Suzanne M. Allen, Psy.D. is the Co-Director of CBT Westport and a licensed clinical psychologist working with children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Allen received her B.A. from Loyola University New Orleans and her masters and doctorate in psychology from St. John’s University. She completed her doctoral internship at The School at Columbia University and additional pre-doctoral training at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. Dr. Allen specializes in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, depression, behavior disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, difficulties in emotion regulation, relationship problems, and difficulties related to life transitions or medical concerns. She also has expertise working with parents of children with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
In addition to extensive training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dr. Allen has been intensively trained in a variety of other evidenced based treatments such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Dr. Allen has provided DBT supervision and consultation to other mental health professionals and was instrumental in establishing DBT programs within several schools in the New York area. Dr. Allen has received intensive training from the International OCD Foundation in the most up-to date treatment of OCD and related disorders (Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Trichotillomania) for both adults and children. In addition, Dr. Allen has completed intensive training courses in treating ADHD across the life span.
Previously, Dr. Allen was the school psychologist at Waterside School in Stamford, CT where she provided therapeutic services to children and families, consulted to teachers and staff, and implemented the Yale RULER program, a social-emotional learning curriculum. For six years prior to joining CBT Westport, Dr. Allen worked at Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants of Westchester, practicing both CBT and DBT with individuals and groups.
Dr. Allen was formerly the Acting Coordinator of Mental Health Services at the Butler Child Advocacy Center at Montefiore Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has consulted to a variety of agencies including the Administration for Children’s Services in NYC regarding the treatment of youth experiencing trauma.
Dr. Allen is an active member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), the American Psychological Association (APA) and the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).