Paige Szarafin, LMSW | IFS and LGBTQIA+ Therapist NYC

I want to start by acknowledging the bravery it takes to begin a growth journey. I’m so glad you found your way here, and I appreciate your consideration in inviting me to be a part of your healing process.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I have a special passion for working with queer individuals, though I’ve truly valued working with people from all backgrounds. I’ve led over 1,000 hours of therapy sessions, always aiming to help clients feel seen, heard, and respected. My approach with clients involves a blend of science-based techniques and genuine human compassion that is designed to bring you relief. I have 5 years of prior experience in the psychological research field, so my clients can have confidence that I will use evidence-based treatments in all of my sessions.

Have you ever logically known that your anxiety was not helpful, but your subconscious did not allow you to relax? My approach targets exactly that disconnection. Many of us have different facets of our personalities (or “parts” of ourselves) that are designed to activate in the times when we want to prevent problems. Some are perfectionistic, self-critical, people-pleasing, or craving control. Others try to ease pain through avoidance, substance use, procrastination, or other habits.

In Internal Family Systems therapy (the therapy I specialize in), we identify and explore these parts with curiosity and compassion. We’ll uncover their origin stories—often rooted in trauma or unmet needs—and help them trust your ability to lead. The goal is for these parts to soften, so you can step back into the driver’s seat of your life.

When needed, I also integrate elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help you build emotional regulation and strengthen communication as part of your healing journey.

What should a new client know about working with you?

My approach is more collaborative than directive, as I firmly believe that you are the expert on your own experience. You can expect that I will make a genuine effort to learn who you are, what you would like to work on, and the history that has led you to this stage in your life. We will then use that knowledge to work on the problem at hand together. I will take care to respect your ongoing input about which elements of treatment are working well, as well as your thoughts about skills that may not be the perfect fit for your life and preferences. You can trust that your treatment will be personalized to address what matters most to you, in a way that is realistic and sustainable for you.

Rapport is central to the treatment I provide, as a strong therapist-client relationship is the foundation of successful treatment. I am committed to respecting my clients’ lived experience 100% of the time, and that involves all identities, cultural backgrounds, and values that make you, you. I have received the feedback from many of my clients that I am a focused and genuine listener, which is another important ingredient of the rapport that we will develop together. I also love to celebrate client successes, and that spirit of
encouragement will be present throughout our sessions. Importantly, I take care to balance encouragement and positivity with a healthy amount of challenging my patients to be the best they can be. This way, you can trust that you are receiving more than just validation from sessions with me

What is your typical process for working with clients?

My goal as a therapist is to provide you with the necessary insight and tools to reach and maintain your goals. To achieve this, we will begin with an hour-long intake session in which I will ask a lot of questions geared toward learning about your history, present concerns, and goals. In the sessions that follow, we will work to identify what “parts” of yourself tend to show up when you are anticipating/handling/processing problems. I will help you discover that those parts do not represent your entire identity. Rather, they exist to protect you and may need to develop trust that you can protect yourself. You will learn to navigate internal conflicts between parts with kindness and compassion rather than harshness. You will then learn how to collaborate with those parts of yourself in ways that serve you better.

Sometimes new problems pop up along the way that you may want to process together, such as a new stressor at work or a new conflict with family. In these moments, we will tie in the IFS work that we have been doing with other evidence-based skills to help you find solutions. This way, we can adapt sessions to what is most important to you in real-time.

Frequency of therapy can be tailored to the needs of the client. While weekly therapy can yield more streamlined results, progress can also be achieved with biweekly or monthly appointments as long as the client practices learned skills outside of session.