Meet Sophie
Your Trauma and Relationship Therapist in Brooklyn, NY
You may be here because...
You feel overtaken by big feelings and struggle to understand where they come from or how to manage them.
You bend yourself in every direction trying to fit what it seems others want from you and have lost touch with who you really are.
You wish your body would just release, unclench, let go but have no idea how to make that happen.
You feel unable to express your needs to the people in your life, which leaves you feeling helpless and isolated.
If any of this feels familiar — I can help.
I'm Sophie, a trauma and relationship therapist in Brooklyn, NY. I've dedicated my career to helping adults heal from traumatic experiences and find stability and fulfillment in their interpersonal lives. It would be my honor to support you on your journey towards security, connection, and inner peace.
When "Talk Therapy"Alone Isn't Enough
You've tried therapy before. Therapy that was focused on talking over your issues and making intellectual sense of them. Perhaps you got a lot out of this therapy, but it only took you so far. Your brain and body were still caught in the same patterns and reactions, no matter how much you talked it through.
The truth is, some issues, like trauma and relationship struggles need more than just intellectual understanding in order to shift. They need approaches that target the way your body is holding onto pain and old survival strategies. Sometimes, you need a different kind of therapy space, one where you can go beyond just talking about it and advance to doing something about it.
I'm here to offer that active healing space you're looking for. One where we can address the root of your pain at a pace that isn't overwhelming. One where you don't have to feel stuck in rumination about what's wrong, and instead get to experience real movement on a deeper level. And one where you never have to walk alone on your pathway towards healing.
What You Can Expect from Working with Me, a Trauma and Relationship Therapist in Brooklyn, NY
-
A pace that works for you. We'll always be monitoring how you're feeling so we never go faster or slower than your brain and body need.
-
Transparency about what we're doing and why. I'll make sure to explain the therapeutic techniques I'm using and the rationale behind them so you're never left questioning what's going on in your therapy.
-
Collaboration and consent. We'll never go anywhere in therapy without your full throated consent. Decisions about next steps in treatment will always be informed by your comfort level and will honor your autonomy.
-
Approaches that support your nervous system. Trauma and attachment wounds live in our bodies, not just our thoughts. We'll work in a way that allows your body and your mind to let go and heal.
-
A safe therapeutic relationship. Safe relationships are essential for healing. I'll always strive to attune to your needs, see and understand you, and maintain a strong foundation of trust.
-
Room for humor and fun! Because laughter is medicine.
Specializing In...
❖ Trauma and complex trauma
❖ Relationship patterns and attachment
❖ Self-worth and identity
❖ Mood and anxiety management
❖ Nervous system healing
How I Can Help
As an integrative therapist specializing in trauma and relationships, I draw upon multiple therapeutic approaches to help my clients reach their goals. These are some of the methods I'll use to help you reach yours.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) — An evidence-based therapy where we reduce the negative charge from your distressing memories and help you build up more positive perspectives and beliefs about yourself.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Based on the principle that we all contain many"parts" of ourselves. In IFS therapy we'll get to know your different parts and use that knowledge to help you access greater self compassion and understanding of your emotional landscape.
Somatic therapy — An approach in which we pay attention to body sensation and how the body expresses emotion. We'll use practices from somatic therapy to regulate your nervous system and help you feel more at ease in your body.
Attachment-based therapy — Centered around the theory that our early bonds influence the way we relate in adulthood. We'll explore your relationship history so we can understand and shift present day relationship patterns that are no longer serving you.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) — A modality that teaches skills for managing strong emotions and relating effectively with others. We'll use DBT skills to increase your capacity to tolerate and manage difficult emotions, as well as your ability to be fully seen and heard in your relationships.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — Used in work with couples, this therapy aims at helping you and your partner identify communication cycles that aren't working. From there, we'll learn how to disrupt those cycles, and install new rhythms that generate deeper trust and intimacy.
A Bit More About Me
I'm a partner, a youngest sibling, a (I like to think) cool aunt, a city person who loves spending time in nature, a former theatre kid, and an unapologetic consumer of reality TV.
Outside of the therapy room, you'll find me going for long walks around my neighborhood (usually with a podcast to keep me company), playing board games with friends, singing along to my favorite albums, and sampling treats from bakeries around the city.
I come from a family with deep roots in social work and other helping professions. I'm also a career changer, originally having pursued acting and arts eduction after college. Along the way, I had always been interested in psychology and human behavior. So when it came time for me to consider alternative career paths, the mental health field was, for many reasons, a natural fit.
The choice to specialize in trauma and relationships came from a number of places — one of them being my own lived experience as a trauma survivor. I know what it's like to do the work of repairing a wounded nervous system, unraveling old patterns, and rebuilding trust in yourself and others.
This knowledge is a gift that I carry with me in my work as a therapist, as it allows me to better connect with you and better support your healing.
Clinical Credentials
-
Masters of Science in Social Work (MSW) - Columbia University, 2018
-
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - New York State License #092532
-
8 Years in Clinical Practice
Advanced Clinical Trainings
-
Certificate in Integrated Trauma Studies (194 hours) - Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy
-
EMDR Therapy Training (Levels 1 and 2) (50 hours) - EMDR Institute, INC.
-
Additional 30 hours of post-training clinical consultation in EMDR practice
-
-
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 Training (89.5 hours) - IFS Institute
-
Somatic Psychotherapy Foundations (13.5 hours) - Claire Haiman, PsyD
-
Emotionally Focused Therapy Master Class (13.5 hours) - Sue Johnson, PhD/PESI
Clinical Approach
My clinical work is informed by advanced training in some of the field's most respected trauma and attachment-focused psychotherapy modalities. Rather than relying on a single approach, I integrate these evidence-based methods to provide therapy that is individualized, comprehensive, and responsive to your needs.
Hear More About My Approach as a Trauma Therapist in Brooklyn, NY
Here I am in 2023 talking about trauma and recovery on the
miniVHAN Podcast
the official podcast of Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network
~ interview begins at 22:00 ~
Get Started with a Trauma and Relationship Therapist in Brooklyn, NY
Reaching out for help can feel scary...
But the therapy process doesn't have to be.
If you're ready to release old hurts and discover true closeness in a safe, welcoming space,
I would be delighted to provide that space for you.