About Monica D. Bernell, Psy.D.

Dr. Bernell is a licensed psychologist who works with children, adolescents, and adults in individual psychotherapy. Her approach is insight oriented/psychodynamic as she helps individuals understand the consequences and ramification of past life experiences to enable them to make better informed decisions about the present and future. Present day issues are also addressed in this approach in terms of ego support, enabling better coping strategies, and management of relationships and communications. Additionally, Dr. Bernell has a specialty in helping individuals deal with loss and death.

Specialties

Education & Certifications

Dr. Bernell received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Widener University, Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology in 1997 where she researched the conceptual and treatment implications of child bereavement following suicide. She completed her doctoral internship and post doctoral fellowship at the Northwestern Human Services in Philadelphia, where she worked with all age groups. She subsequently worked at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, New York where she held the position of staff psychologist at their Satellite Clinic working with adults and children, and later became the interim director of Child Out Patient Services. Dr. Bernell has worked as a Licensed School Psychologist in the Melrose Public Schools and then with the Peabody Public Schools from 1998 until 2020. She also has postdoctoral training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.