Shani Hochstadter, LPC

A feeling heart Therapy

Shani Hochstadter, LPC's style

Why Shani Hochstadter, LPC chose to be in the helping profession

I’m interested in people and their stories, and in what shapes their experiences, especially when it comes to relationships and the ways we connect with the people around us. I appreciate helping people feel seen, heard, understood, and accepted, and helping them feel less alone in what they are going through. I help people gain insight into themselves, recognize patterns, and better understand how their experiences and relationships may be affecting their lives. I’m inspired by watching people have the courage to look inward, to explore their experiences with honesty and curiosity, and to make meaningful changes.

I really enjoy witnessing people’s growth and being part of their journey. Sometimes, simply having a space where you can talk openly and feel truly understood can begin to make things feel different. I believe there is a lot of value in taking the time to understand not only what is happening, but also why certain patterns may continue to show up. It is meaningful to me to see people develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationships, and what they want for their lives, and then have the courage to move forward in a different way.

Shani Hochstadter, LPC's approach

I use a warm, collaborative approach, rooted in the belief that people’s experiences and stories deserve to be understood within the context of their lives and relationships. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where people feel comfortable being honest, exploring difficult emotions, and gaining a deeper understanding of themselves. I believe that each person brings their own story, personality, relationships, and experiences into therapy, and that understanding those pieces is an important part of the work. My goal is to work together to understand what is happening beneath the surface and to create a space where meaningful exploration can take place.

I work to help my clients identify patterns and understand the ways their relationships and inner workings affect their lives. Together, we can explore what may be contributing to what feels difficult and work toward developing a healthier and more fulfilling way of navigating life. My approach is psychodynamic, attachment-based, and eclectic, depending on the person I’m working with. I consider each person’s relational approach, individual needs, personality, and goals, and I tailor the work accordingly. I don’t believe that one approach works for everyone, and I value figuring out together what will be most helpful for each individual.

What you can expect from sessions with Shani Hochstadter, LPC

I want therapy to feel like a warm, supportive, collaborative, judgment-free space where you can be comfortable being yourself and open about what’s going on in your life. We work together to understand what you’re experiencing, including your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and patterns, as well as what might be contributing to what feels difficult for you. You don’t have to have everything figured out before coming into therapy. We can take the time to understand what is happening and make sense of it together, at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

I listen with curiosity and compassion, and I help you gain insight into yourself and the patterns that may be affecting your life and relationships. Sometimes, understanding where something comes from can help create new possibilities for how you respond to it. My role is not to judge or tell you what you should do, but to work alongside you as you explore what is going on and what you want to be different. Together, we can identify ways of moving forward that feel healthier, more fulfilling, and more true to who you are.

Shani Hochstadter, LPC's experience working with the Jewish community

I was raised in the Orthodox Jewish community, and I raised my children in the community as well. I also worked at JFS for six years and have worked in this field within the community for many years. Most of the clients I’ve had over the years have been part of the Jewish community, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with people across a wide range of Jewish backgrounds and experiences.

My experience has ranged from working with people who are non-religious to people from very insular Jewish communities with very little access to the outside world. I understand that every community has its own culture, expectations, language, and experiences, and I don’t assume that someone else’s community will be the same as mine. I use a culturally sensitive approach and take the time to understand the specific community and context that each person comes from, particularly when it differs from my own. My goal is to understand the person in front of me and the world they live in, so that the work can feel relevant, respectful, and meaningful to them.

Shani Hochstadter, LPC's Book Recommendation Zone

• The body keeps the score
  Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.
• Healing the shame that binds you, brad shaw
  This book has helped millions identify their personal shame, understand the underlying reasons for it, address these root causes and release themselves from the shame that binds them to their past failures
• Hold me tight sue johnson
  The message of Hold Me Tight is simple: Forget about learning how to argue better, analyzing your early childhood, making grand romantic gestures, or experimenting with new sexual positions. Instead, get to the emotional underpinnings of your relationship by recognizing that you are emotionally attached to and dependent on your partner in much the same way that a child is on a parent for nurturing, soothing, and protection.

Approaches

• Attachment-based
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Mindfulness and Meditation
• Person-Centered Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Trauma Focused Therapy

Concerns

• Anxiety
• Bereavement & Grief
• Codependency
• Depression
• Emotion regulation
• Infertility
• Parenting
• Prenatal, perinatal, & postpartum mental health
• Relationships
• Stress management
• Transitions & Change
• Trauma

16 years in practice

Licenses

• LPC by State of NJ 2018. License number 37PC00641600

Degrees

• Mental Health Counseling by Touro Graduate School 2010

Affiliations

• Nefesh Internatinal 2026

Average costs per session

$200

Payment Methods

• Sliding Scale

Insurances

• Aetna
• Anthem
• BlueCross and BlueShield
• Carelon
• Oscar
• United Healthcare