Values Aligned Therapy

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Values Aligned Therapy

Values Aligned Therapy specializes in couples therapy, individual therapy and executive coaching in New York.

Jackie Ourman, LMHC, uses evidence based practices including ACT, EFT and EMDR to help clients heal, thrive and find fulfillment in their lives

02/23/2026

College decision season is upon us and I know all too well how challenging that can be.

I sat down with Ari Fox, LCSW-R of to talk about why this process feels so emotionally loaded, and how parents can actually help rather than unintentionally add to the pressure.

Ari’s team is excellent and they specialize in supporting students and their families through school-related stress, anxiety, ADHD, learning differences, social challenges and significant academic transitions. I’m so glad we got to have this conversation. Link to blog in bio ⬆️

02/21/2026

AI is already part of the conversation. Are we?

As mental health professionals, we need to be talking about this.

I helped create two resources with .rachelwood and the AI Mental Health Collective:

✅ Public guide: How to use AI responsibly for mental health

✅ Clinician guide: 3 intake questions to add to your practice

The data is clear. The need is urgent.

Link to resources in bio ⬆️

02/20/2026

AI is already in your practice. 🩺

Therapists, counselors, and mental health clinicians:

I helped develop this guide with .rachelwood and the AIMHC:

📊 800M weekly ChatGPT users
📊 1M discuss su***de
📊 Your clients are using AI

3 intake questions to ask your clients NOW:

1️⃣ Are you using AI chatbots for emotional support or decision-making? Which ones and how often?

2️⃣ What role does it play for you?

3️⃣ How do you feel after using it?

Assess early and often. This landscape is changing rapidly.

Access this and other amazing free resources at the link in my bio! 👆

02/19/2026

We held our first Social Connection Collective Ambassador meetup yesterday, and I’m still thinking about it. 🌍

Over 30 people signed up from around the world: community builders, clinicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, policy makers and advocates. All working to make connection more accessible and normal in their communities.

When you listen to the stories and the work that everyone is doing, it’s hard not to be incredibly inspired.

This map shows where our Ambassadors are from. It’s a beautiful reminder that loneliness is global, and so is the movement to address it.

This work started for me after the Commission on Social Connection released their report last summer. What began as inspiration from that moment has grown into something collaborative and deeply meaningful.

Grateful for everyone who’s part of this and excited for what comes next.

02/17/2026

AI is everywhere. Are we using it responsibly? 🤔

I’m proud to have contributed to this guide with .rachelwood on how to engage with conversational AI in ways that protect our mental health. 💚

🎯 4 Key Principles:

Keep Your Power - You’re the expert of your life. Use AI to brainstorm, but make your own decisions.
Rehearse Not Replace - Practice difficult conversations with AI, but have them with real people.
Stay Connected - We all need human interaction. AI is a tool, not a friend.
Set Time Limits - Use in small doses. Prioritize face-to-face time and outdoor activities.

⚠️ Be on the lookout for:
• Accuracy issues (AI can sound confident when wrong)
• Privacy concerns (chatbot convos aren’t confidential)
• Accountability gaps (AI isn’t a therapist)
• Engagement tactics designed to keep you talking

The risks are even higher for those under 18.

Let’s hold onto what makes us human: personal agency, critical thinking, relational skills, privacy, and connectedness.

02/13/2026

Registration is still open for my upcoming in-person CE training in NYC:

✨ AI and Mental Health: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Care in a Digital World
📍 NYC
📅 February 17, 2026
🕑 2:00–3:30 PM EST
🎓 1.5 CE Hours | Free

This is an introductory overview (not an advanced deep dive), but it’s designed to help clinicians step back and make sense of how quickly this space is changing and what we’re already seeing in the therapy room.

We’ll explore topics like AI attachment, problematic use, ethical considerations, and how mental health professionals can begin navigating this evolving landscape with more clarity and confidence.

If you’re a therapist who has been feeling curious, uncertain, or overwhelmed by how quickly this is changing, I’d love to have you there.

📌 Register at the link in bio.

NYCTherapist ClinicalWork DigitalWellbeing

02/11/2026

I loved having this conversation with Alexander Goldman on the Social Health 101 episode of his podcast, . We dug into why social connection isn’t just “nice to have” but the fundamental issue of our time.

Too often we treat connection as something extra, something that happens after we’ve fixed other parts of our lives. What we shared with his listeners is that how we relate, how we belong, and how we show up for one another isn’t peripheral. It’s central to our health and wellbeing.

If you’ve ever wondered why so many people feel isolated even in an age of constant communication, this episode unpacks that. We talk about the subtle ways connection (and disconnection) show up in our relationships, our work, and our sense of meaning.

Link in bio

02/10/2026

I’ve been meaning to share more about something I’ve been building called the Social Connection Collective. 🌍💛

Some of you may have seen me mention it, but here’s the quick overview:

SCC is a growing global community focused on one of the biggest public health challenges of our time: loneliness and disconnection. We bring together clinicians, researchers, founders, community builders, and social impact leaders who care about strengthening belonging and rebuilding real human connection.

One of the most meaningful parts of this work has been the opportunity to host global conversations connected to the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Connection, which has helped bring even more momentum and shared purpose into this space.

At its core, SCC is built on one belief:
No one should be doing the work of ending loneliness alone.

The core team behind SCC includes:
✨ Christian Altenius (Sweden)
✨ Maya Pieske (South Africa)
…and me, Jackie Ourman (NYC)

We’re also excited that our Ambassador community is now over 30 strong, and we’re continuing to grow what we’re building together.

More to come soon. And if you’re doing work in this space, or simply feel drawn to it, I’d love to connect. 💛

02/07/2026

AI companions are not a niche trend anymore.

📊 72% of U.S. teens have used an AI companion. And over half of teen users engage with them regularly.

These tools are quickly becoming part of how people cope, relate, and seek connection.

The question is no longer if this matters.

It’s how it’s shaping emotional development, relationships, and mental health.

Sources: Common Sense Media (2025), Phys.org (2025), PR Newswire (2025)

Graphic created with the help of AI (ChatGPT).

TeenMentalHealth AIEthics

02/06/2026

Working on something fun today. Excited to share more soon ✨

02/04/2026

Happy to share I’ll be offering AI and Mental Health: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Care for CE credits on February 17th for the NY EAP community.

🕐 1:00 PM CST / 2:00 PM EST
📍 Hybrid format: attend in person or online

Therapists are being asked to navigate a world that is changing faster than our field can fully process. This training creates space to reflect on how AI is shaping mental health care, relationships, and clinical work, and to begin building shared language and understanding for this evolving landscape.

🔗 Link in bio to learn more and register.

01/18/2026

Lately I’ve been thinking about how the role of technology in our lives is shifting.

Not just in how much time we spend online, but in what we’re turning to it for.

More and more, technology isn’t only capturing attention. In many moments, it’s starting to feel like a relationship.

This week I wrote a reflection on what that shift might mean for connection, loneliness, and our capacity to stay with the discomfort that real human relationships require.

Link in bio if you’d like to read.

Address

244 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1426
New York, NY
10001

Website

https://www.valuesalignedtherapy.com/

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