Written by Yulgeim Gomez, MHC-LP
CoreStory Clinician
[Click here to read more about him]
If you have lived in or spent significant time in New York City, you have likely come to recognize that it impacts people in different ways. Its sheer size, diversity, culture, popularity, uniqueness and general stimulation brings with it a profound set of influences. In fact, when I begin therapy with someone, I often look to understand how they uniquely experience the city as a beginning point for our work together.
In general living in this city is as difficult as it is rewarding--with all that it offers by way of opportunities and resources, it can feel like it equally takes away with energy and time spent to survive and thrive. Given the unique experience of living in New York City, here are a few tips to navigate and thrive in the Big Apple.
1. Appreciate the Good
Something I try to practice with my clients is the use of mindfulness, especially when it pertains to the way we live and experience New York. Becoming mindful of our surroundings provides comfort and alleviates some of the stressors that we navigate through in our daily lives. For example, a helpful exercise is using mindfulness to appreciate the wide array of sceneries that New York has to offer (see below!). Additionally, New York offers opportunities, cultural institutions, and different forms of exercise--even if it’s not formal exercise, the simple act of walking can provide significant activity that can bolster individual wellness.
2. The More the Merrier
Who else could better understand the struggle of a New Yorker than a fellow New Yorker? Having a person or group of people who can offer support and connection during times of need is essential regardless of the circumstances or place of origin. As a clinician, I often come across clients that, above all, are in need of a space where they can be heard and understood. The therapeutic relationship between counselor and client is established on the value of empathy. Living in New York may seem scary and overwhelming, but it is especially beneficial to have someone who can relate to the daily stressors of living in a high-paced, high-demand city like this one. It can be a social group, family, friends, or a therapist--having your support network is essential in this city.
3. Embrace Opportunity
One of the greatest benefits to living in New York City is the abundance of opportunities available for those who are willing to seek them. In my experience, clients will sometimes seek therapy in hopes of discovering who they are as a person and there are infinite ways to redefine ourselves in NYC. Insights about one’s identity and self-discovery are not uncommon in the therapeutic process. I work to explore with clients the possibility of self-discovery through experience in the city! In other words, sometimes the best way to start to understand who we are is to experience as much as possible. New York City provides opportunities for self-discovery in its diversity alone.
New York City is complex. It can be both stressful and exciting. If you work to find the good, share it with others, and carefully reflect on your opportunities to define yourself, you may find your experience of the city to be enriched. I would be happy to be a part of your process to tap into all that NYC has to offer.