Sasha Lustgarten

I wasn’t born a therapist. In fact, this is my second career. I spent over a decade in the corporate world and in startups before realizing I was ready for my next challenge. With an office in the Financial District, many of my clients are also corporate, so I fully understand the stress and pressure of your day (and night, and 24/7) job. I wasn’t always into sleep. I mean sleeping, yes, but sleep as a speciality came about slowly. I noticed how many of my clients mentioned offhand that they weren’t sleeping, but never connected that to their lowered performance, bad moods, impatience, and generally feeling down. When my wife and I had a child and immediately spent a year in severe sleep deprivation, my interest spiked hard, and I dedicated myself to learning about how sleep deprivation affects people and how to overcome insomnia without dependence on drugs, misinformation, and gadgets that don’t work.

Values matter. I care (sometimes it feels like too much) about the environment and social justice. I like to work with people who have similar values and are passionate about making a difference in the confusing and difficult world we live in. I don't like to follow the heard, but mindfulness is the real deal. I was raised in a family that valued mindfulness and meditation. I learned to meditate as a toddler, and though it’s only one tool in my toolbox now, it’s second-nature to me to help others develop more presence, excitement, and aliveness in their lives. Work isn’t everything. Besides coaching and doing therapy, I have taught several courses, including advanced family systems, to Master’s level students of clinical psychology at Saybrook University. In my spare time (which as a parent doesn’t leave much), I love trail running, hearing live music, traveling, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family.