Meet dr. rachel paster, Psy.d.,

Individual and couples therapist

A place to find your footing again.

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A woman with long curly dark hair and light skin sitting on a white chair in front of a plain off-white wall, smiling at the camera, wearing an olive green blouse and black pants.

If you’re here, you may be living with a constant undercurrent of self-doubt, guilt, or overwhelm. Carrying that day after day can be exhausting and leave you wondering whether things can truly improve.

You’ve come to the right place.

I’m Rachel, and I work with thoughtful, professional individuals and couples who already have the capacity to feel steady, secure, and effective—but may need support getting there. I work with people across identities and relationship structures, and I am committed to providing LGBTQ+ affirming care.

I help clients create greater meaning, connection, and balance by equipping them with practical tools to understand their needs, communicate more clearly, and live in alignment with their values.

I know how isolating it can feel to struggle internally while still showing up as capable and responsible in your life, to have been working so hard to “hold it all together.”

I help people who feel stuck in patterns like constant worry, emotional numbness, or repeating the same conflicts in their relationships, even when they’re trying hard to do things differently..

But at the end of the day, you want to know you’re working with someone who truly “gets” what it means to be a thoughtful, high-functioning adult struggling with anxiety, trauma, or relationship challenges—right?



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I get it because I’ve devoted my career to working closely with individuals and couples facing these exact struggles.

I know that even when life looks good on the outside, it can feel exhausting and confusing on the inside—and that sometimes you wonder why things feel harder than they should.

Many people I work with have learned to shut down, intellectualize, or hide their emotions in order to get by. So yes, I will ask how you feel—but we won’t stop there. Together, we’ll work on gradually expanding your capacity to notice and tolerate emotions, and on using what you feel as information to guide choices that are more aligned with your values and the life you want to live.


A green armchair with gold metal arms and legs, placed on a wooden parquet floor. There are several books or magazines on its seat. A sheer curtain and a glass door or window are behind the chair, with some outdoor space visible.

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If you’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t feel helpful, you’re not alone. Therapy can look and feel very different depending on the approach, the timing, and the fit. If you’re open to it, working together may offer a different experience—one that’s paced, collaborative, and shaped around what actually feels useful to you.

First we take time to understand what you’ve been carrying, how you learned to cope, and why certain situations or relationships feel especially hard right now. Together, we focus on finding tools and approaches that help you feel more at ease and more connected in your everyday life.

Through our work together, you may find yourself feeling steadier in your body, less reactive in stressful moments, and more able to understand what you’re feeling and what you need. Over time, this can show up as fewer emotional spirals, clearer boundaries, and relationships that feel more supportive and connected.


My Specialties

Trauma

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Couples

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Anxiety and Depression

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HEre’s what I believe about therapy:

The therapeutic relationship is the foundation for change:

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens in relationship. A strong therapeutic relationship creates the safety, trust, and collaboration needed for meaningful change. When you feel understood and respected, deeper work becomes possible.

Therapy should feel safe, but not necessarily easy

Therapy is meant to be a supportive space, but growth often involves discomfort, uncertainty, or strong emotion. The goal isn’t to avoid difficulty, but to face it with care, pacing, and support. Safety allows hard things to be explored without becoming overwhelming. This doesn’t mean being serious all the time- humor and play belong in this process!

There is no “wrong way” to do therapy

There’s no single way you’re supposed to show up in therapy—talkative, quiet, unsure, or angry are all welcome. Therapy adapts to you, not the other way around. Together, we work with what’s present rather than forcing a particular process or outcome.

Who I work with:

LGBTQ+ affirming care

I have experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples across a range of identities and relationship structures. My approach is affirming and attentive to the ways identity, minority stress, and relational dynamics can shape emotional wellbeing. Many clients come to therapy wanting a space where they don’t have to explain or defend who they are, and where their experiences are understood in context.

Working with BIPOC Clients

I have experience working with BIPOC clients and take seriously the ways race, culture, and lived experience shape emotional wellbeing. My approach is attentive to the impact of systemic stress, intergenerational experiences, and everyday microaggressions, while also honoring individual identity and resilience. As a white woman, I approach this work with humility and an ongoing commitment to learning, reflection, and growth. Therapy is a space where your experiences are understood in context, not minimized or explained away.

Neurodiversity-informed care (ADHD / Autism)

I also have experience working with autistic and ADHD clients, including those who were diagnosed later in life or who have spent years masking to get by. I take a neurodiversity-informed approach that recognizes differences in communication, sensory experience, emotional regulation, and burnout. Therapy is adapted to fit how your mind works, rather than expecting you to fit a particular model.

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My Background

    • Certificate in Latino Mental Health- William James College

    • EMDR Trained

    • ACT for Trauma

    • DBT Comprehensive

  • EDUCATION

    • Post-doctoral fellowship in school-based therapy and neuropsychological assessment at Wediko Children’s Services, Boston, MA

    • APA accredited internship at Wediko Children’s Services, Boston, MA

    • Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)- William James College (formerly Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

    • Masters of Education (Ed.M. and Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) - Harvard Graduate School of Education

    • Bachelor of Arts (A.B.)- Brown University

    LICENSURE

    • Massachusetts PSY10045

    • New Jersey 35SI00680000

    • New York 026941

    • PSYPACT APIT Mobility Number 17246 

  • New Jersey Psychological Association

Ready to get started?

Life can be different.

Schedule a Consultation