Kelly Coppola
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
EDUCATION/TRAINING
Mrs. Coppola received her undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology from the State University of New York at Albany and her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University. She completed her clinical internships at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, counseling patients and families on issues related to the diagnosis of head and neck cancers; and at The Franciscan Community Center, using psychoanalytic psychotherapy techniques with children and adolescents. Mrs. Coppola also has experience working in psychiatry at Elmhurst Hospital’s child and adolescent walk-in clinic, where she specialized in diagnosing and treating a wide range of disorders.
HER SPECIALTY/PRIMARY APPROACH
Mrs. Coppola specializes in treating ADD, depression, anxiety and other cognitive-emotional disorders. Her therapy borrows from a psychodynamic perspective while integrating cognitive behavioral and schema therapy techniques, depending on the needs of the patient. Mrs. Coppola also specializes in the Alternative Therapies at the Center – including LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System), Auditory Therapy, Multisensory Exercise Program, Reading Plus and Yoga.
**CBT Trained
**Skype sessions available (when appropriate)
Click to see what else I have to say about ADD/ADHD >
Q: What motivated you to enter the field of psychology?
A: I remember skimming through my older brother’s college level Abnormal Psychology book and being hooked. I am an intuitive person who naturally analyzes and tries to fix things. That’s why I love using neurofeedback because a lot of the treatment is based on clinical judgment, and it’s amazing to then see changes in my patients, both objectively and subjectively.
Q: What triggered your interest in the field of ADD?
A: I worked at a summer program for kids with ADHD that used behavior modification techniques and specific classroom strategies. It was so amazing to watch these kids excel and feel empowered, all because they were given the right tools and encouragement.
Q: Why did you choose to practice at The Hallowell Center?
A: I like the fact that The Hallowell Center takes an eclectic approach and offers so many different types of treatments. It is very exciting to work at a place that is on the “cutting edge” of treatment for cognitive and emotional disorders. I appreciate the fact that we are small enough here to be able to work in really close collaboration with our fellow practitioners. The Hallowell Center is a very special place and one of the few that I know of that treats adults, as well as young people.
Q: What do you see as the most common misperceptions about ADD?
A: I’ve actually heard a lot of people say, “Well, everyone has a little ADD.” What they don’t understand is that ADD is not just something that impacts your performance at school or at work. ADD can significantly impact many other areas in a person’s life, especially interpersonally, financially and emotionally. There’s also sort of this notion that ADD goes away after a period of time, when in fact it is a lifelong challenge.
Q: What was your favorite book (or books) when you were young?
A: For me, books were always about learning something new. I especially enjoyed art books, books on philosophy, books on dream analysis, you name it. As a kid, I loved The Little Prince, and I still love it. It’s such a metaphor for life.
Click to close this Q&A >