Empowered Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC is committed to empowering, empathizing with, and embracing individuals, families, communities, and fellow helping professionals.
Our founder, Alexis Cate, is a dedicated Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience providing clinical care in hospital and community-based settings.
As a certified EMDR therapist, EMDR Consultant-in-Training (CIT), and Clinical Trauma Professional, she integrates diverse therapeutic approaches to provide client-centered and compassion-focused care.
In addition to her clinical work, Alexis is a skilled educator and writer in behavioral health and wellness. She is passionate about bridging theory with practical application, equipping therapists with the tools to apply their learning immediately.
A proactive and driven professional, Alexis develops content designed to enhance confidence and skills, empowering individuals, families, and fellow professionals alike.
Stacey Toro Morales is an MSW candidate at Hunter College's Silberman School of Social Work whose work sits at the intersection of social work, education, wellness and healing.
With more than a decade of experience in higher education and community-based health education, along with experience supporting pregnant and postpartum families, she brings a holistic and culturally responsive approach to her practice.
Stacey is especially passionate about creating spaces where embodied practices, creative expression, and mental health support come together, and she is continuing to develop her clinical skills with the goal of expanding accessible, transformative care for women and communities.
Services
Our Founder, Alexis Cate, LCSW, CCTP, CASAC provides all services and interfaces directly with clients and clinicians seeking our support.
Alexis offers behavioral health education that is evidence-based and centered on clinician growth. The focus is on enhancing clinicians' skills and knowledge while ensuring that the interventions and practices they learn are supported by scientific research. We hope to foster professional development, a deeper understanding of evidence-based practices (EBPs), and integrating these practices eclectically into clinical work.
Alexis provides individual and group consultation on complex trauma and cases involved mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. She works to provide insight on patients needs through a trauma informed lens, along with the ethical obligations to patient care. Her nuanced understanding of clinical and ethical needs provides a safe and nurturing space for clinicians at all stages of their career.
Psychotherapy
Alexis provides individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Services are currently offered via Zoom at this time.
*Note: Alexis is not accepting patient's at this time.*
Prepared Courses
🧠 Finding Hope: Risk Assessment & Suicide Prevention
This training equips clinicians with practical tools for assessing suicide risk, developing collaborative safety plans, and effectively supporting clients experiencing suicidal ideation. Participants will learn best practices for identifying high-risk factors, conducting ongoing risk assessments, and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies to promote client safety and hope.
🌱 Adulting 101: Finding Structure in the Chaos
Emerging adulthood can be both exciting and overwhelming, particularly for individuals navigating systemic and socioeconomic barriers. This training explores the developmental challenges of adulthood through the lens of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs while examining the broader social factors that impact well-being. Participants will learn practical, strengths-based interventions to help clients build stability, resilience, and confidence as they navigate life's transitions.
💛 You Are Enough: Dismantling Shame & Building Emotional Resilience in Clinical Practice
Inspired by the work of Dr. Brené Brown, this training examines the powerful role shame plays in mental health and interpersonal functioning. Participants will explore the relationship between shame, vulnerability, and resilience while learning practical strategies to help clients cultivate self-compassion, authenticity, and emotional courage.
🌿 Where Mind Meets Body: Trauma-Informed Care & Treatment
Trauma impacts both the mind and body in profound ways. This training provides a comprehensive overview of the neurobiological effects of trauma, trauma assessment strategies, and evidence-based interventions. Participants will explore bottom-up approaches that support nervous system regulation before integrating top-down cognitive processing techniques to promote healing and recovery.
📖 The Stories We Tell Ourselves: A Closer Look at the Narrative Perspective
This training introduces clinicians to the foundations of Narrative Therapy and the transformative power of storytelling in the therapeutic process. Participants will explore the origins and core principles of the narrative approach while learning practical interventions that can be integrated into narrative work or incorporated eclectically into other therapeutic modalities.
🎒 Beyond Prevention: Adolescent Substance Use & Mental Health
Adolescents often use substances as a means of coping with emotional distress, trauma, and other mental health challenges. This training examines the impact of substance use on the developing brain while exploring the complex relationship between adolescent mental health, trauma, and substance use. Participants will gain practical tools for assessment, engagement, and intervention.
🔄 All Mixed Up: Motivational Interviewing & Resolving Ambivalence
Change is rarely straightforward. This training explores the role of ambivalence in behavior change and introduces participants to the principles and techniques of Motivational Interviewing (MI). Clinicians will learn how to use a collaborative, client-centered conversational style to strengthen motivation, enhance self-efficacy, and support clients in making meaningful changes.
🤖 Benefits & Pitfalls: Artificial Intelligence & Mental Health Care
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the landscape of mental health care. This training examines the potential applications of AI in clinical practice, including assessment, documentation, psychoeducation, and treatment support. Participants will critically evaluate the ethical considerations, limitations, risks, and opportunities associated with integrating AI into mental health services.
🧩 Comorbid Complexities: Trauma & Borderline Personality Disorder
This training explores the complex relationship between trauma, attachment disruptions, and the development of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Participants will examine evidence-based approaches to treatment while considering the healing potential of the therapeutic relationship. The training also addresses common misconceptions and clinician biases that can impact care for individuals living with BPD.
👩👧 Nurturing Mothers: Addressing Maternal Mental Health Across the Lifespan
Motherhood brings unique joys, challenges, and stressors that can significantly impact mental health. This training explores maternal mental health across the lifespan, including common clinical concerns, risk factors, and systemic influences. Participants will gain practical assessment and intervention strategies to support maternal well-being and strengthen outcomes for mothers and their families.
🌿 Rigidity to Flexibility: Acceptance & Commitment Therapy in Practice
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients move away from rigid patterns of thinking and toward a more values-driven life. This training introduces clinicians to the six core processes of ACT, including acceptance, cognitive defusion, mindfulness, self-as-context, values clarification, and committed action. Participants will learn practical interventions that increase psychological flexibility, helping clients navigate difficult thoughts and emotions while building meaningful, purpose-filled lives.
Continuing Education Approvals
Empowered Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC, provider #2320, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 4/17/25–4/17/26.
Empowered Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0823.
Empowered Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0335.
