday life without adding extra burden.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting concerns, ADHD, addictions, trauma and abuse, eating issues, grief, anger, and a range of related challenges such as codependency and family of origin problems.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She combines client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness. Sessions aim to blend practical skills with space to make sense of personal stories.
How long has she been practicing?
She has about 15 years of experience working in agencies, schools, and private practice supporting children, students, and adults in various settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW - in New York and maintains practice in that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.