Gladys Lai

About Gladys

My approach

My approach is integrative and tailored to each client’s unique needs. Drawing from emotional, somatic (including EMDR and AEDP), attachment, and contemporary analytic therapies, I select the tools best suited to help you understand your issues and find meaningful ways forward. My style is active, warm, and empathic, as well as collaborative and supportive.

About me

I began my career studying clinical psychology and, after graduate school, trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This led to a deeper interest in anxiety and trauma and further training in their treatment. I later integrated somatic approaches and continue to expand my practice through ongoing study of other modalities.

More background

What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?

I have been interested in what makes people who they are for as long as I can remember. How do two children who have the same parents come to approach the world from opposite perspectives? Why is one shy and the other outgoing? What causes people to be stuck in situations and relationships that do not seem to serve them? Why do they repeat these kinds of relationships with other people? Wanting to find answers to such questions led me to learn about psychology. I know how important it was in my life to have people who helped me psychologically, and I want to extend that help to others.

What would be important for someone to know about working with you?

I work with my clients to create a safe environment in which we can explore your problems. I will ask you a lot of questions to help you be curious about your beliefs, present way of being, and desires. You are your own expert and the one to best decide what changes you would like to start making and at what speed. I tend to be interactive with my clients in therapy, giving feedback when I feel it is appropriate, but also listening when that will be more helpful. I do not give homework, but I may occasionally suggest helpful perspectives and ways to observe that you can practice outside of sessions.

In what ways have your personal experiences influenced your work with your clients?

No one goes through life without experiencing ups and downs. Because of my own personal experiences and issues with family, relationships, work, loss and life transitions, I can more easily put myself in the shoes of others and understand how frustrating and trying those situations can be. They also motivated me to delve into and understand better human psychology, development and relationships. I have noticed the conditions which best help me to think, feel and find resolution, so I promote as much open-mindedness, nonjudgment, compassion, and collaboration as possible in my work with my clients.

Work history

My experiences as a therapist have included work with children, all ages of adults, and a wide range of issues. I especially enjoy working with young adults (18-24) and adults (24-65). I feel fortunate through my work and post-graduate training to have learned different therapeutic modalities, so that I may apply those which I feel best suits the client sitting in front of me. Throughout my 10-year career, I have worked with clients who have experienced issues with anxiety (including social anxiety, panic attacks), depression, family relationships (especially parent-child), peer relationships, trauma (especially childhood abuse and neglect), identity, self-esteem, communication, life transitions, grief and loss. In particular, after graduate school, I sought out more training and experience in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and integrative trauma treatment, including the use of EMDR. I continue to add to my repertoire of skills and knowledge each year.

Specialties

Types of therapy

Who Gladys works with

Ages

Adults, Elders (65+)

Communities

LGBTQ+, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, BIPOC, Black / African American, Latino / Hispanic, Asian American, Indigenous / Native American, Immigrant, Single Parents

Languages

English

Education and training

Bachelor of Arts, Columbia College, Columbia University

Master of Social Work in Clinical Social Work, New York University, School of Social Work

Certifications

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program, Contemporary Freudian Society, Certificate of Completion

Integrative Trauma Studies, National Institute of Psychotherapies (NIP), Certificate of Completion

2-year EMDR Training Program, NIP, Certificate of Completion