Working with Dr. Cedar, patients should expect an active and individualized approach to therapy. Dr. Cedar is committed to creating a therapeutic space where clients feel heard, respected, and valued, emphasizing that each person’s voice and experiences matter. She strives to foster an inclusive, accessible, and supportive environment where clients can feel safe bringing their full selves into therapy, better understand their experiences, develop effective coping strategies, and work toward meaningful personal goals. Dr. Cedar recognizes the important role that identity, culture, family, community, relationships, and lived experiences play in shaping an individual’s understanding of themselves and the world, and approaches each client with curiosity, respect, and an appreciation for their unique background, values, and perspective.
Dr. Cedar’s therapeutic approach can be best described as collaborative, practical, and evidence-based. She has training and experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Psychodynamic Theory while selecting interventions based on the individual client and their treatment goals.
She is particularly interested in helping clients better understand the relationship between their experiences, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors while developing concrete ways to cope more effectively. Her background in psychological assessment also gives her a strong appreciation for understanding the whole person before determining how best to help.
Areas of Expertise
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma and PTSD
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cognitive Concerns
- Adjustment Following Injury or Accident
- Emotional and Behavioral Concerns
- Family and Caregiver Support
- Psychological Assessment
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)
Academic Credentials / Details
Dr. Cedar earned her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. She earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with concentrations in Disability Studies and Child Development, from Syracuse University.
Her clinical experience includes positions with CitiMed, AHRC NYC, JCCA, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Rutgers University’s Psychological Services Clinic, and the Lake Drive School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has also spent many years working in programs devoted to inclusion, social development, and advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
