Nancy Payne, PhD, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker / Therapist
New York, NY 10023

Preferred Member
Understand yourself better, become more free and fulfilled
My practice is trauma-focused, psychodynamic and relational
As your therapist, first and foremost I will respect the courage of your decision to seek therapy and create a foundation of safety, acceptance, and collaboration. I strongly believe that symptom reduction (e.g., anxiety, panic, constant worrying, depression, high stress levels, complex PTSD), and an exploration of the root causes of your most distressing problems are both vital aspects of a helpful therapeutic experience. I foster a therapeutic relationship that honors my clients’ conscious minds as well as feelings, symptoms, and behaviors that they may find confusing and painful, but may be clues to presenting problems. I also consider my clients' current life situations holistically, collaborating with them to explore physical, nutritional, general life style, social support, and self-regulation issues to find areas of resilience as well as those that could be strengthened.
Presently, I work with late teens and adults of all ages. I work with clients who struggle with symptoms which may be the aftermath of loss, abuse or other difficult experiences, or are simply perplexed with why they repeat distressing patterns which cause them pain. My clients may enter therapy to explore "why they have such difficulty regulating their emotions", or, "why they continue to pursue relationships that are ultimately painful", or, "why it's so hard to feel anything"; they may also enter therapy to receive assistance with specific issues such as life transitions, relationship difficulties, and work or academic problems. I also specialize in the impact of past and current interpersonal trauma or loss on parenting capacities, and assist my clients when these experiences interfere with being loving and supportive parents in the present. My work blends relational psychotherapeutic approaches, trauma-focused assessment and treatment, and psychoeducation for both clients and their families where appropriate. My trauma studies, which included EMDRIA-approved advanced EMDR training, as well as principles of Internal Family Systems and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, have solidified my longstanding belief that therapy must often go beyond talk and attend to messages from our physical selves that may provide clues to where we are most "stuck". While I have been trained in several modalities and my approach is eclectic, I will meet you where you are presently to address the problems that are most distressing to you.