S. Keren Stein,
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Do you and your partner find yourselves stuck in repetitive cycles of conflict or disconnection? Do you love each other deeply but struggle to truly understand one another's needs, communication styles, or ways of experiencing the world?
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Perhaps one of you feels constantly misunderstood while the other feels like they're walking on eggshells. Maybe you excel as individuals - successful in your careers and respected by others - yet at home, you feel like roommates rather than intimate partners. You might find yourselves arguing about the same issues over and over, with each conversation leaving you both feeling more frustrated and distant.
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What if there were a way to break these patterns and create genuine understanding between you? Imagine having conversations where you both feel truly heard, where differences become bridges rather than barriers, and where intimacy can flourish even in the midst of life's challenges.
Many of the couples I work with include partners who are neurodivergent—whether one or both have ADHD, autism spectrum differences, or other neurological variations that create unique dynamics in the relationship. You might find that one partner thrives in social situations but struggles to be emotionally present at home, while the other feels overlooked or confused by these differences. Or perhaps you both process emotions, sensory input, or communication in fundamentally different ways that create misunderstandings despite your best intentions.
Whether or not neurodivergence is part of your story, you may be dealing with challenges around vulnerability and intimacy. Maybe past wounds or traumas make it difficult to fully open your hearts to each other. You might struggle with expressing needs, setting boundaries, or navigating the delicate balance between autonomy and connection that every healthy relationship requires.
My Approach to Couples Work
I offer attachment-focused couples therapy that is both pragmatic and deeply transformative. My approach is collaborative—we work together as a team to understand the patterns that aren't serving your relationship and create new ways of connecting that honor both of your authentic selves.
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My work is trauma-informed, recognizing that past experiences shape how we show up in relationships today. I help couples explore how individual histories, attachment styles, and nervous system responses influence your interactions—all without blame or pathologizing either partner.
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I specialize in working with communication and other differences, understanding that partners often have vastly different ways of processing information, expressing love, managing stress, and navigating conflict. Rather than trying to make you the same, I help you develop fluency in each other's "languages" and create systems that work for your unique partnership.
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My approach addresses intimacy and vulnerability challenges with both sensitivity and directness. We explore what makes it safe for each of you to be truly seen and known, and we work to build the emotional and physical intimacy that you're both longing for.
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In our work together, I support three distinct relationships: each of you as individuals and the partnership you're creating together. This ensures that your individual needs are honored while fostering the deep connection you both desire.
Individual Trauma Therapy
Do you often feel overwhelmed, struggling with memories or experiences that seem to follow you everywhere? Do you find yourself feeling disconnected, anxious, or stuck in patterns that don't serve you, despite your best efforts to move forward?
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What if there were a way to process these difficult experiences and reconnect with your authentic self? Imagine feeling grounded and present, able to access your strengths and creativity without being hijacked by past wounds. I offer a path toward healing—a way to transform suffering into resilience and renewed vitality.
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You might be a high achiever who excels professionally but struggles with inner critic voices, perfectionism, or feeling like you're never quite enough. Perhaps you've experienced trauma, loss, or attachment wounds that continue to impact your daily life, relationships, and sense of self. You may feel capable and intelligent, yet find yourself caught in cycles of anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm that seem beyond your control.
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Many of my clients are neurodivergent adults who have learned to mask their true selves, leading to exhaustion and disconnection. You might feel misunderstood or different, carrying the weight of trying to fit into a neurotypical world while your authentic self remains hidden or unaccepted.
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Whether you're dealing with childhood trauma, recent difficult experiences, attachment wounds, PTSD, or Complex PTSD, these struggles don't have to define your future. I understand the complexity of trauma and how it can impact every aspect of your life, and I'm here to help you navigate toward healing with compassion and expertise.
My Therapeutic Approach
AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) for Attachment Healing
I am trained in AEDP, an experiential therapy that focuses on healing attachment wounds and "undoing aloneness." AEDP creates a therapeutic relationship experienced as both safe haven and secure base, where we can process overwhelming emotions together in a way that facilitates corrective emotional and relational experiences. This approach helps you feel truly seen and understood, mobilizing positive changes in your neuroplastic brain. Through AEDP, we work to transform trauma and suffering into resilience, self-compassion, and a renewed sense of aliveness.
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EMDR for Trauma Processing
I also offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an extensively researched, structured therapy that helps process traumatic memories and PTSD symptoms. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation while focusing on trauma memories, allowing your brain to resume its natural healing process. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't require detailed discussion of distressing events and often achieves results in fewer sessions. This approach is highly effective for resolving unprocessed traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity, and helping you move from feeling "frozen in time" to integrated healing.
My Background and Credentials
Drawing from over 14 years of experience in mental health settings—including extensive trauma therapy work since 2010—I bring a neurodivergent-affirming, attachment-focused approach to healing individuals and couples. I specialize in working with adults who have experienced trauma, attachment wounds, and those who identify as neurodivergent.
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My practice is built on the understanding that healing happens in relationship. Whether we're processing past wounds through EMDR or exploring present-moment experiences through AEDP, the therapeutic relationship becomes a space where you can experience safety, attunement, and authentic connection—often for the first time. I truly believe that every individual and every couple has the capacity for transformation when provided with the right support and tools.
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With a Master's in Social Work from Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School, specialized training in AEDP and EMDR, and membership in both EMDRIA and the AEDP Institute, I offer evidence-based, compassionate care that honors your unique journey toward healing and wholeness.