Karen Wachtel
She/Her/Hers
Psychologist, PhDShe/Her/Hers
Psychologist, PhDDr. Karen Wachtel is a clinical psychologist on Long Island, New York who specializes in anxiety, relationship issues, life transitions, and parenting concerns, including general support for first-time parents.
After receiving her B.A. from Brown University, Dr. Wachtel worked as a counselor at the Manville School, a school affiliated with Harvard Medical School, for children with emotional and/or learning difficulties. She subsequently worked on a research study at Brown University’s Bradley Hospital, where she studied early child development, temperament, and mother-child interactions.
Dr. Wachtel received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Massachusetts. During these years she worked as a therapist at the University's Counseling Center, helping students struggling with mood, anxiety, PTSD, and learning difficulties. She additionally worked with children, adults, and families at a community mental health center. Throughout graduate school, Dr. Wachtel continued to study parent-child interactions and factors that impact children's social-emotional well-being. After obtaining her Ph.D., Dr. Wachtel spent two years as a post-doctoral fellow at the Manhattan Learning Center of the Jewish Board of Family and children's Services (JBFCS). At JBFCS she focused on conducting psychological and neuropsychological evaluations with children, adolescents, and young adults and consulted with parents about how to best help their children.
Dr. Wachtel's continued interest in supporting new and overwhelmed parents led her to seek training in treating anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. She has earned training certificates from Postpartum Support International and the Postpartum Stress Center. Dr. Wachtel is the mother of two children herself, and enjoys working collaboratively with parents in a non-judgmental, supportive manner.
Another of Dr. Wachtel's specialties is working with college students negotiating the transition from home to college and young adults dealing with relationship and career issues.
In addition to her private practice, Dr. Wachtel also regularly consults with school districts and assists in conducting evaluations for them. She continues to attend professional trainings in areas such as postpartum depression, executive functioning disorders, and integrative therapy. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Postpartum Support International, The Women's Mental Health Consortium, and the Nassau County Psychological Association.
Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)
Relationship Issues - Building stronger connections, reducing conflict, strengthening communication, and dealing with breakups
Life transitions - Coping with difficult or impactful life changes such as adjusting to college and the start of adulthood, career changes, and beginning a family; learning self-care to better manage resulting stress
Parenting - Helping parents develop and implement strategies to address challenges that arise throughout childrearing; managing stress and increasing support
Pregnancy & postpartum mental health - Addressing issues specific to women and families during the pregnancy and postpartum period, including postpartum depression and anxiety
Learning disabilities - Developing strategies for successful learning specific to one’s unique strengths and challenges
Karen Wachtel is not in-network with any insurances.
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Private Practice, 2010 - Present
Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services Learning Center, 2008 - 2010
Manhattan VA Medical Center, 2005 - 2006
Brookline Mental Health Center, 2002 - 2003
Bradley Hospital Early Child Clinical Research Center, 1998 - 2000
Judge Baker Children's Center, 1997 - 1998
University of Massachusetts, Boston, PhD, 2006
Brown University, BA, 1996
New York: 018677-1
English