Smadar Salzman (she/her)

Experiencing any form of interpersonal trauma and abuse can impact your quality of life in fundamental ways. Trauma symptoms and triggers often take over and make you feel out of control or crazy. Trauma and abuse in childhood can also affect your mental health, physical health, and your relationships with the people around you. Understanding the effects of trauma and abuse can help you connect your past experiences with your present challenges, and find pathways to a healthier future.

Experiencing any form of interpersonal trauma and abuse can impact your quality of life in fundamental ways. Trauma can wreak havoc on our relationships and our lives, including leading to long-standing anxiety and stress, feelings of rejection and abandonment, and continual dissatisfaction and distrust of close, intimate relationships. My approach to trauma treatment is grounded in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) developed by Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Allan Schore. From this perspective, the purpose of psychotherapy is to create the emotional safety necessary for defense mechanisms to become unnecessary. When this occurs, we move beyond simply talking about experiences to taking part in an emotional exchange in the here and now and in rebuilding healthy relationships with both self and others. Trauma focused psychotherapy can provide you with new emotional experiences that can lead to substantial, positive, and lasting change.

Every relationship experiences problems and conflict. These challenges can be about specific events or may involve ongoing negative patterns. To help my clients overcome these challenges, my work with relationships draws upon what is known as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT is a structured systems therapy that helps shift negative interactions into positive ones. People in relationships often get caught in negative cycles that eat away at intimacy and a sense of having a loving and trusting relationship. These cycles tend to be self-reinforcing and keep you trapped in hurtful interactions. EFT helps identify these cycles, stop them, and create new ones so you can feel close and connected again. This emotional security and sense of comfort is what ultimately allows you to resolve conflict, communicate better, have more fulfilling sex, and live happier lives. I welcome diverse populations in relationship therapy, including all sexual orientations, genders, and relationship structures (couples, triads, polyamorous and open relationships).

Experiencing any form of interpersonal trauma and abuse can impact your quality of life in fundamental ways. Trauma can wreak havoc on our relationships and our lives, including leading to long-standing anxiety and stress, feelings of rejection and abandonment, and continual dissatisfaction and distrust of close, intimate relationships. My approach to trauma treatment is grounded in Interpersonal Neurobiology and Attachment Theory. From this perspective, the purpose of psychotherapy is to create the emotional safety necessary for defense mechanisms to become unnecessary. When this occurs, we move beyond simply talking about experiences to taking part in an emotional exchange in the here and now and in rebuilding healthy relationships with both self and others. Trauma focused psychotherapy can provide you with new emotional experiences that can lead to substantial, positive, and lasting change.

We all have the right and capacity to feel happy, whole, and free in our lives. But, sometimes we feel stuck, clouded, and confused. Often, we need support to find our way out of difficulty and to rediscover our inner strength. Reaching out for support in the form of psychotherapy is an act of courage and evidence of true strength. My goal is to provide a safe, accepting space to explore what troubles and inspires you. I work with you to reconnect with and cultivate your inner wisdom and strength so you can be free to live your life as fully as possible. My approach is insight-oriented depth psychotherapy, which means I help you gain awareness of your internal and external obstacles in order to promote deep and lasting changes in your life. I draw from psychodynamic, existential, and family systems perspectives as well as attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology. I believe in your own inner strengths and resources and see my role as supporting the process of eliciting them and integrating them into your present life. Whether you're looking for support and guidance through a difficult time or you're ready to move your life in a new direction, I would be honored to be a part of your healing journey.

Do you struggle with intense emotions that arise in relationships? Are you tired of spiraling into anxiety, depression, shame, and self-loathing for without understanding why, or what causes it? You want your life and relationships to work but you don't know how to manage these intense feelings that seem to come out of nowhere. Healing is possible. You CAN create a sense of calm, inner peace, and self-confidence in your life, regardless of what you've been through. I'm here to help.

Interpersonal Neurobiology explains how reparative relationships have the power to heal relational trauma. We're ultimately who we are because of our relationships. The most intimate ones, with primary caregivers or romantic partners, literally shape our brain. We used to think early experiences defined us, but now we know our brain in constantly being reshaped by new relationships. Therapy can change our brain's response to fear & threat, offering hope & healing to CPTSD survivors.

Holding space for others can take a toll. If your personal life & self-care are out of balance, other parts of your life suffer too. Having your own safe place to process emotions can make all the difference in doing this work sustainably long-term. I'm an experienced therapists' therapist. My style is authentic & attachment-based. I'll help you reclaim balance in your life, recognize your inner strengths & wisdom, while empowering you to trust yourself in your life & in your work.

Did you grow up feeling like a burden? Do you lose yourself in others? If you grew up with family dysfunction, it can be hard to navigate relationships. You may feel anxious, stressed, depressed, resentful, or struggle to express your wants & needs. Maybe you blame yourself, wonder if something's wrong with you, if you're too broken or unlovable to have relationships. You don't have to struggle like this! I help motivated, insightful adults who want to understand how their past affects them.