Elisa Mantel-Smith , LCSW-R

Elisa Mantel-Smith is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-R) practicing in New York, with a master of social work from Columbia University. She brings a decade of experience supporting individuals, families, and groups through complex life transitions and challenges including health concerns, fertility issues, and bereavement.

Her practice emphasizes meeting people where they are - acknowledging present strengths and struggles - and then collaborating on practical steps toward increased well-being. Elisa integrates empathetic listening with evidence-informed strategies to create an authentic, supportive environment that helps clients navigate grief, medical and family stressors, and other life changes.

Across individual and group work, she focuses on building trust, clarifying goals, and helping people develop coping skills that fit their daily lives. Her training and years of practice inform a calm, patient approach that values each person’s experience and priorities.

Elisa Mantel-Smith welcomes the opportunity to work with people seeking thoughtful, experienced guidance through difficult moments and transitions.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Elisa Mantel-Smith draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) to meet varied needs. Client-centered therapy prioritizes the client’s perspective and builds a collaborative, empathetic relationship to support personal growth and coping. CBT focuses on identifying and adjusting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress and to develop practical skills for daily life. EFT explores emotional patterns within relationships, helping partners and family members understand and shift interactions to strengthen connection and resolve conflict.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Elisa works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their goals, needs, and preferences, and she adapts strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - offer flexibility that can fit busy schedules and different comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access a licensed professional from home or work, maintain continuity of care during life transitions, and choose the communication style that feels most supportive.