My Background

About Dr. Ellen I. Carni, Licensed Psychologist

It was love at first sight between psychology and me. I was pursuing a fine arts degree when I took my first course in psychology. Reading everything I could get my hands on, I was smitten. Fast forward to the first week in my graduate program in clinical psychology; I knew I was “home.”

When I went into psychotherapy as part of my training for the program, it became a full-blown love affair: I was transformed. I came out with a new perspective on myself, others, and the world, as well as the tools to become my own therapist. I had a natural talent for the practice of psychotherapy and I loved the process. Over the years, I have become a confident, licensed psychologist.

My Strengths As A Therapist

My personal and professional experiences have shaped me into a therapist with empathy and compassion. Many clients come to me with the need to simply be heard and understood. They say I am a good listener and easy to talk to about difficult concerns. I am also appreciated for my intuition and emotional intelligence.

More than 25 years of experience as a licensed psychologist have taught me to easily identify client behaviors that aren’t serving them and to empower clients with the confidence and tools to choose a healthier path. I am highly skilled at getting to the root of my clients’ problems, keeping clients safe while helping them work through their defenses and bringing them to a place where deep, lasting change can occur.

I strive to dignify the story of every client I see while helping them find the healing, connection, and balance they seek. I’m passionate about my work and consider it an honor and a privilege to guide people along their journeys.

My Other Professional Activities

As a licensed psychologist, I have written articles, manuals, and other publications on topics such as stress management, interpersonal communications, and body image for numerous organizations, including the New York State Bar Association, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Law Journal, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, and the Journal of Religion and Health.

In addition, I have designed and conducted workshops and spoken for legal organizations, women’s groups, and other professional associations in New York, New Jersey, and other states around the country.

To help the next generation of psychologists, I supervise graduate students in clinical psychology. Currently, I serve as Adjunct Clinical Supervisor at Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. I have also served as Adjunct Clinical Supervisor at the City University of New York and at Pace University.

I stay up-to-date in the therapy field and continue my professional growth. I also collaborate with other therapists in Manhattan. Most recently, I am learning about the use of mindfulness and mindful meditation in psychotherapy.

My Education

I completed my BA at Barnard College and my MA at Teachers College, both of Columbia University. I received my PhD at the City University of New York and earned a Certificate of Completion from the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. A believer in the brain’s remarkable power for self-healing, I am also certified in EMDR with the EMDR Institute.

If you feel my approach would be a good fit for you, please call 646-620-9940 to schedule an appointment. You can also contact me  for a free, 15-minute phone consultation to learn more about my approach.