Trauma and Couples Therapist in New York
About My Approach to Therapy
As a New York trauma and couples therapist, you are the center of my philosophy & approach.
Therapy is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, and by extension, the people you love. It’s a dedicated, intentional space to care for yourself, your relationships, and the parts of you that are quietly (or loudly) asking for attention.
You don’t have to face pain, fear, confusion, or darkness alone. In our work together, you’ll receive support and guidance, be truly seen, and be compassionately challenged to step back into the driver’s seat of your life.
Change starts with awareness. When we lean into curiosity, compassion, and courage, we notice a shift: the mental noise quiets, we feel steadier in the storms, and we move through life with a little more flow and ease. Therapy helps us change our “tune” to dance to a rhythm that feels authentic, grounded, and connected.
Working with me is a mind-body experience, a core element of my somatic, attachment-based approach to therapy. It’s warm, honest, and meets you exactly where you are. We laugh, cry, celebrate, and grieve. We tend to your biggest fears and brightest hopes. Together, we start as detectives, observing your life’s patterns and “choreography” and where those steps may have been learned. And then, we explore new moves that feel like you.
Internal Family Systems
Imagine your mind as a bus. Each passenger represents a different “part” of you – some are loud, quiet, scared, or protective. After painful or overwhelming experiences, the protective parts often grab the wheel to keep you safe.
Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, I help you connect with your calm, wise Self, the natural driver of your bus. Together, we listen to what those protective parts say, invite them to rest, and help them feel safe again so you can guide your life with more clarity and confidence.
This trauma-informed approach is especially powerful for adults who feel stuck in patterns they can’t quite explain and are ready to understand themselves more deeply.
Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy
Relationships are like a dance. Each partner has steps, shaped by past experiences and the “music” of their emotions. Sometimes, those steps flow beautifully; other times, they lead to missteps, disconnection, or tension.
With Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a leading evidence-based approach to couples therapy, we slow the dance down. We observe how each partner’s movements affect the other, explore where those moves were learned, and listen closely to the music that drives them.
Together, we create a new rhythm – one in which you feel more in sync, supported, and connected.
About Shterna Levy-Haim, LMFT
Relationships are my specialty
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in New York, specializing in trauma therapy and couples therapy for adults. Though my New York accent only shows up sporadically, it will probably get stronger if you point it out.
I’ve seen how relationships shape our lives and can bring us deep joy, cause profound pain, and offer incredible healing.
My hope for you is that you strengthen your relationships, starting with the one you have with yourself.
I want you to feel confident in navigating triggers, stressors, and conflicts without losing your center. I want you to experience life as manageable, functional, and, dare I say, beautiful.
Specialized Training in Attachment-Based and Trauma-Informed Approaches
My therapeutic training includes:
- Somatic Intervention Level I – Ricki Bernstein (2021)
- Somatic Intervention Level II – Ricki Bernstein (2024)
- Internal Family Systems Level I – Alexia Rothman (2024)
- Internal Family Systems Level II – Alexia Rothman (2024)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship – Debi Scimeca-Diaz (2024)
- EFT and Sex Therapy Training – George Faller (2025)
Outside the Therapy Room
When I’m not in the therapist’s chair, you can usually find me planning a family get-together, catching some sun with my husband and daughter, or baking my favorite peanut butter banana cookies with a mug of tea to indulge in my favorite reality TV show (I’ll leave you guessing on which one).