Desai Negrelli, LCSW

Desai Negrelli, a licensed clinical social worker based in Valparaiso, Indiana, runs the counselling practice Empathic Space. She gives online therapy to clients in Indiana and Florida, including psychedelic integration, and offers wellness coaching across the United States.

Approach

Negrelli studied psychology at Purdue University and social work at Indiana University, and did her clinical supervision training at a residential treatment centre for teenagers. She uses DBT skills for emotional regulation alongside attachment-based and trauma-focused work, compassion-focused therapy, CBT and breathwork, listening to the body as well as the mind. Her psychedelic work has two parts: preparation, in which a client sets intentions for a day of medicine and learns what to expect, and integration afterwards, which often means widening the client’s circle of support.

Who it is for

She has worked with women, LGBTQ+ clients, military families and veterans, and describes her practice as an affirming space for LGBTQ and Latino identities. Her focus areas include mood disorders, perinatal experiences, parent and child relationships, life transitions and women’s issues, and she also sees clients dealing with self-harm, suicidal thoughts or personality disorders.

Practical details

All therapy sessions are online. An individual session of 53 minutes costs $150, a couples session $200 and the intake assessment $180, and a restorative pricing model adjusts fees to each client’s circumstances. Insurers accepted include Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum, TRICARE East and UnitedHealthcare. The first session is spent getting to know the client and what feels most important to them.