Debra Roelke, Ph.D.

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Dr. Roelke's background includes the following education and training:

• Undergraduate education at Brown University: Dr. Roelke completed a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors, Magna cum Laude, in 1983. Her field of study was psychology, with independent research on the ways people construct the categories they use to understand the world around them.
• Graduate studies at Clark University: Dr. Roelke completed her M.A. in 1985 and her Ph.D. in 1989. Her field of study was clinical psychology, with coursework in psychopathology, psychotherapy and diagnostic assessment, child clinical work and neuropsychology. In addition, Dr. Roelke completed coursework in developmental psychology with a focus on development across the lifespan. Her area of research was young adult friendship and its role in identity formation and social support.
• Clinical training at Northwestern University Medical School, Institute of Psychiatry: Dr. Roelke was a predoctoral resident in 1988-89, and a postdoctoral staff fellow in 1989-90. Clinical training included outpatient psychotherapy, diagnostic assessment, crisis intervention and family therapy. Her specialty training was in psychotherapy and assessment of chronic and/or severe psychological disorders.
• Advanced postdoctoral training at the Center for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis of New Jersey: Dr. Roelke is a certified psychoanalyst, completing the three-year certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in 2006, and the additional three year certificate in Psychoanalysis in 2010. Psychoanalytic training provides an advanced level of preparation for dealing with psychological issues in greater depth, in situations of greater complexity, or both.
• Additional postdoctoral training at Newark Renaissance House, Inc.: Dr. Roelke completed additional training in adult psychotherapy with chemically dependent women and in Infant and Preschool Mental Health at the Newark Renaissance House therapeutic nursery from 1998 to 2000. In addition to these advanced training opportunities, Dr. Roelke was a Mental Health Consultant at Newark Preschool Council - Full Year Head Start from 2000 to 2005, and a Senior Lecturer in the psychology departments at Loyola University of Chicago and Suffolk University in Boston. Dr. Roelke has worked in both agency and private practice settings prior to establishing her solo office in Morristown, New Jersey.
• Continuing education work: on a variety of topics relating to both adult and childhood psychological issues. Dr. Roelke earned the certificate of mastery in Stanley Greenspan's Infancy and Early Childhood Training Course in 2008. She has completed courses and workshops at the Play Therapy Institute, the YCS Institute for Training in Infant and Preschool Mental Health and the New Jersey Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis. Other continuing education topics have included trauma, mood disorders, personality disorders and dealing with complex psychological situations. Dr. Roelke regularly attends educational meetings of the New Jersey Psychological Association, Morris County Psychological Association and the Center for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis of New Jersey where she is currently a faculty member.
• Community Service Work: Dr. Roelke serves in a number of different community service projects. Currently she is the Clinical Coordinator of the Psychotherapy Center at CPPNJ (Center for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis of New Jersey), and a founding Co-Director of the North Central New Jersey chapter of A Home Within, a national program providing pro-bono ongoing psychotherapy to foster children (www.ahomewithin.org). In addition, Dr. Roelke serves on the Scholarship Committee of the Morris County Psychological Association. She is an active volunteer with the Brown Alumni Schools Committee.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

• American Psychological Association
  • Division 39: Psychoanalytic Psychology
  • Division 39, Section II: Childhood and Adolescence
  • Division 56: Trauma Psychology
• New Jersey Psychological Association, Sustaining Member
• Morris County Psychological Association
  • Executive Board Member since 1999-2006
  • President, 2002-2004
• Center for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis of New Jersey
• Teaching faculty
• Clinical Coordinator, Psychotherapy Center of CPPNJ
• Contributing Editor, CPPNJ e-newsletter
• Association for Play Therapy
• New Jersey Association for Infant Mental Health
  • Advisory Board, 2008-2010
• A Home Within, Co-Director, North Central New Jersey Chapter