Rivka Silverman, LCSW

Let me fall if I must, the one I become will catch me - Baal Shem Tov

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Rivka Silverman, LCSW's style

Why Rivka Silverman, LCSW chose to be in the helping profession

I became a therapist because I believe every person deserves a space where their pain is held with care and their potential is taken seriously. I have experienced firsthand how overwhelming life can feel, especially when past situations, responsibilities, or trauma make it difficult to move forward or even see a way through. I know how heavy it can be to carry these experiences alone, and how isolating it can feel when you are trying to make sense of them. That understanding deeply shapes the way I show up in my work with others.

What drives me most is the privilege of sitting with someone in those moments and helping them reconnect with their strength and their sense of possibility. Choosing this work is also my way of giving back and staying connected to my community in a meaningful way. I strive to offer support that is grounded in respect, curiosity, and genuine care, meeting each person where they are without judgment. I hold a strong belief that healing is always possible, even when it feels distant or out of reach, and I am committed to walking alongside clients as they discover what that healing can look like for them.

Rivka Silverman, LCSW's approach

My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in trauma-informed care. I draw from Internal Family Systems, Somatic Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and EMDR to support healing that includes both the mind and the body. I pay close attention to how experiences are held not only in thoughts, but also in physical sensations, patterns, and emotions. This integrative approach allows the work to feel practical, attuned, and deeply respectful of each person’s unique process.

I believe therapy is not about becoming someone new, but about reconnecting with who you already are beneath survival strategies, self-criticism, and exhaustion. Together, we move at a pace that feels safe and manageable, with space for curiosity and compassion along the way. My intention is for you to leave sessions feeling less alone, genuinely supported, and more connected to your own capacity for change. Over time, this work can help create a stronger sense of trust in yourself and in your ability to navigate what comes next.

What you can expect from sessions with Rivka Silverman, LCSW

In our sessions, you can expect a grounded, non-judgmental space where you are met with presence, respect, and genuine attunement. We will explore what is happening in your body, your thoughts, and your emotions, drawing from trauma-informed modalities that support awareness and safety. The work moves at a pace that honors your nervous system and keeps your goals at the center, without pressure to push faster than feels right. My priority is creating an environment where you can show up as you are and feel supported in doing so.

Some days our focus may be on practical strategies and skill-building that help you navigate daily life with more steadiness. Other days may be about slowing down, tuning into what feels true, or making sense of experiences that still carry pain. You can also expect a collaborative process, where we identify your goals together, revisit them as things shift, and adjust our approach as needed. Therapy is not a fixed path, but a responsive and evolving process shaped by what you need in each season.

Rivka Silverman, LCSW's experience working with the Jewish community

I have had the privilege of supporting the Jewish community throughout my career. I spent over ten years at Ohel in Brooklyn, working in Health Homes and as part of the Mobile Outreach Team, where I provided crisis intervention services and community-based support. This work allowed me to be present with individuals and families during some of their most vulnerable moments, offering care that was responsive, steady, and grounded in real-life needs. Alongside this, I served as a clinical supervisor at The Jewish Board, where I trained and guided clinicians while continuing to work directly with clients.

As a Jewish therapist, I understand how cultural, historical, and religious context shapes a person’s lived experience and emotional world. In the current political climate and with the rise of antisemitism, many people are carrying an increased sense of fear, grief, and confusion that can feel heavy and isolating. Part of my mission is to support those navigating these realities and to create a space where being Jewish is understood without needing to be explained. I strive to offer care where identity is met with respect, validation, and safety, and where clients can feel held as their full selves.

Rivka Silverman, LCSW's Book Recommendation Zone

• What My Bones Know, Stephanie Foo
  What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo is a compassionate, deeply personal exploration of living with complex PTSD and the long journey of healing. Foo blends memoir with neuroscience and therapy experiences, shedding light on the trauma that lives in the body—not just the mind.
• If You Were My Daughter, Marianne Richmond
  If You Were My Daughter by Marianne Richmond is a reflection on unconditional love, safety, and guidance—offering the words many people needed to hear but never received. The book explores themes of reparenting, worthiness, and being held with compassion.
• The Living Legacy of Trauma flipchart, Janina Fisher
  The Living Legacy of Trauma flipchart by Janina Fisher explains how past traumatic experiences continue to shape present-day thoughts, emotions, and body responses. Using visuals and compassionate language, it helps clients understand that their reactions are adaptive survival responses rather than personal failings, and teaches clients how to respond to and work with their parts.

Approaches

• EMDR
• Inner child work
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Somatic Therapy
• Tapping & Emotional Freedom Technique

Concerns

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Parenting
• Relationships
• Stress management
• Trauma

13 years in practice

Licenses

• LCSW NY 2012-1/31/28. License number 084957
• LCSW PA 6/26/25-2/28/27. License number CW026102
• LCSW VA 1/21/25-6/30/26. License number N0904017892

Degrees

• LMSW 2012

Average costs per session

$175 - $225

Payment Methods

• Insurance
• Free consultation
• Zelle Quick Pay
• PayPal

Insurances

• Aetna
• Anthem
• BlueCross and BlueShield
• Empire BlueCross
• Optum
• Oscar