Rachael Hands, LCSW, EMDR Consultant

Rachael Hands is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), EMDR Certified Therapist, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) through Yoga Alliance and brings over 15 years of yoga practice into her work. As the founder of Heart in Hand Psychotherapy, Rachael offers a compassionate, integrative approach to healing. She is a Certified Clinical Supervisor, having completed the 20-hour Clinical Supervision Certificate Program through Rutgers University, and provides supervision to MSW students and LMSWs working toward licensure. Rachael earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University and her Master’s in Social Work from NYU Silver School of Social Work. She is licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Maine, and is trained in R-TEP/G-TEP, enabling her to support individuals who have experienced recent trauma, such as natural disasters or acts of violence.

Rachael works with adults (18+) from diverse cultural backgrounds, addressing a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, grief and loss, addiction, life transitions, parenting challenges, and difficulties related to school or job performance. Her clinical focus includes trauma, dissociation, somatic integration, and EMDR.

Her therapeutic approach is client-centered, grounded in the belief that clients are the experts of their own lives. Therapy begins by clarifying your goals and breaking them into meaningful, manageable steps. Rachael emphasizes empathy and a non-judgmental stance as the foundation for a strong therapeutic relationship.

She integrates principles of yoga and somatic awareness into therapy, believing that true healing involves both the mind and the body working together. Yoga is not just a practice. It’s a way of living that fosters body awareness, presence, and self-compassion. Much like therapy, the yoga journey begins with simply showing up and gradually evolves into a deeper understanding of one’s physical and emotional needs. Elements of yoga philosophy and mindful movement are woven into her EMDR and somatic work, creating a holistic path to healing.