My mission is to help individuals heal their emotional pain so that they can live authentically and find personal joy.
Hi, I’m Terri Lee Waller, a licensed clinical social worker born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. I support women, especially Black women and LGBTQ+ women, who appear to be thriving on the outside yet feel unsettled, disconnected, or questioning on the inside. Many of the individuals I work with are navigating life transitions such as changes in relationships, career shifts, evolving identities, or redefining what fulfillment means in this season of their lives.
I worked for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for years. The work, while meaningful, was also very demanding. Over time, I experienced firsthand the effects of chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation, where exhaustion became the norm. Becoming a caregiver for my father and later retiring from my State position were turning points. It allowed me to slow down and intentionally redesign my life with greater balance and intention.
During this period, I began using joy and fulfillment as guiding principles. Through meditation, mindfulness, emotional regulation skills, and reflective practices, I learned how to regulate my nervous system and reconnect with myself. This process led to meaningful personal transformation and now deeply informs how I support my clients as they navigate transitions and reconnect with a more grounded, fulfilling way of living.
I was drawn to social work for its holistic perspective, understanding individuals within the context of their environments and recognizing how external pressures shape emotional well-being. I earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and spent many years working within the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
INSURANCE ACCEPTED
My approach to therapy is client-centered, affirming, and grounded in both insight and skill-building. I am trained in psychodynamic therapy and have completed an intensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) immersion program, which enables me to help clients explore deeper emotional patterns and develop practical tools for emotional regulation, boundary-setting, and sustainable change.
I work with women who are reflective and accomplished, yet feel that something is missing. Many find themselves questioning whether their identity has evolved or whether the life they built still aligns with who they are becoming. I strive to create a therapeutic space where clients feel heard, seen, and supported, with room to understand themselves more deeply and reconnect with what feels meaningful and aligned.
As a Black lesbian, I bring an identity-affirming and culturally responsive lens to my work. I understand how lived experiences and systemic stressors shape emotional well-being, and I integrate this awareness into treatment with care and intention.
Therapy with me is both structured and flexible. Together, we focus on increasing emotional awareness, regulating the nervous system, and creating a life that feels sustainable and fulfilling. My goal is to meet you where you are and support you in navigating life’s transitions with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
