May Is Mental Health Awareness Month: A Good Time to Start the Conversation
Every May, Mental Health Awareness Month gives us a collective moment to pause, reflect, and be honest about something that touches every single one of us: our mental health. Whether you have been carrying something heavy for a long time or you have just started to notice that things feel off, this month is a reminder that you do not have to keep going it alone.
This is not just a calendar moment for me. It is what I show up for every day.
A Little About Me
I am a licensed therapist with experience that spans both hospital and private practice settings. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of being associated with institutions including New York University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, The William Alanson White Institute, and the Parnell Institute.
You can learn more about my practice at josephlabadia.com. I am the co-founder of Live Well Practice in New York. I am based in Los Angeles and work with clients across California, New York, Arizona, Virginia, and Florida.
I am genuinely interested in the people I work with, not just the issues they bring to the room. That distinction matters to me.
What I Work On With Clients
I work with adults and adolescents 14 and up, and I meet with individuals, couples, and groups. The areas I focus on include:
Trauma-focused therapy
Anxiety and depression
Addiction and substance abuse
Relationship challenges
Work-related and daily stress
If any of those feel familiar to you, keep reading.
My Approach Is Built Around You
In my practice, you always guide the sessions. I do not walk in with a rigid, one-size-fits-all plan. What I bring is an integrated, dynamic approach that shifts based on who you are, what you need, and what your goals are.
I draw from a range of evidence-based methods, including:
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques
Psychodynamics
Motivational interviewing
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Cognitive-type therapies
Empathy is at the center of everything I do. I put real effort into building a strong working alliance with my clients, because I believe therapy is a collaborative process. My goal is to help you recognize and build on your own strengths, because they are already there. Sometimes we just need help seeing them.
Why Mental Health Awareness Month Matters to Me
Mental Health Awareness Month has been recognized each May since 1949. It exists to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek the support they deserve. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences a mental health condition each year. And yet, many people still wait years before reaching out for help.
I see this in my work. People come to me after carrying something for far longer than they needed to, often because they were not sure they were "bad enough" to need therapy, or because asking for help felt like admitting defeat.
Anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction are not signs of weakness. They are human experiences, and they deserve real, professional attention.
This month, I want to encourage you to ask yourself honestly: Have I been okay? Is there something I have been putting off that I know I need to address?
What It Is Like to Work With Me
I bring warmth and genuine curiosity to every session. My style is interactive and practical. I want to understand you as a full person, not reduce you to a diagnosis or a list of symptoms.
Whether you are working through something that happened a long time ago, managing stress that has become too much to carry, or trying to understand patterns that keep showing up in your life and relationships, I will meet you where you are. We figure it out together.
Let's Connect
Mental Health Awareness Month is a great starting point, but you do not need a reason beyond simply wanting support. If what you have read here feels like a fit, I would love to hear from you.
I currently accept clients in California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia.
Visit josephlabadia.com to learn more or reach out directly. Take the first step toward showing up for yourself.