Liat Claridge, Psychologist, PhD

Dr. Claridge, PhD, has extensive experience working with clients who struggle with depression, anxiety, loss, life transitions, and complex trauma. Dr. Claridge earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She received training in outpatient and inpatient hospital services, university counseling, and community mental health settings. Dr. Claridge’s approach to therapy is based on a psychodynamic understanding of human behavior with an appreciation for the value of skills-based interventions.

Before becoming a clinical psychologist, Dr. Claridge spent five years working in finance after earning an undergraduate degree in Business Administration at the University of Southern California. After several years working at investment banks and a fund-of-hedge-funds, Dr. Claridge realized that she found the psychology of risk-taking behavior among individuals and the markets far more interesting than their outcomes. At the same time, volunteer work with individuals who faced terminal illness and social isolation ignited a passion for working with people in a helping capacity. This juxtaposition of experiences, in conjunction with considerable internal reflection, became the springboard for a career change that has proved personally and professionally rewarding.

How Liat practices self care

Self-care is such a ubiquitous term that I find has almost lost its meaning from overuse, or perhaps its elusiveness. I, like most people I know, struggle with making self-care a regular aspect of my daily life. Usually, it is only when we are in crisis that we recognize how important it actually is to take care of ourselves. And often, when we reach the realization of how necessary self-care is, it can then be a challenge to figure out what that might look like for us as an individual. It ends up being a process of trial-and-error to figure out what works for every person. For me, I find committing to a twice-weekly yoga class is the foundation of my self-care regimen (yes, you have to be structured about self-care to see results!). I prioritize eating well and getting eight hours of sleep, when I can, because I know that sleep and nutrition play an integral part in my wellbeing. Also, making social dates with friends, who provide emotional nourishment, is key. Obviously, it isn’t always possible to do all of these things all the time as life can be busy and unpredictable. The important part is committing to at least one self-care activity per week and not letting it get run over by all the other things happening in our busy lives. Full spotlight here.