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Konata Stallings
About
My name is Konata Stallings. I am a licensed clinical psychologist from New York. I specialize in working with adults who are coping with anxiety, trauma and depression, especially those struggling with mourning, grief and loss. My other clinical area of expertise is sex and sexuality. I began my decades working in the mental health field treating children and adolescents, which has left me with developmental understanding of patients. Our experiences in childhood impact us just as much as our current experiences and it is important to tend to all aspects of ourselves (the child we were then as well as the adult we are now) to function fully. My goal is to craft an inviting environment that feels safe and non-judgmental that will help others to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and leave them feeling that they have a life worth living.
Early in my career, I mostly worked with children and adolescents dealing with various psychiatric disorders, some of whom had co-morbid difficulties connected to being on the spectrum. In learning to support them, I realized that many continued to need support after adolescence that was often not available. For me, it became important to make sure to dedicate a part of my practice to creating a space for autistic individuals who needed a place to be seen and understood. Further, due to working with children, there was a great deal of importance placed on social skills and how they can aid in day to day functioning. I enjoy taking that foundation and integrating it into the complexity of adult functioning in order to help autistic adults function in a society that isn't always understanding of how beneficial unique experiences and perspectives can be.
You are the greatest expert on your life. My intention is to listen carefully, provide support, guidance and share my knowledge and expertise with you. While we go through the assessment. I encourage clients to unmask to whatever degree feels best for them (to not make eye contact, to stim if needed, to be honest about their struggles, etc). I've found that this can lead to more open and honest conversations. Working collaboratively I hope to provide practical insights that help with day-to-day life and foster a greater sense of self-acceptance and confidence.
