Victoria Sliva, PhD
Meet Dr. Sliva
With over 15 years of experience working with diverse populations in a variety of settings—including acute hospital environments, community mental health centers, intensive outpatient programs, and university counseling and psychological centers—I am deeply committed to helping people from the vast spectrum of human experience gain a deeper sense of insight and worth.
I believe therapy can be transformative, not in the sense of creating something entirely new, but in the way it allows what is already within you to grow, expand, and take comfortable shape. For me, the goal of therapy is to help you become more authentically yourself, to feel at ease in your own skin, and to navigate intense emotions without them taking control. It’s about cultivating deeper, more honest, and satisfying relationships by first learning how to know and sit with yourself. Ultimately, therapy is about discovering what truly makes you happy.
In our work together, I focus on building a collaborative therapeutic relationship where you are seen and heard without judgment. I incorporate creative approaches to help you explore different facets of yourself and develop skills to navigate your emotions and relationships with mindfulness. I have worked with clients facing challenges ranging from addiction and eating disorders to the everyday struggles of life.
I provide a judgement free, safe, and affirmative space to all clients, and I am committed to the understanding and acknowledgment of the impact that systemic oppression and external factors have on how folks navigate the world and their own mental health. I am passionate about what I do, and I invite you to reach out with any questions to see if we are a good fit for therapy.
Therapy for Adolescents, Emerging Adults, and Adults
Adolescents and Emerging Adults
I specialize in helping adolescents and emerging adults navigate significant life transitions, empowering them to feel comfortable in their own skin and learn to trust themselves. I work with individuals facing challenges such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia, autism, ADHD, emotional regulation, and relationships with family and peers. These struggles can often feel isolating, and my approach is centered around creating a space where you feel safe, seen, and understood. With the pressures of social media impacting mental health, therapy will focus on fostering genuine connections that help you feel supported during this transformative phase of life.
Adults
In my work with adults, I support individuals dealing with challenges like body dysmorphia, eating disorders, emotional regulation, and relationship issues. Therapy with me feels like a real, active conversation where you are heard, understood, and gently challenged to foster growth. My integrative approach blends deep listening and relational understanding with practical skill-building and coping strategies. My goal is for you to leave therapy with a deeper self-awareness, a stronger sense of self-worth, and the tools to navigate life’s ups and downs.
Therapy Services
I offer individual therapy to older adolescents and adults, working collaboratively to uncover emotional reactions and relationship patterns that impact daily life. My approach fosters an active, authentic conversation where I am fully engaged, not just as an observer but as a present participant in the therapeutic process. I specialize in emotional regulation, relationships, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and building self-esteem. Therapy with me helps clients navigate challenges with deeper insight and healthier coping strategies. By providing a safe, consistent relational environment, I support individuals in processing difficult emotions and experiences at their own pace, ultimately fostering lasting growth and positive change..
Individual Therapy
In couples therapy, I work from a relational framework that helps you and your partner understand the influence of past experiences, particularly formative relationship patterns, on your current dynamics. By exploring these patterns, we can uncover what may be activated in the present and deepen your understanding of each other. I also focus on teaching practical communication skills, especially around emotions, so you can express yourselves more clearly in the moment. Additionally, I guide couples in learning how to repair after conflict once things have calmed down. I work with all types of couples, including new parents and those in alternative relationship structures, to help you build stronger, healthier connections.
Couples Therapy
Group Therapy
With over a decade of experience running both interpersonal process and DBT-informed skills therapy groups, I offer a supportive environment for personal growth and healing. In my interpersonal process group, we use a relational framework to explore how past relationship patterns influence how we show up in current relationships. By focusing on the here-and-now experience within the group, we practice recognizing and changing these dynamics in real time, creating a powerful therapy experience for those who struggle in relationships.
In the DBT-informed skills group, we work with an emotion-focused model to build essential coping strategies that help you understand, communicate, tolerate, and regulate your emotional reactions—both in difficult situations and relationships. This group also focuses on building a stronger sense of self and emotional resilience. Both groups provide valuable tools and insights for navigating life’s challenges and fostering more fulfilling connections.
The relationship between mothers and daughters is one of the most intense and formative connections in life. In Mother-Daughter Dyadic Therapy, we explore how this bond shapes both individuals, often uncovering the enactment of intergenerational and social trauma within the relationship. This dynamic can manifest in various ways, particularly around themes of food, body image, caretaking, and control. These areas can carry deep emotional weight and unresolved patterns passed down through generations.
Through therapy, we create a space to recognize and understand how these patterns play out between mother and daughter, allowing both parties to gain insight into their roles within the relationship. We focus on healing these wounds, fostering open communication, and dismantling harmful behaviors to create a healthier, more supportive connection. By addressing the roots of these dynamics, we can break cycles of trauma and build a more nurturing and balanced relationship that empowers both mother and daughter to heal and grow.
Mother-Daughter Dyadic Therapy
Contact
I offer free 20 minute consultations for individuals, couples, and those interested in group therapy. I respond to inquiries within two business days.