Elina Polyakov, LCSW · Online Therapy in New Jersey & New York
You set the bar high, push through the noise, and keep delivering - even when anxiety, burnout, or an ADHD brain that never quite switches off makes everything harder than it looks. You are not broken. You are running a system that was never designed for rest - and that can change.
High-achieving. Driven. Exhausted.
There is a name for that.
"The clients I work with are not falling apart. They are holding everything together, often brilliantly. Whether it is high-functioning anxiety, burnout, ADHD, or the relentless pressure of perfectionism, the cost of that effort is real. My work is to help you build a life that is not just successful, but sustainable."
Over more than 20 years in the helping field, I have worked extensively with driven, high-functioning individuals who present well to the world but are privately navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship strain, or a persistent sense that they are never quite doing enough. I understand this profile deeply, and I know how to work with it effectively.
My personal and educational backgrounds inform my practice in meaningful ways. Having immigrated to the United States from Latvia as a teenager, I developed an early and intimate understanding of what it means to navigate high expectations, reinvent oneself, and build a sense of belonging in unfamiliar territory. That experience gives me a particular attunement to the pressures my clients face, and the resilience they already carry.
"High achievers rarely lack motivation - they lack permission to prioritize themselves."
My approach is tailored to how high-achieving minds work. We will move efficiently, focus on what matters, and build strategies that are practical enough to use in real life, not just in the therapy room.
A Little About Myself:
I can help you with...
Anxiety
Relationship Difficulties
Stress and Burnout
ADHD/Executive Functioning Challenges
Perfectionism
Imposter Syndrome
Feeling Stuck and Unproductive
Life Transitions
Low Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence
HEre’s what I believe about therapy:
It’s not about becoming someone "different."
Therapy is about helping you become the best version of yourself. No more feeling like you have nothing left to give or like you are only able to do your best in one area of life. It is about helping you understand yourself and your strengths. Some people are good at solving problems, while others are good at connecting. Some people are creative, while others are logical. There is no one right way to be. We can find and celebrate your strengths, which will support you in moving in the right direction.
The best investment you can make is in yourself.
Therapy offers long-term benefits that extend well beyond the present. If you sense that you’re not living the life you want, consider what it might feel like years from now - looking back and wishing you had explored therapy sooner. What if you could invest in yourself right now and spend the next decades grateful that you found the strength and therapeutic partner to make changes that will serve you for the rest of your life?
Therapy doesn’t have to be endless.
One of the aspects of therapy is about building your skills and giving you the tools to manage life independently. Therefore, in many circumstances, it’s not going to be a lengthy process. Therapy is often misconceived as an indefinite commitment, but in reality, it’s a transformative process designed to equip you with the tools and strategies so that you can navigate life’s challenges effectively on your own.
Get the support that’s right for you.
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I’m trained in a variety of therapy methods, allowing me to tailor my approach to your unique goals and needs.
These include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Hypnotherapy
Strength-Based Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
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Master of Science: Social Work, Clinical Practice, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts: with Honors in Psychology, New York University, New York, NY
Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist: The Institute of Hypnotherapy, Edison, NJ
NJ LCSW License Number 44SC06173500, 2023
NY LCSW License Number 070111-01, 2005
Ready to get started?