Taylor Koonce, MHC-LP
Taylor believes therapy is a vital form of self advocacy. Her work is rooted in social justice and prioritizes understanding people within their cultural contexts. She specializes in working with LGBTQ+, neurodivergence, and clients of color. Taylor aims to help her clients live their best lives while coping with any environmental or societal challenges they may face. She believes internal distress is exacerbated by external factors, and therapy is a space for clients to address/validate these factors. Multicultural, psychoanalytic, and CBT techniques are commonly employed in her counseling style.
As a queer woman of color, Taylor understands the importance of recognizing how identities intersect to influence mental health. Gender, race, sexuality, and other identities will influence how clients experience the world and how they experience therapy. In her sessions, Taylor is open about how her and her client’s identities present in the room, as well as how they interact. Her work is collaborative and she encourages clients to be active in their own growth.
Taylor earned her Masters in Mental Health Counseling and certification in LGBTQ+ Health, Education, and Social Services from New York University. Prior to this, she received her Bachelors in Psychology & Philosophy from Marist University.
Having previously worked with LGBTQ+ youth and young adults at the Dutchess County Pride Center, Taylor has a strong understanding of sexuality, gender identity, and the struggles queer clients face. She has also worked as an executive function coach for neurodivergent youth and adults across New York. Understanding how neurodivergent clients' daily struggles interact with their mental health is key to her work.
Outside of counseling, Taylor is passionate about research. Her areas of interest are racial & gender theory, feminist philosophy, and experiences of intersectional discrimination. One of her career goals is to improve the psychology field’s understanding and support of QTBIPOC+ clients.
Taylor was born and raised in South Jersey and loves to visit the Jersey Shore. In her free time, she likes to be creative, watch bad sitcoms, read, and do yoga. She also has a cat, Luke, who keeps her company during telehealth sessions.