About Claire Corbetta, lcsw

Genuine curiosity and interest 

   Becoming a psychotherapist was the result of a lifelong fascination for the human experience. I’ve always been deeply curious about what makes us human, what connects us, and how relationships impact our development. My professional and educational background, personal interests and lived experiences continue to inform the way I understand my fellow humans.

Therapy work is a unique partnership  

    What I love about therapy work is supporting my clients on their path to find their own truth and change counterproductive patterns. By creating a space where they can safely reflect on their emotional experience, I invite my clients to develop a deep understanding of who they are in order to make the changes that will bring joy and a sense of balance to their life. I believe that this unique partnership is at the root of successful therapy work.

Healing from growing up with emotionally immature parents

   Growing up with family members who are emotionally immature can often lead one to feel emotionally alone, isolated, and confused. As children, they develop a sense of guilt and worthlessness as they learn to take care of adults’ emotional needs. As adults, they continue to prioritize others’ needs and problems over their own. Their interactions with an emotionally immature family member often leave them feeling mentally exhausted and emotionally drained. In some cases, the stress caused by these painful interactions can affect the body. In my practice, I’ve often met clients whose emotional turmoil stems from their experience with an emotionally immature parent. A question that keeps coming back in my work is why do the children of immature parents seek help through therapy while the parents don’t. Emotionally immature parents don’t reflect on their behavior and how it impacts others. They are limited in their ability to empathize, to tolerate their own limitations, and to connect emotionally with others. They blame others for their problems and don’t see how engaging in therapy work would be helpful. However, their emotionally attuned  adult children have the possibility to protect themselves from abusive interactions and discover their emotional truth. I encountered such cases so frequently in my practice that I created a process group to support the adult children of immature parents in addition to working individually with them. With the proper support and guidance, they can engage safely in self-reflection and develop skills to overcome their difficult family relationships.

Credentials

     I received an MA in English from The Sorbonne University, and an MSW in Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work. I trained at the NYU Counseling Services, where I developed a particular interest in working with young adults. Additionally, I have completed my training in Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF), a modality that helps connect with one’s emotions instead of combatting them.

I hold a LCSW license in New York State.