Guiding Women to Heal and Rise – Exclusive Interview with Eva M. Gordon

Eva M. Gordon, LCSW, is the founder and director of Life Guide LCSW, P.C., a mental health practice providing psychotherapy and community mental health education in the New York City area. Her focus is on providing mental health treatment to the Black community as a source of healing and hope. She mainly works with Black professional women ages 30 and up who struggle with unhealthy relationships. The goal is to help these women recognize that self-care is their birthright and not a privilege. Eva uses several strategies, including exploring behavioral patterns, emotional management, and understanding how multiple factors contribute to a person’s mental health during their lifespan.

Eva M. Gordon, LCSW, Psychotherapist and Mental Health Consultant

Who is Eva Gordon?

Eva M. Gordon, LCSW, is the founder and director of Life Guide LCSW, P.C., a mental health practice providing psychotherapy and community mental health education in the New York City area. She has worked with individuals, families, and organizations to promote safety and well-being. Her focus is on providing mental health treatment to the Black community as a source of healing and hope. She mainly focuses on Black professional women ages 30 and up who struggle with unhealthy relationships. The goal is to help these women recognize that self-care is their birthright and not a privilege. She uses several strategies, including exploring behavioral patterns, emotional management, and understanding how multiple factors contribute to a person’s mental health during their lifespan.

For over 20 years, Eva has provided additional services, including service planning, program development, and management. She has coordinated trainings and resource events for community organizations and faith-based initiatives. Ms. Gordon now focuses on educating the community on mental health and how we can take care of ourselves to improve our lives.

I view mental health as my calling and divine purpose. A client told me in one session that therapy is my ministry. This confirmed for me that I’m on the right path and remain focused on what I’m called to do. As Christians, we are called to be a light in the world, and people come to therapy to find light in dark times. Social work is a voice for the voiceless. I think about my social work journey in comparison to Nehemiah in the Bible. He was working for a king in a foreign land, and the governor noticed how sad Nehemiah was. Nehemiah explained he was sad to see the people in his homeland, Jerusalem, scarred by warfare. The governor gave him tools and funds to rebuild the wall of the city. Nehemiah went back to his homeland to rebuild the city wall. As a social worker, I was trained by great colleges, the University of Pittsburgh (BA Sociology), and Columbia University School of Social Work (Master of Science in Social Work, MSW), to change and improve the world. As a result of my learning, I returned to my community in NYC to help people rebuild their lives. I believe these tools and others have provided what I needed the past 20+ years to help others reconnect to themselves to live a better life. I have been blessed to bless others, especially in the Black community as a Black woman of American and Caribbean descent.

One of my favorite verses is Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. This verse is great for psychotherapy since the goal is to renew a person’s mind with new perspectives on themselves and their place in the world.

What you should know is that the last thing I wanted to be is a social worker, where I’m listening to problems all day. However, it is more than that, and it is about engaging people in searching for ways to improve their lives by changing their thinking. I always wanted to be a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon and work with children. This changed when I got to college, and I wasn’t really doing well with the natural sciences, so I switched to the social sciences. The interesting thing is that I have been working with children and big children (adults) on healing their emotional hearts for over 20 years, from a youth drug and violence research data collector, a child welfare case worker, a high school counselor, a child welfare support services manager, and now a psychotherapist. 

I’m a lover of music, movies, and spontaneity. I have used music and movies at times in sessions to further explore mental health challenges and help clients gain clarity on the source of their issues. I incorporate writing assignments at times with sessions to help clients explore the depths of their challenges and gain mental clarity on how to move forward and find solutions. Many writing assignments stem from viewing expressive writing as an essential skill in self-reflection and healing. I mainly work with the Black community, and expressive writing can be used to give voice to oppressed people and suppressed emotions. 

What inspired you to become a Life Guide and Licensed Clinical Social Worker?

As a social worker, I help people find their voice. There are experiences that make us shut down, and this becomes a habit. I see my role as helping people recognize that their voice matters. As for the term Life Guide, a client compared our therapy sessions to the movie, The Shack. The Shack, if you don’t know, is about a man on a journey of grief after his wife dies. During his journey, he meets a person who guides him. This gave me the idea to name my practice Life Guide. 

Can you share the mission behind A Better Life with Eva and what makes your approach unique?

Many people are not aware that they can improve their lives with a few changes or steps. Change doesn’t happen automatically, and we could use a partner to implement changes with new methods. If people focus on their mental health and/or physical health, other aspects of their lives will improve. Setting goals with 1-3 steps has helped my clients feel better internally, which improves their external posture. What makes me unique is the ability to get lost with clients by being a great listener. Many people come to me feeling alone and misunderstood. Many people don’t feel valued, are overlooked, and come alive with our work together. The goal is to renew a person’s mind, body, and spirit to improve their lives. Once people begin their work with me, some have gotten remarried, bought homes, started businesses, returned to school, or just felt better about themselves. These are the things that I live to see.

