Polly Mortensen , LMHC

Polly Mortensen brings more than two decades of professional experience to her work, grounded in a deep belief in human resilience and the capacity for growth. As an LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) she blends clinical training with a warm, empathetic presence to help people navigate both sudden life events and long-standing challenges. Her background includes work in psychiatric rehabilitation, home-based care for individuals living with HIV, and services for children and adults in foster care, alongside focused support for people with trauma histories and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

In addition to clinical counseling, Polly has extensive experience in vocational and rehabilitation counseling across New York and Florida, providing educational and career coaching for many clients over a 14-year period. She also holds certification in rehabilitation counseling and uses that perspective to support people with disabilities in pursuing greater independence and vocational success. Her approach draws on life experience, Eastern philosophy, and evidence-informed therapies to meet each person where they are and help them move toward their goals.

Polly uses a range of therapeutic methods, including client-centered work, cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness practices, dialectical skills, and motivational interviewing, tailoring sessions to the needs of each individual. She focuses on issues such as stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, career and parenting challenges, ADHD, and other life transitions, offering steady, collaborative guidance as clients work toward meaningful change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Polly Mortensen integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness practices into her online work. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so clients feel heard and supported while exploring personal values and self-esteem issues. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and developing practical strategies to manage anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-moment awareness and emotion regulation skills that can help reduce reactivity and improve coping with difficult feelings.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Polly works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts interventions over time so the plan evolves with progress and changing circumstances.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter check-ins are possible through live chat or text-based messaging. This range of formats makes it easier to balance therapy with work, family, and other commitments while maintaining continuity of care with licensed professionals and therapists who can tailor support to each client’s life.