https://linktr.ee/gowestchestertherapy

Gowestchestertherapy, Westchester County, New York, NY (2026)

04/19/2026

Grateful to represent NYSSSWA as Westchester Regional Co-Leaders at the NYSUT Health and Educational Professionals Conference this weekend.

Being in a space with professionals across disciplines was a powerful reminder that our work is deeply connected. When we come together, we strengthen not only our professional voices, but the support we provide to students, families, and communities.

Proud to stand alongside colleagues who are committed to collaboration, advocacy, and whole child wellness.

04/13/2026

My dog Sammy died yesterday, and as I sit with this loss, I keep reflecting on the incredible bond between a dog and their person.

There is something so deeply personal about the love of a dog. It is a quiet, constant companionship that becomes part of the fabric of everyday life. They are there through ordinary mornings, busy family days, hard moments, and peaceful nights. Their presence becomes home.

Sammy was more than our dog. He was love, comfort, protection, and companionship. He grew with our family from the time the kids were little, and his love filled this house in ways words can hardly capture. His gentle presence, his loyalty, and the way he always seemed to know when someone needed comfort made him so special.

As I reflect today, I am reminded of how profoundly dogs love us and how deeply we love them in return. That bond is real, lasting, and full of warmth. The love they give asks for so little and leaves such a lasting imprint on our hearts.

The house already feels different without him, and he will be missed beyond words. But I am so grateful for every year, every cuddle, and every moment of unconditional love.

Some bonds never leave us. They live on in our hearts.

Rest peacefully, sweet Sammy. You were so deeply loved.

🐶

03/19/2026

Turning 54 felt different for me, and I’ve been thinking about why.

There’s something about this stage of life that naturally invites reflection. I find myself looking at what I’ve built, what truly matters, and what I want the next chapter to look like. It feels less about striving and more about choosing with intention.

There’s also a quiet awareness that time feels more precious. Not in a heavy way, but in a clarifying way. I notice myself putting more energy into what actually matters, into relationships, purpose, and the kind of life I want to continue creating.

I can feel the shifts, both emotionally and physically. Energy feels different. Rest feels more important. There’s a deeper awareness of how much balance matters.

And then there’s identity. So many roles are evolving at once. Personally, professionally, and in the work I’m building. It makes this age feel less like just a number and more like a checkpoint. A moment to pause and ask what’s next.

At the same time, this doesn’t feel like an ending. If anything, it feels like a transition into something more aligned. A space where experience meets clarity. Where the work becomes more intentional and, in many ways, more meaningful.

Maybe this is the real shift of 54.

Not having everything figured out, but being more honest about what matters, and more willing to live in alignment with it.

03/19/2026

Last Thursday evening the Westchester Rockland region of the New York State School Social Workers Association gathered for a meaningful regional event focused on connection, learning, and collaboration.
We were grateful to have the event hosted by an Ardsley school district family and to welcome an inspiring presentation from a student and his mother who created a Kindness Card Game designed for use by school professionals. The cards offer practical tools that can be used in groups, classrooms, clubs, restorative settings, and prevention initiatives. The activities promote social emotional learning, interpersonal effectiveness, self management, and opportunities for meaningful student connection and socialization.
The Westchester County school social workers who attended were extremely receptive to the presentation. The evening also allowed time for networking, mingling, and the sharing of ideas, resources, and experiences among colleagues who are doing important work in our schools every day.
We recognize that some members were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts and the weather, and we hope to see even more colleagues at future gatherings.
Our goal is to continue building and growing the Westchester Rockland division as a space where school social workers can collaborate, share ideas and resources, support one another, and strengthen the work we do in our schools and communities.
Please look out for our future events. More details will be announced soon.
If you are a school social worker in the Westchester or Rockland region, we hope you will join us at future events as we continue building a strong and connected professional community.

03/08/2026

This weekend I had the opportunity to complete training in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) with Dr. Eli Lebowitz, and I’m truly excited to bring this work into my practice.

SPACE is a highly respected, evidence-based program that helps parents support children struggling with anxiety and OCD by shifting the way families respond to anxious behaviors. Instead of focusing only on the child, it empowers parents with tools that can create meaningful change.

This is a specialized clinical training that equips professionals with a structured, research-backed model for supporting families navigating anxiety.

As a school social worker and therapist, I’m always looking for ways to expand the support I can offer families. Learning this model was both inspiring and incredibly practical.

Grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, and continue bringing evidence-based approaches to the families I work with.

03/08/2026

Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day and the strength, courage, wisdom, and compassion that women bring to the world every single day.

I feel grateful to stand alongside so many incredible women in my life and work. Women who lead with heart. Women who support others while continuing to grow themselves. Women who show resilience, kindness, and courage even in the face of challenge.

As a social worker, therapist, and leadership consultant, I have the privilege of witnessing the power of women every day. Women advocating for their families, supporting their communities, mentoring the next generation, and creating meaningful change.

Today is a reminder to celebrate those women and ourselves. Our voices matter. Our leadership matters—our well-being matters.

Here’s to strong women.
May we know them.
May we support them.
May we be them.

Happy International Women’s Day.

03/01/2026

March is Social Work Month, a time to honor a profession rooted in advocacy, resilience, and human connection.

Social workers show up in moments of crisis, transition, growth, and healing. In schools, hospitals, corporations, private practice, and communities, we hold space, build skills, challenge systems, and strengthen lives.

As both a school social worker, private practice therapist, and leadership consultant, I see every day how powerful this work truly is. Social work is not just about support, it is about empowerment. It is about helping people regulate, reflect, and respond rather than react. It is about creating environments where psychological safety, dignity, and growth are possible.

This month, I am especially grateful for the social workers who advocate quietly and persistently, lead with compassion and courage, integrate clinical skill with systemic thinking, and show up even when the work is complex and heavy.

To my fellow social workers, your presence matters. Your steadiness matters. Your leadership matters.

Let’s continue building communities rooted in connection, regulation, and resilience.

Happy Social Work Month 🤍

02/16/2026

As we celebrate Social Worker Month, I’m proud to help bring school social workers together through the NYS School Social Workers’ Association, Westchester/Rockland Region.

In my role as Westchester Regional Co-Chair, one of my priorities is creating opportunities for connection, collaboration, and professional growth. The work we do each day to support students, families, and school communities is meaningful and complex, and investing in our professional community strengthens our collective impact.

Join us for an evening of networking and connection, featuring a student and parent presentation on newly developed Kindness Cards, opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, and professional headshots in a welcoming local setting.

March 12, 2026
4–6 PM
Momo’s Café, Ardsley, NY

RSVP by March 10th to mjohnson@nyssswa.org or jsanchezyoung@nyssswa.org

I hope you will join us in celebrating our profession and investing in connection.

.us

02/14/2026

Valentine’s Day is a reminder to love others and to love yourself.

Self-love is in the pause.
Self-love is choosing compassion over criticism.
Self-love is reminding yourself that you are worthy, even on difficult days.

In DBT, we know that how we treat ourselves shapes how we move through the world.

Today, choose to be on your own side.

What is one way you can show yourself kindness today? ❤️

02/05/2026

World Cancer Day 🎗🩷

I am a breast cancer survivor.

I was diagnosed at 34, just eight weeks after giving birth to my second child. My oldest was only three and a half.
I underwent chemotherapy, adjunctive therapy, and surgeries.

Today, I offer support not only as a therapist but also as someone who has lived this journey.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed, is in treatment, or is navigating recovery, you don’t have to do it alone. Professional support matters.

One organization that was instrumental in my healing is Cancer Support Community of Westchester (), formerly Gilda’s Club Westchester. Their support makes a difference.

For those not personally affected by cancer, awareness matters too. Days like today remind us how critical prevention and early detection are. Staying up to date with annual checkups saves lives.

If you need support, visit the link in my bio or
www.westchestertherapyservices.com

Photo by
(2006)

02/04/2026

An urge is not a command.

Emotions show up.
Urges follow.
And then comes the pause.

When we acknowledge the emotion, recognize the urge, and pause before reacting, we create space for choice.

Skills like STOP help slow the moment down:
Stop.
Take a step back.
Observe what’s happening.
Proceed mindfully.

The goal isn’t to eliminate emotions or urges.
It’s to respond with awareness instead of reacting automatically.

Pause first.
Then proceed with intention.

Where do you usually catch yourself, at the urge or right before the action?

02/02/2026

Investing in connection is not optional. It is foundational. Relationships are the work, in schools, leadership, and everyday life.

Accountability and support do not compete. They work together. Real change happens in the WITH space.

When we lead with connection, repair becomes possible. Support and accountability create sustainable change.

Restorative practices remind us of something essential. How we respond matters just as much as what we address.

practices

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04/19/2026

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