Ava Paradise, LSW

Ava Paradise, LSW, is a psychotherapist who works with teens, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, eating disorders, trauma, relational difficulties, work and social stress, and major life transitions. She also has a particular interest in supporting people experiencing challenges related to self-esteem, identity development, and the lasting impact of early relational experiences.

Ava’s approach is trauma-informed, relational, and insight-oriented. Grounded in psychodynamic and attachment-based theory, she helps clients understand how early experiences shape present patterns in relationships, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. She integrates elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, somatic approaches, and experiential modalities, including internal family systems (IFS) and accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP), tailoring treatment to each client’s needs. Ava strives to create a warm, collaborative space where clients can process difficult experiences, build resilience, and develop a more compassionate relationship with themselves.

Ava has completed training in DBT skills, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and evidence-based approaches to treating eating disorders. She remains committed to ongoing professional development in trauma-informed and experiential therapies.

Prior to joining The Lukin Center, Ava completed her advanced clinical internship at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP) in New York City, where she worked with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, identity concerns, and stress related to work and life transitions. She also trained at Catholic Charities in Union City, providing care to individuals living with severe mental health conditions, which strengthened her commitment to compassionate, trauma-informed care across levels of need. Additionally, she has volunteered with the Association for NPD Survivor Treatment, Education and Training, supporting clinician education on working with survivors of narcissistic abuse and complex relational trauma.

Ava holds a Master of Social Work from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Strategic Communication from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She is a licensed social worker in New York and New Jersey and offers both in-person and virtual therapy.