Tom Klapper, MHC-LP

Most therapists can’t say they’ve produced live music, worked at a financial tech startup, and served tables in four different states – but then again, most people tell me I look too young to have done all that anyway.

My decade of wandering taught me that just showing up fully and being present for someone,  even if it was just taking their order or making sure their coffee was right, could make a huge difference in their day (and mine). I realized I wanted to learn skills that could help people on a deeper level than simply listening, though listening itself is pretty powerful.

I’m Tom from Brooklyn, and all those random jobs and places I’ve lived have given me perspectives on different people and different ways of being in the world. When I finally landed in therapy, I brought all of that with me.

What makes my approach different is that I believe therapy, even the hardest parts, can sometimes be enjoyable. I’m not interested in sacrificing the benefits of tackling difficult emotions or problems, but I also think that even our most unfair circumstances can provide insight for learning and growth, depending on how we choose to look at them after the dust settles.

I work collaboratively with clients to figure out what they actually want from their lives, then we identify the thinking patterns and behaviors that might be holding them back from getting there. If you don’t have clear goals yet, we can work together to find meaning in your day-to-day life or take steps toward becoming more complete as a person.

My creativity comes in handy here – I love finding tailored solutions to individual problems rather than applying cookie-cutter approaches. I draw from cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and person-centered approaches, but what matters most is what actually works for you.

I specialize in OCD and related disorders, but I work with anxiety, depression, and anyone ready to get curious about their mental health and recovery. The breakthrough moments I love most happen when someone reaches a place of acceptance – accepting uncertainty, accepting their mood, accepting imperfection – and starts making choices based on their values instead of their fears.

During tough conversations, I try to be a calming presence. We can always pause to breathe, and I’ll remind you that you’re in a safe space. Sometimes we’ll use grounding techniques, sometimes we’ll stand up and stretch, sometimes we’ll just sit with whatever’s coming up.

As Albert Camus wrote, “Walk beside me, just be my friend.” This quote captures how I see this work – we’re collaborators figuring this out together, not doctor and patient.

Outside of sessions, you’ll find me walking, driving or biking around the city, going to live music shows, playing sports, or meeting new people just to hear their stories. All of that feeds back into my work because every person I meet teaches me something new about being human.