Kimberly Oakes, LMFT

she/her

Licensed in NY #001196

Insurances Accepted: UMR for Mount Sinai, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth

My strength is working through complex problems with enthusiasm, patience, compassion, balance, and without being one-sided or biased.

My Focus Areas

ADHD, Anxiety, Burnout, Caregiver Burnout, Couples Therapy, Cultural Issues/Racial Stress, Depression, Family Conflict, Family Therapy, Grief, Life Transitions, Panic, Relationship Concerns, Sleep, Stress, Women's Issues, Workplace Stress

My Therapy Style

My therapeutic style could be characterized by open, curious, non-judgmental inquiry to foster safety and develop a positive and productive working alliance. I want you to know that I am on your side. I empower clients to find their voice; whether by setting and seeking goals or simply sharing and feeling heard and validated, I am here to help.

For individual therapy, we of course first establish a positive working environment and build the alliance needed to proceed and then discover problem areas or mental health strains, following the trail of negative emotions, which informs us of your personal distress. Reducing this distress, is at the very least, our primary goal. Whether you suffer from anxiety or depression, or lifecycle-induced stressors, which may feel heightened recently or new altogether, we can track feelings and insights that need to be identified and processed, on our way to symptom relief.

For couples therapy, we find the core of relational distress and big emotions that need to be felt, witnessed, validated, and sorted by both parties. My strength is working through complex problems with enthusiasm, patience, compassion, and balance, without being one-sided. This is a tall order for most, but I have experienced a great deal of success helping couples, by doing just that. We will work on communication (hearing what's really being said and meant), resentments, betrayal, trust, humility, safety, and how to better meet each other's needs.

My Approach

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Couples [The Gottman Method], Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, Relational, Strengths-based

Education & Training

BS - Cornell University, Johnson School of Business

MA - The School of Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University

Get to Know Me

What are your interests outside of work?

I enjoy pursuing a healthy lifestyle and spending time with family. I enjoy learning about new topics or subjects that matter to my community, to my clients, or that peak my interest. I seek to relax in nature or by crafting.

How do you recharge?

I enjoy crafting which helps me to decompress through color and texture. I recharge by being in nature and through solitude.

Do you have any pets?

We have two dogs and I love how they cuddle with us and connect us together. Toby is our oldest pup and he is annoyed by his teen-aged sister dog, Willow. When they play they are just like siblings and can be pretty silly vying for our attention.