Heather Bernstein, PsyD

Heather Bernstein, PsyD, is a member of the Clinical Advisory Council at the Child Mind Institute. She was formerly the co-director of the organization’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy program, a clinical psychologist in its Mood Disorder Center, and a consultant for the Child and Mental Health Initiative with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Dr. Bernstein has specialized training and expertise in evidenced-based treatments for children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She is currently the director of dialectical behavior therapy for children at The Bethesda Group, where she also supervises doctoral externs and provides trainings. Dr. Bernstein is the creator and leader of the SUPER (Skills for Understanding Parenting and Emotion Regulation) group. Additionally, Dr. Bernstein teaches as an adjunct professor in the doctoral program at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington D.C.

Dr. Bernstein utilizes therapeutic interventions grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), dialectical behavior therapy for children (DBT-C), mindfulness, and parent management training (PMT). Dr. Bernstein has experience in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and school settings working with diagnostically complex individuals. In addition, she has specialized training in the treatment of childhood obesity and emphasizes the connection between physical and mental health. Dr. Bernstein recently served as a consultant with the Yale Stress Center on a research project examining the relationship between parental mindfulness and childhood obesity.