A note from Leaman:

Life begins when you know who you are. But the path to self-knowledge can be fraught and hard to find. “Be yourself,” “create yourself,” “find yourself”–these are some of the injunctions that might waylay any earnest seeker. When we learn to sit with the uncomfortable parts of self–the parts that make us want to crawl out of our skin–revelation can occur.

Talk therapy can be a place to learn how to be interested in ourselves and in our past. When we learn to love ourselves the way we wish to be loved, our relationships can flourish. We can deepen our genuine interest in others. When it works, psychotherapy can inspire incredible capacity and resolve to bend towards the future and embrace change.

My Approach

My first goal is to understand the problem as you do. This happens through deep listening. Deep listening can bring to light core issues and even reveal ways in which you undermine yourself. CBT can be helpful in curbing self-destructive behaviors and thought patterns that emerge. We may hit upon a pattern, belief, or behavioral expression that is so deeply lodged that your awareness does not disrupt it. At that point our work may become psychodynamic, relational and trauma-focused. You may find that even your most stuck patterns are attempts to rewrite traumas in your search for healing. These traumas may be intergenerational, and lead to additional examination of family history or somatic work. Facilitated breath and body work can make it possible to sit with the most painful parts of your experience. Attuning to your physical sensations–and trusting them–can guide you in making important changes.

My philosophy is person-centered rather than disease-centered. I believe that every human flaw belies a human need that leads us back to the spark of our existence. As your therapist I would seek to help you embrace vulnerability in order to grow fierce with reality–to feel the courage of clarity about yourself and our world.

During my time with Brooklyn Defenders Services Family Defense Unit, I worked to reunite families affected by child protective services which gave me profound respect and deeper understanding of just how important preserving family bonds is. These experiences created an awareness of differential treatment based on race and SES within mental health systems; and a clearer understanding of how my identities as a white cisgender woman are privileged. As an interpersonal therapist I keep an awareness of the importance of your connections and your desire to build and maintain strong relationships, even in the face of significant challenges.