MERAKI PSYCHOLOGY CENTER

Dr. Patel is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in the states of New Jersey and New York. Her interest in understanding human behavior was ignited at a young age with the desire to always help others. This passion grew stronger through the combination of her clinical and research trainings and is now embodied in her efforts to help others ignite their own passions and find their own way.

 

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Dr. Patel received her B.A. from Rutgers University and earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology on the Child and Adolescent track from University of Hartford.  She has over 8 years of experience in the field and has completed clinical trainings at numerous institutions including Bellevue Hospital Center, Manhattan Veterans Hospital Medical Center, Program for Obesity, Weight, and Eating Research at Yale University and The Koch Center where she completed a fellowship focused on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). 

 

Dr. Patel is experienced in working with children, adolescents, and adults in individual, family, and group psychotherapy.  She has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).  She uses these modalities to help implement the change you are looking for and simultaneously teaches you coping skills to better manage your emotions, distress, and relationships.  Both CBT and DBT are evidenced based treatments utilized for a wide range of diagnoses and difficulties.

 

In addition to private practice, Dr. Patel holds a full time position as a Psychologist at The Counseling and Psychological Services at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. She is also part of an intensively trained DBT team at The DBT Skills Group of NJ in which she conducts individual and group DBT treatment.

 

TREATMENT APPROACH

Dr. Patel feels each person is unique and therefore tailors treatment to fit each client’s individualized needs. She believes each individual’s social identities (e.g. ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs) interact to influence who the person is. In her clinical approach, Dr. Patel takes into account each aspect of a person’s identity and explores this in relation to the existing issues.  Therefore, treatments are culturally sensitive and adapted to fit clients’ various identities.

 

Dr. Patel believes we are all on a journey to better understand ourselves, our relationships, and our choices. The journey is full of challenges and hurdles where we gain more insight in to what is and is not effective in our lives. Dr. Patel is here to help guide you through these difficulties and empower you by working collaboratively to help you learn skills, change negative thoughts and behaviors, and work towards the life you want.