Andrea DePetris, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Supervising Psychologist
Midtown + Virtual
Life is full of contradictions and complementary qualities. Making sense of the inconsistencies within others, ourselves, and our environments can be both challenging and enlightening.
In my practice I’ve seen that people are motivated to engage in therapy for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to a desire for greater self-understanding, improved relationships, and practical guidance for managing intense feelings and difficult circumstances. Most of us will at some point feel burdened by emotional wounds, conflictual attachments (e.g., to people, overconsumption, ways of thinking and feeling that keep us stuck), disconnection from others and ourselves, and life stressors.
As a psychodynamically-oriented therapist, I am interested in understanding how your formative life experiences have shaped how you see yourself and your experience of relationships. Rather than a path of predetermination, I view your experiences as a source of wisdom and strength. My intention is to help you gain clarity, express yourself with greater authenticity and ease, and act in ways that allow you to claim a fuller experience of life.
As a Black, biracial psychologist, I am especially attuned to the multidimensionality of individuals and their layers of identity — including the identities that are socially-imposed and those that are self-affirmed. I approach therapy from a multicultural lens and enjoy working with individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
I have a deep appreciation for how our mental health is informed by our physical health, our emotions, spiritual needs, and social and environmental contexts. My experiences as a Kripalu Yoga Instructor and a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition inform how I facilitate therapy and tailor wellness coaching; I offer a holistic approach that considers an individual’s unique constitution, bioindividual needs, and socially-embedded experiences.
Training
I earned a doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Connecticut. Throughout my training I received awards to support my research on the topics of mental health stigma, racial discrimination, biracial identity development, social identity, and social inequity. My clinical training includes specializations in traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder, emotionally-focused therapy for couples, and cognitive behavioral therapy for substance abuse, insomnia, chronic pain, and weight loss.
I trained at the Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, the University of Connecticut Psychological Services Clinic, the John Dempsey Hospital Psychiatric Outpatient Services Clinic, the Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, and Columbia University’s Counseling Center. I previously worked as a staff psychologist and the Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Yale Health, Mental Health & Counseling. I continue to hold an academic appointment at the Yale University School of Medicine.