Teresa Stern

I start with the belief that we all have an intrinsic ability to heal. Using awareness of body, mind and emotions, we can make our lives and relationships better, get unstuck from trauma, and learn to stay in the here and now. We can create greater regulation in our nervous systems. Instead of repeating negative patterns, we can build new pathways. My clients tell me that our work together helps them gain compassion for self and others, change long-standing patterns, connect with their body, emotions, and sense of inner goodness -- and simply feel more alive. I'm a Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner and an SE Training Assistant. I'm also an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist. and a Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist (KAP). Other modalities I'm trained in that are useful for renegotiating trauma are the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), Somatic Resilience and Regulation (SRR), and EMDR. I also use Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (effective for building parent-child attachment and parental leadership), and Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART). I'm a certified instructor of Yoga Dance and a Rape Crisis Counselor. I'm director of Mindful Therapy Brooklyn, a group practice. I created Starfish Body and Soul, a therapeutic movement program for trauma survivors.

I am constantly developing and deepening my professional skills. I act as a training assistant at Somatic Experiencing trainings and have written a textbook for clinicians about how trauma affects child neurodevelopment. The book was commissioned by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network for use in its graduate education programs. I do not accept insurance payments at this time. However, I will gladly provide statements that you may use to request out-of-network reimbursement from your insurer. I also reserve a limited number of hours each week for reduced-fee clients who are unable to afford full fees.

It's an honor to support clients in their journey to retrieve their best selves. I love being part of the process that enables people to fully inhabit the present. I work primarily with adults who have a history of trauma, and find great joy in helping them renegotiate and integrate their traumatic experiences rather than being defined and constricted by them.

My focus is on helping people develop awareness, acceptance and a greater capacity to stay present rather than getting stuck in worries about the past or future. This work opens up greater potential for creativity and joy in the here and now.

As a person who has faced serious challenges in life (beginning in early childhood), I'm committed to providing a nonjudgmental, compassionate, and safe space for clients. My own healing journey has deepened my belief in our natural capacity for resilience. I draw on my experiences as the parent of two adult daughters, being part of a family that is mixed both racially and in terms of sexual orientation, and my lifelong involvement in fighting for justice and equality.