Living room with a light gray sofa decorated with textured pillows and a throw blanket, surrounded by plants. Two wooden coffee tables with a small plant and a decorative tray are in front of the sofa. There are framed architectural prints on the wall and a window with curtains to the left.

MAKE SENSE of WHAT’S HAPPENING. SHIFT YOUR PERSPECTIVE. DO SOMETHING different.

Meet Dr. Kristina Burke. Therapist based in Garden City and available online across NY.

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“Why can’t I just turn my brain off?”

“I should be over what happened to me by now.”

“Why can’t I just…stop?”

“Just one drink. That’s it.”

“I don’t even feel like myself anymore.”

“I’m fine, it’s fine. Everything is fine.”

“I said I wasn’t going to react like that again.”

“I’m so focused on them that I don’t even know what I need anymore.”

Dr. Kristina Burke, therapist based in Garden City, NY, with long brown hair, wearing glasses, a white top, beige blazer, and dark pants, smiling at the camera.

A big part of our work together is understanding the function of what you’re doing.

Even the things you don’t like about yourself—overthinking everything, getting stuck in your head, reacting in ways you wish you didn’t, or relying on certain habits to take the edge off—they’re not happening by coincidence. They serve a purpose. Once we understand that purpose, we can begin figuring out what you actually need and how to meet that need differently.

That’s where real change starts.

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The Way I Work

I’m not here to judge you—you’ve already been hard enough on yourself.

You don’t need more criticism or someone telling you what’s wrong with you. What you do need is a space where you can actually start to understand what’s going on, without feeling shut down or picked apart. A big part of my role is helping you stay with experiences you’ve learned to push past or avoid—someone who can sit with what you’ve been carrying so it doesn’t feel like it’s yours alone.

At the same time, I’m not going to just sit back and let you stay stuck. I’m pretty active in the “room”—I’ll ask questions, gently challenge things when needed, point out patterns, and offer honest feedback that helps you see what’s been harder to see on your own.

I consider myself a flexible therapist.

That doesn’t mean there’s no direction—what it really means is I’m not going to force you to follow a rigid formula or one-size-fits-all approach. Therapy should feel personalized to you. My approach blends practical, evidence-based strategies with deeper insight and self-understanding. I draw primarily from approaches like CBT, ACT, and DBT, while also integrating relational and insight-oriented work when helpful—all in a way that fits you, not the other way around.

Some sessions might be more focused on understanding patterns and connecting dots between your experiences. Others might be more practical—building skills or figuring out how to handle the challenges you are facing in real time. We follow what’s most relevant, and trust that it’s going somewhere meaningful.

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UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF IS IMPORTANT. WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING MATTERS TOO.

EXPLORE my SPECIALTIES

Anxiety & OCD
Substance Use
Trauma

I believe in therapy that…

  • This isn’t just a place to vent. We won’t spend session after session circling the same thoughts or just getting things off your chest without anything changing. We’re going to figure out what’s keeping you stuck—whether that’s anxiety that won’t let up, habits you rely on to cope, or patterns in your relationships—and start doing something different with that insight.

  • You don’t need more judgment or shame—but you also don’t need someone who just nods along and tells you what you want to hear. I’ll listen and understand where you’re coming from, but I’m also going to call it like I see it. Together, we’ll intentionally work to move beyond patterns that no longer serve you, learn to stop second-guessing yourself, and start to let go of being harder on yourself than you need to be.

  • This is a collaborative process. You’re not being “fixed,” and you’re not going to be told exactly what to do. Instead of following a script or rigid step-by-step plan, we look at what’s actually happening and what you really need. Sometimes that means helping you figure things out for yourself, and other times it means I’ll step in with direct feedback, suggestions, or a clearer path forward when you feel stuck. We walk the path together.

  • Understanding yourself is important, but you need (and deserve) more than that. The bigger goal is to help you take what you’re learning and apply it—so you’re not just aware of your patterns, but actually responding differently when it matters—at home, at work, in relationships, and beyond.

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My BACKGROUND

    • Ph.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology, American University

    • Predoctoral Internship, Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center

    • Postdoctoral Fellowship in PTSD, Veterans Affairs, NY Harbor Healthcare System

    • B.A. in Psychology, St. John’s University

    • Licensed Psychologist in New York (since 2022)

    • VA Certified Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Provider

    • Trained in evidence-based therapies, including:

      • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

      • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

      • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

      • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

      • Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)

      • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

TRADE GOING IN CIRCLES FOR ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD—and feeling back in control.

Online sessions available based in Garden City. Serving Massapequa and the surrounding areas, including all of New York State. Reach out today.

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