Meet the team
A human connection.
A place to begin.
Get to know the clinician behind High Water Mental Health Counseling.
Founder · Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Ebony Strachan, LMHC
Hi there, I’m Ebony. If you’re used to holding everything together while feeling overwhelmed inside, there’s room for you here. I believe there is value in slowing down long enough to understand what your experience is asking of you. You don’t have to push past every feeling or have the right words before we begin.
Through my work in outpatient mental health care and private practice, I’ve supported people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and the pressures of everyday life. I make space for motherhood, grief, change, self-esteem, communication, and imposter syndrome, even when you look like you’re doing well but feel stretched thin.
My master’s in Forensic Mental Health Counseling from John Jay and Advanced Certificate in Victimology Studies inform my care for people affected by trauma, foster care, and the justice system. Your story matters beyond a diagnosis or what you’ve been through.
HOW I WORK
Care shaped around you.
We choose tools together, based on your goals, your pace, and what feels useful in your life.
Understanding thoughts and patterns.
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps us explore the connections between what you think, feel, and do.
Making room for feelings.
Acceptance and commitment therapy supports responding to difficult experiences while moving toward what matters to you.
Caring for different parts of you.
Internal Family Systems–informed parts work helps us get curious about protective patterns and the needs beneath them.
Building practical skills.
Dialectical behavior therapy skills, mindfulness, compassionate inquiry, and body-based practices support emotional regulation, relationships, and awareness.
Curiosity, permission, and your story.
My personal framework, the NIP Model (“Nip It at the Root” Narrative Replacement Model), invites you to slow down, get curious about the stories you carry, and give yourself permission to feel before deciding what comes next.
My faith shapes the compassion and care I bring. Faith-based practices enter our work only if you want them to; your beliefs, choices, and autonomy are respected.
As we work together, we’ll check in on what’s helping and what needs to change, so therapy stays connected to your everyday life.
When you’re ready
You don’t need the perfect words.
Just a place to start.
A free 15-minute consultation gives us a chance to connect, talk about what brings you here, and explore whether working together feels like a fit.
Website help
Instant website answers
Choose a question below. Website information only, not clinical or emergency support. No chat messages or personal details are collected through this panel.
How do I request a consultation?
Start with a free 15-minute consultation to discuss fit. Request a consultation.
Where do current clients sign in?
Use the Client Portal for your appointments and available account features. Keep personal or clinical information in your secure care channel.
Who can receive therapy?
High Water offers virtual therapy in New York for ages 6–100+. Explore therapy services.
What session lengths are available?
Brief support: 30 minutes. Standard therapy: 45 minutes. Extended psychotherapy: 60 minutes. We choose the length together based on your needs.
What about insurance and payment?
High Water lists Cigna, Optum, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, with out-of-network, self-pay, limited sliding-scale, and Open Path options. Participation and your specific benefits are confirmed before care begins. See insurance and payment details.
Still have a question?
If your inquiry cannot be readily answered here, submit a request. We’ll respond as soon as possible. Please allow up to 48 business hours.
Where is the wellness toolkit?
Visit Client Resources. The toolkit is for approved clients; sign in using the Google account approved for access. Contact the practice if you need access help.
Can I ask about professional services?
For supervision, consultation, practice formation, strategy, or website design, email hello@highwatercounseling.com. Please do not include client names or case details.
Where can I find the shop and newsletter?
Visit Shop & Tools for product previews and availability. Subscribe to The Current, published monthly on the first Tuesday.