“You are the expert on your own life. I am here to serve as a safe, nonjudgmental container for your emotions as you find clarity, truth, and healing within yourself.”
Welcome!
Brooks brings deep understanding and firsthand knowledge of high-performance environments to his therapy practice, drawing not only from his background as an athlete but also from his experience working with professionals in demanding careers. His approach is warm, empathetic, and client-centered, providing a safe space for clients to explore the challenges they face—whether related to professional pressures, personal relationships, or mental and emotional well-being. Brooks utilizes a holistic approach, combining evidence-based practices with a focus on the mind-body connection to support lasting change and balance across all areas of life.
Brooks’ Clinical Background
Service Locations
Union Square office in NYC
Online in New York and New Jersey
Insurance Accepted
Aetna (including PPO, HMO, Meritain Health, 1199 SEIU National Benefits Fund and Aetna Student plans)
Wellfleet Student (NYU, School of Visual Arts, Sarah Lawrence College, etc.)
Northwell Direct
Out-Of-Network Benefits Reimbursement
Therapeutic Modalities
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Prolonged Grief Disorder Treatment (PGDT)
Gottman Method for Couples Therapy
Clinical Expertise
Anxiety and Performance Anxiety
Body Image Issues
Eating Disorders
Career Transitions
Athletes and Sports Therapy
Perfectionism
Sex and Intimacy Issues
Stress Management
Client Focus
Adults
Athletes/Performers
Couples
Education
Masters of Social Work, Columbia University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Wake Forest University
Certifications and Training
Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy Principles and Procedures
Practice-Focused Training in Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy
Sports Therapy in Social Work Certification
Somatic Couples Therapy
EMDR Basic Training
Languages
English
Licenses
New York, Licensed Master of Social Work
New Jersey (Telehealth), Licensed Master of Social Work
How Brooks Can Support You
Brooks specializes in working with athletes and high performers, including student-athletes from prestigious institutions such as NYU, Columbia, and Sarah Lawrence. His clients often face challenges related to anxiety, burnout, body image concerns, eating disorders, and the intense pressure to succeed. Brooks’s passion for supporting high achievers extends beyond sports to include professionals and students in demanding fields like finance, law, medicine, and tech, who experience similar pressures, burnout, and perfectionism. He offers compassionate guidance to help clients manage the complexities of balancing personal and professional lives.
Brooks also has a strong focus on grief counseling, assisting individuals through the complexities of loss—whether from the death of a loved one, career transitions, or other significant life changes.
In addition, he works with couples, helping partners navigate the unique challenges that arise when one or both are engaged in high-stress careers, with a focus on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and deepening connection.
Influences: Marsha Linehan, Elaine Welteroth, Carl Rogers, Brené Brown
Brooks’ Approach
Brooks understands the unique pressures of both athletic and professional high-performance environments, offering specialized care tailored to the specific challenges his clients face. His approach integrates mind, body, and spirit, addressing all aspects of well-being—whether in personal life, career, or sport.
With training in EMDR, Brooks supports clients in processing and healing from trauma, facilitating profound and lasting change. He provides specialized support for professionals in high-stress careers, assisting them in managing work-related stress, preventing burnout, and achieving a fulfilling work-life balance.
Brooks also offers couples therapy designed to be sensitive to the demands of high-pressure careers, helping partners strengthen their bond and navigate the complexities of their relationships.
Rituals: gratitude journaling, long walks, calm app, affirmations, watching NBA and college basketball, vegan and vegetarian recipes
Why Work With Brooks?
Brooks combines evidence-based therapies with a holistic approach that considers the mind, body, and spirit to support lasting healing and growth. He helps clients move beyond simply managing symptoms like anxiety or burnout by addressing deeper underlying challenges that may be holding them back. With his deep understanding of the pressures faced by high-performing athletes and professionals, Brooks focuses on building resilience and balance, helping clients thrive both personally and professionally.
Creating a warm and collaborative environment, Brooks empowers clients to explore their experiences with honesty and self-compassion. His approach fosters greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and connection—whether working individually or with couples—to navigate stress, improve relationships, and cultivate a fulfilling, well-rounded life.
Library: You Are a Badass (Jen Sincero), Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (Lori Gottlieb), The Defining Decade (Meg Jay), More Than Enough (Elaine Welteroth), Atomic Habits (James Clear), Group (Christie Tate), Invisible Storm (Jason Kander)
About Brooks Perkey
Having personally experienced the demands of being an athlete, Brooks deeply understands the unique pressures that come with high-performance environments. His approach to therapy is grounded in empathy, authenticity, and a genuine commitment to supporting athletes and high achievers. Brooks creates a safe and nonjudgmental space where clients can openly explore the complexities of their experiences—whether they are managing the intense demands of their sport, struggling with body image or perfectionism, or coping with the emotional challenges of grief and loss.
Brooks’s lived experience combined with his professional expertise allows him to connect with clients on a profound level, helping them navigate their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. He is passionate about guiding individuals toward greater resilience and balance, empowering them to thrive both in their personal lives and high-pressure careers.