Diego Chiluisa is a client-centered and CBT-minded therapist. He has significant experience treating clients with depression, anxiety, and stress as well as those undergoing life transitions. He believes in developing a strong therapeutic relationship involving trust and safety, allowing clients to heal and gain insight into their concerns.
Diego has experience providing mental health counseling to young and adult individuals, couples, families, and groups. He holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, with a focus on Community services from The City College - City University of New York. His Bachelor’s degree from Queens College is in Psychology. He has worked in multiple settings, including a hospital clinic serving in the area of research of public health with elderly populations and chronic patients. He has also actively volunteered at a local church since 2008 working with the youth department.
Diego understands that seeking “counseling” or “therapy” can be very broad and mean different things. It can be intimidating at first if you haven’t had any prior experience or surprising to experience different therapeutic approaches if you have previously experienced counseling. He is here to provide assistance for the needs that you have currently in your life. He sees counseling as a dual relationship where you get to be in the driver’s seat and choose where to go on this journey. He seats next to you pointing out details, providing useful information, or simply supporting you as you reach your destination.
Diego's therapeutic approach integrates humanistic as well as cognitive-behavioral theories to help sort through the various challenges you may be facing at this time. He understands that it takes courage to recognize that you need "help" and that it's a huge step towards wellness in seeking that extra help to deal with those life stressors and he understands that starting counseling can evoke some negative feelings, such as worry, anxiety, or fear; but rest assured that once you embark on this process you won’t be alone and you will have the support to face those challenges and pull from within yourself the resources that you have to solve those problems or challenges on your own.
He strives to provide a safe atmosphere and assist you with a frame that will be warm, respectful, empowering, and supportive to meet your individual needs.