More About Alisa:

Alisa Gambardella (she I her) is a cisgender woman residing in Brooklyn.

Alisa is still in awe (and occasionally stressed out!) by the energy of the city. Alisa loves finding pockets of calm, thrifting nearly everything, and creating artwork in mixed mediums.

Experience: Alisa is a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) in New York State who is an experienced therapeutic and vocational provider for children, adolescents, adults and families. Alisa practices in Brooklyn as an elementary School Social Worker, though her beginnings are rooted in non-educational environments. 

Alisa’s journey to social work began in 2019, following her experience in various psychological and nonprofit sectors beginning in 2016. Alisa’s focus on person-centered work began at the Otsego County Mental Health Clinic, where she worked collaboratively with psychologists to address issues such as anxiety, depression, and addiction. Alisa’s dedication to vulnerable populations eventually led her to serve developmentally disabled children, unhoused communities, and individuals in need of emergency psychiatry at organizations such as HelpUSA, Commonpoint Queens, and Lenox Hill Hospital. 

One of the defining chapters in Alisa’s career was her role as one of four camp leaders at Sunrise Day Camp - Long Island, an international pediatric oncology nonprofit. This experience profoundly influenced Alisa’s approach, teaching her to lead with radical love, compassion, and empathy. Through this role, Alisa provided crucial social-emotional support to children, families, and communities grappling with the challenges of pediatric cancer, poverty, intricate relational dynamics, and disenfranchised grief. 

From Alisa: As a therapist, I strive to create a soft place to land for my clients. I deeply value the connection and trust built in the therapeutic alliance and seek to create a nonjudgmental space where I listen with radical acceptance and understanding. Nothing you bring to the session is "too much" or "too little" and I will always celebrate your honesty with genuine empathy and curiosity.

I encourage vulnerability and believe that we must feel our feelings deeply in order to inspire insight, growth, and change. Our collaborative efforts involve delving into your thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors to better understand your internal world. Together, we will work to help you identify distressing beliefs and cycles, build upon your strengths, and navigate how you'd like to change patterns that no longer serve you.

My goal is to help you develop more compassion for yourself and have empathy for your unique lived experience. I value your perspective and am dedicated to the ongoing learning of intersecting social, cultural, generational, and systemic components that may be affecting your mental health and wellness. Employing a client-centered therapeutic approach, I integrate principles from evidence-based modalities such as AEDP, IFS, CBT, and attachment theory to honor your individualized needs.

My approach is thoughtful, warm, and curious. I am reflective and gently challenging. I believe that infusing sessions with humor provides a valuable opportunity for both levity and insight in this challenging work.

Studied: Oneonta State University (BS in Psychology and Gender Studies) & Hunter College (Master of Social Work)

Fun Fact: Alisa loves solo museum dates, walks around Prospect Park in every season, and exploring new restaurants.