Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Pappalardo specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including health anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and generalized anxiety), depression, OCD, and trauma-related concerns. She also treats chronic insomnia, grief, trichotillomania, dermatillomania, and substance use difficulties. She has a particular interest in supporting clients through navigating major life transitions, such as career changes or retirement. Dr. Pappalardo employs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), CBT for Pain, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and mindfulness. She tailors these evidence-based treatments to each client’s unique needs through a collaborative approach.
Her style is genuine, warm, and practical. In sessions, Dr. Pappalardo works together with clients to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, build self-compassion, and develop skills for managing distress. She frequently works with individuals who are struggling with low self-esteem, health stress, relationship challenges, or adapting to new circumstances. She encourages her clients to take realistic steps towards carrying out more meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Dr. Pappalardo earned her B.A. in Psychology from New York University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a Health Emphasis from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She has trained in both inpatient and outpatient settings, providing individual and group therapy to adults of all ages. She completed her predoctoral internship at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, where she specialized in CBT and mindfulness-based approaches for individuals coping with anxiety, depression, grief, chronic illness, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She additionally used ACT and DBT to help individuals clarify their values, strengthen relationships, and develop effective communication and coping skills to navigate significant challenges. Dr. Pappalardo has extensive experience in the connection between mental and physical health, employing holistic behavioral interventions to help her clients improve their wellbeing and quality of life in multiple ways. She also received advanced training in treating alcohol and substance use disorders using an integrated, evidence-based approach. She continues to draw on these skills in her current work, helping clients regulate intense emotions, overcome the effects of trauma, and navigate the impact of chronic life stressors.