Wherever you're starting from-that's exactly where we begin.

Hart to Heart Clinical Counseling Services

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Seeking Support for Your Journey to Healing and Well-being?

We're dedicated to guiding you towards healing and well-being, leveraging the transformative power of hope and faith to overcome personal obstacles and unlock your full potential.

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About Our Approach

We're licensed social workers, and that shapes how we work. We look at the whole picture: not just your symptoms, but your relationships, your history, and your circumstances.


We support adults, couples, and families that experience a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, and chronic illness. We’ll meet you wherever you are on your journey.

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Virtual and In-Person Counseling: Your Choice

Therapy that comes to you. We offer secure video and phone sessions for clients everywhere in New York State, evenings and Saturdays included. No commute, no waiting room, no rearranging your day. Just support, on your schedule.


We are also available in person in Suffolk County and in Albany.

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Christian Counseling

For clients who want their faith to be part of their healing, we offer counseling that integrates Christian values and Biblical teaching. Whether you're navigating marriage difficulties, family strain, or personal struggles, we bring both clinical expertise and a Christ-centered perspective to this work.”

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Immediate Help Through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.


The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.

Lifeline Hotline

What our clients come to us for:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Trauma & PTSD
  • Marriage
  • Difficulties
  • Grief
  • Chronic illness
  • Family Strain
  • Life transitions

Specialized Support for Behavioral Disorders

We specialize in guiding individuals towards healing and well-being. Leveraging the transformative power of hope and faith, our social workers are committed to helping you overcome personal obstacles. Through our therapeutic approach, we empower clients to conquer challenges and unlock their full potential.

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Our Mission is Helping You

We are committing to providing you with a therapy session within 48 hours. We also welcome everyone in our practice: all races, genders, and religious traditions are welcome here.


Sometimes people ask us how they will know if they could benefit from therapy. We like to say that this wondering is often a very good place to start. Because at Hart to Heart, wherever you're starting from—that's exactly where we begin.

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Insights and Inspiration

Here, we share valuable insights, practical tips, and inspiring stories to support your journey towards mental health and well-being. Whether you're seeking guidance on managing stress, improving relationships, or enhancing self-care practices, our blog is your go-to resource for holistic support and personal growth. Dive into our latest posts and discover the tools you need to thrive in every aspect of your life.

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Waiting to Worry: Finding Peace in a World Full of “What Ifs”

by Pastor Jay A. Hart, LCSW-R • 8 April 2026
Anxiety is one of the most common struggles people face today, yet it often hides in plain sight. It shows up in quiet moments, lying awake at night, replaying conversations, or bracing for things that haven’t even happened yet. It whispers questions like, “What if something goes wrong?” or “What if I can’t handle what’s ahead?” If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in that cycle, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you are not without hope.  That is why I wrote Waiting to Worry: A Guide to Overcoming Anxiety. Understanding the Battle: Anticipatory Anxiety One of the most exhausting forms of anxiety is something called anticipatory anxiety—the fear of what might happen before it ever does. It’s the kind of anxiety that: Turns a routine doctor’s visit into a worst-case scenario Makes a simple conversation feel overwhelming Causes your body to react as though danger is already present Your heart races. Your thoughts spiral. Your body prepares for a threat that hasn’t arrived. From a clinical perspective, this is the body’s fight-or-flight response being activated unnecessarily. From a spiritual perspective, it is a battle in the mind—where fear attempts to override truth. And if we’re honest, even strong believers struggle here. You Can Have Faith and Still Feel Fear Many Christians quietly carry anxiety because they believe it means their faith is weak. They ask: “Why can’t I just trust God?” “What’s wrong with me?” “Shouldn’t I be stronger than this?” But Scripture tells a different story. David cried out in distress. Elijah battled discouragement. Paul endured overwhelming pressure. God did not reject them in their fear—He met them in it. Anxiety is not a sign that God has left you. It is often the very place where He draws near. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1 (KJV) Where Faith Meets Practical Help As both a pastor and a licensed clinical social worker, I have spent years walking with people through anxiety, from the pulpit and across the counseling room. What I have learned is this: Lasting peace comes when faith and practical tools work together . In Waiting to Worry, I bring these two together by offering: Biblical truth to anchor your thinking Clinical strategies to calm your body and mind Guided exercises to help you break the cycle of fear Because peace is not just something you pray for—it is something you learn to walk in. Breaking Free from “What If” Thinking One of the most powerful steps in overcoming anxiety is learning to challenge your thoughts. Anxiety thrives on “what if.” Faith is grounded in “what is true.” The Bible instructs us clearly: “Whatsoever things are true… think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8 (KJV) A simple but life-changing question you can ask yourself is: Is this a fact, or is this a fear? That question alone can begin to separate truth from distortion. A Simple Practice You Can Start Today Here is one practical tool you can begin using immediately: The “What If” Exercise Write down your top three worries Ask yourself: Are these happening right now? Notice how many are future-based fears This exercise helps bring your mind back to the present, where God’s grace actually meets you. Because most of the things we fear… never happen. And even when life brings challenges, God’s strength proves sufficient. God’s Peace Is Available to You One of the greatest truths I want every reader to understand is this: Fear may be real—but it is not final. God offers a peace that is not dependent on circumstances. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you… Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27 (KJV) This peace is not the absence of problems. It is the presence of Christ in the middle of them. A Journey to Freedom Waiting to Worry is not just a book to read—it is a guide to walk through. Inside, you will find: Faith Truths to ground your thinking Counselor’s Tips for real-life application Calls to Prayer to connect with God in the moment Declarations of Freedom to renew your mind Each chapter is designed to help you move from fear to faith, step by step. You Don’t Have to Live This Way If anxiety has been controlling your thoughts, your sleep, your peace, or your decisions, hear this clearly: You are not broken. You are not weak. You are not beyond help. You are in a battle—and through Christ, that battle can be won. The same Jesus who calmed the storm is still speaking peace today. And He is speaking to you. Take the First Step If you are ready to stop living in “what if” and start walking in peace, Waiting to Worry: A Guide to Overcoming Anxiety is here to help guide you. You don’t have to face anxiety alone. You can learn to wait… instead of worry.

