I believe therapy can change your life

It’s not about fixing what’s “wrong” with you—it’s about reconnecting with the parts of you that have been carrying too much for too long.

I’m Shawne Steiger, LCSW, a trauma therapist licensed in New York and Washington, DC. I work with adults and couples navigating the impact of trauma, relationship challenges, life changes and substance use.

My approach is warm, relational, and change-focused. That means I’m not just here to nod and say “uh-huh.” I’m here to help you make sense of your inner world, move through stuck places, and build a life that feels more aligned with who you are and what you value.

How I work

With over 30 years of clinical experience—including more than 18 years at the VA, where I worked in a PTSD clinic and a substance abuse clinic—I bring both deep expertise and grounded presence to this work. My time with veterans shaped my approach in lasting ways: I learned how to hold pain with steadiness, how to navigate complex trauma with care, and how to help people reclaim parts of themselves they thought were lost.

Before my time at the VA, my work focused on supporting adult survivors of complex trauma—including childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as traumas experienced in adulthood. I also worked closely with individuals navigating intense emotions, unstable relationships, and a deep fear of abandonment—challenges often rooted in early attachment wounds.

That work taught me how to be present with people in pain without trying to rush them to “fix it.” It shaped my belief that healing happens not just through insight, but through safe, consistent connection and a new experience of being seen.

In my current private practice, I bring that same depth and steadiness to clients from all walks of life. You can expect a space that is nonjudgmental, collaborative, and gently challenging. I draw from a variety of approaches, including:

• Experiential Psychodynamic Work that uses the therapy relationship to surface patterns in real time—and supports you in tolerating the anxiety that comes with growth and change

• Parts-oriented work to help clients explore protective or wounded parts of themselves with curiosity—and integrate the awareness that they are no longer helpless, no longer in danger, no longer a child

• Evidence Based Therapies such as EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

• Somatic awareness to support healing through the body and nervous system

• Mindfulness and practical tools to help with emotion regulation and insight

• Couples therapy rooted in systems theory and informed by evidence-based practices like Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy and Imago, with a focus on emotional safety, insight, and more connected communication

  We’ll explore the past, but we won’t stay stuck there. The goal is always meaningful, sustainable change—and a greater sense of wholeness in the present.

More about me

I’m especially passionate about working with:

• People navigating trauma, grief, or emotional overwhelm

• Survivors of childhood abuse and/or emotional neglect

• Highly sensitive individuals

• Couples who feel stuck in reactive patterns or disconnected

• Anyone who fears they’re “too much” or “not enough”

If you’ve ever felt like you had to hide parts of yourself to be accepted or loved, you're not alone—and you’re in the right place. Therapy with me is a space to bring all of you—messy, guarded, hurting, or unsure—and still be met with warmth, respect, and belief in your ability to grow.

You don’t have to do this alone.

If this resonates, let’s talk. I offer a free 15-minute consultation to help you get a sense of what working together might feel like