Michelle Ferrer, PhD

If you or a young loved one is feeling stuck, experiencing difficulty enjoying life, or behaving in ways that are not easily understood, then psychodynamic therapy might be a good fit. Using a relational approach rooted in evidence-based attachment and psychodynamic theory, I aim to better understand you and collaboratively explore with you the underlying reasons you and/or your child may be struggling. With newfound awareness, you and/or your child can better manage internal emotions and experiences, in addition to external life's ups and downs. Whether seen individually, as a dyad, or for parent consultations, the same guiding principle remains: Exploring personal feelings and ideas helps adults and children understand and integrate parts of themselves as they grow together in ever-changing inner and outer worlds. I specialize in the mental health treatment and evaluation of individuals/families in the perinatal/postpartum period, adoptions, infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, young adults and parents. I typically start with a 4-week extended intake and then provide clinical observations and recommendations for continued treatment. I am a Bilingual (English/Spanish) psychologist. I obtained my PhD from Yeshiva University-Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and completed clinical child fellowships at University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF) and Hackensack University Medical Center. I also received training at NYU Child Study Center, New York Presbyterian, and Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. I am also a nationally rostered Child-Parent-Psychotherapist (CPP) specializing in working with children 0-5, Diversity Chair for the Florida Psychological Association, and former lecturer at the University of Miami. FAQs 1. Are you in-network with my insurance provider? I am currently in network with Aetna insurance. For other insurances, I am an out-of-network provider which means I will charge you for sessions directly. Please request an initial consultation to learn more about my fees. I can provide you with an invoice at the end of each month which can be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement, in some cases. I encourage you to contact your insurance provider to see whether your plan reimburses for out-of-network services. 2. What is a PhD and how is it different from other mental health providers? A PhD in psychology is one of the highest degrees that can be obtained for psychology. It generally requires an undergraduate degree in psychology, an average of six years in a doctoral program including a masters and doctoral research thesis, one year clinical pre-doctoral fellowship, and one year clinical post-doctoral fellowship. All of my formal clinical training was obtained at American Psychological Association (APA) accredited institutions. 3. How are sessions structured? That depends on a variety of factors, including age and mental health concerns. Some parents, teens, and children, may benefit from individual sessions, while some infants and toddlers may benefit from sessions with the caregiver(s) present. I recommend you request a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your needs in more depth to see what might work best for you and your family. 4. Can you help with common symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, depression, oppositional behavior, and PTSD? Yes. I treat a variety of symptoms and behaviors, however, I consider adults and children as more than diagnoses. I take a very individualized approach to understanding symptoms in the contexts of family, school/work, wellbeing, and past experiences. My goal is not to simply diagnose symptoms but to understand what they are trying to tell us. 5. What is attachment theory? Attachment theory is a highly researched psychological theory that focuses on how your experiences in relation to others shapes who you are and how you see the world. Understanding the quality of attachment in your/your child's relationships buffers against the stress and trauma of life and allows individuals to develop more wholly and freely. 6. Do you also work with adults? I work with all age groups and am considered to be a "generalist" but have additional specialized training in working with young children that is typically not provided in most graduate programs. I also use my varied training in assisting families and parents who may need help in better understanding their children. 6. Ok, I am interested in services, now what? If you want to learn more about my services, please either call 561-453-0609, contact me via the chat box, or request a free 15 minute consultation. We will then chat together to see what might work best for your family.