Damara Israel , LCSW, LISW-CP

Damara Israel is a licensed clinical social worker who brings 12 years of experience to helping people through major life changes and emotional struggle. She holds LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and LISW-CP (Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice) credentials and practices in New York. Damara focuses on practical steps clients can take to feel steadier and more in control. Her work often centers on career concerns, coping with change, and challenges related to women's issues. She also helps people facing addiction, grief, anger, compassion fatigue, and feelings of isolation. Sessions typically aim to clarify goals and build everyday strategies that fit a client's life. Damara uses a blend of approaches to address thinking patterns, emotional regulation, and motivation. She draws on cognitive behavioral strategies to spot unhelpful thoughts, dialectical behavior ideas to manage intense emotions, mindfulness to build calm, and motivational interviewing to find the push needed for change. These tools are taught in simple, usable ways rather than as abstract theory. Her style is straightforward and compassionate. She listens first, then offers steps clients can try between sessions. Damara pays attention to cultural background and past hurts while helping people move toward clearer priorities and better day-to-day coping. People who choose Damara usually want a mix of practical skill-building and empathic support. Her practice is geared toward adults in New York who want focused work on career, body image, life purpose, and the emotional fallout from transitions and losses.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Damara often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, teaching practical exercises to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and tackle career or relationship patterns. Dialectical behavior therapy skills are used to manage overwhelming emotions and build distress-tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness through concrete steps and practice.

Choosing the right approach is a joint process. Damara will work with each person to identify goals and try approaches that match their needs and preferences. Adjustments are made over time so the work stays useful and relevant to daily life.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for deeper conversation. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text messaging can suit quick check-ins, ongoing coaching, or people who prefer writing. These options offer flexibility while keeping the focus on skill-building and steady progress.