Dr. Bonacci offers innovative evidence-based treatments, and specializes in the following diagnoses and life stressors:

  • Anxiety & Panic

  • Depression

  • Academic Stress

  • Family Conflict

  • Life Transitions

  • Relationship Issues

  • Trauma & Bereavement

  • Prenatal & Postpartum Mental Health

Treatment Approach

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT has been widely researched and found to be effective in treating many different mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. CBT focuses on the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Your CBT treatment plan would target negative thinking patterns, teaching you how to replace negative/irrational thoughts with more balanced/rational thoughts. When you are able to identify and correct these cognitive patterns, you develop a more positive view of yourself and your environment, which allows for constructive problem-solving.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - MBSR aims to improve mindfulness skills, or your ability to recognize and understand your thoughts, emotions, and body in the present moment. When you are more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and body, you are better able to respond to stressful situations. Your MBSR treatment plan would focus on building and practicing mindfulness skills to be used in response to both chronic and acute stress. 

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy - MBCT incorporates key methods from CBT, but with the added benefit of also teaching mindfulness skills. Your MBCT treatment plan would teach you how to identify and reframe negative cognitive patterns through mindful awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and body.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT is a type of CBT, and incorporates many elements of mindfulness as well. ACT is aimed to help you build a rich and meaningful life, while accepting and understanding the painful emotions that inevitably come along with it. Your ACT treatment plan would address both behavioral and emotional goals, as well as identify your values and motivations behind these goals. Using ACT skill-building, you will learn how to take effective and mindful action towards these value-driven goals.

Getting Started

The first step in getting started is to contact Dr. Bonacci via phone (516-522-0448) or email (dr.mbonacci@gmail.com). To answer any questions you might have about her treatment approach, the therapeutic process, or your insurance coverage, Dr. Bonacci offers a free a 15 minute phone consultation. If you are then ready to begin, the next step would be to schedule a 60 minute intake appointment. During the intake appointment, your current concerns and the ways in which therapy would be helpful for you will be discussed.