Zhanna Cohen , LMHC, LPC

Zhanna Cohen is a licensed mental health counselor who focuses on practical, person-centered work. She offers calm guidance for people facing relationship strain, career uncertainty, depression, addiction, and big life changes. Zhanna speaks English and Russian and practices from Connecticut with 12 years of clinical experience.

Her approach centers on listening first and adapting treatment to each person's needs. She uses client-centered methods to build trust and collaboration in sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify thinking patterns that keep problems going, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy adds tools for managing strong emotions and impulsivity.

Zhanna often helps people dealing with family of origin issues, adoption and foster care concerns, attachment and fatherhood issues, and gender dysphoria. She also supports those coping with trauma, post-traumatic stress, mood disorders including seasonal mood shifts, and struggles with self-esteem and self-love. Practical strategies and clear goals are part of the work.

Sessions may include skill teaching, structured exercises, and reflective conversation. Zhanna emphasizes small, achievable steps that fit into daily life. She frames therapy as a collaborative process where the person sets priorities and the therapist offers tools and feedback.

Clients can expect straightforward communication and a focus on what matters now. The aim is to reduce distress, improve coping, and increase confidence in decision making. Zhanna respects each person's story and meets them where they are.

Approaches that translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship where the person's goals guide the work. That approach helps people feel heard and shapes sessions around their priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses simple exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it is useful for depression, anxiety, mood shifts, and many daily struggles. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches concrete skills for tolerating distress, regulating emotions, and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can be helpful for impulsivity and strong emotional reactions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try different strategies, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. Clients and the therapist check in regularly to see which tools are working and which need to change.

Online formats offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skill practice and deeper conversation. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when being off-camera feels easier. Live chat and text-based messaging provide brief check-ins, coaching between sessions, and options for people who prefer writing. These choices make it easier to fit therapy into work, family, and daily life while keeping the focus on progress and usable skills.