Dr. Yael Banai , LPC

Dr. Yael Banai is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Louisiana with thirty years of clinical experience. She has worked most frequently in school settings while also supporting a range of other populations, including teens and young adults, bringing a steady, experienced presence to each therapeutic relationship.

Her clinical strengths include working with ADHD, anxiety and depression, bipolar conditions, personality disorders and life transitions, along with family and parenting concerns. She approaches each person as an individual whose strengths and challenges resist simple labels, and she emphasizes a low-key, empathetic style that honors that uniqueness.

Dr. Banai uses a variety of evidence-informed methods to meet clients where they are, drawing from cognitive behavioral techniques, psychodynamic and transactional analysis perspectives, rational emotive strategies, and humanistic, client-centered ways of working. She adapts those approaches to fit each client, shaping a treatment plan that reflects personal goals and real-world needs. For those beginning therapy she acknowledges how daunting the first step can be, and she frames change as a gradual journey that begins with courage and a willingness to try something different.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Access

Dr. Yael Banai integrates Client-Centered therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into her online practice. Client-Centered therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client’s lead and supports personal growth, which is helpful for self-esteem, relationship concerns, and life transitions. CBT offers structured strategies to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, and it is effective for anxiety, depression, ADHD-related challenges, and stress management.

She may also draw on psychodynamic ideas when exploring deeper patterns that influence emotions and relationships, helping clients understand how past experiences shape present behavior. Determining the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process - Dr. Banai works with each client to match methods to their goals, preferences, and practical needs so that the plan feels personally relevant and doable.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different lifestyles and schedules. These options make it easier to access consistent care from licensed professionals without traveling, letting clients choose the format that best supports their comfort and ongoing progress.