Upper East Side Family Therapist
Dr. Kathryn Smerling is a leading Upper East Side family therapy professional who uses connection, communication, and community to bring people to a better life.
With a firm belief in this perspective, Dr. Smerling views therapy as a practice people should be proactive about. She advises clients to come to her before problems arise, so that they are better equipped if and when they do. “You don’t need to wait for a crisis to learn how to self-reflect and be mindful.” Those who make therapy part of their life have a clearer grasp on themselves, their health, and their direction.
Upper East Side Family Therapist
Dr. Kathryn Smerling is a leading Upper East Side family therapy professional who uses connection, communication, and community to bring people to a better life.
With a firm belief in this perspective, Dr. Smerling views therapy as a practice people should be proactive about. She advises clients to come to her before problems arise, so that they are better equipped if and when they do. “You don’t need to wait for a crisis to learn how to self-reflect and be mindful.” Those who make therapy part of their life have a clearer grasp on themselves, their health, and their direction.
Giving back is also a crucial part of Dr. Smerling’s philosophy on being healthy. She encourages her clients to engage in this practice, and does so herself through frequent community service. She also participates in speaking engagements and television interviews to share her approach both locally and globally.
With a lifelong curiosity, Dr. Smerling is constantly learning in areas related to her field. Currently, she is pursing accreditation in emotionally focused therapy and learning about the neurobiology of emotions. While always on the cutting edge of knowledge and academia, Dr. Smerling recognizes the deep need for the real-world application of therapy to life. She always targets a balance of pedagogy and practicality in her psychotherapy approach.
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Recent Posts
An Ugly Divorce Can Affect A Child’s Long-Term Health
Dr. Smerling was recently quoted in a piece about how an ugly divorce can affect a child's long term mental health by Fatherly.com. She’s quoted as saying: “Any kind of anxiety caused by divorce or separation can and will affect a child’s physical health,” explains...
read moreI Did Not Raise a Donald Trump: In Defense of Good Men
I did not raise a Donald Trump. Like many mothers, I raised my son with an understanding that to be a man is not only to be strong and hardworking, but also to be loving and open to others. And like me, I see many mothers worrying about what a Donald Trump presidency...
read morePeace on the Table
Thanksgiving is long past; Christmas and Hanukkah arrive in a couple of days. If you escaped political dissension during the former, consider yourself one of the lucky few! Hunkering down to the December holidays (and yet more time with loved ones) may mean additional...
read moreInterested In a Phone Consultation?
Recent Media
Virtual therapy, other ways to get support amid coronavirus
The fact that we can’t physically go in to therapists’ offices right now doesn’t mean we don’t still need them. On the contrary – getting social support in a time of crisis is more important than ever.
When a physical door closes, a virtual one opens: Therapists all over the country are responding to the coronavirus pandemic by getting creative with ways in which they can help clients and are suggesting other ways people can get the social support they need while being quarantined at home.
“I think too many people suffer because they don’t make their needs known,” says Dr. Kathryn Smerling, a family psychotherapist based in New York City, who highlighted the idea that grief is not restricted to those who have directly contracted the virus or lost a loved one.
read moreProtecting your loved ones amid the coronavirus pandemic
It’s starting to get hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It doesn’t help matters that there’s so much conflicting information going around, which is why we turned to leading experts to find out exactly how and what we should be cleaning, what to look for when shopping for disinfecting products (did you know hormone disruptors are lurking in many household products?), how to stock your medicine cabinet, tips for warding off the blues, and more.
read moreMaintaining balance while social distancing: How to keep your mental and physical health in check
As the number of coronavirus cases surges across the area, so has anxiety.
Emotions run the gamut as many of us navigate unfamiliar territory.
The uncertainty bundled with social distancing — and what has probably boiled to cabin fever, in most cases — may be taxing, but mental health professionals say it’s more important than ever to maintain structure.
“We’ve never dealt with anything like this before,” explained psychotherapist Dr. Katherine Smerling.