- LGBT focus
- Meaning-centered
- Relationship help
About Jay
Jay Sontag is a humanistic and existential therapist who focuses on helping people find meaning and steady ground in their lives. Jay is a licensed mental health counselor, LMHC, practicing in New York. They brings a warm, direct style to conversations about identity, relationships, and life transitions.
Jay uses a person-centered stance that prioritizes the client's voice. Sessions aim to name what matters, identify barriers, and try small changes that build confidence. The work is practical and rooted in daily life, not jargon or long lectures.
Clients often come for support with LGBT concerns, relationship strains, parenting stress, grief, and family challenges. Jay also has experience with adoption and foster care topics, caregiving strain, gender dysphoria, sexuality, and issues around shame and guilt. These areas are addressed through honest conversation and attention to values and choices.
Jay draws on existential ideas about meaning and choice alongside narrative and trauma-focused approaches. That mix helps people rewrite stuck stories, manage strong emotions, and rebuild trust in themselves. Motivational interviewing techniques are used when people want help moving from insight to action.
Jay identifies as non-binary and centers community and restorative justice in their outlook. With four years of clinical experience, Jay aims to create a collaborative, straightforward space where people can work through difficult moments and plan next steps.
How Jay's Approaches Shape Online Care
Jay combines client-centered and narrative work to help people clarify values and change the stories that hold them back. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely and following the person's lead so goals come from the client. Narrative therapy helps people separate themselves from problem-driven stories and try new ways of being, which can be useful for identity, relationship, and adoption-related concerns.Jay also uses motivational interviewing to support people who want forward movement. That approach is collaborative and practical, helping someone resolve mixed feelings and commit to small steps. Choosing the right mix of methods is part of the work; Jay will talk with each person about goals and preferences and adapt the approach together.
Confirm the current session options before booking so you know how Jay is offering care right now. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow a quicker check-in on days when a shorter conversation helps. Some formats work better for quieter conversations, while others suit longer, deeper sessions; Jay will help pick what fits your needs and schedule.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Jay commonly help with?
Jay works with people on LGBT concerns, relationship problems, family difficulties, grief, and parenting stress. Additional focus areas include adoption and foster care, gender dysphoria, sexuality, and caregiver strain.
What is Jay's therapeutic style like?
The approach is humanistic and existential with a client-centered core. Sessions emphasize finding personal meaning, practical steps, and reshaping unhelpful stories.
What experience does Jay bring?
Jay has four years of clinical experience working with identity, relationship, and life-transition concerns, and brings community-centered values to their practice.
Where is Jay licensed and located?
Jay is a New York licensed mental health counselor - LMHC - and practices in New York.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with Jay?
Jay does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Jay?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing the short matching questionnaire, then schedule according to the therapist's availability.