Derek Bakay, LMHC
- Warm collaborative approach
- CBT and solution-focused
- Experience with life transitions
About Derek Bakay
His style is warm, interactive, and thorough, emphasizing respect, sensitivity, and compassion while avoiding stigmatizing labels. Derek approaches each person as an expert in their own story and seeks to identify strengths that can be used to address current difficulties. Treatment is tailored through collaborative dialogue so goals and interventions match the individual’s needs and preferences. Derek explains that the first step toward change takes courage, and he offers steady professional support to help clients move toward greater satisfaction and functioning.
LMHC stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a credential that authorizes independent practice of mental health counseling in New York. Derek provides services in English and brings a practical, strengths-based orientation to therapy.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
Additional Focus Areas
Therapeutic Approach
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Derek Bakay have?
Derek Bakay has 15 years of professional experience providing mental health counseling.
Is Derek Bakay a licensed therapist?
Yes. He holds the credential LMHC, which stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor. License details: NY LMHC 002271.
In which languages does Derek Bakay provide therapy?
He provides therapy in English.
Where is Derek Bakay located?
He is located in New York.
How can I work with Derek Bakay as my therapist?
You can work with Derek Bakay through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Derek Bakay work with international clients?
Derek Bakay does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Derek Bakay cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Approaches and Online Care with a Licensed Counselor
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathic listening and genuine engagement to help clients explore their values, choices, and emotional experience. This approach supports work on self-esteem, relationship concerns, life transitions, and topics where personal insight and acceptance are central.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing practical skills to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT is often used when clients want structured strategies for coping and behavior change.
Solution-Focused Therapy is goal-oriented and brief, concentrating on strengths and small, achievable steps toward desired changes. It can be effective for career questions, problem solving, and short-term goals where clear progress is the priority.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Derek works collaboratively with clients to determine which combination of methods best fits their needs, goals, and preferences, and adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can occur by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit care into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and choose the communication style that feels most comfortable. Licensed professionals and therapists can deliver effective support through these modalities while adapting techniques to the online format.