Finding the right therapist is hard. Finding one who truly understands you, your language, your culture, the weight of immigration, and the complexity of family dynamics shaped by post-Soviet life is something else entirely. If you are looking for a Russian-speaking therapist in New York City, you have come to the right place. I’m Anya Kiseleva, a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and fluent Russian speaker. I work with English- and Russian-speaking clients across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and all of New York through both in-person and online therapy sessions.
Why Language Matters in Therapy
Therapy requires a level of vulnerability that is difficult in any language. In a second language, it can feel nearly impossible. Emotions, memories, and trauma are encoded in the language we grew up with. When a client tries to describe grief, shame, or childhood fear in English, a language they learned as an adult, something gets lost in translation. Nuance disappears. The feeling becomes smaller, more distant, harder to process. Working with a Russian-speaking therapist means you never have to search for the right word. You can express yourself fully in Russian, in English, or in the mix of both that so many of us speak at home. That freedom is not a small thing. It is often where healing begins.
Who I Work With: Russian-Speaking Clients in New York City
Many of my Russian-speaking clients come to therapy carrying layers of experience that are deeply specific to the Russian and post-Soviet immigrant experience:
- The stress of immigration, navigating a new culture while mourning the familiarity of the old one
- Intergenerational trauma passed down through families shaped by war, Soviet-era repression, or displacement.
- Complex family dynamics where emotional expression was discouraged or even dangerous
- Relationship wounds, including narcissistic abuse, attachment injuries, and codependency
- Anxiety, depression, or PTSD that was never named or addressed — because in many Russian-speaking families, mental health is still a stigma
• The particular loneliness of being ‘between two worlds’ — not fully Russian anymore, not fully American either
You do not have to explain your cultural background before we begin. I already understand the context.
Therapy Approaches Offered in Russian & English
As an integrative therapist, I draw on multiple evidence-based and body-centered modalities to meet each client exactly where they are:
EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR is one of the most researched and effective approaches for trauma. It allows us to process painful memories without having to retell them in detail — particularly valuable for clients who feel shame or discomfort discussing traumatic experiences in a non-native language.
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
IFS helps us understand the different ‘parts’ of ourselves, the part that overworks to prove worth, the part that shuts down when overwhelmed, and the inner critic. This approach is especially resonant for clients who grew up in environments where parts of themselves had to stay hidden.
Somatic Therapy & Breathwork
Trauma lives in the body. Somatic therapy and breathwork help release what talk therapy alone cannot reach: the chronic tension, the hypervigilance, the disconnection from physical sensation that so often accompany unresolved trauma.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
For clients with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, or OCD, I offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in partnership with Isha Health. This is a legal, medically supervised treatment that combines low-dose sublingual ketamine with guided therapeutic support.
Для русскоязычных клиентов в Нью-Йорке
Если вы ищете русскоязычного терапевта в Нью-Йорке, я рада вам помочь. Я провожу сессии на русском и английском языках онлайн и очно в Манхэттене.В моей практике я работаю с темами травмы, тревоги, депрессии, нарциссического абьюза, проблем в отношениях и жизненных переходов. Я понимаю культурный контекст, в котором многие из нас выросли и не понаслышке.
Сессии конфиденциальны. Психотерапия это не слабость. Это одно из самых смелых решений, которые вы можете принять.
About Anya Kiseleva, LMHC, Russian-Speaking Therapist in Manhattan
I am licensed in Manhattan, New York State (LMHC), and trained in EMDR Therapy, IFS, CBT, DBT, somatic therapy, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. My practice is LGBTQIA+ affirming, poly- and kink-aware, and committed to providing a non-judgmental space for all identities and relationship structures. Sliding scale options are available for eligible clients.
I see clients online throughout New York State.
Ready to Begin? Book a Free Consultation
Taking the first step toward trauma therapy is often the hardest part. I offer a free 30-minute consultation so we can meet, you can ask any questions, and we can decide together whether working together feels right.
- Email: akiselevalmhc@gmail.com
- Phone / Text: +1 (347) 981-0164
- Office: 347 5th Ave, Suite 1402, New York, NY 10016
You deserve to be understood fully, in every language you carry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer therapy sessions fully in Russian?
Yes. Sessions can be conducted entirely in Russian, entirely in English, or in a mixture of both, whatever feels most natural and useful to you.
Do you offer online therapy for Russian-speaking clients outside New York City?
Yes. I offer telehealth sessions for clients located anywhere in New York State, including Brooklyn, Astoria, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Yonkers, Long Island, Westchester, Albany, Harlem, and all over New York.
Do you accept insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider. Many insurance plans reimburse 50–80% of out-of-network therapy fees. I can help you verify your benefits. Simply email a photo of your insurance card, and I will contact your provider on your behalf.
What is your fee?
Individual therapy sessions (60 min) are $300. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (2 hours) is $550. Sliding scale options are available for eligible clients.
How do I get started?
Freespire offers a free 30-minute consultation call. You can book directly at freespiretherapy.com. No referral is needed.
