About Me
Meet Lani
I’m a psychotherapist in Westchester County, New York, working with women and parents navigating emotional overwhelm, anger and irritability, parenting stress, relationship difficulties, anxiety, burnout, and major life transitions. I offer in-person therapy in Chappaqua, and provide telehealth sessions to clients throughout Westchester County and New York State.
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and deeply invested in caring for others, yet find themselves feeling reactive, depleted, or disconnected from how they want to be. My work focuses on helping you understand the emotional and relational patterns beneath these experiences and expand the ways in which you show up the world.
My approach is relational and psychodynamic, getting to know you as an individual and working together collaboratively. Rather than offering quick fixes, therapy becomes a space to slow down and make sense of your inner world—how past experiences, current relationships, and emotional habits shape the way you respond to stress, conflict, and intimacy. As insight grows, many clients find they’re better able to set boundaries, communicate needs, and respond with intention.
I have a particular interest in working with parents during periods of change, including pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood, as well as the ongoing work of raising children. I am currently completing Postpartum Support International’s Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) to further deepen my training in supporting parents and caregivers during these stages of life.
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and feeling comfortable and understood matters. I aim to create an open, collaborative therapeutic relationship where you feel supported in exploring difficult emotions at a pace that feels right for you. Together, we work toward greater emotional flexibility, more satisfying relationships, and a life that feels more balanced and satisfying.
What It’s Like to Work with Me
Many people come to therapy feeling unseen or misunderstood, even by those closest to them. We’re often responded to based on the roles we play or who others need us to be, rather than who we actually are. Therapy can offer a different kind of experience—one where you feel listened and understood. Therapy is unique in that what matters most is your inner experience, rather than everyone around you.
My role is to create a space where you can talk freely about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, without pressure to have things figured out or sound a certain way. When people feel genuinely understood, they often begin to feel more connected to themselves, better able to understand their emotions, and more free in their relationships.
My approach is collaborative and exploratory. Our sessions are conversational and guided by what feels most important to you in the moment. You can talk about any part of your life, even if it it does not seem relevant, to explore what may be underneath all of the daily noise. Together, we look at patterns, reflect on possibilities, and think through decisions as you navigate challenges. While I offer perspective and clinical insight, I trust that you are the expert on your own life.
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic work usually takes time. It is not a quick fix. Lasting change often involves understanding patterns that have developed over decades. That said, there’s no one “right” way or timeline for therapy. The pace and length of our work are flexible and shaped by what feels manageable for you. Therapy is meant to support your life and I also work with people for any amount of time that feel right for them.
Everything depends on what we would rather do than change. - Adam Phillips
Let’s Talk
Book your free 15 minute phone consultation by clicking the button below and filling out a short form.
Call me at 212-287-7816 or email me at lani@lanipawar.com.
I will respond to all messages within 1 business day.