Why We Attack Ourselves: Understanding Where It Started

8 April 2026
We all know that sinking feeling of being really hard on ourselves. For some of us, we experience it as a gut-wrenching, overall sensation of being “bad” or “wrong” at our very core. For others, it’s a harsh internal voice that seems to stand at the ready to bring us down, just when we’ve worked up the courage to try something new, or something we’ve failed at in the past. Just as we’re poised to take a risk for our benefit, this internal voice tells us we’re “no good”, or “will never be enough, no matter what, so why try?”. But what is this feeling, this voice? Why do we attack ourselves in the first place? Something that might surprise many of us: Self-attack is learned, and it often has good reasons. I don’t mean that our self-attack is right. I mean that we come by it honestly, and that there are good reasons we learned to do it. And appreciating this is part of healing. Let’s take a moment to go back in time. Imagine yourself as a young child, or imagine a young child that you know. A teacher once asked me, “Is any child born thinking ‘I’m no good’ or ‘Something is wrong with me?’” I don’t know about you, but I don’t think so! Self-attack is something that children learn. But how and why do they learn it? Go back to this child you had in your mind’s eye before. See how this child is totally dependent on their parents or caregivers to meet all their needs. Not just food and shelter, but emotional needs, too: the need to feel welcomed in this world, the need to feel seen and understood, the need to be loved for who they really are, the need to trust and rely on others. I will go out on a limb here, and say that no child has all their needs, material or emotional, met perfectly by their parents. And not because their parents are bad, but because all parents are human beings: Like all of us, they are flawed. Environmental factors like war, economic hardship, and natural disasters also play a huge role. So imagine this young child again, totally dependent on their caregivers and environment for everything. What happens when important needs go unmet? The brutal reality is often that parents, at that moment, in that particular place, were not capable of meeting their child’s needs. Maybe there was a war going on. Maybe their parents were carrying unimaginable burdens of their own that got in the way. But if this young child were to accept this reality, it would create hopelessness. Parents or caregivers are a child’s whole world. How horrible would it be to accept that this world is simply not going to fulfill these needs they have at their very core? This is the origin of self-attack. In my experience, children opt out of hopelessness, and instead tell themselves, “I’m not worthy of getting what I need.” This is painful, but it keeps hope alive. They think, “If I’m the problem, maybe I can fix myself. If I just try harder, or need less, then I’ll finally be loved the way I need to be loved.” This was actually brilliant. It kept the child emotionally connected to their parents, even when the relationship couldn't hold them the way they needed. It meant maintaining hope in what can be a dangerous and unjust world. Seen from this perspective, self-attack was a brilliant strategy. It helped us to make it through, to survive situations in which the world couldn’t give us what we really needed. But then we grew up. We no longer depend on our parents or caregivers, yet we continue to attack ourselves by telling ourselves we’re bad or wrong at our core, that we’ll never be good enough, etc. The strategy that once protected us now hurts us: It keeps us from going for what we want, it keeps us from feeling confident and lovable just as we are, it hurts us, and keeps us stuck. This is a new perspective for many people: The self-attack that can feel like just “who we are” is really something we learned in order to survive, in order to protect ourselves from the harsh realities of the world. Giving ourselves grace means aligning our inner voice with God's voice, extending to ourselves the same mercy God extends to us. As Paul writes, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). As parents, as people, we are all flawed. God knows this, and meets us with compassion, not condemnation, in our imperfect state. God sees belovedness, not worthlessness; a child learning and growing, not a failure who can never measure up.  Can we learn to look at ourselves the same way? Can we meet our own imperfection with the same compassion God offers us? Hart to Heart is here to help you on this journey
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FAQ

