Brian Neff, Ph.D.

People seek therapy for many reasons: to find support and direction through a challenging life transition, to heal from a traumatic past, to cultivate greater self-esteem and self-efficacy, to work through painful states like depression or loneliness, to develop better coping strategies, to understand the reasons why certain patterns repeatedly play out in their intimate relationships. I work with late adolescents and adults in individual and couples psychotherapy and create a space that we can hold together as sacred, in which we explore the mind, heart and soul on a a path of healing, self-discovery and growth, and more. I am here to join you on that path from a place of profound respect, curiosity, non-judgment, collaboration, and empathy.

I have experience working with a broad array of presenting problems including complex trauma, depression, anxiety, shame, relationship struggles, work difficulties, issues surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity, religious trauma, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. I work frequently with members of the LGBTQ+ community, to which I myself belong.

My approach to psychotherapy is from a “relational psychodynamic” perspective. This is simply to say that I believe our adult lives are profoundly shaped by our childhood experiences and family of origin relationships; that much of what we think and do is driven by deep-seated, often erroneous beliefs about ourselves and the world that lie out of our conscious awareness; that insight into our patterns is the first step towards changing those patterns; that deeply feeling and understanding our emotions is necessary to live a full and healthy life; and that much learning and growth happens in the context of the real relationship that a therapist and client build together. I will support you in taking concrete actions in the service of your goals, and I will champion your growth while also challenging you when that would be most helpful. I integrate a number of other evidence-based treatments based on each client’s unique needs, including cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, transference-focused, mentalization, mindfulness, existential, and alliance-focused therapies.

I received my BA from Yale and my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The City College of New York (CUNY), where for five years I was a therapist in residence at the Psychological Center, a low-cost mental health clinic serving the greater West Harlem community. I completed my predoctoral internship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, and also served for four years as an extern therapist and Clinical Coordinator at the Manhattan School of Music, where I developed a particular interest in working with artists and other creative professionals. I received further clinical training at the William Alanson White Institute, the Stephen Mitchell Relational Study Center, the Yale Child Study Center, and the Psychoanalytic Association of New York.

I look forward to helping you grow, heal, and reach your goals.