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Kris LaRocca
MA, LMHC-D
(she/they)
founding director, supervisor, therapist
SPECIALIZATIONS
​​I work with adults (18+). I offer counseling for individuals, couples, and small groups—whether that’s triads, polycules, families, coworkers, or just friends trying to work things out. While I specialize in working with queer folks, artists, and creatives, I’m also all about connecting with people from different walks of life.
I’m especially passionate about helping couples and have developed some pretty effective skills in that area. I’ve got extensive experience working with folks across the whole spectrum of sexualities, genders, and gender expressions, and I’m also experienced in navigating nontraditional relationship styles like polyamory and consensual non-monogamy (CNM).
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I bring a specialized understanding of neurodiversity to the table, so whether you’re neurodivergent or in a relationship with someone who is, I’m here to help make sense of it all.
BACKGROUND & TRAINING
​​Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Brooklyn College. 11+ years of clinical experience with over 8,000 therapy sessions conducted. Completion of many extensive specialized trainings in working with couples (IMAGO, EFT, etc.), trauma (Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies, etc.) and more.
I very much enjoy contributing to the professional development of others and have done so through creating and facilitating trainings and workshops on various topics (LGBTQ+ Competency, Effective Communication, etc.) and through providing direct supervision and guidance to other therapists.
I taught college psychology courses at Brooklyn College for several years (Abnormal Psychology, Fundamentals of Psychotherapy, etc.) and have served on several mental health-focused discussion panels.
THERAPEUTIC STYLE
I’m committed to an anti-oppressive, diversity-embracing stance, and I see my role as a supportive companion rather than an authority figure. My approach is collaborative and holistic, always tailored to each client’s unique and evolving needs.
I believe that we carry a lot from our past into the present, sometimes without even realizing it. Part of how I work is to help make the unconscious conscious, allowing us to examine what’s serving you and what might not be. Understanding the mind-body connection, I also incorporate mindfulness and body-based strategies to help you build confidence through embodied awareness.
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I take this work seriously, but I’m also just a real person sitting across from you. My goal is to create a space that feels natural and comfortable, where we can dive into the tough stuff but also find moments of lightness and humor. I’ll meet you where you are on any given day, from the depths of grief and shame to the highs of joy and liberation. Above all, I hope to create an environment where you feel safe enough to be completely yourself.
RELATED HOBBIES & INTERESTS
After spending over a decade in NYC and starting this practice there, I made the move to the Hudson Valley in 2020, where I’ve been enjoying a greater connection to nature ever since.
I’m constantly filled with ideas and enjoy expressing my creativity in various forms—whether it’s through creative writing, playing or listening to music, or performing improv comedy. When I’m not working, you can often find me hanging out with my partner and our dogs, trying out a new restaurant, or going on mini adventures.
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I’m deeply passionate about how the impossibly high demands and overstimulation of our fast-paced, individualistic culture affect our mental health. Slower living is something I’m always striving for in my own life and supporting in others.
COMMON CHALLENGES I HELP WITH
I find that anxiety, depression, grief, OCD, eating disorders, addiction, and many other common challenges tend to share similar roots. Sometimes there is pain that needs to be realized and processed through, or feelings, desires, and needs that need to be felt, claimed, and/or confronted. Sometimes there are boundaries that need to be set or values that need to be better aligned with.
This often requires taking an honest look at oneself and one's relationships. I am not interested in judging or pathologizing you. Rather, I am here to hold space for your pain, offer compassion for your humanity, and honor the courage it takes to truly get to know yourself.
PHILOSOPHY
I believe that we need to deconstruct in order to reconstruct. To improve our relationship to self and systems, we must examine through a critical lens what we've been taught about ourselves throughout our lives in order to process, heal, and become more authentic and free. The better we come to understand and accept ourselves, the more empowered we become.
The quality of our relationships has a profound impact on the quality of our lives. My clinical approach focuses on improving how we connect—with ourselves and with others. I specialize in developing effective communication skills and enhancing self-attunement, helping to create authentic, fulfilling connections.