Polly Mortensen, LMHC - Therapist in New York

About Polly

Polly Mortensen is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with more than two decades of experience helping people navigate difficult life moments. She is based in New York and brings a calm, practical presence to conversations about stress, parenting, relationships, and mood concerns. Polly uses straightforward language and a warm manner to help people find what works for them.

Polly began her career working in psychiatric rehabilitation and home-based therapy settings.

Background and approach

She has supported people with long-term mental health needs and those living with HIV, and she has experience with foster care populations and the LGBTQIA+ community. Over many years she also practiced vocational and rehabilitation counseling in New York and Florida, supporting educational and career planning. In sessions she combines proven techniques with life experience and some Eastern philosophy.

She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness approaches to address anxious thoughts, mood shifts, and coping skills. Polly adapts strategies to fit each person’s situation rather than applying a single method. Her background includes work with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, grief, ADHD, and caregiver issues.

She also addresses relationship struggles, career questions, and life transitions. Her additional focus areas include adoption and foster care, attachment concerns, chronic illness, and forgiveness work. Polly communicates in English and holds a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor credential - NY LMHC 000426.

She aims to help people build inner strength and practical skills so they can move forward with clearer choices and more confidence.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Polly commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy when working with people remotely. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new ways of thinking to change feelings and behaviors, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and parenting stress. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple practices to notice thoughts and bodily sensations without judgment, helping with emotional regulation and coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. She treats the choice of method as collaborative, checking in about what feels useful and adjusting techniques to match each person's goals and preferences. That way therapy stays practical and relevant to everyday life.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to make scheduling easier. These options let people fit support around school, work, or caregiving responsibilities and continue care from home. The variety of formats also allows for short check-ins or longer sessions depending on what someone needs that week.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Polly address in sessions?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, relationship concerns, grief, trauma and abuse, bipolar concerns, ADHD, and compassion fatigue, among other issues.

How would you describe her therapy style?

Her style is warm and practical, using clear language and collaborative problem solving. Sessions mix skills practice with reflection and mindfulness exercises.

What experience does she bring to therapy?

Polly has 21 years of clinical experience, including work in psychiatric rehabilitation, home-based therapy, foster care settings, and vocational rehabilitation in New York and Florida.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the New York credential NY LMHC 000426 and practices from New York.

Which languages are used in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Polly offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as options for connecting.

How are fees and billing handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 21 years
Licensed: New York
Languages: English

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