Colette Lopane-Capella, the Meryl Streep of Psychotherapy
By Rhonda Spaziani
The Therapists’ Therapist
Colette Lopane-Capella of New Day Vitality Psychotherapy in both Westchester and the Bronx, New York is a therapists’ therapist. It’s not because she sees only other therapists in her practice, but because another therapist, such as myself, can understand how truly talented she is. I know how difficult and nuanced our craft is and how spot on every one of her answers were when she was interviewed for Therapists Talk! on Green Ink Radio. By the end of the interview, I wanted to grill Colette on every conceivable diagnosis, her preferred treatment modality, and her therapeutic approach to confirm if we were on the same page.
The Meryl Streep of Psychotherapy
While she is my junior by a few years (okay, okay, probably more like 20), she has the innate confidence, wisdom, and compassion that separates the great from the good in the world of therapy. Think of Meryl Streep, Emily Watson, and Jodie Foster. Now compare them with Jennifer Anniston, Kirsten Dunst, and Cameron Diaz. I think we would all agree that the second set is a very competent group of actresses , and have even had moments of greatness on film, but they are not The greats of film. Same with therapists. A lot of us are damn good therapists, but there are very few greats. Colette Lopane-Capella is one of the greats. Let’s just say that Colette is the Meryl Streep of psychotherapy. Watch her and cheer, baby!
And She Said Yes!
I met Colette through a shared Facebook group. I once again did my new weirdly wonderful thing and reached out to Colette and asked her if she would be interested in being interviewed for Green Ink Radio and she said yes! As with Gail Doy, something about Colette spoke to me. Her pretty, sweet face and her soothing energy reached out from the flat media screen of my phone like a genie-in-the-bottle vapor mist, and before I knew it, I was asking her if she would like to be on Green Ink Radio! Just in case you think I do this all the time, I don’t. I encounter thousands of people in my Facebook groups and so far only one woman compelled me to reach out from Facebook, and one on Twitter. My upcoming interviews with Suzanne Giesemann and Corbie Mitleid were also intuitive connections but through different channels (more of that in upcoming blog posts and podcasts).
Colette is in Love
Colette is a rare thing, a young woman unabashedly in love with her husband and vocal about her gratitude for her happy union. She is also madly in love with her work. Both passions show in her joyous commitment and enthusiasm. Her dogs too are up there in the love triad of her life (a girl after my own heart-I have a boneless, chubby, dachshund-mix rescue melted onto my lap as I type this).
From Pet Therapy to Eating Disorders
Colette sees individual, couples, family, and support group clients. She even has a Pet Loss Support Group! She created the group because her heart was breaking as she was losing her beloved dog. And while at the vet’s office, she noticed others were grieving as hard as she was. She went on high alert and inquired if they offered a support group for the devastated families. They did not. So, Colette immediately created one and has provided empathetic care to many grieving pet owners over the years. She also offers animal assisted therapy! Sign me up!
Check out her adorable co-facilitator of change–Aurora.
Her specialty areas are Eating Disorders, ADHD, Depression, and Anxiety. Colette sees clients in her Bronx and Westchester offices, both of which are beautiful, intentionally healing spaces. And while she is physically in New York, the good news for the rest of the country is we can contact her for phone sessions. She uses a secure server and some insurances will cover the sessions. If not, she will consider a sliding scale on an individual need basis. You can call Colette at 914-752-4759 to set up an appointment or to obtain additional information. You can email Colette at vitality@clopanetherapy.com You can follow her on Facebook at New Day Vitality Psychotherapy, or go to her website at clopanetherapy.com
Colette also has a blog and covers great subjects, from relationships, to work stress, to holiday challenges, to self-esteem (just to name a few of the covered and ever-growing topics). Also, cool news: Colette has a brand new podcast, too! Listen in to discover how to find the right therapist, hear her fabulous Green Ink Radio interview, or do some quick and easy mindfulness practices. Her pithy, cool topics, range from 1-5 minutes. Super easy to tune in.
I really like Colette. Her generosity of spirit is evident in both her professional and personal lives. If she lived closer, I’d ask Colette to hang out and go for tea and to the dog park (with her dogs, not mine, because mine are the anti-therapy dogs–hating most people and all other dogs). She’d be the girlfriend (or the therapist) you’d call when you really needed some compassionate support.
I think after listening to her interview, you’ll totally agree and probably want to do exactly that–call her, that is, not go to the dog park.