About
Hi, I'm Sarah, and I'm glad you're here!
My path into psychodynamic and relational therapy started with a fundamental curiosity about human resilience, and the unseen threads that connect our past experiences to our present struggles. I realized early on that healing takes more than coping strategies. It takes a safe relationship where the unspoken parts of your life can finally be put into words and witnessed.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent fifteen years as a documentary video editor. That work taught me to sit inside long, unstructured stories and find the thread that actually matters. I bring that same instinct into session, paying attention not just to your words but to what shows up alongside them: a flash of emotion, a recurring theme, a moment where the story doesn't quite match how it's being told. That’s usually where something quietly important starts to surface.
How I Work
In my practice, I find myself naturally drawn to, and working exceptionally well with, high-performers, caregivers, and natural "fixers." These are the people who are remarkably reliable in their external lives but carry a quiet, unnameable loneliness or burnout within. My training has equipped me to help these clients step out of the role of the perpetual caretaker and begin the work of understanding and reclaiming their own internal worlds.
If you have ever been in therapy that felt like a rigid checklist or a series of weekly homework assignments, working with me will feel quite different. My approach is psychodynamic and relational, which in plain language means we don't just look at the surface symptoms; we look at what is driving them. We will slow down and pay close attention to your immediate thoughts, your recurring feelings, and even the bodily sensations that arise as you speak, noticing how old, self-protective patterns might be showing up in your current relationships, including the relationship we build together in the room. I weave in mindfulness not as a spiritual bypass, but as a practical tool to help you stay grounded as we explore these deeper layers. This isn’t a passive process where I just nod and take notes; it is an active, warm, and collaborative dialogue designed to help you feel truly seen and at home in yourself.
What I Treat
I most often work with complex trauma and C-PTSD connected to childhood emotional neglect or inconsistent caregiving, along with the attachment trauma and relationship patterns, like people-pleasing or over-functioning, that tend to follow. I also spend a lot of time with burnout and identity strain in high-achievers and creative professionals, anxiety and depression tied to long-term self-neglect, and the shame or disorientation that can surface during a big life transition, including breakups and career change. I'm based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and welcome clients from across New York City.
How to Decide If I Am the Right Therapist for You
I might not be the best fit for you if you are looking for highly structured, short-term, or manualized treatments like CBT or DBT to target a specific phobia or behavioral habit. If your primary goal is to leave each session with a concrete worksheet, a checklist of homework, or a quick-fix solution, my emergent, depth-oriented approach will likely feel frustrating.
If this sounds like the kind of therapy you're looking for, I'd love to meet you for a free consultation. You don't need to have the right words or a perfectly organized story. We can begin exactly where you are.
Reach out to Sarah: sarah@westtherapygroup.com
