The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.
About Sara Letizia
I'm Sara Letizia, founder of Bonafide Therapy, PLLC. After a transformative journey of self-discovery in 2012, I was inspired to pursue a career as a therapist. My work started at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York where I was a research assistant in a study on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for children with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD). This study was eventually published in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry journal in 2017. After that, I worked closely with a clinical neuropsychologist in her private practice. Additionally, I have worked in dual diagnosis treatment centers in New York and Florida, and a behavioral health hospital and private practices in Texas.
Through these experiences and my continued work as a therapist, I have been able to support individuals throughout their journey healing from childhood trauma, bipolar disorder, addictions, and LGBTQIA+ concerns. My goal is to provide an inspiring and supportive environment for people to explore their path to wellness. Through my passion and expertise, I wholeheartedly strive to help individuals break generational cycles that disempower them while simultaneously aiding in the healing process of childhood trauma. It's been incredibly gratifying to watch my clients rise through their hardships and empower themselves with the newfound knowledge they gain through our therapeutic work together.
Therapy Approaches
Therapy is a complex process. In addition to traditional mental health approaches, Sara utilizes a multimodal approach to therapy to help maximize results. This approach involves combining different therapeutic modalities, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, Internal Family Systems, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and person-centered therapy, to create the most effective solution for each individual patient. Multimodal therapy also takes into account a patient’s environment, lifestyle and culture in order to tailor the solution accordingly. By attending to each individual’s unique needs and utilizing diverse therapeutic strategies, Sara has been successful in guiding folks of all identities and experiences through their healing journey
EMDR
Learn MoreEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a highly effective, evidence-based therapy for treating trauma and other mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. EMDR helps individuals process and heal from distressing memories by using bilateral stimulation—typically eye movements, tapping, or sounds—while the client focuses on specific traumatic experiences.
This therapy activates the brain’s natural healing process, allowing clients to reprocess disturbing memories in a way that reduces emotional distress. EMDR is structured in eight phases, including history-taking, preparation, and reprocessing, offering a comprehensive framework to target traumatic memories and promote long-term healing.
EMDR has been widely validated by research and is known for delivering faster results compared to traditional talk therapies, making it a popular and effective treatment choice.
IFS
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) is a transformative, evidence-based therapy approach that helps individuals explore and heal their inner emotional parts. IFS views the mind as a system of distinct sub-personalities or "parts," each with its own roles and emotions. These parts often develop due to past experiences, and some may cause inner conflict or distress.
In IFS therapy, clients learn to identify and understand these parts, fostering self-compassion and healing. The goal is to achieve balance by accessing the core Self—our wise, calm inner leader—who can guide and heal wounded parts. IFS is highly effective for treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues, making it a popular therapeutic method today.
This holistic approach is gaining popularity for its gentle, non-pathologizing method of addressing complex emotional and psychological challenges.
DBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy approach designed to help individuals manage intense emotions and improve relationships. Originally developed for borderline personality disorder (BPD), DBT is now widely used to treat various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders.
DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness strategies, focusing on four key areas: emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. By teaching practical coping skills, DBT helps clients navigate challenging situations, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and foster healthier emotional responses.
Psychodynamic
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a kind of talk therapy that helps people understand their unconscious thoughts and behaviors. The idea is that by understanding your unconscious thoughts and behaviors, you can understand why you're feeling a certain way, how those feelings affect your everyday life, and how to better manage them.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy can be helpful for people who are struggling with mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, or relationship problems. It can also be helpful for people who want to improve their relationships with others or who are seeking personal growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let's Talk
The first step in therapy is talking. Let's find a time where we can meet and talk about what's on your mind.
