Rachel Siegfried, Ph.D

People come to therapy for a variety of reasons, including recent stressors, past traumas and relationships. I strongly believe that there is no issue too big or too small, and that every person, regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion or diagnosis should be treated with dignity and given access to effective treatment.

My work addresses issues and symptoms including but not limited to relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, social stressors, life transitions, and multicultural/bicultural processes. I additionally have specialized experience in the treatment of trauma, acculturative stress, intergenerational dynamics and body image difficulties.

Many of the people I work with feel overwhelmed or dissatisfied due to difficulties navigating the stress of daily life and the demands of relationships (e.g., friendship, romantic, family, or work). I work with people to understand themselves better, heal from emotional suffering, and address areas of their lives that they are inspired to change.

APPROACH
The therapeutic process allows patients to explore the truth of who they are, but it is when a therapist joins them in the process that they begin to feel less alone in that truth. My approach to treatment is to start by cultivating an authentic, safe and collaborative relationship through respectful curiosity. I firmly believe that feeling seen by another person without judgment helps establish safety and trust within the therapeutic relationship, and that a positive therapeutic relationship is at the heart of any successful treatment. If you ever feel unsafe, unheard, or unseen, I invite you to let me know. As your therapist, I will follow your lead, while also providing structure and bearing witness. Together, we will strive to help you achieve emotional growth and deeper insight into your thoughts and feelings, while also identifying and enhancing a sense of meaning in your life through building connections.

My therapeutic style is person-centered and integrative with a relational focus. This means that the therapy room is a co-created space between the therapist and the client. I tailor my approach to your individual concerns and treatment goals, utilizing techniques from psychodynamic psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). In addition, I find value in incorporating authentic aspects of a client’s personality, such as humor and creativity.

BACKGROUND
In addition to being a born and bred New Yorker, I am a licensed clinical psychologist with years of experience treating patients in the New York City area. I received a B.S. in Human Development with a concentration in Development of Social Personality and Behavior at Cornell University and completed my doctoral degree at LIU Brooklyn. I have trained at various outpatient and inpatients settings at major hospitals and clinics, gaining experience working with a diverse range of patients, including childhood trauma survivors, veterans, first responders, undocumented individuals, members of the LGBTQIA community, and emerging adults. Aspects of myself that a resume cannot capture are my love of a good podcast, baking, photography and playing with my dog Moo.

EDUCATION

PhD, Clinical Psychology Long Island University, Brooklyn, where I wrote my dissertation on the effects of acculturative stress and internalized thin-ideal on millennial Black and Latinx women.
B.S., Human Development Cornell University

TRAINING EXPERIENCES

Predoctoral Internship NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Hospital Center
Postdoctoral Fellowship Pratt Institute Counseling Center
VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Manhattan Campus
Mount Sinai World Trade Center Health Program
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
NYS Psychiatric Institute
Long Island University Counseling Center