- Warm and practical
- Career and life coaching
- Mindfulness grounded
About Polly
Polly Mortensen is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in New York. She brings more than 21 years of experience in counseling and vocational rehabilitation to her work. Polly speaks plainly and listens closely to help people find the inner strength they already have. She often works with stress, anxiety, codependency, depression, and relationship concerns among other issues.
Polly began her career supporting people with long-term mental health needs in outpatient programs. She also provided home-based therapy for people living with HIV and later worked with children and adults in foster care. Over the years she added vocational and rehabilitation counseling in New York and Florida, helping people with disabilities and career planning.
Her style is warm and practical. Sessions focus on what matters now and on small steps that can be taken between meetings. Polly uses familiar approaches such as client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, dialectical behavior strategies, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused tools to shape sessions around each person's life.
She draws on life experience and elements of Eastern philosophy to support coping and resilience. Common concerns she addresses include grief, trauma and abuse, parenting stress, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and career or life transitions. Polly aims to help people recognize options and try realistic changes that fit their daily routines.
Polly invites people who feel stuck or overwhelmed to reach out and explore next steps. To begin, a short intake process matches needs and preferences before scheduling sessions.
How Polly’s approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and working from the client’s goals. The therapist creates space for people to talk about what matters and guides decisions without pushing a set plan. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks down problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to find practical changes that reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for managing strong emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Polly will partner with the client to decide which methods feel most useful, adjust strategies over time, and set goals that match the person’s needs and preferences. This happens through regular conversations and collaborative planning.
The practical benefits of online therapy can include easier scheduling, shorter check-ins, and fitting sessions into a busy week. Because the biography does not list session formats, confirm the current session options before booking. The focus online remains the same as in person - building coping skills, reducing distress, and making changes that fit everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
21+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Polly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief, trauma and abuse, codependency, ADHD, and related concerns like self-esteem and career stress.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is warm and practical, with a focus on short-term steps and collaborative goal-setting using client-centered techniques and behavioral tools.
What is her professional background?
Polly has worked for over 21 years in mental health and vocational rehabilitation, including outpatient programs, home-based therapy, and foster care services.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, licensed in New York and practices in New York.
Can sessions be held in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified in the biography; please confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.