Shana Spier LCSW
Being a therapist is a very important part of who I am and my life. I care deeply about my work and my patient’s experiences. I believe that when someone feels genuinely cared about, understood, in control, and safe, they can finally begin to heal.
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I have over 15 years of experience in the field. I grew up in South Africa and I moved to Israel during my teenage years before making my way to the U.S. After receiving my bachelor’s and master’s degree in mediation, psychology and conflict management, I began my work as a counselor in Israel where I worked at various eating disorder clinics, and at a shelter for abused teens. Here I treated patients dealing with inconceivable suffering, loss, trauma and abuse, leaving them overwhelmed, helpless, and often suicidal.
I then moved to New York to pursue a clinical MSW that would further train me to help people drastically alter their circumstances and emotional experiences.
During my time in New York I conducted weekly individual therapy sessions and groups at CUCS ( The Center for Urban Community Services). CUCS was composed of a homeless community, with patients who struggled with complex trauma, violence exposure and abuse, several addictions and mental illness.
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After that I moved to Washington D.C to pursue advanced post-graduate psychodynamic training at the Washington School of Psychiatry and Ego State Therapy with a specialization in trauma work at the Center for Healing and Imagery in Washington DC. During this time I worked with complex trauma cases at Saint Elizabeth Forensic Hospital, and The Women’s Center , and as a crises on-call counselor at the Greenbelt Cares Clinic in Maryland.
My last 6 years have been private practice focused. I've worked at both general and specialized sex therapy group practices. My exposure to trauma and attachment cases has helped me specialize in sex therapy and address intimacy issues in a complex and attuned way. My passion for couple’s work led me to complete extensive couple’s workshops in EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), and the Gottman Method. I am also currently pursuing AASECT sex therapy certification.
Living in different countries and working with clients from multiple cultural and religious backgrounds has helped me tackle the complexity and multi-layer facets of my patient’s concerns. My passion lies in identifying and treating trauma, intimacy and issues around closeness and connecting with others. If you are experiencing anxiety around physical and emotional intimacy, depression, body image, self-esteem and eating disorders, fertility issues, pregnancy and sexual desire, infidelity and/or performance anxiety, I want to help. Addressing these issues can feel very isolating and shameful, but it doesn’t have to be, and you don’t have to do it alone.