Sydney Hafer, AMFT

Sydney Hafer is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, trauma, and co-occurring mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, identity exploration, and substance use. Her therapeutic style is relational, collaborative, and deeply compassionate—centered around creating safety and connection so clients can explore what’s underneath their symptoms and begin to build more sustainable ways of coping.

Sydney works with both teens and adults and draws from a range of evidence-based modalities, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), trauma-informed care, and family systems approaches. Her background includes extensive experience in residential treatment centers, where she has supported individuals in the process of healing their relationships with food, their bodies, and themselves. She views symptoms not as pathology, but as adaptations—strategies that once served a purpose and deserve to be met with curiosity and care.

Sydney holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. She is a longtime volunteer with Project HEAL, where she advocates for equitable access to eating disorder treatment and helps individuals connect with recovery resources. Sydney is passionate about fostering inclusive, affirming therapeutic spaces where clients are supported in moving beyond survival—and toward joy, peace, and belonging.