Getting Started

  • How do I know if therapy is right for me?

    If something in your life feels stuck — emotionally, relationally, or in how you see yourself — therapy can help. You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. We’re happy to meet you with whatever you are experiencing, and find a path forward together.

  • How do I schedule an appointment?

    You can call us at 631-301-3969, fill out our contact form, or book directly through our client

    portal. We'll get back to you promptly to confirm your appointment and answer any questions

    before your first session.

  • What happens after I reach out?

    We'll contact you to schedule your intake, send you an email with a link to access our client portal to complete paperwork, and answer any logistical questions. By the time you arrive for your first session in person or via telehealth, you'll know exactly what to expect.

  • How do I schedule an appointment?

    Scheduling an appointment is easy. You can call our office at 631-301-3969 or email us at jhart@h2hcounseling.net. Our friendly staff will assist you in finding a convenient time for your initial session.

Our Services

  • What issues do you help people with?

    If something in your life feels stuck — emotionally, relationally, or in how you see yourself — therapy can help. You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. We’re happy to meet you with whatever you are experiencing, and find a path forward together.

  • Do you offer virtual sessions?

    Yes. We provide secure, HIPAA-compliant video and phone sessions for clients anywhere in New York State.

  • Do you offer in-person sessions?

    We'll contact you to schedule your intake, send you an email with a link to access our client portal to complete paperwork, and answer any logistical questions. By the time you arrive for your first session in person or via telehealth, you'll know exactly what to expect.

  • Do you work with children and adolescents?

    Yes. We work with clients of all ages, including children and teens. Family therapy is also available when it's helpful to involve the whole family system.

  • Do you offer group therapy or support groups?

    Yes. Contact us to find out what groups are currently available and whether one might be a good fit for you.

Faith & Values

  • Is Hart to Heart a Christian counseling practice?

    Faith informs who we are and how we approach our work. That said, we welcome clients of all backgrounds and beliefs. You don't need to share our faith to work with us. If integrating a spiritual dimension into your therapy is meaningful to you, we can do that. If it isn't, we'll meet you exactly where you are.

Logistics

  • What insurance do you accept?

    We accept several insurance plans:

    • Aetna
    • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shiels
    • Cigna and Evernorth
    • EmblemHealth
    • Fidelis
    • Medicare
    • Meritain Health
    • Optum
    • Oscar Health
    • Oxford
    • Tricare
    • UMR
    • UnitedHealthcare UHC/Community | UBH
    • Molina
    • MVP
    • Medicaid
    • Oscar
    • CEPHP
    • Carelon

    Please contact us at 631-210-6312 to confirm whether your specific plan is accepted. We're

    happy to help you navigate the insurance process.

  • What if I don't have insurance or my plan isn't accepted?

    You can call us at 631-210-6312, fill out our contact form, or book directly through our client

    portal. We'll get back to you promptly to confirm your appointment and answer any questions

    before your first session.

  • Is my information kept confidential?

    Yes. Everything you share in therapy is confidential. There are a small number of legal

    exceptions — including if there is risk of harm to yourself or others, or certain situations

    involving minors — which your therapist will explain clearly at the start of treatment.

  • How long are sessions?

    Sessions are between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on what you and your therapist decide is most beneficial for you.

  • How long will I be in therapy?

    This varies widely. Some people find significant relief in 8-12 sessions; others benefit from longer-term work. We'll revisit this regularly so you always have a sense of where we are and what's next.

  • What if I try therapy and it doesn't work?

    The therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of whether therapy is effective. If something isn't working — our approach, the fit, the pace — we want to know. We'd rather adjust than have you give up on therapy altogether. If a referral elsewhere instead of or in addition to our support would serve you better, we'll help you find that.

Private Practice Counseling