Deanna Aliperti, LCSW
(She / Her)
I’m glad you’re here!
If you’ve made it to this page, you probably want to know a little more about me. And honestly, I’m ~ flattered ~
Scroll down or click the following to get an idea of:
who I work with • my style • my clinical approach
And if you want an extra peek into my personality (or need a good laugh), check me out on Instagram & TikTok!
Who I Work With
** Please Note: you must be 18+ to work with me
My Specialty Areas:
-
As an EMDR trained therapist, I support people who have endured trauma — those who’ve had to stay hyper-independent or be constantly on guard just to get by. Together, we work toward reprocessing your memories and feeling safe in your body, your relationships, and in your story.
-
I also work with folks navigating general anxiety that’s loud, overwhelming, and hard to turn off. We’ll work together to get your anxiety to do less!
-
I love working with queer & trans clients — as a queer person, it’s work I care very deeply about. Whether we explore your sexuality & gender, navigate transitioning, or process feelings around existing as a queer person in our current political climate, I know how important it is to have a queer therapist to help you feel safe, seen, and not have to over-explain your identity or the nuances of your life.
You’re dealing with enough; the last thing you need is a therapist who secretly googles “what is non-binary?” during sessions.
-
OCD is another specialty area of mine — especially (but not limited to) the taboo, shame-y, intrusive-thought kind that makes you feel like you’re losing your mind (you’re not).
We’ll work together to get a hold of those anxiety inducing thoughts & frustrating compulsions — ultimately gaining back your time and mental energy!
I also work well with:
-
Does closeness feel overwhelming? Or does distance send you into a spiral?
Whatever your flavor, we’ll unpack the patterns, get curious about where they came from, and build new ways of relating that feel safer, secure, & more you.
-
Like moving, breakups, or recent grads googling “what am I doing with my life?!” at 2am.
Maybe you’re stepping into something new, or letting go of something old. Regardless, we’ll make space for the chaos until we can get you to some steady ground.
-
Patterns that used to protect you now eat up your time, energy, & sanity like it’s a big bowl of candy. You’ve been running on approval and over-functioning for years — now your nervous system’s like “PLEASE stop!!” Let’s change that.
-
Monogamous? Poly? Kinky? Still figuring it out? Cool — you’re in the right place.
Struggling with intimacy, trying to reconnect with your body after sexual trauma, or unsure what your sexual needs are? No worries - there’s no such thing as TMI here!
This is a space where your relationship structure, sexual desires, & curiosities aren’t pathologized, but are embraced and explored with excitement!
-
Whether you're navigating sensory overload, executive dysfunction, or just trying to exist in a world that wasn’t built for your brain — you’re not alone. As a fellow ADHDer, I get it.
We’ll help you learn ways to work with your brain, not against it. No need to dim its shine!
-
Maybe you're trying to cope with symptoms that no one can see, or figuring out how to be in a body that feels unpredictable.
Whether you're feeling burnt out by medical gaslighting, feeling grief over what used to feel easy, or navigating a world that wasn’t built for you — therapy can be a place to not have to power through.
We’ll move at your body’s pace and figure out how to care for the version of you that exists today.
Don’t see your concerns listed? No worries ~ doesn’t mean we can’t work together! Feel free to reach out with what you’re looking to work on in therapy and I’ll let you know if that’s in my wheelhouse :)
My Style:
Here’s what therapy with me is like!
No blank-slate energy here!
I don’t just nod silently, take notes, & stare at you while you talk. You’ll get more than “mhmm” and “how does that make you feel?” — I’ll actually talk with you like a human. I’m animated, responsive, & ask the good questions. You’ll get real reactions, facial expressions, laughs, gasps, & everything in between.
I’ll 100% hit you with an “okay, growth!” when I see a win. But don’t worry — I also know when to be straight up & say what you need to hear (native New Yorker privilege).
You can show up fully, say the weird thing, & will probably get a “same” from me. And yes, I sometimes curse. Because let’s be real, “ugh” doesn’t always cut it.
I don’t shy away from using humor
I honestly think I’m hilarious. If I could share client reviews, they’d back me up — but, you know… HIPAA. I use humor when it’s actually helpful — not to deflect, but because sometimes we need to laugh while we heal. Who says we can’t?!
I’m collaborative & flexible!
And I’ll always welcome feedback. If something doesn’t feel right, tell me! If I suggest something & it’s not your vibe, say so! If you want to change the topic or switch up our session style altogether, go for it! You’re in the driver’s seat — I’m just in the passenger seat offering directions and (metaphorical) snacks.
My Clinical Approach
While my style is conversational, it’s more than just talk therapy: we’ll use evidence-based tools, track your progress , & make sure you’re getting what you came here for.
Most of my work blends a psychodynamic lens (exploring how your past shapes your present) with CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to help us understand where your patterns come from & how to shift them. I also love using ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy), which helps you make space for tough thoughts & feelings instead of battling them. And we sprinkle in some DBT coping skills when you need help regulating emotions or just getting through the chaos of being a person.
I also use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help process trauma & stuck beliefs, & ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) for managing OCD & phobias.
But honestly? I tailor therapy to you — therapy isn’t “one size fits all,” so we’ll use whatever combination of interventions works best for your unique needs. No cookie-cutter approaches unless you ask for them!
