Jennifer McQuaid, PhD
I received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2005. Prior to that, I earned a BA in Art History from Williams College and an MA in Applied Child Development from Tufts University.
I have always pursued two paths—providing individual therapy and developing therapeutic programs—and exploring the ways each informs the other.
I wrote my doctoral dissertation on the role of families in fostering psychological recovery, studying bereaved children and spouses of the September 11th emergency services personnel. In my work, I am constantly thinking about the interplay of risk and resilience in the face of life’s challenges. I continue today to be guided by questions initially generated in my dissertation:
- What are the strengths of the person sitting before me?
- How are my patient’s family and social connections fostering—or hindering—optimal health?
- How can I help my patient feel happier, more capable, and more connected to others?
My clinical training over the years has focused on both evidence-based and psychodynamic models. I completed my internship and post-doctoral fellowship at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Child and Family Institute, in New York. I have studied extensively with the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy, and I have completed a year-long certificate program in Child-Parent Psychotherapy.
In my work over the past two decades, I have focused on bringing therapeutic services to at-risk children, teens, and families. I have worked in the following capacities:
- Expert psychological evaluator for individuals seeking asylum in the United States
- Consulting Clinical Psychologist at Sanctuary for Families, NY State’s largest domestic violence service provider
- Assistant Director of Clinical Externship/Graduate Training at Phipps Community Development Corp, Bronx, NY
- Assistant Research Scientist at the NYU Child Study Center
In addition, I maintain a private practice in Bedford Hills, NY.
