Derek Bakay, LMHC

Derek Bakay is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in New York with 15 years of clinical experience. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, career struggles, and life transitions. Derek brings a calm, respectful manner and values each person's strengths when starting work together.

He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), client-centered methods, and solution-focused techniques to create practical plans. Sessions look at thoughts and behaviors, build coping skills, and set small, achievable steps toward change. Conversations are collaborative and tailored to the person in front of him.

Derek has particular experience supporting people facing caregiver stress, blended family challenges, chronic illness or disability, and midlife shifts. He also helps with relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strains, and questions about life purpose. His work often combines short-term goal-setting with attention to broader life patterns.

His style is approachable and interactive. He avoids labels and focuses on what a person wants to change. Derek aims to make sessions straightforward so parents and busy adults can fit progress into a full life.

People who meet with Derek can expect clear tools, practical homework, and regular check-ins on progress. He encourages small experiments between sessions and adjusts plans based on what actually helps. The goal is steady, manageable improvement rather than quick fixes.

How Derek’s approaches work online

Derek uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors that keep problems going. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and practical issues like work or sleep. Client-Centered Therapy is about building a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation and helping the person lead the pace and focus of work. Solution-Focused Therapy targets small, concrete steps and quick wins to move toward clearer goals.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Derek talks with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has helped or not helped before. Together they decide which tools to try first and revise the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video lets people use visual cues and longer discussion. Phone can fit a break at work or be easier on bandwidth. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for short check-ins, quick coaching, or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options help people fit steady work into busy lives and keep momentum between sessions.