Therapist’s office in Manhattan, a safe space to explore relationship patterns

THERAPY IN NEW YORK FOR

Dating + Relationship Issues

Difficulties in relationships and dating can create emotional strain and impact overall wellbeing. For some, challenges arise around trust, commitment, or emotional connection in relationships. For others, anxiety may arise throughout the process of dating and building connections.

You don’t need to be in crisis to seek support. Therapy offers a space to slow down and better understand your relationship patterns, emotional needs, and what’s getting in the way of fulfilling connections. Whether you’re navigating conflicts, ending a relationship, or starting to date again, therapy can help you build clarity and confidence.

Common concerns I help with:

  • Difficulty establishing or maintaining trust within a relationship

  • Anxiety surrounding dating, commitment, or vulnerability

  • Fear of rejection or abandonment

  • Repeated involvement in emotionally unsatisfying or dysfunctional relationships

  • Challenges with jealousy or insecurity

  • Emotional avoidance or disengagement

  • Fear of being alone

Emily Siegel, a therapist in Manhattan offering therapy for relationship issues

I tailor therapy to the needs of each individual. We’ll take time to explore both the present challenges and the deeper patterns that shape how you relate to yourself and others. Our work will focus not only on resolving immediate concerns but also on developing an understanding of yourself that support healthier, more satisfying connections over time.

My style is non-judgmental, engaged, and steady, with an emphasis on long-lasting and meaningful change. I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches—including psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, and mindfulness-informed work—integrated to meet your needs. Therapy with me is collaborative and results-oriented, with ongoing conversation about how the work is progressing.

If you’re considering therapy for relationship or dating challenges, I invite you to reach out for a free consultation. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, get a feel for working together, and decide if it feels like the right fit—without any obligation.

A THOUGHTFUL, INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH

Bird flying, symbolic of the change achieved in therapy for anxiety

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THERAPY FOR DATING + RELATIONSHIP ISSUES?

Therapy begins with an opportunity for us to get to know each other and clarify your reasons for seeking support. In the early sessions, we’ll focus on understanding your experience and how I can best assist you. Together, we will explore the patterns underlying your challenges and what feels most meaningful to you.

Sessions are 45 minutes long and are held once a week. I offer a three-session consultation period at the start, which gives you a chance to see if working together feels like the right fit. At the end of this period, I provide feedback on the work we’ve begun and share my thoughts on how therapy might proceed moving forward.

The pace and focus of therapy are tailored to your needs, with an emphasis on creating a steady and supportive environment. Many people find that over time, therapy brings greater clarity, emotional relief, and healthier ways of relating.

Unsure about starting therapy?

It’s normal to have questions or hesitations about therapy. You might wonder if your challenges are “big enough” or feel uncertain about what therapy involves. You don’t need to have all the answers before beginning; we can figure things out together.

Some people have tried therapy before but found it didn’t address their deeper relationship issues. Others worry that exploring difficult emotions will be overwhelming. We can discuss these concerns openly and move at a pace that feels manageable.

FAQ’s

  • Many people have had mixed or limited experiences with therapy in the past. Sometimes the approach wasn’t the right fit, or the work didn’t go as deep as it needed to. If you’re considering starting again, we can talk openly about what felt helpful or unhelpful in previous work and what you’re hoping will feel different this time.

  • That’s okay. Many people begin therapy without a clear goal. Making sense of what’s going on and what you want from the process can be something we figure out together over time.

  • It’s not uncommon to worry that slowing down to look more closely at your experience will be destabilizing. In our work together, we’ll move at a pace that feels tolerable. You won’t be pushed to go further than you’re ready to, and we’ll speak openly about how the process is feeling as we go.

  • Skepticism is understandable. Therapy isn’t a quick fix, but it can create the conditions for meaningful change—especially when the focus includes both present challenges and underlying patterns.