Relationship Therapy in NYC
Who is Relationship Therapy for?
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Who is Relationship Therapy for? |
Our Relationship Therapy services are designed for individuals in New York City who want to build healthier, more fulfilling relationships with others and with themselves. You don’t need to be in a relationship to seek support. If you notice patterns like people-pleasing, anxiety around connection, fear of abandonment, shutting down during conflict, or constantly feeling like you are “too much” or “not enough,” therapy can help.
You might be navigating romantic relationships, friendships, family dynamics, or healing from past relationship wounds. Whether you’re exploring attachment patterns, healing childhood safety wounds, or simply wanting more secure, connected relationships, you belong here.
We primarily work with women, but welcome people of all genders, identities, and cultural backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ individuals. Our approach is culturally competent, body-inclusive, and sex-positive.
Common Relationship Struggles We Support:
This list is not exhaustive. You don’t have to see yourself in every bullet to deserve support.
Fear of rejection, abandonment, or losing people
Difficulty communicating needs or setting boundaries
People-pleasing, over-functioning, or codependency
Relationship anxiety or constant overthinking
Avoiding conflict or shutting down emotionally
Feeling unsafe, unseen, or “too much” in relationships
Attracting emotionally unavailable or inconsistent partners
Caretaking others while neglecting yourself
Difficulty trusting, attaching, or staying connected
Friendship ruptures, breakups, or betrayal wounds
Types of Relationship Therapy We Offer in NYC:
Familial Relationships Therapy
Friendship and Platonic Relationship Therapy
Romantic Relationship Therapy and Couples Therapy
Our Approach to Virtual Relationship Therapy in NYC
At LEL Therapy, we are relational therapists, meaning we care deeply about the ways you connect with yourself, others, and the world. Instead of just focusing on behavior, we explore the roots of your relationship patterns, including attachment styles, childhood experiences, trauma, societal expectations, and cultural narratives.
You won’t get a “blank-slate therapist” here. We bring our authentic selves into the room and build a therapeutic relationship with you as a model for secure connection, boundaries, and communication.
We approach relationship work through:
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We explore how early relationships — parents, caregivers, friendships — shaped your sense of safety, trust, and self-worth. Together, we unpack anxious, avoidant, or disorganized attachment patterns and help you move toward secure connection.
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Many of your current beliefs may have roots in past hurt: “I’m too much,” “People always leave,” “Love has to be earned.” We help you identify, challenge, and rewrite these narratives so they no longer control your relationships.
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We don’t believe relationships thrive through perfection; they thrive through clarity. We help you identify what you value in relationships, practice communicating needs, and set boundaries that protect your emotional safety.
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You don’t need to fully love yourself to be in a healthy relationship. But learning to speak to yourself with compassion makes connection feel safer. We support you in building inner trust, so relationships don’t feel like a constant threat to your worth.
Do I Have to Love Myself to Be in a Healthy Relationship?
Not at all. Loving yourself is a lifelong practice, not a requirement to deserve love. Self-compassion, however, can make relationships feel more secure. You can work on healthy connection with others and self-acceptance at the same time — one doesn’t have to come before the other. We’re here to support you through both.
What Is the Difference Between Relationship Therapy and Couples Therapy?
While we do offer couples therapy, our Relationship Therapy is focused on working with individuals. This might look like:
Healing after a breakup or friendship loss
Navigating dating burnout or relationship anxiety
Working through family tension or boundary-setting
Healing codependency or fear of abandonment
Understanding attraction patterns and emotional triggers
You don’t need to attend therapy with another person to improve your relationships. You are allowed to do this work for you.
What to Expect During Virtual Relationship Therapy:
In sessions, we move between your past and present. We help you understand how early experiences shaped your relationship patterns and how to create new ones that feel safe, aligned, and fulfilling.
We’ll support you with grounding tools, emotional regulation strategies, conflict communication skills, boundary-setting, and deeper healing work tailored to where you are in your journey.
Why Choose LEL Therapy?
At LEL Therapy, our therapists don’t just understand relationship struggles, we've lived them too. We bring warmth, humor, compassion, and authenticity to our work. You’ll never be met with judgment or cold professionalism.
We believe therapy should feel human. You’ll be supported by therapists who show up as real people. We are kind, deeply empathetic, and genuinely invested in your healing.
Experience relationship therapy with someone who truly gets it and is dedicated to helping you thrive.
We are therapists who are humans and humans who are therapists.
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We are therapists who are humans and humans who are therapists. ✦
Ready to get started?
Because better relationships are possible.
Wanting more tips on strengthening your relationships? Check out these blog posts on all things relationships:
Advice for Your Early 20s
5 Tips to Fighting Better Within Your Relationship
How to Talk to My Friends About My Depression: 7 Tips from a Therapist
3 Tactics for Deescalating Conflict in Relationships
Falling in Love with Yourself First
Therapy for Your 20s in New York City: Finding a Therapist Who Gets You
Wanting even more? Follow our practice owner Lauren Larkin, LMHC on TikTok and Instagram for In Between Sessions, where she offers therapy and therapeutic topics in between sessions.
Other Services Offered:
In addition to specializing in relationship issues, LEL Therapy offers therapy for all types of eating disorders, including but not limited to Anorexia, Binge Eating Disorder, ARFID, Bulimia, and Disordered Eating. We specialize in trauma therapy, and we treat anxiety and general mental health conditions. We offer a therapy support group for survivors of sexual trauma. We would love to help you on your mental health journey. Reach out for a free consultation today!