Meet the Team

A blonde woman in a black shirt and beige pants sitting on outdoor brownstone steps, smiling at the camera, with a black door and potted plants in the background. Represents benefits of online therapy in New York for women with chronic illness.

Kelsey Bates, LMHC-D, CRC

Founder & Clinical Director

Welcome! I specialize in working in with high achieving women navigating complex chronic illness and the women’s health issues, anxiety and grief that come along with it, all while juggling their career and relationships. I absolutely love what I do and am a firm believer that day to day life can get so much better with a support team behind you.

When I’m not working, you can probably find me in a local coffee shop, walking in Prospect Park with my pup, on the pilates reformer, searching for the best allergen friendly desserts in New York City or reading historical fiction.

You may be wondering why I niched in women’s health. Simply put, I get it. After living with chronic illnesses for fifteen years, struggling to find correct diagnoses, surgeries and countless treatments, I understand first hand the impact of women’s health issues on your mental health. I empathize with the toll it takes on your body and your most important relationships. I get the grief that comes with the loss of dreams you had for your future, struggling with your identity as a woman and feeling betrayed by your body. My hope is to use my therapeutic skills and real life experience to help you get to the other side.

I founded New York Women’s CBT and expanded to group private practice with the goal of providing niched, expert care for more women in New York. Our clinicians are experts and passionate about working within women’s health issues. We want to walk together through pain and grief you are feeling, help you cope with anxiety and feel the fog of depression lifted. Complex chronic illness and health issues are a part of your story-they do not have to be all of your story.

  • Kelsey Bates attended The George Washington University located in Washington, D.C. earning her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This expertise and niche degree allows Kelsey to meet clients where they are in their chronic illness and disability journey with therapeutic warmth & practical tools. In particular, Kelsey loves working with women with endometriosis, adenomyosis, chronic pelvic pain, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, Dysautonomia and MCAS.

    Kelsey completed her postgraduate training years of supervised counseling work in New York City, working in both non-profit settings and private practice. She highly values continued education and has obtained specialized training from advanced institutes including Postpartum Support International and the Albert Ellis Training Institute in Manhattan.

    Kelsey’s therapeutic approach blends an integrative use of evidenced based practices of Third Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, including CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as psychodynamic psychotherapy. Kelsey utilizes an individual and holistic lens when working with clients. Kelsey resides in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and dog.

  • M.A. Ed, Rehabilitation Counseling, Concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, The George Washington University, Washington, DC

    BS, Special Education, Minor: Child and Family Development, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

    Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of New York #010694

    Licensed Professional Counselor, Virginia # 0701010492

    Licensed Professional Counselor, District of Columbia #PRC15475

    Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, State of Maryland #LC11257

    Member of the American Counseling Association

    Member of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH)

    Member of the Women’s Mental Health Consortium

    Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

    National Certified Counselor

  • Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care (Postpartum Support International)

    Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy (Postpartum Support International)

    Primary Certificate Practicum in Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (Albert Ellis Training Institute)

    Cognitive Processing Therapy: An Evidence-Based Approach to Treat PTSD and Related Conditions

    Women’s Mental Health Specialist Training

    Complex Trauma Certification Training: Interventions from EMDR, Parts Work, CPT and Polyvagal Theory

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Image of Ariel Katz, LMHC in front of blooming flowers. Represents group practice in New York City specializing in therapy for women's health, chronic illness, endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain.

Ariel Katz, LMHC

Intake Coordinator & Licensed Clinician

I specialize in working with women navigating the challenges of living with chronic illness. Living with pain and discomfort inevitably impacts mental health and our access to feelings of safety. It is common that chronic illness can contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, grief, shame, and uncertainty. Through creating supportive relationships with your care team, there is an opportunity to change your relationship with pain, reduce suffering, and reconnect with your life in a meaningful way.

Outside of being a therapist, I am a self-taught calligrapher and a huge fan of arts and crafts. As a nature lover, I often find myself exploring New York’s parks and bringing my portable watercolor kit to paint the scenery. You can also find me searching for the best gluten-free treats NYC has to offer!

I’m here because I get it. I’ve always known I wanted to be in a helping profession, but this calling became deeply personal when I began experiencing chronic illness symptoms in college. I was suddenly immersed in a world of confusion, uncertainty, and unforeseen change as I searched for answers and relief. I understand how living with chronic, unpredictable, and misunderstood symptoms while navigating the medical system can affect mental health and overall well-being. When I was struggling to balance it all, I turned to therapy. It offered a compassionate space to grieve, learn tools to ease my suffering, and rediscover a sense of safety.

My lived experience along with listening and learning from others living with chronic illness desiring empathetic and holistic care inspired me to become a therapist dedicated to walking alongside you on your journey. I see your strengths of resilience and your perseverance through the challenges you’re facing and understand how exhausting it can be to constantly channel these superpowers. I am here to offer a safe, empathetic, and collaborative space where you can navigate the complexities of living with chronic illness, learn therapeutic tools to nurture a sense of safety and connection, and move toward a life that feels meaningful to you.

  • Ariel is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York City, niched in working with women's health issues and chronic illness. Through her lived experiences, she understands the benefits of empathetic and holistic support while living with chronic illness and pain.

    She utilizes a trauma-informed integrative, third wave CBT approach, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Additionally, she values a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach, working closely with your medical team to ensure comprehensive care.

