Jackie Muñiz, LCSW
I believe therapy to be one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. I also believe therapy should not be reserved for one elite group of people. We all deserve it and should all feel entitled to giving the same attention to our emotional well-being that we do our physical well-being. I am committed to providing quality care to whoever is open and willing to get to the roots of their life-long struggles, regardless of social, cultural, or ethnic background. I am particularly sensitive to issues affecting women, communities of color, and immigrant populations. For this and many reasons, I chose to become a social worker, and I feel committed to upholding those values in my practice. I also have a strong desire to help heal those affected by abuse and bullying in relationships, families, friendships, and workplaces.
I have lived in New York City for most of my life. A proud Latina, with an LCSW, I am fluent in both English and Spanish and have worked in various settings providing both group and individual counseling to a range of ages, from teens to the elderly. I provide a culturally-sensitive and humanistic approach to therapy that looks through inter-generational trauma. Previous clients have described me as warm, compassionate, nurturing and pretty well-versed in pop culture. I periodically offset intense therapeutic work with a bit of sense of humor. These qualities have made me a well-respected and sought-after clinician. When I’m not working with clients, I have a deep appreciation for creating art, as well as spending time with my furry child in canine form.
For close to a decade I had the distinct honor of working with adolescents, young adults and their families in the areas of family, relationship, gender and community-based violence and its consequent trauma. Through this work, I also gained a fresh perspective on relational therapy, which posits that our ability to form relationships is very much affected by our past experiences. In short, those teenage years, where most of our identity is being formed are crucial in marking who we are in relationships into adulthood. Consequently, many of us unintentionally repeat patterns of love and friendship trauma throughout life. As such, these experiences are so significant that they require someone that will gently encourage us to unpack them and assist in ultimately establishing new patterns of learning and unlearning behaviors in a manner that is honest, non-judgmental and accepting. I aim to be just that!
I believe strongly that therapy is not about changing who we are. It should never be a space where you feel shamed, rejected or punished for being human and making mistakes. Quality therapy will enhance and highlight your strengths. It is an invaluable tool in overcoming life’s many transitions where you can focus on establishing healthy relationships and exploring anything that has gotten in the way of that.