Stephanie Sterling, LCSW, earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from New York University (NYU) in 2006 and is a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist. She co-owns Alternatives Counseling with her wife, Dr. Darcy Sterling.

Steph specializes in helping high-achieving couples move from pain to connection. She empowers clients to build stronger, more fulfilling relationships by refining communication, deepening emotional bonds, and providing practical tools to navigate conflict and challenging conversations with confidence.

Even the most successful, driven individuals can struggle in relationships. Demanding careers, high expectations, and hectic schedules often leave little room for genuine connection. Thriving in love requires more than just chemistry—it demands intentional skills, and many of us were never taught how to manage the emotional complexities relationships bring.

Steph equips you with the communication strategies needed to repair, reconnect, and sustain intimacy, so you can flourish in both your personal and professional lives.

In addition to her work with couples, Steph helps individual clients apply these same skills to all areas of life—improving relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. She also integrates EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and IFS (Internal Family Systems) to support clients in processing past trauma and overcoming emotional roadblocks when necessary.

Dedicated to continuous growth, Steph deepens her expertise with advanced couples therapy training through The Gottman Institute and Imago Relationship Therapy, both leading approaches in relationship science. In addition, she is excited to begin Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy training, integrating cutting-edge methods into her practice for even more transformative results.

When she’s not working with clients, you’ll likely find Steph hanging out with her wife and pets, exploring new hiking trails, horseback riding or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.