Steph Sterling, LCSW (NY, NJ & FL, CO), LICSW (MA), is a seasoned relationship therapist with nearly two decades of experience helping high-achieving individuals and couples strengthen communication, deepen emotional intimacy, and transform conflict into connection. Her work blends deep emotional insight with practical, actionable tools so clients do not just talk about change, they live it.

Steph earned her Master’s in Social Work from New York University (NYU) in 2006 and co-owns Alternatives Counseling with her wife, Dr. Darcy Sterling, where she guides clients from pain to connection by refining communication, deepening emotional bonds, and equipping them with practical tools to navigate conflict with confidence.

Certified in Imago Relationship Therapy and trained in EMDR, IFS, and the Gottman Method, Steph helps clients navigate communication breakdowns, unresolved trauma, and relational stagnation with clarity and compassion. Her approach is warm, direct, and collaborative, grounded in the belief that even the most successful people need support when it comes to love, vulnerability, and growth.

In addition to her clinical work, Steph volunteers with Fireside Project, a nonprofit that provides confidential, non-judgmental peer support by phone and text for people during and after psychedelic experiences. This work reflects her commitment to harm reduction, emotional safety, and meeting people with care and presence during moments of vulnerability, transition, and meaning-making.