Depth-Oriented Psychotherapy · Merrick, NY
We develop ways of coping that once protected us — but over time, those same defenses can stand between us and the life we long to live. Together, we'll uncover what lies beneath and help you move forward with greater freedom and authenticity.
"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." — C.G. Jung
"I believe our life struggles are rooted in our unconscious. I will actively collaborate with you to uncover these defenses and empower you to live a full, authentic, and joyful life."
"Having a genuine connection to a therapist you trust and like is key for therapy to work."
— Jill Sirota, LCSWHow We Work Together
Drawing on psychoanalytic and psychodynamic principles, our work goes beyond symptom relief. We explore the patterns, defenses, and unconscious dynamics that shape your inner life — creating space for lasting, meaningful change.
A warm, genuine connection forms the foundation. You'll experience being truly seen and understood — often a transformative experience in itself.
We gently explore the unconscious roots of your patterns — the defenses formed in childhood that may now limit your freedom and potential.
Rather than managing symptoms, we work toward deep shifts that free you to live more authentically, relationally, and joyfully.
Areas of Focus
The transition into adulthood brings questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. Therapy provides a space to understand yourself more deeply during one of life's most formative chapters — navigating academic pressure, relationships, and who you're becoming.
High-achieving professionals often find that outer success doesn't quiet the inner noise. We explore ambition, perfectionism, burnout, imposter feelings, and the gap between the life you've built and the one you feel inside.
Parenting brings a unique set of challenges at every stage — some rooted in what is unfolding in real time, and some charged with echoes from our own childhood. Becoming a parent reshapes everything — your identity, your relationships, and your sense of self. Whether you're navigating postpartum mood changes, the weight of new responsibility, or the feelings stirred up as your child grows, this is important and often deeply personal work.
Relationship changes, job or career changes, retirement, relocation — even welcome transitions can unsettle us. I help you make meaning of change, understand your reactions, and move through uncertainty with greater groundedness.
Grief is not a problem to be solved but a deeply human experience to be held. Whether you are mourning a person, a relationship, an identity, or a life you imagined — I offer space for the full complexity of your loss.
Rather than only managing symptoms, we seek to understand their meaning. Anxiety and depression often carry important messages about unmet needs, avoided feelings, and patterns that are ready to shift.
Healing from trauma begins with emotional safety — a space where you are never pushed faster than you are ready to go. Together we explore how past experiences shape your current worldview, relationships, self-image, and the way you move through daily life. Understanding these connections is not about reliving the past, but about reclaiming your present.
About Jill
I am naturally warm, easy to talk to, and genuinely enthusiastic about this process. My commitment is not just to help you feel better in the short term, but to support lasting, freeing change that touches the deeper layers of who you are.
Beyond my graduate training at Boston University School of Social Work, I hold advanced clinical training in psychoanalysis from the Suffolk Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis — a commitment to depth work that shapes my focus with you in the room.
I work with individuals and couples, in person in Merrick, NY and remotely via telehealth across New York, Rhode Island, and Florida.
Boston University School of Social Work, MSW
Certificate in Psychoanalysis, Suffolk Institute
New York (LCSW) & Rhode Island (LICSW)
What to Expect
We begin with a brief phone conversation at no charge to explore what brings you here, answer your questions, and see if working together feels like a good fit.
The early work is about building trust and beginning to understand your story — your history, your patterns, and what you most hope for from this process.
Over time, we move below the surface. We explore the unconscious patterns and defenses that shape your inner life, and begin to shift what no longer serves you.
The goal is not just relief but transformation — a freer, more authentic way of living, relating, and experiencing yourself in the world that reveals deeper layers of who you truly are.
Get In Touch
Taking the first step toward therapy is an act of courage. I welcome you to reach out — the initial call is free.
Merrick, NY
Available across New York, Rhode Island & Florida
Out-of-network; superbills provided
I am an out-of-network provider. Many clients receive partial reimbursement through their insurance's out-of-network benefits. I'm happy to help you understand your coverage.
I typically respond within one business day. All inquiries are completely confidential.