Hello and Welcome
My name is Shawna Starkman, MFT. I am a psychotherapist in New York and New Jersey specializing in relationships, sex, and intimacy. I passionately believe in treating intimacy and sexual issues in the most holistic and integrative way possible by looking at the whole system, mind, body, and spirit.
I spent the first half of my working life as a set and interior designer, a career that gave me entry into hundreds of homes and insights into complex relationships. I witnessed first-hand the internal workings of many couples and family systems.
At a certain point, the couple's and family's future meant more to me than finding the perfect fabric or rug. So I decided to follow my heart, return to school, and become a sex, intimacy, and relationship therapist. I graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a Masters of Science in Couples and Family Therapy, specializing in sex therapy.
What We Do Together
I am driven by the concept that pleasure is a right every human has and that sometimes we need a reminder of that fact. I believe in strength-based modalities and the empowerment of the individual. I integrate eclectic methods that include External Family Systems, Gottman Techniques, Solution Focused Therapy, and CBT to construct a unique approach for every client. I provide a warm and safe space to explore sexual empowerment and intimacy connection, gain greater pleasure alone and together, and tap into my clients' creative energy, flow, and vitality.
