Elisa Mantel-Smith , LCSW-R

Elisa Mantel-Smith is a licensed clinical social worker based in New York City who brings ten years of experience supporting individuals, families, and groups through complex life challenges. She holds a Master of Social Work from Columbia University and uses that training to help people navigate health concerns, fertility questions, bereavement, and other significant life transitions.

Elisa meets clients where they are, combining empathetic listening with practical guidance to promote wellbeing. Her approach emphasizes creating an authentic, supportive space in which people can explore their priorities, build coping strategies, and make meaningful changes. With experience across individual and group settings, she tailors support to each person’s situation and pace.

Clients can expect a collaborative relationship focused on clear goals and steady progress. Elisa frames her work around respect, real-world tools, and thoughtful reflection, aiming to help people regain balance and move forward after loss, stress, or major life changes.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Elisa Mantel-Smith draws on Client-Centered Therapy to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where clients lead the pace and focus of work; this approach helps when someone needs affirmation, self-exploration, or support making personal decisions. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical strategies for managing anxiety, mood challenges, and stress. In addition, Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people and couples understand and reshape emotional responses to improve connection and resolve relationship difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Elisa collaborates with each person to select and adapt methods that fit their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, adjusting direction as progress unfolds.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - offer flexibility for busy schedules, reduce travel time, and make it easier to maintain continuity of care. These formats allow licensed professionals like Elisa to deliver focused, effective support that fits into clients' daily lives while accommodating different communication styles.