Tammy Dorff, Psy.D.
NJ Licensed Psychologist #3950
I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust, respect, honesty and empathy is essential to the success of therapy. I do my best to make each client feel valued, cared about, and understood. I work collaboratively with my clients, creating a safe place to explore thoughts, feelings and beliefs about their experiences.
Theoretically, I am an integrationist. This means that I incorporate psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems approaches into the work, as indicated, in order to tailor the therapy so that it can most fully address each client’s specific needs.
I believe in seeing and treating the whole person, rather than simply viewing clients in terms of their diagnoses. As such, I value learning about each person’s life experiences, hopes and dreams, talents, struggles, disappointments, fears, accomplishments, worries, etc. In addition, I ask about the interactions and connections people have with others in their life (family, friends, job, school, communities within which they live, religious/spiritual life, etc.) and how they feel about those connections or lack of them. I generally look at patterns of behavior across time, too. All of this helps me to better understand both clients’ struggles and their strengths, and lets me pinpoint areas where they can benefit from skill-building. I help people to problem-solve, too, and strongly believe in empowering clients to make decisions that feel right to them. I have specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), which is a type of integrative psychotherapy which is particularly helpful with trauma. I incorporate EMDR into the therapy when appropriate and when clients express an interest in trying it.
Sometimes the therapeutic work occurs entirely in the office. Depending on a client’s specific concerns, I might also recommend strategies or tasks to try between sessions, which can enhance progress. I always enjoy pointing out and celebrating all of the accomplishments that develop as people work toward achieving their goals. Once therapy ends, clients are welcomed to contact me at a later date to request to return to therapy, should they desire to do so.
I have a diverse practice in which I work with adults, adolescents, children, couples and families who are struggling with a variety of issues. These include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship problems, school and behavioral issues, parenting challenges, ADHD, low self-esteem, stress and resilience, trauma, exploring struggles with spirituality, sexual orientation and gender identity concerns, adoption, coping with divorce and its aftermath, dealing with serious medical problems, and facing grief and loss.
I am a licensed psychologist who has worked in the field since the 1990’s in various capacities. I have specialized training and experience in EMDR (Parts I and II), in play therapy and parenting issues, in crisis intervention, in feminist therapy, and in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer issues. I am Jewishly knowledgeable and speak a fair amount of Hebrew and Spanish.
Professional Employment and Supervision Positions
Co-Owner of Strides in Psychotherapy,PC 15 Clyde Road, Suite 102, Somerset, NJ
Visiting Clinical Supervisor Appointment Graduate School of Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Science Research Mentor/SupervisorLivingston, NJ. Mentored/Supervised a Livingston High School student on psychological research he was conducting for his Science Research Program. The experiment looked at the relationship between birth order and self-esteem.
Clinical SupervisorGraduate School of Professional Psychology, Rutgers University
Piscataway, NJ
Part-Time LecturerCo-taught course entitled “Clinical Issues in Working with LGBT Clients” at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Group Supervisor for the LGBT Somerset Project Practicum Placement Highland Park, NJ: Ran a supervision group for graduate students in clinical and school psychology at GSAPP, Rutgers, University, who were therapy with LGBTQ students at Franklin Middle School in Somerset, NJ. Also coordinated this experience with Rutgers and with Franklin Middle School.
Individual Private Practice 15 Clyde Road, Suite 102, Somerset, NJ 08873
Supervising Mental Health Clinician and NJ Certified Screener
Acute Psychiatric Service (APS), University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey—University Behavioral Healthcare 671 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08855
Educational History:
PsyPact Certified to practice remotely in PsyPact states
Licensed as a psychologist in New Jersey
Licensed as a psychologist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology(GSAPP) Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Psy.M. in Clinical Psychology Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
A.P.A. Psychology Intern and Harvard Fellow, The Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA A
B.A. in Psychology, with honors, Columbia College, Columbia University, New York, NY
Academic Honors:
Harvard Fellow, The Cambridge Hospital, 1994-95.(while on internship there)
Letters of Commendation for Academic Progress at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93.
Summa cum Laude, Columbia College, Columbia University in 1989
Junior Phi Beta Kappa, Columbia College, Columbia University in 1988
Dean's List each semester, Columbia College, Columbia University, 1985 – 1989
Leadership Roles and Memberships in Professional Psychological Organizations:
Various positions on the Executive Board of the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA):Affiliate Caucus Representative to NJPA for the Middlesex County Psychological Association (2012-present), Member at Large (2017-18) Personnel Committee (2017), Finance Committee (2017), Social Advocacy Task Force (2017-2018), Strategic Planning Committee (2017), Membership Committee (2018), Nominations and Leadership Development Committee (2018)
President Elect, President and Immediate Past President for the Middlesex County Psychological Association (MCAP)
MCAP Affiliate Co-Representative for New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA) Executive Board Meetings and at NJPA
Affiliate Caucus Meetings
MCAP Board Member and Co-Chair of the Program Committee of the Middlesex County Psychological Association (MCAP)
Board Member and Co-Chairof the Program Committee of the Middlesex County Psychological Association (MCAP)
Board Member and Member-At-Large for the Middlesex County Psychological Association
Middlesex County Psychological Association
Member,Middlesex County Psychological Association
Member,Division 35 of APA (Psychology of Women)
Member,New Jersey Psychological Association
Member,NJPA Committee on Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay Concerns
Member, Student Member, American Psychological Association
Founding Co-Chair of the Student Division of New Jersey Psychological Association's Task force on Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay Concerns Student Member,New Jersey Psychological Association
Student Member,Association for Women in Psychology
Student Member,American Psychological Association
Presentations:
Speaker on the LGBT Interfaith Panel at the 3rd Annual Safe Space Networking Conference, sponsored by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), Department of Children and Families (DCF), New Brunswick, NJ.
Speaker on the panel for “NJPA Presentation: Hot Topics in NJPA” offered by the Middlesex County Psychological Association at the Rutgers Club, New Brunswick, NJ
Speaker on LGBT Faith Panel at a the 2nd Annual Statewide Safe Space Liason & LGBTQI Youth Committee Networking Conference, sponsored by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), Department of Children and Families (DCF), New Brunswick, NJ
Speaker at Rutgers University's annual diversity conference, Piscataway, NJ: Co-presented with Dr. Linda Tamm on a presentation entitled "Lifecycle Milestones in LGBT Lives: Coming Out, Relationship and Family Issues".
Speaker at Rutgers' Annual Diversity Conference. "Contemporary Issues in Working with LGBT Clients: Youth in the Schools and Adults in the Community." Co-Presented with Dr. Linda Tamm.
Guest Lecturer (along with Dr. Linda Tamm and Theresa Lyons, MSW, JD) for Dr. Nancy Boyd-Franklin’s diversity class, GSAPP, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. Presented on clinical issues in working with LGBTQ adult and adolescent clients and their families.
Guest lecturer for Nancy Boyd-Franklin's diversity class, GSAPP, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. Presented on GLBT clinical issues in working with GLBT adult and adolescent clients and their families.
Speaker, "Assessing and Treating Depression in Children and Adolescents", part of a panel presentation on addressing mental health issues in students in grades K-12. Graduate School of Education Lecture Hall, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Speaker, "Managing Crises in a Private Practice Setting", speaker-luncheon offered by the Middlesex County Association of Psychologists at the Rutgers Club, New Brunswick, NJ
Speaker,"Crisis Intervention Issues for College Counseling Centers
Speaker, Including When and How to Make Referrals to the Acute Psychiatric Service of UMDNJ", Douglass College Counseling Center, New Brunswick, NJ.
Co-Presenter on a Panel Presentation entitled "Considering Becoming a Parent", 5th Annual Biennial Family Conference of Lambda Families of New Jersey, Montclair State University Student Center, Montclair, NJ
Specialized Training
Certificate Course Completion in Emotionally Focused Therapy with Sue Johnson: Attachment-Based Interventions for Couples in Crisis—March 2018
EMDR Basic Training, Part 2, Certificate—April 2013
EMDR Basic Training, Part 1, Certificate—April 2012
Certified NJ Mental Health Screener, May 1997-May 2007.
Certified in CPI through screener training (1997) and through updated training (summer of 2005).
Certified in Adult C.P.R., spring 1995.
Human Sexuality Training Week at UMDNJ-CMHC at Piscataway, January 1992.
Certified in Professional Assault Response Training (P.A.R.T.), fall 1989.
Doctoral Dissertation:
"Stressors and Coping Resources of Graduate Students in Clinical Psychology" Dissertation Committee: Cary Cherniss, Ph.D, Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. Defended in June, 1997.