- Stress and anxiety
- Grief and loss
- Social anxiety
About Cynthia
Dr. Cynthia Starkey is a New York licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with 24 years of experience. She works with people who are coping with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. She also focuses on issues such as communication problems, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, loneliness, life purpose, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, self-love, and social anxiety and phobia.
She meets people where they are and talks through what is happening in day-to-day life. Sessions are practical and conversational, with attention to what feels most difficult right now. The intent is to make time with the counselor useful and understandable rather than full of jargon.
In sessions she helps people put concerns into manageable steps. That can mean naming what is most worrying, trying small behavior changes, or practicing ways to speak up and set limits. She pays attention to patterns that keep problems repeating and to small shifts that reduce strain in relationships.
Her background includes long-term clinical work in diverse settings across New York. Over the years she has guided people through major life changes like separation, loss, and recovery after difficult experiences. Practical coping skills and clearer communication are frequent goals.
People who are anxious about social situations or who feel stuck after loss or trauma often come for focused work. To begin, the site questionnaire and initial scheduling step are used to match needs and plan a first session.
Evidence-based approaches and online sessions
Many clients find clear, evidence-based techniques helpful for symptoms like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. One common approach is cognitive-style work that looks at unhelpful thought patterns and tests them with real-life experiments. This can help with worrying about social situations and reduce avoidance over time.Another useful method focuses on skills training for communication and emotional regulation. These skills teach practical ways to speak up, set limits, and manage strong feelings so interactions feel less overwhelming. For trauma-related concerns, clinicians often combine grounding and pacing with these skill-based steps to reduce reactivity.
Finding the right mix of techniques is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose methods that fit the client's goals, pace, and preferences. That means discussing what has helped before and trying options together rather than assuming one route from the start.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a workday, remove travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people choose whether to be on camera. These practical benefits help therapy fit into everyday life while the therapist and client test what works best.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
24+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression, plus related concerns like communication problems and social anxiety and phobia.
What is her approach or style in sessions?
Sessions are practical and conversational, focusing on naming problems, trying small behavior changes, and improving communication rather than on technical language.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 24 years of professional work experience in mental health settings in New York.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a licensed mental health counselor - LMHC - and practices in New York.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin scheduling a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.