Diane Sperber

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York, and I work with adults, couples (straight and same-sex), and parents of young children who are navigating conflict, loss, or the weight of a hard diagnosis. I offer sessions in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

My approach blends Gestalt therapy and psychoanalytic training, which means I pay close attention to what's happening between us in the room — not just what you tell me, but how old relationship patterns tend to resurface in present-day conflict. If you're in a relationship where the same argument keeps repeating, or you find yourself reacting in ways that don't quite make sense given what's in front of you, this is the lens I use to help you see what's actually driving it.

For couples — straight or same-sex — I bring an attachment-focused lens to help partners understand what keeps a dynamic stuck, so you can respond to each other differently instead of replaying the same disconnect.

I also spent three years as a hospice social worker, supporting people through chronic illness, caregiving, and grief. That work shaped how I sit with loss and uncertainty — I won't rush you toward resolution or ask you to "move on." If you're carrying a grief that hasn't settled, or adjusting to a diagnosis that's changed how you see your life, I bring a steady, unhurried presence to that work.

In our first session, I'll be listening for the pattern underneath what brought you in — a recurring conflict, a loss that won't settle, or the strain of a chronic illness. Because I draw on both Gestalt and psychoanalytic training, sessions tend to move thoughtfully rather than quickly; we'll follow what's real in the moment rather than a rigid script. My goal from the start is to help you feel understood, and to begin seeing more clearly what's been keeping you stuck.