Rachael Hands, LCSW, EMDR Consultant

Rachael Hands is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), EMDR Certified Therapist, and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) through Yoga Alliance, bringing over 15 years of yoga practice into her work. Rachael is the founder of Heart in Hand Psychotherapy, where she offers a compassionate, integrative approach to healing. She 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. Rachael is licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Maine. She is also trained in R-TEP/G-TEP, enabling her to treat 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 issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, grief and loss, addiction, life transitions, parenting concerns, and challenges with school or job performance. Her work specializes in trauma, dissociation, somatic integration, and EMDR.

Her therapeutic approach is client-centered—she sees clients as 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.

Rachael also integrates principles of yoga and somatic awareness into therapy. She believes 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. As in therapy, the yoga journey begins with simply showing up, and over time evolves into a deeper understanding of one’s own 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.