About Soho Cognitive

• Deborah Melamed, Ph.D.

  I am a clinical psychologist and a Fellow in the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, an experienced therapist with twenty years in the field, and I specialize in treating anxiety problems at SohoCognitive, my downtown NYC psychotherapy practice.

  Sophisticated CBT is my experienced, practical approach to doing therapy, and it’s an outgrowth of my unique background in the field. Originally trained and working as a psychodynamic talk therapist, I later completely re-oriented my practice when I fell in love with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and all it could do. Over time I came to see that I was practicing CBT in a new way, with more depth and individual tailoring, and the result is what I came to call “Sophisticated CBT.”

  With Sophisticated CBT my aim is for my clients to leave my office with a fresh perspective, feeling more in control, and with the tools and support they need to make lasting changes in their lives.

  I focus my practice in three areas; treatment for specific anxiety problems; regular “talk therapy” issues like relationship troubles, work stress, and career goals; and my other passion, training and supervising experienced talk therapists who are unfamiliar with (or even skeptical about!) the benefits of CBT.  By spreading the word to these therapists, I hope to open an important dialog and have a positive impact on their clinical work, and ultimately on the patients that they see.

• Supervision & Teaching

  A substantial part of my practice is devoted to training and supervising other therapists in CBT, from psychology grad students to clinical social workers and psychiatrists.

  Regardless of their discipline, I especially enjoy running workshops for psychodynamically-oriented therapists who are curious about cognitive therapy.  I understand the dilemma for those who want to learn effective tools, but also want to work with patients in a deep and meaningful way.  Because of my background and respect for those concerns, I’ve been able to reach some otherwise skeptical folks, and it’s great to see them get excited about cognitive therapy.

  Another treat in my teaching calendar happens every year when I kick off the Postgraduate Certificate Program at Adelphi University’s Summer Institute with a day-long introduction to CBT.  I’ve been lucky to meet some wonderful people at those trainings, and to work with them later as they pursue certification.

  As of January 2016, I am pleased to be recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0196.

• Credentials & Affiliations

  I completed my advanced training in CBT at the foremost Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia, in a comprehensive post-doctoral program that is unfortunately no longer offered.  I am a Fellow and a Certified Trainer/Consultant in the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.  These credentials are awarded to professionals who are skilled CBT clinicians and also serve as supervisors and trainers for other developing cognitive behavioral therapists.  In addition, I serve on the Credentialing Committee for the Academy, evaluating candidates for Academy membership.

  My early professional training includes a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the City University of New York. I interned at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital, and  early in my career worked in inpatient psychiatry at Metropolitan Hospital in NYC. Prior to expanding my private practice to full-time, I was a Supervising Psychologist and the Coordinator of Group Psychotherapy services in the Outpatient Psychiatry Department at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York.

  In addition, for eight years I was on faculty at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University, helping to shape the next generation of cognitive therapists.  At Ferkauf, I taught the CBT supervision seminars to doctoral students, and I also served as the Assistant Director of the CBT Clinic for Anxiety and Depression.

  I am licensed in New York State, and am an active member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, as well as a Founding Member of NYC-CBT, the local professional network.  I’m also a member of the Downtown Clinicians Collective and the American Psychological Association.