Dr. Yael Banai , LPC

Dr. Yael Banai is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Louisiana with thirty years of experience. She has spent much of her career working in school settings while also serving a range of other environments and populations, including teens and young adults. Her clinical focus includes ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and issues related to stress, career transitions, family and parenting, anger, self-esteem, and coaching. Additional areas of attention include autism and Asperger syndrome, communication difficulties, impulsivity, intellectual disability, veteran and armed forces concerns, women's issues, and challenges faced by young adults.

Her therapeutic stance is low-key and empathetic, emphasizing each person as an individual with strengths that go beyond often negative labels. Dr. Banai draws from a variety of methods to support change, using cognitive behavioral techniques, rational emotive strategies, psychodynamic and transactional analysis perspectives, and humanistic approaches. She tailors the choice of methods and the resulting treatment plan to the unique needs and goals of each person she sees.

Dr. Banai views therapy as a journey that begins with a single step, and she aims to help clients take that step with courage and practical support toward a more hopeful tomorrow.

Approaches That Guide Online Care

Dr. Yael Banai commonly draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic approaches. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and supporting the person's own goals so they feel understood and empowered - it helps with self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship concerns. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) identifies and adjusts unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress while teaching practical coping skills. Psychodynamic therapy explores how past experiences and recurring patterns influence current emotions and relationships, which can be useful for personality-related issues and deeper emotional work.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Dr. Banai will work with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences and then recommend or combine methods that best match those priorities. This cooperative process helps shape a treatment plan that evolves as progress is made.

Online therapy with Dr. Banai is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility and accessibility. These options allow individuals to engage in therapy from different locations, fit sessions into busy schedules, and continue work between appointments with ongoing messaging support from licensed professionals and therapists.