Our Team
Alana Akong, LMSW
Associate Clinician
I am a New York State licensed psychotherapist who has found her home at Jennifer Mann Therapy. I am passionate about fostering my clients’ natural curiosity and helping them strengthen their relationships and navigate life’s transitions with confidence and peace of mind.
I cultivate a therapeutic relationship with individuals and couples to address work challenges and manage anxiety symptoms and parts of our environment that feel out of control.
I specialize in addressing life transitions including infertility, family planning, postpartum adjustment to parenthood, work transitions and boundary setting in an open and accepting environment. I integrate a psychodynamic approach with attachment theory and mindfulness practice to nurture self-awareness, acceptance, and compassion. Together, we will navigate your journey of self-discovery and healing to develop appropriate coping skills, strengthen self-love, foster authentic connections and bring balance to your life.
I earned my Master of Social Work degree from New York University, with a focus on clinical social work. My passion for health equity, wellness, and cultural competence led me to complete Maternal Mental Health and Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy training from Postpartum Support International. Before joining Jennifer Mann Therapy, I specialized in Brief Strategic Family Therapy and worked with families to de-escalate conflict and strengthen interaction patterns.
Areas of Focus
Anxiety
Infertility
Racial Identity
Life Transitions
Marital and Premarital
Relationship Issues
Stress
Women’s Issues
How will sessions look with you?
Come as you are, and we will find a rhythm that works for you. Some days you might be open and ready to share and reflect. I will listen enthusiastically and highlight what I hear in these moments. For example, I will emphasize your strengths, patterns in your responses to different situations, and validation for how you feel. Other days you might not know where to start, and I will sit with you in those moments as well. We can reflect on our work and progress so far. Regardless, we will work together to meet your therapeutic needs.
What do you love most about this work?
I love when my clients begin to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and recognize changes outside of sessions. It’s rewarding when clients start to feel more intimate connections with their friends and loved ones and can realize positive changes in their responses to familiar triggers and situations.
How do I know if I could benefit from therapy?
Many people begin to explore therapy during periods of high stress or anxiety. Still, you could also benefit if you are interested in practicing more reflection and self-awareness. Therapy can also be helpful if you want to explore your thoughts and feelings without judgment or misunderstanding. Therapy provides a space to shift any habits you might like to change and improve coping and communication skills.