Bettina Thomsen(She/Her/Hers)

Bettina Thomsen is a Licensed Clinical Social Work located in Brooklyn, NY. Bettina specializes in helping families get through major transitions, including divorce. Many parents seek a way to support their children as they separate and ultimately divorce. They want to ensure that their children’s emotional reactions are validated, however aren’t sure exactly how to do this. Bettina works with families so that everyone feels heard and valued. She also works with families that are going through major conflicts, including behavioral issues and constant fighting. She does this with a light hearted style, often using humor to connect with each family member as they open up about their feelings, thoughts, and wishes.

Bettina practices a wide range of therapy modalities in her work with individuals, couples, and families. She has experience in parent-child interaction therapy, play therapy, and family systems therapy. She teaches clients about attachment theory and its impact on adult relationship patterns, including feeling insecure, which can often lead to conflicts with others. She also practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapy, and solutions-focused therapy. Clients set goals for their time with Bettina and each session, work towards those goals. Bettina teaches clients how to identify negative thought patterns that hold them back from feeling balanced, especially calling attention to assumptions. Bettina encourages clients to pay attention to how they’re feeling and how they react to conversations and interactions. In learning about themselves, clients can communicate more clearly about their needs.

Bettina earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the Columbia University School of Social Work. She has nearly twenty years of experience working with clients and enjoys actively collaborating with her clients. She strives to listen empathetically to each member of the family and offer them the validation they need to feel more comfortable about any transitions.