Polly Mortensen , LMHC

Polly Mortensen is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York with 21 years of experience. She draws on a long clinical career to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting strain, and identity questions. Polly uses a warm, down-to-earth style that aims to make hard conversations feel manageable.

Her background includes work in psychiatric rehabilitation programs and home-based therapy for people with HIV and mental health needs. She has experience supporting people who have lived in foster care and those coping with trauma and abuse. Polly has also provided vocational and rehabilitation counseling in New York and Florida, helping clients with career and educational planning.

In sessions she blends practical strategies with mindful awareness. Polly uses tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy alongside client-centered listening. She focuses on small, steady steps clients can try between sessions to reduce anxiety and improve mood.

Polly also brings experience supporting LGBT clients and people managing chronic health or caregiving stress. She helps people process loss, relationship challenges, and life transitions while honoring each person’s pace and values.

Her approach is collaborative and adaptable. Polly will talk with each person about their goals and tailor sessions to what feels most useful. She aims to help people notice strengths, build coping skills, and make clearer choices about work, relationships, and wellbeing.

How Polly Uses Talk, Skills, and Mindfulness Online

Client-centered therapy starts with the therapist listening closely and following the priorities you bring. It’s about being heard and shaping sessions around your goals, whether that is managing stress, deciding on work steps, or coping with life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It offers practical exercises to test unhelpful thoughts and build small behavior changes that reduce anxiety and lift mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication when feelings run high.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Polly will talk with each person about goals and try methods that match needs and preferences. That collaborative process helps decide whether more skills practice, mindful exercises, or exploratory dialogue is best.

Online sessions can fit into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation; phone sessions work when bandwidth or a screen is impractical. Live chat and text-based messaging make brief check-ins and coaching possible between longer sessions. These options let people choose what works best for their schedule and comfort while making care more accessible.