Hi, I’m Elizabeth Milano, LCSW!

I’d love to meet you! Click the link below to schedule a free 15 minute intro call so I can listen to your concerns, answer your questions and explain how I can help!

What You Can Expect in a Therapy Session

  • I use a warm and down-to-earth approach so we can build a meaningful connection.

  • I’ll take the time to really understand you.

  • I’ll do more than just listen, I will help you figure out how to make and maintain lasting changes.

  • I will genuinely care and see the good in you.

  • Sometimes, we’ll laugh, because therapy doesn’t have to be heavy all the time.

  • I’ll focus more on helping you determine the root causes of your behaviors and determining whether they are helpful or unhelpful instead of judging you or blaming you for them.

  • I will be honest with you and share helpful tools, but I won’t criticize, judge or give you harsh unsolicited advice.

  • I’ll welcome and value your feedback every step of the way.

  • After some sessions, I’ll send you a summary email highlighting the key points we covered and sharing a few things to focus on before your next session.

  • While I’ll always be here if you need me, my goal is to actually get you better rather than keep you dependent on therapy.

  • I only take on clients I truly believe I can help

    
I stay within my “scope of practice” and treat conditions and concerns I have experience and effective tools to help with. Please know that I will always be upfront with you. If something comes up that’s outside of my expertise, I’ll let you know. If you have a concern or diagnosis I am not equipped to treat, I will discuss options with you and do my best to connect you to another therapist who may be better able to help you.

    I take the time to really understand you.

    I’m not here to assume or jump to conclusions. I work to really get to know who you are, what matters to you, and how your past experiences may be shaping your present challenges.

    I do more than just listen, I help you figure out how to make and maintain lasting changes.

    You probably already know that overthinking, taking things personally, or reacting intensely when triggered isn’t helpful, but changing those patterns can be tough. Many therapists focus mostly on “insight”, helping you understand your struggles, but insight alone isn’t always enough. Many people I work with are already very self-aware. In our work together, we’ll explore the roots of your challenges and I’ll equip you with practical tools tailored to you specifically. This will help you to take meaningful action and actually improve your life.

    I genuinely care and see the good in you

    I don’t treat therapy as a transaction. I’m thoughtful about the amount of people I do therapy with so that I can show up fully for each person. You matter to me and I see your strengths even if you don’t. I consider it a privilege to be able to support you.

    I don’t see you or your behaviors as “wrong” or “broken.” Instead, I believe you doing the best you can.

    Most of us aren’t taught how to handle intense emotions or trauma in healthy ways (though wouldn’t that be great?) Maybe you lacked healthy role models for managing strong feelings, experienced invalidation, or have a naturally sensitive nervous system. Together, we’ll explore what shaped these patterns, identify which ones are working for you, and focus on shifting those that no longer do, at a pace you’re comfortable with.

    I will be honest with you, but I won’t criticize, judge or give you harsh unsolicited advice.

    I know being in therapy can feel deeply vulnerable. You’re sharing parts of your story and emotions that you might never have told anyone before. Or maybe when you did, their response made you feel worse. It’s common to carry shame or confusion around these experiences, and I’m here to support you through that. That’s why I check in with you before suggesting strategies or coping techniques, rather than offering advice without your input.

    I value your feedback every step of the way.

    Therapy is your experience, so I regularly check in to see how things feel. If something isn’t working or doesn’t feel helpful, I’m happy to adjust—whether that means doing less of something or focusing more on what truly makes a difference for you.

    While I’ll always be here if you need me, my goal is to actually get you better rather than keep you dependent on therapy.

    Talking once a week and having your feelings validated during a session is important, but therapy can offer so much more. It’s about feeling better every day, gaining confidence, and living your life more fully. Some therapists aim to keep you in therapy indefinitely, but my goal is to actually help you feel better. I’m invested in your progress and will support you in setting and reaching your goals. Once you’ve met your goals, you can choose to continue with maintenance sessions on a less frequent basis or graduate from therapy. Even if you do “graduate,” you’re always welcome to come back if you ever want some support! I’ll happily see you as long as I have space in my schedule!

My Therapeutic Modalities

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    DBT focuses on four key areas; balancing emotions overall so that painful emotions occur less frequently, finding healthy ways to cope with intense painful emotions when they do arise, living in the present and improving relationships. I use this approach to teach practical tools you can start using right away to feel more in control and emotionally balanced.

  • Person Centered Therapy

    This style of therapy is warm and compassionate, with the belief that you are the expert on your own life. My goal with this type of therapy is to help you feel deeply seen and understood, without judgment or pressure, so you can explore freely and grow at your own pace. While trauma and harm can happen in relationships, healing can happen in relationships too- including the relationship we build in therapy. Person-centered therapy values the genuine, supportive connection between us, which is something you can’t get from a self help book or typing your concerns into ChatGPT.

  • Schema Therapy

    Schema therapy is a deeper approach that helps uncover and shift limiting core beliefs, like “I’m not good enough” or “I’ll always be abandoned.” These beliefs often form early in life and quietly shape how you feel, think, and relate to others. Unlike traditional CBT, which focuses on surface-level thoughts, schema therapy gets to the root of recurring emotional patterns and relationship struggles. I integrate this type of therapy because it can lead to meaningful, lasting change, especially when you're feeling stuck in the same cycles again and again.

  • Mindful Self Compassion

    Mindful Self-Compassion helps you meet yourself with kindness instead of criticism, especially during difficult moments. It builds real-time awareness of your inner dialogue and helps you develop a more supportive, grounded inner voice. I use this approach to quiet your inner critic so you can move through challenges with more ease, experience less emotional extremes and build stronger relationships.

Professional Background

I’ve spent over a decade in the mental health field helping people feel more grounded, emotionally resilient, and connected to themselves. I earned my Master’s Degree in Social Work from New York University (NYU) in 2014, with a strong clinical focus on psychotherapy approaches for those navigating intense emotions, unhelpful thought patterns, and self-defeating habits. I began my career as a therapist in New York City before relocating to Florida and opening my private practice in 2020.

In addition to my clinical work, I’ve taught as a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the College of New Rochelle (now Mercy College), trained fellow therapists in evidence-based practices, and been published on GoodTherapy.org. I stay current with the latest research and am always exploring fresh, effective techniques so that I can offer my clients the best support possible.

My practice is a safe and welcoming space for adults of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, cultures, genders and religions.