Depression is a serious condition that affects mood, thoughts, and behavior, but it's treatable. It can bring sadness, anxiety, and loss of interest, harming life, work, relationships, and health, too.
With over 30 years of experience, Rita Gazarik brings both deep expertise and genuine warmth to her work as a psychotherapist. She has spent her career helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s most meaningful and often most complicated moments.
Rita’s approach is thoughtful, relational, and grounded in understanding a person’s full life picture. Whether someone is in the early stages of a relationship, facing intimacy challenges, considering separation, or working through later-life transitions, she creates a space where people feel heard, supported, and able to move forward with clarity.
She has advanced training in family therapy from the Ackerman Institute for the Family and the Family Institute of Westchester. She has taught and trained graduate students and professionals throughout her career. Rita has also contributed to research and writing on family dynamics, including work with the Hetrick-Martin Institute focused on LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
In addition to her clinical work, Rita is the director of Family Life Associates in New York City, an adjunct faculty member at the Silberman School of Social Work (CUNY), and a co-founder of Ready Set Relationship.
She especially loves working with couples at any stage, whether strengthening a relationship, navigating uncertainty, or finding a thoughtful path forward through discernment counseling, mediation, or collaborative divorce.
Outside of her work, Rita is a music lover who enjoys singing, reflecting the creativity and joy she brings to her clients.
Rita works closely with couples and families who want to feel more connected, communicate more openly, and move through challenges with greater understanding. Whether you’re navigating a transition or feeling stuck in familiar patterns, she helps you slow things down, make sense of what’s happening, and find a way forward together.
She also leads workshops for newly married couples and those in second marriages, offering practical, real-life tools to help relationships grow and evolve.
Rita often supports clients with:
Her approach is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens when people feel truly heard. Clients often come to her looking for answers, but stay for the deeper connection they begin to build with themselves and each other.
“Working with Rita Gazarik at NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative gave me the courage to face my anxiety. Her warmth and insight made every session feel safe and transformative.”
“With Mary Hayley’s guidance at NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative, I learned to let go of constant self-criticism. I now approach life with more compassion and clarity.”
“The team at NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative gave me the steady support I needed. Their caring approach helped me feel less alone and more hopeful about my future.”
Our licensed therapists bring decades of combined expertise to guide you with confidence and care.
We create a warm, non-judgmental space where you can feel heard and understood.
Every session is tailored to your unique needs, goals, and pace.
In-person and telehealth sessions make therapy accessible and convenient for you.
Fill out the form, and our team will reach out to help guide your next steps.
We’re licensed psychotherapists, some with 30+ years’ experience, treating a wide range of concerns. We specialize in depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, self-esteem, and childhood-origin issues, plus premarital, couples, and family counseling.
© 2026 NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.
Designed By Digital Drew SEM