About Me
My Life Mission Is To Help Other People Experience The Healing Power Of Connection
My path to psychology was hardly linear. Being a restlessly creative soul, I spent over 20 years working as an accessory designer. My job required me to travel frequently, and my time abroad deepened my appreciation for other people’s perspectives and ways of looking at the world. After a while, however, traveling began to feel arduous and fashion superficial. I realized, deep down, that what gave me the most joy was connecting with others—providing compassion, empathy, and encouragement to the downtrodden and discouraged.
Additionally, I met a wonderful therapist at age 21 who helped me in more ways than I could possibly express here. At the time, I was depressed and struggling to find my voice. I experienced firsthand the incredible benefits of therapy—I came away more confident, empowered, and in tune with my authentic self. Soon, I realized that I wanted to help other people find their voice and improve their relationships with themselves and others.
I Am Passionate About Helping Kids And Adults Find Creative Solutions To Their Challenges
In my practice today, I strive to empower children, teens, and adults to connect with their feelings and values, advocate for themselves, and navigate the ups and downs of life. I specialize in helping people work through depression, eating disorders, and many other mental health challenges.
I’m also deeply passionate about helping parents and children improve their relationships with each other. So often in life, children and families find themselves feeling stuck. My approach is all about enabling kids to become more confident and joyful and giving parents the tools and knowledge to understand them on a deeper level. When children feel seen, heard, and understood, the whole family experiences peace and harmony as a result.
My work with kids is largely shaped by my creativity. I’ve been deeply creative and artistic ever since I was a young girl, hence why I spent the majority of my career in accessory design. Being creative helps me in my work with children because I can easily enter their world of play and be imaginative with them. Play is the natural medium through which children express their emotions and address their problems. In therapy, my aim is to empower kids to find creative solutions to their mental health challenges.
A Little Bit About Who I Am
I am a creative, empathetic soul with a deeply tenacious side. My tenacity is a big part of who I am and has helped me tremendously throughout my career. For instance, although I never went to design school, I taught myself to draw on my own and wound up having a very successful career in accessory design. And right before I applied to grad school, I was diagnosed with ADHD and told that it was going to be incredibly difficult to become a psychologist. And while the road wasn’t easy, I overcame the obstacles and now I am living out my dream as a result. My tenacity has made me a fierce advocate for my clients, helping them find the right support, resources, and accommodations.
Outside of my work in therapy, you can often find me spending time with my family, friends, and lovely dog Mitzvah. I enjoy scooting around town with Mitzvah on my back. I also love to engage in anything creative—drawing, painting, singing, etc. Currently, I am the director of the William Alanson Child & Adolescent externship, which offers low-cost neuropsychological testing and therapy for children.
Based on my unique personal journey and my therapeutic expertise, I’m confident that I have what it takes to help you access your deepest emotions, find your authentic voice, and become the person you’ve always wanted to be.
Dr. Carolyn Sorkin is a licensed clinical therapist who practices in New York City. She has a doctorate in psychology from the New School for Social Research and a bachelor’s degree of science in business administration and management from Boston University. Dr. Sorkin has advanced trainings in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Relational/Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Collaborative Problem-Solving, and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy with Dan Hayes and Dr. Rennicke.
My Approach To Therapy Is Deeply Relational
I am a relational/interpersonal therapist at heart. After all, I believe that how we approach life and view the world is largely determined by the relationships we have. Will others be there for us? Can we safely express our emotions? Are we allowed to be our authentic selves without fear of judgment? All of these questions can be answered by looking at our relationships. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders do not arise in isolation—they develop in relation to others.
It stands to reason, then, that healing takes place in the context of relationships. And the beauty of therapy is that it can act as a foundation on which to build all the other relationships in our lives. We are all meant to develop our own voice as we grow, but sometimes we need the help of a compassionate other to help us find our own voice. All too often, we default to doing what we think should be done instead of leaning on our own intuition. We pursue the things society tells us to pursue instead of working to discern what we really want.
As a therapist, it’s my goal to help my clients connect with their emotions so that they can develop their voice and live a life that reflects their values. Our emotions are our inner compass. When we are disconnected from our emotions, it’s like driving a boat without a steering wheel. We get tossed around by the waves and pushed in whatever direction people think is best for us. But when we are connected to our emotions, our gut can tell us if something is right or wrong. We can figure out how we feel about something as opposed to how others feel. We can navigate the waves with ease and remain calm and resilient amidst the storms of life.