Dr. Sarah Constantine

I have 15 years of experience as a mental health professional in NYC, assisting clients with relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship trauma, grief, sexual concerns, and identity-related distress. I identify as neurodivergent (ADHD type) and I'm experienced in supporting clients with ADHD and ASD neurotype with self-affirmation, harnessing their strengths, navigating difficulties and strengthening relationships. I earned a PhD in clinical psychology from the City College of New York (CUNY) in 2017, then completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship specializing in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples, and attachment-focused individual psychotherapy.

Attachment theory is a research-based psychological model that prescribes how to develop and sustain healthy and fulfilling relationships with family, romantic partners, friends and other significant connections. Being emotionally attentive and reliable, offering and receiving physical and emotional comfort, and allowing for appropriate interdependence and autonomy, all facilitate more secure and satisfying relationships. While these are simple ideas and principles, it can be difficult to enact and sustain them in our personal lives, because of emotional wounds that we carry forth from emotionally distressing childhood and adult experiences. I've seen in my work and in my own life, that we can process and heal from attachment wounds within ourselves, and between us and a partner.

I have recently been training in integrating somatic approaches into my psychotherapy practice for clients who are interested in doing so. Somatic psychotherapy involves supporting and guiding clients to pay attention to physical signs and sensations experienced in one's body, while discussing and processing emotionally distressing or traumatic experiences and memories.

My therapeutic approach is relational and trauma-informed.

At the start of therapy, we will discuss your concerns and goals for seeking therapy at this time. I will ask you a lot of questions about your life and relationship history for context and assessment purposes, while balancing your desire to learn and grow in the present. I will tailor my therapeutic approach to meet your preferences and needs based on your feedback and input. I am knowledgeable about various aspects of managing and working through mental/ emotional health challenges as well as practices that promote and develop emotional and relational health and development.

Psychotherapy is a way to have challenging conversations with yourself—assisted by a knowledgeable, reliable and caring other —about how you want to nurture yourself and your close relationships.