- Person-centered care
- Practical skill building
- Focus on relationships
About Elisa
Elisa Mantel-Smith is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, relationship strain, grief, and life changes. She practices in New York and brings ten years of experience supporting people through difficult moments. Elisa uses straightforward language and calm presence to make sessions feel approachable.
She earned a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and holds the NY LCSW-R credential. Over the last decade she has worked with individuals, families, and groups on concerns such as fertility, caregiving strain, addictions, trauma, and mood challenges. She also supports people facing issues like codependency, body image, and anxiety.
Elisa blends several practical approaches in her work. She centers the person’s perspective and priorities, draws on cognitive behavioral methods to address thoughts and habits, and uses emotion-focused ideas to deepen connection and healing. She adapts tools to the situation rather than sticking to a single technique.
Sessions aim to be down-to-earth and goal-oriented. Clients can expect a mix of listening, problem-solving, and skill-building tailored to everyday life. Elisa pays attention to immediate concerns while also helping people plan for longer-term change.
Her background includes clinical work around health and fertility challenges, loss, and caregiver stress. People seeking help with parenting strain, trauma and abuse, eating and body issues, or coping after major life shifts may find her approach practical and steady.
How Elisa’s approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the person’s lead. It helps people feel heard and decide what matters most in their lives. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors and teaches concrete techniques to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful patterns. Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people understand and shift emotional responses in relationships and close connections, which can be useful for intimacy-related struggles and family tension.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that fit their goals, preferences, and day-to-day needs. That may mean combining listening, skill practice, and emotion-focused exercises over several sessions.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session formats before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit care into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let someone work on thoughts, emotions, and relationship patterns from wherever they are at the scheduled time. Ask about available formats when you complete the matching questionnaire so you know which options are offered.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Elisa commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, grief, parenting strain, addictions, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related matters, eating and body image concerns, anger, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include codependency, adoption and foster care, caregiver stress, and related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is person-centered and practical. She listens, helps set short-term goals, and uses tools to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors while addressing emotions in the moment.
What is her clinical background?
She has ten years of clinical experience working with individuals, families, and groups on health, fertility, loss, and other life issues. That experience informs a practical, steady approach in sessions.
What credentials and region are listed for this therapist?
She holds a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and is licensed as an LCSW-R in New York. She practices in New York.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are sessions offered to international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are costs and billing handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then 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.