- Years in practice
- 15
- Credentials
- LMHC
- Licensed in
- New York
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Career difficulties
- Focus
- Depression
About Derek
Derek Bakay is a licensed mental health counselor in New York with 15 years of clinical experience. He uses practical, person-focused methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. Derek writes straightforward plans and talks through problems without jargon so parents can focus on solutions that fit daily life.
He draws from client-centered therapy to listen closely and shape sessions around each person's priorities. Cognitive behavioral tools are used to spot unhelpful thinking and try small behavior changes that make a real difference.
Background and approach
Solution-focused techniques help set clear, short-term goals and track progress between visits. Derek has worked across clinical settings supporting people facing career pressures, caregiver stress, chronic illness and disability adjustments. He pays special attention to concerns around parenting, fatherhood, blended family dynamics, and relationship or intimacy-related issues.
He also helps with self-esteem, life purpose, and the strains of midlife change. In sessions he aims for a warm, interactive style and treats clients with respect and compassion. He avoids stigmatizing labels and focuses on strengths and practical steps.
Planning is collaborative so people leave with clear next steps they can try at home. Sessions are offered in English and are available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Derek describes therapy as a team effort and helps people shape an approach that matches their goals and daily routines.
What Derek works with
Everything Derek lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Derek helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Coaching
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Emptiness
- Fatherhood issues
- Impulsivity
- Intellectual disability
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Traumatic brain injury
- Visually impaired
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Derek lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Using client-centered and solution-focused care online
Client-centered therapy begins by focusing on the person rather than labels. The therapist listens closely, reflects what matters most, and adapts sessions to each person’s goals and pace. This approach is useful when someone needs to be heard and to build confidence in their own decisions.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and actions affect feelings and behavior. It uses short exercises and practical experiments to change patterns that cause stress or anxiety, which works well for parenting stress and mood concerns. Solution-focused therapy concentrates on small, achievable goals and steps you can try between sessions to see progress quickly.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Derek will help you figure out which combination of methods fits your needs, goals, and preferences. He frames therapy as a collaborative process and adjusts the plan as things change.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to match different routines. Video is good for deeper conversations and visual cues, while phone calls need less bandwidth and can fit into a lunch break. Live chat or text-based messaging can be useful for brief check-ins, homework support, or when typing feels easier than speaking. These formats make it simpler to keep momentum while balancing parenting and daily responsibilities.
Questions people ask about Derek
What concerns does this therapist address?
Derek helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, career issues, and coping with life changes. He also works with parenting concerns, compassion fatigue, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and self-esteem.
What kind of therapy style does he use?
He combines client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral techniques and solution-focused strategies. The result is a warm, practical approach that focuses on goals and small, workable changes.
What is his professional background?
He is a licensed mental health counselor with 15 years of experience working in a range of clinical settings. Derek has supported people through chronic illness adjustments, caregiver stress, and career challenges.
Where is he based and what credential does he hold?
He practices in New York and holds the NY LMHC credential, which stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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