Dr. Jennifer Cruz is a clinical psychologist who has been helping children, adults, and families thrive for over fifteen years. She focuses on helping people at all stages of their lives by blending evidence-based interventions and compassion to empower her clients to successfully navigate life’s challenges and live happier, more fulfilling lives. Dr. Cruz accepts referrals for individuals of all ages with depression, anxiety, attention and behavior disorders, trauma, mood dysregulation, sleep disorders, and a variety of other mental health concerns. Dr. Cruz is also an expert in working with parents to navigate and enhance interactions with their children using Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (“PCIT”). Additionally, she specializes in helping people with medical concerns cope with the emotional aspects of chronic illness and achieve health-related goals.

Until recently, Dr. Cruz was an Associate Professor of Medical Psychology in Psychiatry and the Program Clinical Director of Pediatric Psychiatry-Integrated Services at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center where she supervised and led clinical teams providing treatment and preventative services for thousands of children throughout New York City and the surrounding regions. Dr. Cruz trained at NYU Child Study Center, Bellevue Hospital, the University of Virginia, and Dartmouth College before her tenure at NYP/Columbia. Throughout her career, Dr. Cruz has presented research and public health initiatives to improve well-being and access to mental health care in the U.S. and in developing countries. She has published research in peer-reviewed publications and has contributed to podcasts and local and national news sources providing insights into mental health.