    Ariel has expertise in working with college aged and young adult women navigating the challenges of living with chronic conditions, and has a particular passion for working with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. She loves using a strengths-based approach while working with women with a variety of interests, ranging from creative arts to science to data driven fields and beyond.

    Ariel earned her Masters of Arts in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling from New York University Steinhardt in New York City.

  • MA, Mental Health and Wellness Counseling, New York University Steinhardt, New York, NY

    Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of New York

    Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of Florida

    Women’s Mental Health Specialist Training

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Claire Eckstein Indik, MHC-LP

Clinician

I care deeply about working with women navigating chronic illness because our health is connected to every aspect of our lives. It shapes our relationships, identity, work, and sense of self. Therapy offers a space to slow down, make sense of those experiences, and build systems of support.

My own experience navigating chronic illness deepened my understanding of how closely our physical and emotional well-being are connected. It has reinforced my belief that chronic illness does not exist in a vacuum. The ways we have learned to navigate our experiences deserve curiosity, and sometimes the systems that once supported us no longer work for the lives we are living. 

Chronic illness can ask us to adjust the way we live, and that process can feel deeply disorienting. Therapy offers a safe, collaborative environment to reflect and reconnect with yourself. Together, we can work to understand these changes and find new ways of navigating them. I meet you where you are, without judgment, and all parts of you are welcome as the work unfolds at a pace that honors your needs.

Outside of being a therapist, you can usually find me exploring new restaurants around Queens, immersing myself in video games, or making my way to my weekly physical therapy appointments.

  • Claire Eckstein Indik, EdM, MA, earned her master's degrees in Psychological Counseling with a concentration in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a Limited Permit Mental Health Counselor in New York City.

    Claire is passionate about supporting women navigating chronic illness and has experience working with clients living with chronic pain, cancer, and other long-term health conditions. Claire values a holistic approach to care and believes in a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, working alongside your medical team to support your care.

    Claire's therapeutic approach is grounded in third-wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic processing, and narrative therapy. In addition to her clinical work, Claire is a Project Coordinator in an epidemiology research lab at Columbia University, where she contributes to public health research. Her background reflects her commitment to evidence-based care while honoring the role that culture, identity, and belonging play in the stories we carry.

  • EdM, MA Psychological Counseling with a concentration in Mental Health Counseling, Columbia University, Teachers College

    Mental Health Counselor, Limited Permit

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Cara Steigler

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Intern

Cara Stiegler is a current Master’s student at Hunter College, in the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Program. Before pursuing counseling, Cara attended Parson’s School of Design, earning a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Photography and Film Production. 

Cara believes in a multi-medium approach to therapy, drawing on her unique background and incorporating art therapy based practices into her work wherever possible. She prioritizes trauma-informed, person-centered care, allowing the client to be the expert in their own life and advocate for their own care.

Through a psycho-educational lens, Cara meets clients in all stages of illness and disability, to create a space for healing. She strongly believes that client autonomy and self-advocacy are key to client growth and change.

In her free time Cara volunteers at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center as a volunteer crisis counselor in both the Adult and Pediatric Emergency Departments.

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Kelsey Bates Licensed Mental Health Counselor - New York Women’s CBT - Therapy for women in New York - Therapy for chronic illness in Manhattan - Therapy for chronic pain in Brooklyn - Women’s health - 10021 - 10019 - 10174 - 10010 - 10004
Two women sitting on a park bench with greenery and a black iron fence behind them. Represents benefits of online therapy for women with chronic pelvic pain in New York City and throughout New York state.
Two women standing outdoors with a city skyline, including tall buildings and a river, in the background. Represents team of therapist experts for women living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, dysautonomia, MCAS and hypermobility in New York.
A woman with long blonde hair holding a model of a human brain, sitting on stairs. Represents the benefits of online third wave CBT therapy for women living with chronic illness and chronic pain in New York. New York Women's CBT offers expert care.
A woman with red hair sitting on steps outside a building, smiling, with a potted plant with purple flowers. Represents benefits of third wave CBT for women living with EDS, dysautonomia, MCAS, endometriosis and adenomyosis in New York.
Two women standing against a brick wall, one showing a model of a brain to the other. Represents the team of experts behind New York Women's CBT, offering niched online therapy in New York for women with chronic illness and chronic pain.
A woman with blonde hair sitting on stairs, resting her chin on her hand, wearing a light blue top and white pants, with a watch on her wrist, and flowers in the background. Represents benefits of third wave CBT online for women in New York.
A woman with blonde hair smiling, standing on a tree-lined city sidewalk with her arms crossed. She is wearing a dark long-sleeve top and white wide-leg pants with background of buildings and lush green trees. Represents New York therapy for women.
Person holding a brain-shaped ceramic or sculpture piece outdoors, with trees and a bicycle visible in the background. Represents benefits of expert care at New York Women's CBT for women living with chronic illness like endometriosis and EDS.
A woman with red hair, wearing a light-colored short-sleeve top and blue jeans, standing on a paved walkway in a park with trees and buildings in the background. Represents expert care at New York Women's CBT for women with chronic health issues.
Person holding a detailed model of a human brain in their hands, sitting on a bench. Represents the expert care New York Women's CBT provides to women throughout New York state who are living with endometriosis, EDS, chronic pain and illness.
A woman with red hair smiling standing in front of a garden with purple and white flowers, behind a black metal fence. Represents the benefits of third wave CBT provided by niched therapists at New York Women's CBT for endo and EDS.

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