What kinds of challenges or life transitions do your clients typically come to you for support with?

Many challenges are feeling disconnected from themselves, wanting to unlearn unhealthy habits that no longer serve them. They recognize that some survival skills they learned from their childhood or adult life no longer serve them and need to change to become who they need and want to be. Many people need help with workplace stress, family and home life, feeling lost, overthinking, and being the superhero to others, and neglecting their own needs. Some people are caregivers for their parents, and this adds to their stress. 

How do you help clients move from feeling stuck or overwhelmed to living a more balanced and fulfilling life?

The first step in being stuck is recognizing that this is a great starting point to rebuild or start over. It allows you to explore where you want to go. I help people realize they have options and are at a fork in the road. Many people who feel stuck don’t know they have the power to change, even if the choices are hard. The goal is to empower people to know they have the power within to do things differently.

What are some key principles or techniques you use in your sessions that lead to lasting change?

One key technique and framework is using a strength-based perspective. This perspective allows people to recognize what is going right in their lives and what skills and passions they have that they overlook when things go wrong. It takes time to use this perspective if negativity and problems plague your life. Lasting change also starts with unlearning unhealthy habits that hinder them. The next step is to learn healthy habits. Some key principles are learning triggers to unhealthy coping mechanisms, i.e., controlling temper or people pleasing. When people know their triggers, they learn that emotions are okay, by using mindfulness and acceptance techniques to not let emotions or irrational thoughts control their behavior. This stems from cognitive behavioral methods. Exploring and setting boundaries is a healthy habit for people who overextend themselves at the expense of their own health and needs. Another skill is assertiveness, helping people to find and use their voices to create lasting changes in their lives and with others. These skills take time to build by giving clients time to use all these skills in their daily lives. These skills are practical and are used daily to make lasting changes in their lives.

How do you integrate both clinical expertise and compassionate guidance in your work?

One key compassionate method that enhances clinical practice is empathy. Empathy is validating a person's experience and feelings are okay. You don’t have to have had the same experience but understand how this experience impacts their lives. Empathy reduces loneliness and removes judgment, creating a safe space for people to share. Active listening is another skill that is crucial to clinical practice. Active listening makes people realize their words and thoughts matter and improves communication. This skill is great for relationships, especially when working with couples. Empathy and active listening are taught as basic skills to improve their relationships with healthy communication skills.

What has been one of the most memorable or rewarding client transformations you’ve witnessed?

One memorable moment as a psychotherapist, I recall when a parent of a child with autism recognized the humanity of her child, not just her challenges. She was able to see that her daughter would not be a genius or straight-A student, but could learn life skills and social skills to live her best life and be productive. One client realized that having anxiety is not who she is, but the emotions and thoughts she has to manage. The work she did during therapy helped her realize that she can reduce overthinking. Despite her issues with social anxiety, she is able to recognize her strengths to overcome her weaknesses. 

In your view, what are the biggest misconceptions people have about therapy or life guidance?

One misconception about psychotherapy is that the therapist tells you what to do. I inform people during consultations that the goal is to help people find the answer and not give them the answer. Many people come looking for approval from the psychotherapist, and they need to be reparented to think for themselves and trust themselves. Another misconception is that psychotherapy is just talk, and it's so much more than this. It takes a lot of work to sit with someone who cannot see any positivity in their lives due to circumstances beyond their control or due to their own choices. Empathy is hard since you sit with someone and their pain. Active listening is hard when people cannot find the words to speak or cannot understand the importance of their own thoughts.

What advice would you give to someone who feels hesitant or nervous about seeking professional support?

It’s okay to be nervous about seeking professional support since it’s hard to share uncomfortable and painful experiences with someone you don’t know. Be patient in finding the right professional support, since it can be hard. To make the process easier in finding the right psychotherapist, make sure you are ready to work on yourself and explore all the weeds inside that keep you stuck and stagnant. Be patient with yourself and be nice to yourself when exploring areas of your life you haven’t explored before or in years.

How do you personally stay grounded and inspired while helping others navigate their healing journeys?

Self-care is the best care, and my self-care routine provides for my holistic needs so I can help others meet their needs. I make time for my passions and interests, i.e., music, movies, travel, and exploring my town. Making time for family, friends, colleagues, and others helps to keep me grounded as well. I also attend training courses to get CEUs and to improve my skills as a professional.

How can people connect with you and learn more about your services at A Better Life with Eva?

Phone: 929-324-7176

Email here.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

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