Welcome
Welcome to my psychotherapy practice. I am a psychodynamic therapist who is here to support you on your journey toward healing and personal growth. With a compassionate approach, I provide a safe and nurturing environment for you to explore your thoughts and feelings. Together, we will work to find the clarity and strength you need to thrive.
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If you have never been to therapy before, I know how difficult it can be to reach out to a therapist for the first time. If you contact me, I will do my best to make the experience comfortable for you.
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If you have had prior therapy and are looking for a different experience, I would love to know what worked and/or didn't work before.
I hope you will reach out to discuss your needs!
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-Elizabeth
"I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness
the astounding light of your own being"
-Hafiz
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Individual Psychotherapy
My practice focuses exclusively on adults over the age of 22 who seek individual sessions. By limiting my scope, I am able to dedicate my full attention to one type of therapy, which ensures a more effective and personalized experience for my clients. I believe this approach allows me to provide the highest level of care and support.​ I am a general practitioner, in that I work well with people with many different struggles, so don't hesitate to reach out to see if we would be a good fit!
Studies have shown that the connection between patient and therapist is the most accurate predictor of the treatment's success. ​I am comfortable working with both men and women and I relate well to adults of all ages.In addition to my professional experience and extensive training, I have walked this earth long enough to have navigated many of life's complexities for myself. Undoubtedly, these experiences enrich my clinical work.​ I also work particularly well with those who are experiencing:
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Relational Challenges
Relationships are important to our emotional well-being, yet they can also be sources of significant pain and confusion. I work with individuals facing a wide range of relational challenges, from those struggling with patterns in dating relationships or with spouses or partners, to those questioning whether to stay in or leave a current relationship. I also work with people who are navigating complex feelings about multiple partners or potential partners.
Using a psychodynamic lens, we explore how early experiences and unconscious patterns may be influencing your current relationships, while also incorporating practical strategies to improve communication, set healthy boundaries, and develop more secure ways of connecting with others. Whether you're struggling with ongoing relationship patterns, dealing with conflict or intimacy issues, or facing difficult decisions about your romantic life, therapy provides a non-judgmental space to explore these challenges with curiosity and compassion. My goal is to help you understand your relational patterns, clarify your values and needs, and build the skills needed for more fulfilling and authentic connections.
Anxiety, Depression & OCD
These conditions can feel overwhelming and isolating, but I believe that with correct therapeutic support, meaningful change and relief are possible. My approach integrates CBT techniques with psychodynamic therapy to offer a comprehensive treatment experience. This combination allows us to explore underlying patterns and themes while also developing practical strategies for managing symptoms.
Whether you're experiencing persistent worry, depressive episodes, or the intrusive thoughts and compulsions associated with OCD, we work together to understand both the surface-level symptoms and the deeper psychological factors that may be contributing to your distress. I understand that each person's experience with these conditions is unique, and I tailor our work to address your specific symptoms, triggers, and goals. I am committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental space where we can work together to understand your unique experience and develop pathways toward healing and growth.
Life Stage Crises
Many people come to therapy feeling profoundly stuck, whether in their careers, personal growth, or overall sense of direction. I work with individuals navigating major life transitions and existential questions, from the uncertainties of young adulthood to midlife reassessment, empty nest syndrome, or the challenges of aging and mortality. These periods of feeling trapped or directionless often signal important psychological work that needs to be done.
Through psychodynamic exploration, we examine what might be keeping you feeling paralyzed or uncertain, uncovering unconscious conflicts and unresolved issues that may be blocking your path forward. Together, we explore questions of identity, purpose, and meaning, while also developing concrete strategies to move through feelings of stagnation. Whether you're questioning your career path, feeling disconnected from your authentic self, or struggling with major life decisions, therapy can help you rediscover your agency and create a more intentional, fulfilling life.
Catholic Clergy Abuse
My Irish Catholic last name has inadvertently attracted many individuals, who have been affected by the abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, to my practice. I have worked with both direct survivors and individual family members and I understand that the impact of this betrayal extends far beyond the immediate survivor.
The trauma of clergy abuse is particularly complex because it involves not only personal violation but also the destruction of spiritual trust and community belonging. My cultural and religious familiarity with Catholicism allows me to appreciate the profound loss that occurs when sacred spaces and trusted figures become sources of harm rather than comfort and guidance.
Whether you're struggling with faith questions, family dynamics complicated by disclosure, or the ongoing effects of trauma, I provide a space where your experience can be understood within its full context. The journey toward healing from clergy abuse often involves untangling complex feelings about faith, family, and community, and I'm here to support you through that process. If you, or a family member, have been affected by this crisis, I hope you will reach out for support.
About Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic therapy helps you understand how your past experiences and unconscious thoughts influence your current life. Rather than just addressing symptoms, we explore the deeper emotional patterns that shape how you think, feel, and relate to others.
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How It Works:
In our sessions, we'll explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe space. We pay attention to recurring patterns in your relationships and daily life, including how early experiences continue to affect you today. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes part of the healing process, often revealing important insights about your other relationships.
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What to Expect:
Sessions are exploratory and guided by what feels most important each week. This process helps you develop greater self-awareness, emotional insight, and the ability to make more conscious choices in your life.
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Who It Helps:
This approach benefits people dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, or those feeling stuck in repeating patterns. It's ideal for individuals who want to understand not just what they're experiencing, but why.
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Psychoanalysis:
As a certified psychoanalyst, I also offer psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is an in-depth, multi-session per week treatment which allows unconscious content to be brought to consciousness, thereby allowing us to understand more of the things that shape how we behave and feel. Multiple sessions per week aim at getting to the core of things, rather than using the session to catch the therapist up on what has happened since the last session. Psychoanalysis works best with a long-term commitment. I am happy to provide more information to anyone who is curious.
About Me
I am Elizabeth B. Sullivan, LCSW-R
I am an experienced Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of New York.
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I am also a Certified Psychoanalyst, which means I have had extra and extensive training in both the theory and practice of psychoanalysis, which includes psychodynamic therapy.
Currently, I am in the dissertation phase of my PhD studies at The Institute for Clinical Social Work. I expect this degree in June 2026.
It's apparent that I love to always be learning more about the work that I love doing!
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As a person, you will most likely experience me as non-judgmental, calm and interested in your story and all that makes you, you. Clients often describe me as someone who they feel stays right with them, is attentive and really good at remembering what they tell me.
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I am pretty easy-going in sessions, but I also know when a client is ready to be pushed or appropriately challenged. I am naturally more on the quiet side, which allows you to have more space to speak, but I am by no means a "silent analyst." My style is conversational and I will pick up on it if you need me to talk more
or ask you questions to get the conversation started.
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I am always open to feedback and I hope you will feel comfortable enough to tell me
how you feel things are going. I won't take it personally.
I see this as an opportunity to take our work to a deeper level.
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I feel it is an honor to bear witness to another human's trials, tribulations, and successes.
I also know how difficult it is, as a client, to sit with a therapist and tell your story,
especially the parts with regrets and traumas. I try to never lose sight of that.