Join Now

Coworking and Event Space

Community | Wellness

The Interview—Jacqueline LaGrassa

by | Nov 17, 2024

From the shores of Long Island to the charming streets of Dobbs Ferry, she’s always followed her instincts for connection and calm. Therapist Jacqueline LaGrassa is a lover of long walks, yoga, and the occasional baking challenge, and she’s found joy in building a home—and a thriving therapy practice—here in the Rivertowns.

With over a decade of experience, she’s mastered the art of helping women untangle life’s challenges with warmth, honesty, and a dash of humor. For her, self-care is a balance of boundaries, joy, and making time for what truly matters. More recently, Jackie recently embarked on a new career endeavor and opened the doors to her private practice.

Tell us where you’re from, what are your favorite hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time.

I grew up on Long Island in Amityville. Moving to the city after college, I spent the next chunk of my life bopping around the boroughs. Before settling in Dobbs, I was living in Astoria. I love being outside- taking long walks or being near the water, and I go to yoga as often as I can. I love to cook and bake and have been trying really hard to keep all of my plants alive and well.

How did you end up in Dobbs Ferry?

My partner, John, and I knew we wanted to get out of the city. We were looking for something a little slower with access to nature, and more space. John and I ruled out Staten Island (where he grew up) and Long Island, and so we decided to go north. We fell in love with the Rivertowns and quickly found a place that felt like home. I love that Dobbs is walkable and there are so many great places to eat. We are really enjoying making Dobbs our home.

What inspired you to take that leap of faith to branch out and start your own practice? What are the payoffs of operating on your own?

I love being a therapist and mentoring up-and-coming clinicians. It’s something that I find challenging, rewarding, and it helps me stay grounded. In 2015, I started very small, part-time practice to see if I liked working independently, because I always thought this would be something I would do later in life as I moved towards retirement.

At some point this year, I started to wonder why I was planning to wait so long. I left my full-time job this summer and took a part time position at Columbia’s School of Social Work. I have been focusing on building my client base, networking, and attending trainings now that I finally have the time to focus on my own clinical growth.

The leap to full time private practice was scary and required a lot of patience, but it is already incredibly rewarding. I feel like I’ve taken control of my day to day life in a way that I never could before.

anabell ciuffardi hudco

Tell us about your areas of specialty.

In my opinion, a strong connection between the therapist and client is the best foundation to help a client meet their goals. I work with clients who are experiencing a wide range of challenges (anxiety, depression, chronic hopelessness, panic attacks…). I have a special passion for helping people (especially young women) improve their interpersonal relationships, communicate clearly, and improve their self esteem.

I spent over 10 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I got to work with individuals and their families navigating life with cancer and treatment. While at MSK, I provided therapy for individuals, couples, and families. I have advanced training in crisis intervention, palliative care, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma.

If you weren’t a therapist, what other career would you have pursued?

I like anything that has to do with mentoring, so probably teaching. During undergrad, I had a period where I was a little lost and attended the local community college for a year. It was the best college experience. I would definitely have considered teaching at the high school or college level.

What resources or practices do you recommend for self-care?

I can go on and on about this topic! To spare you my Ted Talk on self-care, I’ll just say that a balance of self awareness, things that bring you joy, and healthy boundaries are a great foundation for being able to weather challenges and take good care of yourself.

I am happiest when I am cooking for friends, getting a good night’s sleep, and exercising regularly. Knowing the things that ‘refill your cup’ is half the battle, you then have to figure out how to make sure you are prioritizing making time to get the things you need.

Can you share a memorable experience that shaped your approach to mental health care?

Spending 10 years at MSK not only shaped me as a clinician but also changed my day-to-day life. When you work with people who are terminally ill or dying, you are forced to look at your own life and relationships.

I want to live every day with humor, warmth, and honesty. This is intimately connected to my approach to therapy and how I treat my clients. I don’t waste time mincing words or avoiding hard truths, but I balance my direct communication with kindness. There is laughter in every single one of my therapy sessions, even when we are talking about hard stuff. I try to take things seriously without taking myself seriously, and I am appreciative of the hard things as much as I am the good.

—

Schedule a free consultation with Jackie:

Free Consultation