Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Gallagher.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began my career as a social worker in New York City. I earned my Master’s degree from Columbia University and later completed an Advanced Therapy Certificate at NYU, where I began to specialize in trauma-informed relational work within family systems. Early in my career, I noticed that many clients were being treated for symptoms without enough attention to the relational and attachment-based roots underneath them. This was particularly obvious within the NYC family court system and foster care system, in which I worked for many years. I was deeply interested in how early relationships shape adult lives, and especially how unresolved attachment wounds show up in intimacy, self-worth, and the way we cope with stress and trauma as adults. This led me to pursue advanced training in EMDR, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), and Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, to support deeper, more sustainable healing individually and within relationships, as I believe relational trauma is healed the same way it was wounded: through relationships.
I founded my first practice, Love Life Therapy, in NYC to create a space where adults recovering from childhood attachment wounds could do meaningful, integrative work that honored their nervous systems. Over time, the practice grew as more clients sought trauma-informed, affirming care. In 2025, I focused on expanding into a group practice called Relational Realm Therapy. I am proud that we help clients heal, but I am also dedicated to build a practice model that prioritizes ethical care, clinician sustainability, and truly affirming mental health support for diverse identities and relationships.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most meaningful work, the road has been uneven and at times uncomfortable. Building a trauma-informed practice meant learning through trial and error, clinically, ethically, and as a business owner. Like so many of us, I wasn’t taught how to run a successful business in grad school for social work, and so I’ve navigated periods of self-doubt, financial uncertainty, burnout, and the heavy lift of running a practice while still showing up fully for clients and as a mom of two.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Relational Realm Therapy is a trauma-informed therapy practice rooted in the belief that healing happens in relationship (with ourselves, with others, and within our nervous systems). We provide individual therapy, couples therapy, and group offerings for adults and teens navigating the impact of attachment wounds, relational trauma, sexual assault, and chronic emotional stress. Our work supports people who struggle internally with patterns like anxious attachment, emotional disconnection, hyper-independence, shame, people-pleasing, or difficulty feeling safe in closeness. Relational Realm Therapy is known for its deep, integrative approach to attachment and trauma recovery. Our clinicians are trained in evidence-based, experiential modalities including EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic-based interventions. We’re most proud of building a brand that feels grounded, honest, and human. Relational Realm Therapy is known for language that is emotionally precise without being clinical or condescending, and for naming hard truths about relationships without blaming or oversimplifying them. But I’m most proud of building a brand that feels grounded, honest, and human. Relational Realm Therapy uses language that is emotionally precise without being clinical or condescending, and for naming hard truths about relationships without blaming or oversimplifying them. Our brand resonates with people who are tired of quick fixes, pop-psychology advice, or being told to “just communicate better.” We do real trauma healing work.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Anything by Janina Fisher, Bell Hooks, Stan Tatkin, Dr. Sue Johnson, and Esther Perel.
I love novels as well. They keep me entertained when I want to get out of my own head!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.relationalrealm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/love_life_therapist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelationalRealm/
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/relational-realm/
