natalie bederman, ph.d
postdoctoral Clinical Psychologist
I went to NYU planning to pursue a pre-veterinarian degree, but reached a turning point when I comforted my childhood dog as he passed peacefully at an old age. In that moment, I realized a deeper drive: the wish to show up with others in meaningful moments, whatever they may hold. This ultimately led me to choose to enroll in the Applied Psychology track instead. Still, a central part of my life remains my passion for animals, whether spending time on farms or fostering kittens. My love for animals and my dedication to being a therapist continue to inform and enrich one another. My work is grounded in patience and meeting others where they are. I use a psychodynamic approach, with a focus on attachment, relationship patterns, and the ways we sometimes feel stuck. I also draw from family systems perspectives, helping people reflect on the dynamics, boundaries, and important relationships in their lives. Inspired by humanistic and person-centered approaches, I believe much of therapy is about softening the distance between who we feel we are and who we want to be. I also find beauty in the idea of “maybe”—that life events don’t need to be categorized as good or bad, but can simply be, fostering a growing comfort with the unknown. We encounter new unknowns at every age, whether that be welcoming a new sibling into the family, leaving home for the first time, becoming a parent, or coping with loss.
Young childhood is an important time for developing self-expression and a playful curiosity. I often incorporate play therapy into my work to help children work through challenges of which they might not yet be consciously aware. With teens, I aim to create a supportive environment where they can explore their independence, values, and goals, while feeling safe to push boundaries and try out new ways of being. I worked as a school therapist at High School of Fashion from 2019 to 2020 and supported the students as they transitioned to remote learning and processed the struggles of Covid-19. I have also incorporated CBT and DBT interventions into my work with teenagers, and I find these approaches to be a valuable piece of therapeutic skill-building. My experience working in a child psychiatric emergency room deepened my ability to respond with calm flexibility in moments of crisis and to prioritize building connections with kids and teens on their terms.
My style with adults is explorative and collaborative. Together, we look at the foundational relationships and experiences that ground our understanding of ourselves, with the goal of examining that understanding in a new way. I continue to be curious about how past experiences perpetually shape the present, notice unhelpful cycles, and create space for change. I have a special focus on helping people navigate anxiety, depression, and life transitions. In my work, I aim to create a steady, approachable space where clients can bring the parts of themselves that feel messy. I may not understand every single experience you bring to our sessions, but I will meet you with understanding and invite trial and error as part of discovering resilience and growth.
I earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University Brooklyn and am thrilled to currently be a post-doctoral fellow here at Heights Psychology Collective. I have previously worked at Jamaica Hospital, where I led inpatient therapy groups and supported a wide range of mental health concerns. I also saw weekly therapy patients across all ages. I have additional training from Mount Sinai Beth Israel and New York Presbyterian Hospital.