Zaire Smalls, MHC-LP
She / her / hers
Currently accepting new clients
About Zaire
Zaire works with teens ages 16 and older, adults, couples, and families, and can incorporate DBT skills into individual therapy.
Zaire Smalls offers virtual therapy across New York for individuals and couples seeking support that is collaborative, culturally responsive, and grounded in real respect for lived experience.
Zaire may be a strong fit if you want a collaborative therapist who understands that healing happens in context — shaped by culture, family, identity, and community, not in isolation.
Who Zaire works well with
Zaire works with individuals and couples feeling overwhelmed or emotionally stretched, uncertain about who they are becoming, or ready to understand long-standing patterns.
Common reasons people come to her include:
- Anxiety and stress
- Panic and panic attacks
- ADHD and focus-related challenges
- Depression
- Trauma
- Anger and emotional regulation
- Self-esteem and self-criticism
- Identity development
- Life transitions
What therapy with Zaire feels like
Therapy with Zaire is warm, collaborative, and authentic.
Zaire tailors the process to you rather than running a one-size-fits-all model, so therapy feels relevant to the realities of your life.
Cultural responsiveness
A defining part of Zaire's approach is her culturally responsive lens — centering the ways culture, family, identity, and community shape emotional wellbeing, so care feels more relevant, more affirming, and more connected to your actual life.
Zaire's approach
Zaire works integratively and research-informed, drawing as needed from trauma-informed care, mindfulness, insight-oriented exploration, CBT, and strengths-based support.
Practical details
- MHC-LP, supervised clinician
- individuals and couples
- online across New York
- insurance: in-network with Aetna, Anthem / Empire BlueCross (including Excellus, Highmark, and out-of-state BlueCard plans), Carelon, Cigna, EmblemHealth, MagnaCare, Meritain, and NYSHIP / The Empire Plan
- available evenings only (6 pm and later)
- self-pay individual sessions: $150 full fee, sliding scale $75–$150 per session
- self-pay couples sessions: $200 full fee, sliding scale $100–$200 per session
Part of a collaborative practice
Zaire is part of Peace Love Wellness, a collaborative online therapy practice in New York grounded in relational care, trauma-informed thinking, identity affirmation, emotional honesty, and thoughtful fit.
When you reach out, we consider clinical focus, therapeutic style, insurance participation, availability, and your preferences together, so matching does not become only a logistical step.
How to get started
We help match clients based on needs, insurance, availability, and overall fit.
Ready to begin?
If you are looking for virtual therapy in New York that is collaborative, culturally responsive, and grounded in meaningful support, Zaire may be a strong fit.