Complex PTSD is often misunderstood—both inside and outside the therapy room. This blog explores the myths and realities of working with clients with C-PTSD, highlighting a compassionate, person-centered approach that prioritizes safety, honors survival strategies, and supports meaningful, lasting healing.

Living and working in New York City can be exhilarating — but for many ambitious professionals, it’s also exhausting. Chronic overworking, anxiety-driven achievement, and blurred boundaries often lead to career stress and burnout. In this post, an NYC therapist shares five practical, evidence-based strategies to help high achievers reset, set healthier boundaries, and prevent burnout before it reaches a breaking point.

All-or-nothing thinking — the belief that you’re either doing recovery “perfectly” or completely failing — is one of the most common cognitive patterns we see in eating disorder therapy in NYC. While eating disorders often look behavioral on the surface, they’re reinforced by rigid, black-and-white thought patterns underneath. At LEL Therapy, we help clients gently unpack how this extreme thinking fuels cycles of restriction, bingeing, shame, and perfectionism — and how building cognitive flexibility becomes a cornerstone of sustainable recovery. Healing isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about learning to live in the gray.

Grief is never simple, linear, or predictable. Drawing from both personal loss and clinical experience, this piece explores the realities of grief—from its messiness and isolation to the ways it reshapes identity, relationships, and life itself. These lessons are a reminder that there is no “right” way to grieve, that joy and sorrow can coexist, and that you don’t have to carry loss alone.

Feeling anxious right now? You’re not alone—anxiety can hit suddenly with racing thoughts, chest tightness, or panic. In this guide, NYC anxiety therapists share five practical, therapist-approved techniques to calm your nervous system in the moment, plus signs it may be time to seek therapy for anxiety in New York for lasting relief.

Looking for eating disorder therapy in NYC or New York State? Discover the key qualities that matter most when choosing a trained, ethical eating disorder therapist.

A compassionate guide to navigating food, body image, and family triggers during the holidays, with practical tips to break old patterns and find balance.

Repeating the same arguments with your partner can feel exhausting and confusing. This blog explains the vulnerability cycle—a pattern rooted in past wounds and survival strategies—and shows how understanding it can transform conflict into connection.

In this honest story of eating disorder recovery, I share how leaving New York City and entering treatment helped me rebuild my life and rediscover self-love. What once felt like the end became the beginning of true healing. Inspired by Taylor Swift’s music, I learned that recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about small, brave steps toward hope and happiness. If you’re struggling, this story is a reminder that healing is possible, and you are never too far gone to start again.

Complex trauma happens when a person experiences repeated harm or unsafe situations over time. It can impact emotions, relationships, and self-worth—often without understanding. Healing isn’t linear, but with trauma-informed care and supportive communities, recovery is possible. You can rebuild safety, trust, and connection at your own pace. You don’t have to navigate healing alone.

If you think a friend may have an eating disorder, knowing how to talk about it matters. Here’s how to approach the conversation with compassion and care.

Too often, trauma is mistaken for misbehavior or ADHD, leaving children mislabeled and unsupported. With trauma-informed care rooted in compassion and play, we can help them recover, build resilience, and truly thrive.

Instead of saying 'I have to,' try saying 'I get to.' This small but powerful shift transforms burdens into opportunities, inviting gratitude and freedom into even the most overwhelming moments.

At my lowest point, I believed my life was over—but entering eating disorder treatment became the first step toward building a future I couldn’t have imagined. This is my story of recovery, resilience, and finding purpose after years of struggle.

Your 20s in New York City can be exciting, challenging, and overwhelming all at once—and the right therapist can make all the difference. At LEL Therapy, we understand the unique pressures of city life and offer a space where you can explore your goals, struggles, and dreams without judgment.

Being a therapist doesn’t mean having it all figured out. In this post, Lauren Larkin shares 10 honest truths from her 30s—about healing, identity, and being human.

Caroline Kirby, LMFT, eating disorder therapist in NY, interviews dietitian Megan McCann on working with athletes. Dietitians and Therapists on our team at LEL often work closely together to make sure their clients are fueling accordingly to their nutritional needs. With athletes, Megan highlights that they often don’t even realize they could be under fueling and affecting their performance. Read more here!

Lauren Larkin, therapist in NYC, explores and challenges perfectionistic thinking with clients in therapy and encourages clients to "live in the gray." Want to learn how? Read on.

Lauren Larkin LMHC, founder of LEL Therapy, share a recent experience where she reflected on her self compassion practice and how far it has come. Learn about the practical implications of self compassion in this blog.

New to Therapy in NYC? Not sure what to expect? Read this blog from Lauren Larkin, LEL Therapy’s founding therapist’s tips for beginners to therapy.