Meet Our Therapists
Anthea Paterniti, PhD
Co-Founder and Senior Psychologist
I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is the cornerstone of all good clinical work. It encourages curiosity, exploration and discovery. It also provides clients with new experiences of themselves and others, and challenges their notions of the world. Though I am compassionate and serious in my approach, I believe there is an important place in therapy for playfulness and humor.
I take an integrative, collaborative approach to my therapeutic work, utilizing a psychodynamic approach, as well as Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other mindfulness-based interventions. My clients have come from all walks of life, diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, and have grappled with an array of problems. I have expertise working with issues concerning: professional and personal identity, work-life balance, pregnancy and postpartum changes, as well as with depression, anxiety, loss, trauma, organizational difficulties, LGBTQ+ concerns, and relationship issues. For over 8 years, I worked at New York University’s Counseling and Wellness Services as the therapist for the law school students. I also worked for several semesters at NYU’s campus in Florence, Italy, with undergraduate students studying abroad. Furthermore, I have extensive experience working with early career professionals.
Licensed in New York, New Jersey & California, and telehealth provider in Florida.
I believe in being an active participant in the therapy process. I feel it is important that the client not be the only one working in therapy and that it is both empowering and healing to feel that you are collaborating with another person in this emotional journey. My current focus is on helping people develop better self regulation abilities in order to create space for more satisfying relationships with themselves and others. Each step in the process aides in the creation of a stronger, more resilient self.
I received my doctorate from LIU-Brooklyn Campus and generally rely on talk therapy, but I also have a master's degree as a creative arts therapist. I am certified as a Level 3 AEDP therapist and completed a year-long post-doc at NYU in couples and families. I have a diverse background in that I have worked with clients of all ages and from various cultural backgrounds. I have extensive training with children, adolescents, and adults with significant trauma histories and severe emotional disturbances.
I am certified as a Level 3 AEDP therapist and completed a year-long post-doc at NYU in couples and families. I am also working toward my EFT certification in Couple's Therapy and have completed Externship and Core Skills.
LIU-Brooklyn Campus Faculty Supervisor
Licensed in New York, New Jersey & Illinois, and a telehealth provider in Florida.
I believe in being an active collaborator in psychotherapy sessions. My style is warm, frank, and attentive to the processes of healing and change. Therapy is not a one size fits all type of experience. Using creativity, exploration and feedback, we will discover the unique combination of insight, emotional processing, coping skills and lifestyle changes that will help you reach your goals and enhance your sense of well-being.
When working with children and adolescents, I believe in taking a pragmatic approach. Often my work with children involves a combination of individual therapy, parent consultation, family therapy and engagement with the school.
I am a Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist. This is a wonderful and highly effective model that can help couples understand why they get stuck in cycles of distress and how to find their way to positive connection and safety in their relationship.
I believe that we all carry vast wisdom within us; I also believe that suffering often arises from our difficulty listening to our own wisdom and from the ways we learn to cope (isolation, blame, anger, busy-ness, drug/alcohol-related problems, hopelessness). We also face incredible hardship and pain (e.g., the loss of a loved one, a traumatic event) that dramatically alter our lives and perspectives and shake our ability to trust or feel safe. In psychotherapy I prioritize building a relationship based on trust and safety, as these are essential for us to work together to explore beliefs, patterns, and reactions with openness. I believe that by doing so in therapy, we can better understand and accept ourselves and others, and access a greater sense of freedom in the way we react and experience inevitable adversity.
I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at LIU-Brooklyn, and I have six years of experience working with a wide range of populations (adolescents and college students, families and couples, adults) in a variety of settings (inpatient, outpatient, community health, forensic) all of which has inspired awe and humility in my understanding of what it means to be human. I have two years of experience with family and couples with training in Emotionally Focused Therapy and Structural Family Therapy. Though I work primarily through a psychodynamic lens, I often integrate aspects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to strengthen coping skills or relationship effectiveness. I honor the lived experience of patients with a commitment to anti-racist, LGBTQIA+-affirming and feminist practice.
I approach therapy as a collaborative exploration, blending relational and psychodynamic perspectives with a systemic lens that is attuned to the cultural and sociopolitical contexts that shape us. I aim to create a space where you can slow down, feel truly held, and meet all parts of yourself. Guided by curiosity, compassion, and humor, our work together will invite deep self reflection and compassionate inquiry into the beliefs and narratives that constrain you. In my work as a psychotherapist, I have come to believe that connecting with our innate capacity to make meaning from our experiences is key to living a more satisfying life.
I work with adults across life stages; couples, families, and other relationship configurations; and individuals navigating life transitions and a variety of issues. In addition to treating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and relationship patterns, I bring a particular interest in working with neurocomplex individuals, immigrants and the children of immigrants, and those exploring spirituality as a resource for meaning and growth beyond the self.
I received my Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College and hold a Bachelor’s in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University. I am also a graduate of the Ackerman Institute’s post-graduate clinical externship in couples and family therapy.
Vista Psychological Services embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to celebrating all identities and abilities, and offer a safe space for all.