In Conversation Series: Meet Sydney Sturner
From Production Sets to the Therapy Room — What Drew Me to This Work
About Sydney
Sydney, LMSW is a licensed master social worker and therapist at MLP Therapy Group in Brooklyn, NY. She holds her MSW from New York University and built her clinical foundation working in community mental health before joining the practice — experience that gave her a deep understanding of the barriers people face when it comes to getting support, and what it actually takes to meet someone where they are.
Sydney specializes in relationships and individual therapy, and is known for a style that is warm and honest in equal measure. She creates space for the full range of what clients bring in — the hard stuff and the good stuff — and isn't afraid to gently challenge the people she works with when that's what the work calls for.
If you've been curious about what it would be like to work with Sydney, here's your chance to get a feel for her before you ever set foot in the room. These are her words.
What drew you to this specific area of work?
I've always loved to listen to people's stories. Before becoming a therapist, I was a talent coordinator at a production company. But instead of working with hot-shot celebrities, I mostly worked with non-actor talent — real people. My favorite part of that job was getting to interview potential subjects for the projects we were making, getting to hear about their lives, the obstacles they'd faced, the things that give them purpose. Ultimately, working in the entertainment industry wasn't for me, but it did help point me in the direction of what I did want to do.
How would you describe your therapeutic style to someone who has never been to therapy before?
Warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental. There is always room in our space for humor, levity, and to celebrate the good stuff. That being said, I also think it's important to challenge my clients — to dig a little deeper, to look at things from new perspectives. Our space should always feel safe, but it might not always feel comfortable. Change typically happens when we feel uncomfortable.
What does progress look like in your work? How do you and a client know things are shifting?
Progress doesn't usually look like big a-ha moments, although I know how exciting and satisfying those moments can feel. Progress is the small changes. It's trying something new even though it feels scary. It's being more vulnerable and letting others in. It's being aware of your inner voice and showing yourself more compassion.
What's something about you outside of the therapy room that makes you a better therapist?
I love to read. I read loads of fiction and the occasional memoir. Reading lets me walk around in other people's shoes. It broadens my perspective and sheds light on the complexities of life and being a person. I think reading makes me not only a better therapist but a better, more empathetic human.
What would you want someone on the fence about booking to know?
Getting started is often the hardest part. There are lots of unknowns, and our brains love to fill in those unknowns with worst-case scenarios. But things are often not as scary as we make them out to be in our heads. And by taking this step, you are showing yourself that you can do scary things — that you are brave and you are capable.
Sydney, LMSW is a therapist at MLP Therapy Group in Brooklyn, NY. She works with individuals and couples navigating relationships, identity, and personal growth. To learn more or book a consultation, visit mlptherapygroup.com.