Profile of Dr. Lauren Leffell
Dr. Lauren Leffell
Dr. Lauren Leffell received her doctoral degree from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She completed her clinical internship at the Miami VA Medical Center, where she received training working with a diverse adult veteran population and presenting problems. Previously, Dr. Leffell worked with individuals and adults across the lifespan in various settings including Westchester Jewish Community Services, NYU Epilepsy Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and the Parnes Clinic. She is currently completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the Kalsner Psychology Group under the supervision of licensed staff, prior to her licensure.
Dr. Leffell enjoys working collaboratively with children, adults, and couples to reduce distress, improve relationships and lead more satisfying lives. She has a passion for treating emotional difficulties such as anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship concerns, and difficult life transitions.
Starting from a goal-oriented CBT and third-wave perspective using cognitive, behavioral, and acceptance techniques, she incorporates a relational and interpersonal framework to focus on how early experiences inform future interactions and relational patterns repeat to create deeply entrenched schemas. She has found significant change results from challenging negative thoughts and modifying interactions with the world to disconfirm beliefs. Acceptance, tolerance, and mindfulness skills allow for relating differently to emotions when they become distressing or for that which is uncontrollable. There are often several ways to achieve positive outcomes, yet the particular path is client specific. Dr. Leffell values understanding that each individual requires something different; as such, there is worth in assimilating these theories as needed for case conceptualization and interventions.
Dr. Leffell believes that a strong therapeutic alliance based on communication and transparency is vital. As such, she strives to create a collaborative environment wherein she employs empathic, active, and honest approach with clients.
She has experience in providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She is in the process of completing her foundational DBT training through Behavioral Tech. Moreover, she completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and is currently completing the Level 2 Training.
