Layla Alter, LMSW
Modern life is built to pull you out of your body and onto a screen. Therapy with me is a deliberate interruption of that.
I'm a psychodynamic, EMDR-trained therapist who works with adolescents and adults. I'm especially drawn to supporting you as you grow into who you are at your core, separate from what society tells you to be, even when it looks like everyone around you has already figured it out (they haven't).
I work with people who may have a trauma history and want to begin the healing process. I believe in the magic of offering a transformative space to share and heal what's usually unspoken. My approach is holistic, relational, and body-centered. I draw on IFS and somatic practices, including inner child work that often lives beneath trauma, working with the patterns, images, and feelings that don't have words yet.
I'm also an avid meditator, and I bring mindfulness, breathwork, and gentle restorative yoga poses into sessions to support nervous system regulation. I am trained in mindful self-compassion and may guide you inward through guided imagery. I'm a creative person, and that shows up in the way I practice.
I have experience as a school social worker, working with adolescents and supporting them as they embody their creativity and resilience. That work shaped how I think about identity and embodiment. I've continued that focus through ongoing research and presentations on embodiment and disembodiment in the digital age, including at Harvard's Graduate School of Education.
My style is warm, creative, and collaborative. If this resonates, I'd love to connect.
I offer therapy in person in Brooklyn and online.
I'm available weekdays and evenings.
Please book a free 30-minute consultation here or reach out:
Layla@layla-alter.com \ 917-426-1374
Fees: $150 / Sliding Scale
I am an out-of-network provider. I can provide a superbill upon request to support clients in seeking reimbursement from their insurance company, and I'm happy to help with any necessary paperwork or documentation.
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I am committed to ongoing professional development and regularly pursue advanced training in trauma-informed, evidence-based, and experiential approaches to psychotherapy.
EMDR Training — EMDR Institute (2026)
Restorative Yoga Teacher Certificate — YogaRenew (2026)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): Evaluation and Treatment — Hudson Valley Professional Development (2026)
Expressive Arts: Attachment and the Invisible String — Hudson Valley Professional Development (2025)
Somatic Trauma Healing Summit: Advanced Methods in Body-Based Therapies — (2025)
Mindful Self-Compassion Intensive Training — Kripalu (2025)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Certificate — Dr. Chris Worfolk (2025)
Experiential Introduction to Trauma Treatment Modalities — Hudson Valley Professional Development (2024)
Clinical Applications of Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: Step-by-Step Procedures for Healing Traumatic Wounds — (2024)
Crisis Counselor Training — Crime Victims Treatment Center (2020)
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Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety
Body Image
Self Esteem
Coping Skills
Depression
Education and Learning Disabilities
Emotional Regulation
Internet Addiction
Life Transitions
Peer Relationships
Relationship Issues
Sexual Abuse
Stress