Syd Seifert, LCSW, MA (she, ella, syd)

Psychotherapist - Photographer - Writer

Born and raised amid the beautiful chaos of 1980s and 90s New York City, I'm Syd—a spirited genderqueer Latina unearthing the intricacies of my past - through my own journey in a therapeutic relationship, community, mindfulness, and the human experience. As a teen, I found great power and pleasure in sex, sexuality, and my body size despite what my mother, the world, teen boys, and sassy magazines had to say about it.

With a master's degree in Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State University, I designed participatory action research, aiming to shine a light on the struggles of marginalized young adults contending with housing insecurity and their own voyage of self-discovery within the realms of sexuality, pleasure, and power.

I earned a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) recognized by the state of New York, I specialize in working with people who have had early traumatic childhood experiences and the impacts of those experiences as teens and adults. My work encompasses a diverse spectrum of individuals, guiding them along their own journeys of gender, sex, and sexuality with a combination of genuine warmth, lightheartedness, and sensitivity.

My work secured its rightful spot within the pages of the pioneering $pread anthology—an immersive journey into the realm of sex work, voiced by courageous women, and featuring my own contribution "Loving a Working Mother."

Deeply inspired by Louise DeSalvo's transformative work, "Writing as a Way of Healing," I've cultivated a profound love for writing as a means of restoration. Writing wields the remarkable power to help us make sense of our past, navigate its intricacies, and pave our way toward healing. It's a tool I've embraced to untangle the knots and navigate the labyrinth of our experiences, finding a path to understanding and growth.

In the world of art, my photography blossomed into a bridge between subjects and the lens. The camera wasn't just a tool; it became a space where women could embrace their confidence and empowerment, reflecting my deep passion for the realm of photography.

With a fierce post-structural feminist spirit burning at my core, I embrace a captivating duality—by night, I transform into a part-time mermaid, gracing the shores of Fire Island with my partner-in-crime pup, Otis Mae Brown.

Education

MSW, Clinical Concentration Silberman School of Social Work 2014
MA, Sexuality Studies, San Francisco State University 2007
BA, Gender & Sexuality Studies St. Lawrence University 2004

Specializations

Sex/Sexuality
Relationships & Dating
Gender Identity & Expression with Children/Tweens/Adolescents & Adults
Trauma-Focused Therapy

Advanced Clinical Training

EMDR Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute - EMDR International Association Approved (Levels I & II)

INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS Dr Frank Anderson and Dr. Richard Schwartz

‍SEX THERAPY Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy & Center for Sex and Culture SFSU

TRANSGENDER & GENDER EXPANSIVE CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS Ackerman Institute for the Family Gender & Family Project

‍ADVANCED TRAUMA TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS(CAPT) International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP)