Meet Dr. Sullivan
My Education & Clinical Training
I earned my BA in Neuroscience and Dance from Middlebury College in 2004. I then worked as a research assistant at the Seaver Autism Center for Research & Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
I moved to Seattle in 2007 to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Washington under the mentorship of Geraldine Dawson, PhD and Wendy Stone, PhD. During graduate school I completed training externships at Seattle Children’s Hospital and New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Medical Center.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2012 to complete a year-long clinical psychology internship at UCLA, where I continued to specialize in autism as well as broadened my training across in-patient and outpatient settings in the following areas: anxiety, OCD, tics, depression, suicidality, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and psychosis.
I completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship from 2013 to 2014 at New York Presbyterian Hospital's Westchester Division/Weill Cornell Medical College. My fellowship included evidence-based treatment, neuropsychological evaluations, and diagnostic evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults in both their the outpatient clinic and the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain (CADB), under the mentorship of Catherine Lord, PhD. In 2014 I became licensed as a clinical psychologist in the state of New York.
My Faculty Career
Upon completing my fellowship in 2014, I joined the NYU Langone faculty as an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. I became the Director of the PEERS® Program in 2015. During my 6 years as a faculty member at the Child Study Center NYU Langone Health (NYULH), I divided my time among clinical work, administrative work for the PEERS® Social Skills Program for teens and young adults, community presentations and trainings, and supervision for professionals in training. I also built a professional relationship with a local community agency to establish a referral flow for adult women who were in search of a first-time diagnosis of autism. In 2021, I transitioned from NYU’s full-time faculty to its voluntary faculty, where I continue to be actively involved in training psychologists.
In addition to clinical work, I have been involved in research and teaching focusing on the development, dissemination, and implementation of innovative, evidence-based treatments for individuals with autism. I provide frequent talks and workshops to a range professional as well as family/caregiver audiences within the New York Community including the New York City Department of Education, specialized schools, ADAPT Community Network, and QSAC. I have published in several peer-reviewed journals on topics of early intervention in autism, reliability of outcome measures for core areas of autism, executive function and its relation to play skills, and parent stress. I have also co-authored a chapter in the Textbook of Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2nd Edition entitled Gender Dysphoria, Gender Incongruence and Sexual Identity. I am a member of the International Society of Autism Research (INSAR), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).
Private Practice
In 2021, I opened a specialty private practice in midtown Manhattan and Westchester, NY, providing mental health care to clients of all ages. I have expertise in autism spectrum disorder as well as the assessment and treatment of anxiety, depression, and interpersonal challenges. A large part of my practice involves a commitment to the specific needs of autistic women, providing diagnosis and treatment for individuals as well as the consultation and education to the community and other professionals. Many of my clients also are also experiencing pervasive demand avoidance (PDA), life transitions, gender dysphoria, and searching for clarity amongst a history of complex symptoms and diagnoses. I am licensed in New York (020998) and New Jersey (XXXX) and provide teletherapy to state residents.
Education
B.A. in Neuroscience and Dance, Middlebury College
Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology, University of Washington
Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Internship, UCLA Medical Center
Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Outpatient Clinic and the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain (CADB)
Professional Accreditations
Certified Provider, PEERS® Social Skills Program
Research Reliability, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2)
Research Reliability, Autism Diagnostic Interview- Revised (ADI-R)
Approach to Treatment
My top priority when beginning with to work with clients and families is establishing a safe, supportive, and collaborative relationship. I listen and learn before beginning any directed treatment.
My approach is warm, curious, non-judgmental, and flexible. Individualization is at the heart of personalized care and change. So, while I’m primarily a cognitive behavioral therapist with extensive training in many diverse treatment approaches and modalities, we first work together to establish a road map for treatment based on individual priorities and readiness. My practice is dedicated to empowering individuals and their families by building self-awareness and changing cognitive and behavioral patterns using practical, evidence-based approaches. With a developmental perspective, I incorporate influences and experiences across the lifespan to help inform the foundations of challenges, habits, and behavior patterns. I work hard to teach clients independence in their own problem-solving and skill building while ensuring they feel heard and understood. Through this process, my hope is to help you develop the tools to confront and overcome your anxiety, fears, and other challenges so that your daily experience can be more aligned with the activities and relationships you value.