Embrace Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC (She/Her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
My name is Elaine Hernandez-Cordova, but my friends all call me Elena! I am an Omnistic, bi-sexual, Latin-American psychotherapist, life coach and author. For the last 20 years, I have dedicated my life to practicing a holistic approach to lifestyle adjustments for myself, my family and the systems we all reside in. I like to consider all of humanity to be my family, and I try to reflect this in my work.
I was born in an impoverished part of Brooklyn, NY where I was adopted by a prominent lawyer and his wife who couldn’t bear children due to an early battle with cancer. This inspired my natural inclination to bond with people, both personally and professionally, and maintain meaningful connections. Seeing how imbalanced our society was, and eager to be the change I wanted to see in the world, I studied for a Master of Social Work from the School of Public Health at the University of Central Florida in 2003. I became increasingly interested in the mind-body connection, and so I became a yoga therapist in 2013 through the Long Island Yoga School.
I provide therapeutic services in relation to addiction and post-traumatic stress pro-bono at local hospitals and community centers. My personal experiences and professional expertise in mental health and substance use afford me powerful insight into the healing practices of the dually diagnosed. I am a proud social advocate, and regularly devote time to visit with veterans, inmates, consumers and the underserved. I encourage people to take time to write letters, make phone calls, sign petitions, send emails and donate to causes that matter to the unique values of the individual. Don’t be afraid of being a voice in the community of your choice. If you don’t stand for something then you will fall for anything!
Client Focus
Age Specialty: Adult, Senior, Teen, Young Adult
Treatment Approach
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) One of the most widely used approaches, CBT helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier patterns. It is effective for anxiety, depression, and many other concerns.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Combines CBT with mindfulness to help regulate emotions, tolerate stress, and build stronger relationships. Originally designed for borderline personality disorder, it’s now used more broadly.
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Focuses on strengthening emotional bonds in couples or families. It helps people identify negative cycles and create more secure connections.
- Family Systems Therapy Looks at problems within the context of the family as a whole. It aims to improve communication and balance in family relationships.
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy Based on decades of research, this method gives couples tools to improve communication, manage conflict, and strengthen intimacy.
- Imago Relationship Therapy Helps couples understand how childhood experiences influence adult relationships. It teaches communication techniques to deepen connection.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Helps clients heal by working with different ‘parts’ of themselves, like inner critics or wounded children. It fosters harmony within the self.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI) A collaborative, client-centered approach that strengthens motivation for change. It is especially effective for addictions and health behaviors.
- Narrative Therapy Encourages people to view problems as separate from themselves and reframe their life story. It helps build resilience and self-identity.
Education & Credentials
Embrace Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC LCSW
- Female
- License # 093886-01
- Licensed in NY
- Practicing Since 2003
Finances
Fees
- Average Session Fee 175 per individual session/225 for couples session insurance accepted
- Affordable sliding scale therapy: apply if you may be eligible.
- We offer a limited number of sliding scale appointments to ensure access to services for clients with financial need. Sliding scale availability is determined on a case-by-case basis and is subject to provider availability.
- Accepts Insurance
Embrace Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available In-Person in Nyack, NY 10960 and Manhattan, NY 10038
- Available Online for residents of New Jersey, New York
My mission with Embrace Psychotherapy is to combine my passion in community building with my psychotherapy expertise. I will work diligently to build a strong holistic community by connecting people to themselves and the resources we naturally have once we begin investing in ourselves and in others. My treatment methods are rooted in the philosophies pertaining to bio-psycho-spiritual-social guidelines and use a client-centered, strength-based perspective which includes such modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy, (DBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Behavior Modification. I am consistently focused on overall well-being and sustainable solutions for clients of diverse backgrounds.