Roni Sugarman

I am a licensed clinical psychologist, who works in individual psychotherapy with people from late childhood through older adulthood in person and online (throughout NY State). My expertise includes helping those with anxiety, mood disorders such as depression, trauma in its complex forms, interpersonal challenges, and substance use. Much of my work has been with adolescents and young adults, supporting them as they navigate the unique challenges and transitions of these formative years. I am especially passionate about helping clients of all ages explore who they are and develop a kinder, deeper, and more compassionate relationship with themselves. Together, we may address concerns related to self-esteem, self-compassion, authenticity, and identity, whether in terms of sexuality, gender, race, religion, or the ways these identities intersect, and explore moments when these parts of self may feel in conflict. I also enjoy supporting clients as they develop the skills to advocate for themselves and create healthy, appropriate boundaries in their relationships.

I earned my doctorate in School and Clinical Psychology from Pace University and have worked in a wide range of settings, including elementary, middle, and high schools, NYU’s college counseling center, outpatient and primary care clinics such as Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and a partial hospitalization program and inpatient psychiatric units at Elmhurst hospital. Through these experiences, I had the privilege of working with clients from all walks of life and with a wide variety of clinical presentations, which deepened my commitment to practicing with cultural humility, openness, affirmation, adaptability, and curiosity.

At its base, my approach is deeply informed by psychodynamic thought and theory, and I draw on an integrative framework that incorporates attachment-based, trauma-informed, dialectical behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and interpersonal/relational methods. I do not believe therapy follows a “one-size-fits-all” model; instead, I work collaboratively and flexibly to ensure your unique needs, goals, and preferences are honored. My aim is to empower you to take an active role in shaping the course of your treatment, which I have often found helps foster a stronger sense of agency that extends well beyond the therapy room and into your everyday life.

In our first session together, we will spend time getting to know one another, I will ask about what brings you to therapy, your history, and what you are hoping to get out of our work together, while also leaving space for you to ask any questions you may have about me or the process. From there, we will begin to collaboratively identify goals that feel meaningful and achievable for you.

Throughout my work, I strive to create a therapeutic space grounded in trust, warmth, compassion, and, when appropriate, humor. I aim to foster a shared curiosity that invites questions and deepens self-understanding. Within this environment of safety and openness, you can begin to access and explore difficult thoughts and feelings that may be just beneath the surface. Engaging with these deeper layers often leads to greater self-understanding, meaningful change, and new ways of relating to both yourself and others.