About Abby Behar
Return to yourself with compassionate, trauma-informed therapy
Hi, I’m Abby Behar, LICSW, RN. I’m a licensed therapist and registered nurse offering therapy for teens and adults navigating eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, and body image concerns.
I provide in-person therapy in Needham, Massachusetts and online therapy for clients located in Massachusetts, Washington, and Vermont.
If you dream of feeling more freedom around food, your body, trauma, anxiety, or old patterns that keep pulling you away from yourself,
you’re in the right place.
You Are Not Broken
I believe healing happens in the context of a steady, supportive relationship.
In our work together, I bring a calm, compassionate presence and collaborate with you to explore your relationship with your body, your emotions, and the parts of you that have learned to cope in difficult ways.
You are not broken, and you are more than the behaviors or patterns you’re struggling with. The ways you have learned to survive make sense in context. In therapy, we approach those patterns with curiosity and care, rather than shame or judgment.
My hope is that therapy becomes a place where you can feel supported, understood, and gently challenged as you reconnect with yourself.
A Weight-Inclusive, Anti-Diet Approach
My practice is rooted in Health at Every Size principles and a weight-inclusive, anti-diet approach.
I believe all bodies are worthy of care, respect, and dignity. Your body is not a problem to solve, and healing does not require shame, control, or shrinking yourself.
I warmly welcome clients of all sexual orientations, genders, races, countries of origin, ethnicities, abilities, ages, and body sizes. My goal is to create a space where you can show up as your full self and be met with compassion.
specializing in:
Eating disorders
Trauma recovery
Anxiety and Perfectionism
EMDR therapy
Our work may include practicing new ways of relating to yourself right in the therapy room. We may slow down, notice what is happening in the present moment, explore different parts of you, connect with emotions, or use EMDR to support trauma processing.
I work with adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. I believe the relationship between therapist and client is one of the most powerful tools in therapy. We will move at your pace, with your consent, your goals, and your sense of safety at the center.
I use curiosity, empathy, and humor to build a therapeutic relationship where change can feel possible.
How I work
Therapy with me isn’t all sitting & talking.
What You Can Expect in Session
Emotion-Focused Therapy
Emotions carry important information. Rather than trying to control or push away what you feel, we will work on noticing, understanding, and connecting with your emotions in a way that feels more tolerable and supportive.
Trauma-Focused Therapy
Using EMDR and ego state-informed work, we can explore how past experiences, relational wounds, and trauma may still be impacting your life now. The goal is not to force you to relive painful experiences, but to help your system process what has felt stuck.
Experiential Therapy
Therapy can be more than talking about what you might try later. Experiential work allows us to practice new ways of responding in real time, while paying attention to what is happening in your body, emotions, and nervous system during session.
Parts-Informed Work
Sometimes different parts of you may want different things. One part may want recovery, while another part feels afraid to let go of familiar coping strategies. Together, we can get curious about these parts and understand what they are trying to protect.
I often work with people who are…
Struggling with eating disorders, disordered eating, or body image distress
Feeling stuck in anxiety, perfectionism, or self-criticism
Carrying trauma, relational wounds, or painful memories
Feeling disconnected from their body, emotions, or sense of self
Wanting to understand their coping patterns with more compassion
Looking for EMDR therapy or EMDR intensives
Seeking a therapist who is trauma-informed, weight-inclusive, and collaborative
My Background & Training
Before becoming a therapist, I trained and worked as a registered nurse. My nursing background continues to shape the way I understand the connection between the body, nervous system, trauma, and emotional wellbeing.
As both a registered nurse and licensed therapist, I bring a whole-person perspective to my work with clients navigating eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and body-based distress.
Education & Licensure
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Simmons University
Master of Social Work
Fordham University
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Washington, #LW61656068
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Massachusetts, #LICSW1142364
Telehealth Provider
Vermont, #089.0136890TELE
Registered Nurse
Massachusetts
Trainings & Certifications
EMDR Certified Therapist
Certificate in Embodiment and Regulation Strategies
I-CBT for OCD Basic Training
The Integrated IFS and EMDR Model, Level 1
Ready to begin?
Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, but you do not have to figure it out alone. I offer a free consultation so we can talk briefly about what brings you here, what kind of support you’re looking for, and whether working together feels like the right fit.