Hi, I'm John Brancato.

Professional Background

I came to this work because therapy changed my life — and at a certain point, saved it. That experience planted something I couldn’t ignore: a deep curiosity about what happens in the space between two people when one of them is truly trying to help the other find their way. It shaped not only my decision to enter this field, but the kind of practitioner I’ve worked to become.

My academic foundation began at Baruch College, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I went on to complete my Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, during which I had the opportunity to begin my clinical work learning relational and psychodynamic psychotherapy where I learned the true importance of the therapeutic relationship as a healing container and how the relationships within ourselves shape our world, for better and for worse. In my graduate school experience, I also had the opportunity to present research on treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome to the American Psychological Association’s Student Division, an experience that deepened my commitment to understanding the relationship between mind and body.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Diagnostic Privilege (LMHC-D) in New York, a credential that reflects advanced clinical training and the authority to independently assess and diagnose. Before opening Liminal, I worked within a large private practice setting where I provided individual and couples therapy, and had the honor of serving as a clinical supervisor, teaching and mentoring mental health counseling interns and limited licensed counselors. Part of my role also included presenting to the cohort of interns about experiential therapeutic modalities. That experience sharpened not only my clinical eye, but my commitment to training the next generation of practitioners with the same intentionality I bring to client work.

Early in my clinical work, I found myself confronting an honest issue: standard psychotherapeutic care was not always enough. Despite doing the work well, I saw clients who stayed stuck, unable to access the kind of change they were genuinely seeking. That recognition led me toward experiential modalities such as hypnotherapy, mindfulness, and meditation. These approaches engage the whole person and work at a level that talk therapy alone sometimes cannot reach. What began as a clinical question became my professional calling. True service to others, compassion, and the desire to help others empower themselves is what guides my clinical work. Staying true to that mission meant expanding beyond what the standard treatment model could offer.

This led me to an immersive study of clinical hypnotherapy. I hold certifications in hypnosis through the National Guild of Hypnotists, International Association of Counselors and Therapists, and the Association for Integrative Psychology, as well as specialized certification in hypnotherapy for pain management through the American School of Clinical Hypnosis. I am also a Board Certified Hypnotherapist, reflecting my commitment to gaining the most in-depth and expansive understanding of the therapeutic modalities I practice. Hypnosis, for me, is not an add-on — it is a primary lens through which I understand change, and one I am committed to practicing and teaching with rigor and care.

That commitment deepened further through my training in NeuroLinguistic Programming and Mental and Emotional Release® Therapy, both completed through the Association for Integrative Psychology, where I earned certification at the Master Practitioner level in each. These approaches gave me a more refined understanding of how language, memory, and internal representation shape the way we move through the world, and how targeted interventions can shift patterns that have felt immovable for years.Clinically, I have worked with a wide range of individuals, including those navigating chronic health conditions, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and identity questions. My work is integrative by design, drawing from multiple evidence-informed traditions to meet each person where they are.

Beyond direct practice, I have had the privilege of contributing to the broader field as a speaker and educator. I have presented at hypnosis conferences on the integration of psychotherapy and hypnosis, as well as depth psychological approaches to hypnotic work. I have offered continuing education to hypnotists, taught mental health counseling interns on the clinical application of hypnosis and mindfulness, and presented to professional hypnosis groups on integrative practice. This work reflects a belief I hold deeply: that the field grows when practitioners share what they know.

I bring deep compassion, intuition, and presence to my work. I value authenticity, curiosity, and the courage it takes to explore the liminal spaces of our lives — the thresholds where transformation, self-discovery, and self-creation unfold.

This healing work is not a job for me. It is a way of living. I am committed to embodying what I invite my clients into: healing as an ongoing practice, Love as a center, and wisdom earned through the challenges we face. My personal commitment includes my own continuing healing work and a genuine willingness to be transformed by those I have the privilege of working with.

All healing work is a great honor — and the healing goes both ways. I am grateful beyond words for every client who has trusted me with their journey. Unknown to them, they have been healers to me as well.

With Peace and Love,
John

A collection of quotes that have shaped my thinking, my practice, and my life.

If you feel called to explore this work, I invite you to reach out and schedule a consultation. Together, we can create a space where healing, growth, and wholeness can unfold.