About Gabriela Portas
I am a New York State licensed creative arts therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner working with adults, families, and children who are seeking to overcome their personal barriers using a collaborative approach that incorporates creative expression. My focus is on helping you explore your own capacity for healing within the framework of a safe and […]
Anxiety and Mood Disorders
As a creative arts therapist and Somatic Experiencing practitioner-in-training, I offer an alternative way for working through anxiety and depression. While remaining grounded in the empirical evidence and understanding of how anxiety and mood disorders function, I provide options for managing and overcoming these conditions that use your own creativity and acknowledge the mind-body-spirit connection. […]
PTSD and Trauma
“Trauma originates as a response in the nervous system, and does not originate in an event.” – Dr. Peter Levine Trauma and disorders associated with trauma can be defined in different ways. The most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM) states trauma is an “exposure to actual or […]
Family and Parent-Child Therapy
Family therapy is recommended when conflicts between family members is the core challenge being faced, or when a stressful situation is impacting the whole family. It is particularly useful when a family is adjusting to an addiction, medical issue, or mental health diagnosis of one of its members, or when a child is dealing with […]
Acculturation and Immigration
Families and individuals who immigrate to the United States from other countries frequently experience a variety of stressors that can impact their psychological health. Leaving behind family members and other social connections while adjusting to a new environment, language, and culture can be a hard adjustment. Experiences of racism or discrimination can add even more […]