Doriel Jacov, JD, LCSW
Relational & Trauma Therapy
I am a licensed psychotherapist in New York City specializing in deep, relational work with adults, couples, and teens.
Many of my clients are individuals who appear "put together" to the outside world, yet navigate a persistent sense of disconnection, unworthiness, or the weight of trauma.
A Unique Perspective on High-Pressure Lives
Before transitioning into psychotherapy, I practiced corporate law. I always had a deep interest in the human experience, and through my own process of self-reflection, I realized my professional path needed to align with that calling.
This transition gives me an experiential understanding of high-stakes professional environments and the specific type of burnout, anxiety, and relational strain they can produce.
I offer an intellectually rigorous yet compassionate environment for those who want a therapist who can hold space for the fullness of their emotional world.
My Clinical Approach
Therapy is a collaborative partnership. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, I integrate depth-oriented and evidence-based modalities to help you unburden the parts of yourself that feel stuck.
My approach is contemplative and engaged, providing the stillness necessary to slow down and examine the patterns that often go unseen in a fast-paced life. I’m constantly listening for what might be going on beneath the surface.
In my work I primarily use Relational Psychoanalytic Therapy, Internal Family System (IFS), Somatic Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which I explain more below.
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My psychoanalytic approach is modern and contemporary. We don't just look at your history in a vacuum; we explore how your earliest relationships created a blueprint for how you navigate the world today. We focus on the "here-and-now" of the therapy relationship. Feelings that arise in therapy often mirror feelings in the outside world. By attending closely to that, we can shift unconscious patterns that may be keeping you stuck. This is a collaborative partnership designed to move you beyond surface-level symptoms toward a more authentic self.
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We often feel conflicted because different parts of us want different things: a part that drives us to succeed, a part that fears failure, or a part that carries old wounds. IFS is a non-pathologizing approach that helps you identify and "unburden" these various parts. The goal is to lead from the calm, curious, and courageous center of who you are.
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Trauma and chronic stress are not just memories, they are physiological experiences stored in the nervous system. While talk therapy is vital, integrating somatic (body-based) awareness allows us to process emotional blocks that the mind alone cannot resolve. This work helps you feel more regulated, grounded, and physically at home in your own body
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EFT is the clinical gold standard for repairing relationship distress and is rooted in attachment theory. Rather than focusing solely on behavioral communication skills, we look at the underlying emotional logic of your partnership. We work to identify the negative cycle (usually the repetitive loop of pursuit and withdrawal) that leaves both partners feeling lonely or misunderstood. By fostering emotional responsiveness and creating a secure attachment bond, we transform the relationship into a safe haven where both individuals can feel truly seen and supported.
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW): Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
Juris Doctor (JD): Columbia Law School
Undergraduate Degree: George Washington University
Training
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training at the William Alanson White Institute
Training in Trauma-Focused CBT
Specialized training working with survivors of sexual abuse
Professional Memberships
Founding Member, Psychoanalytic Therapy Collective
Member, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work
Member, New York State Society for Clinical Social Work
Volunteer Work
Grief Specialist/Volunteer Clinician, Experience Camps
Next Steps
Choosing a therapist is a deeply personal decision. I invite you to reach out for a brief consultation to see if my background and approach resonate with you.