Josie Peltz, AMFT
Supervised by Trevor M. Ahrendt, PsyD #26754
My connection to therapy has deep roots. As the child of a psychoanalyst, I grew up in a household where thoughts, feelings, and their underlying motivations were in the air from the very beginning. Despite this, my family was human and we had our challenges, and I battled a savage inner critic of my own for many years.
When I found a therapist with whom I felt genuinely connected and cared for, things began to shift. For the first time, I experienced real self-compassion and was able to work past some long-entrenched patterns and become a more active, engaged participant in my own life.
I work with adolescents and adults navigating depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem-struggles, especially those that trace back to that same harsh inner critic. I specialize in helping people with strained family relationships, including sibling estrangement and the stress of parenting kids who are struggling emotionally, academically, or behaviorally.
In the pursuit of perfection, we can lose our way, becoming disheartened by anything that falls short of unrealistic standards. This pressure to do everything “right” is perhaps felt most keenly by parents today. In my work with adolescents facing depression, anxiety, substance use, learning differences, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder, it was often the parents themselves who were most in need of support; depleted by the effort of doing everything they could, yet still struggling, and left wondering what they could have done differently.
I’ve found that real relief can come from making peace with being a “good enough parent,” a concept that values authentic, attentive parenting without the burden of perfection.
Though I majored in psychology in college, I initially set aside the family business to pursue a career in media, spending two decades as a producer, director, and writer for television news and documentaries in New York City, responding to breaking news and turning out stories under seemingly impossible deadlines.
That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of high-stress, demanding careers, and it’s a connection I still draw on with clients navigating similar pressures. My favorite part of the job was following the story itself. At its core, that work was about listening closely, building trust quickly, and helping people find the words for their inner experience-skills I now bring directly into the therapy room.
I’ve always been intrigued by the inner lives of others and driven to understand what makes people tick, so the shift into this profession felt less like a radical career change and more like a homecoming.
Almost all therapists say they’re curious, but I’m especially fascinated by the stories we tell about our lives (maybe a holdover from my time working as a journalist). I strive to create a warm, supportive space where we can examine the narratives you’ve inherited and begin reshaping the ones that no longer serve you.
I’m direct and warm, and I use humor early and often. I tend to listen first and speak second, staying attuned to your needs and adjusting course as we go-I want our work together to feel like a genuine partnership.
Above all, I hope to help you better understand yourself, deepen your capacity for self-acceptance, and move past what’s been holding you back from fulfilling your true potential.
Books
Movies
Podcasts/Websites
Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people... and it is the main obstacle between you and a s**tty first draft.
Shame is the lie someone told you about yourself.
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