Michael Turman, Ph.D.

My Approach:

I work with both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral principles, which I incorporate in an atmosphere of trust, understanding, and communication. I pay special attention to the ways that messages that have been internalized, whether through early or repeated experiences with loved ones, or patterns of thought and behavior may be impeding or obstructing growth in areas of your life. Through our professional relationship, I can help you to discover and change what may sometimes feel to be automatic, second nature, or outside of your control.

I have received extensive training in psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) at sites in New York and Miami. Although this training has given me a wide range of skills and deep confidence, the most important thing to me is that you and I discuss what you need and that we work together to tailor my approach to best help you. For those seeking to address trauma recovery and healing, I have extensive training in Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR). I am also uniquely and sensitively attuned to the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals and believe in the power of a safe, secure environment to explore the many layers of a person’s identity. I actively incorporate Transdiagnostic LGBTQ-Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based therapy for LGBTQ individuals, into my work. Along a similar vein, I am deeply sensitive to the experience of immigration and acculturation, which informs my therapeutic approach.

My approach is also informed by prior professional experience: I worked for over 10 years as an EMT in the New York City 911 system, where I helped individuals and families navigate through medical emergencies and psychiatric crises in the homes, streets, and communities that make up the fabric of New York. I also speak Spanish and Portuguese and am deeply appreciative of the power of language, culture, and identity in the therapeutic process.
 

Professional Background:

I earned my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus and completed an APA-accredited doctoral internship at the Miami Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. I have a special interest in treating trauma, PTSD, and depression, which is reflected in my training experiences across a variety of sites including Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s Inpatient Addiction Psychiatry Unit, NYU’s World Trade Center Health Program, New York Presbyterian & Weill Cornell Medical College’s Burn ICU and Military Family Wellness Center, and New York Presbyterian’s Department of Neurological Surgery. I also hold an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus and a B.A. in psychology from CUNY Hunter College. 

My research focuses on how our self-talk impacts emotion regulation, and in turn how emotion regulation influences the development of trauma-related processes such as PTSD and depression in populations repeatedly exposed to trauma. I have co-authored peer-reviewed articles on crisis counseling, as well as medical critical care. From 2018-2021 I was awarded the American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, through which I completed specialized training in the provision of services to minority communities with an emphasis on providing services in Spanish and Portuguese.