ANXIETY * DEPRESSION * OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER
Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist that specializes in providing treatment for adults with anxiety, depression, and postpartum. She provides evidence-based therapy based on the latest research and tailors treatment to the unique needs of each client.
Dr. Pensak received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and her practicum training in Neuropsychology at Brown University. She completed her APA accredited internship and specialty training in behavioral medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School in psychiatric oncology and an NIH T32 fellowship at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Center in Aging and Palliative Care. As a Harvard and Yale-trained Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Pensak provides empirically-based treatment that is uniquely tailored to meet the needs of each client.
Dr. Pensak has held various academic positions including Assistant Professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Assistant Scientist at Hackensack University Medical Center, Assistant Professor of Oncology at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and Director of Psycho-Oncology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Hope Tower. She is currently a Co-Investigator of a NIH-funded R01 Trial including her caregiver intervention, Pep-Pal at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Dr. Pensak’s academic career and research focuses on caregiver well-being and developing evidence-based interventions. Throughout her research, she has focused on translating the science to those who need it most- caregivers. More recently, Dr. Pensak has developed a sub-specialty in early motherhood and maternal mental health. As her private practice grew, it became clear that mothers are the ultimate caregiver and there are limited resources to best support maternal mental health. Thus, much of her current clinical practice and writing focuses on translating the science, strategies, and evidence from the caregiver field to mothers.
Dr. Pensak's goal is to help you understand yourself more deeply through the psychotherapy experience and to help you reach your full potential and thrive in motherhood.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Evidence-based therapy for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder for Adults and Adolescents.
• Postpartum Mental Health and Motherhood
Evidence-based therapy for symptoms of postpartum anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Coping with the transition and how to thrive in early motherhood.
• Individual & Group Therapy
Specializing in treating adults and adolescents with evidence-based treatment that is supported by latest research, predominantly working from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy framework.
• Cancer Therapy
Dr. Pensak provides convenient video therapy while you are receiving chemotherapy or at any time during survivorship. She specializes in helping patients cope with symptoms and side effects associated with cancer and cancer treatment.
• Consulting
Dr. Pensak is a nationally recognized researcher for mobile health (mhealth) intervention development and dissemination. She is a mental health correspondent available for interviews, to teach seminars, deliver guest lectures, and provide community presentations.
• Writing
Dr. Pensak is available for writing for various scientific and mainstream media outlets. Please contact her for quotes, guest blog posts, podcast appearances, and media interviews.
Conley, C.C., McIntyre, M., Pensak, N.A., Lynce, F., Graham, D., Ismail-Khan, R., Lopez, K., Vadaparampil, S.T., & O'Neill, S.C. (In press). Barriers and facilitators to taking CDK4/6 inhibitors among patients with metastatic breast cancer: A qualitative study. Breast Cancer Research & Treatment.
Sannes, TS; Ranby, KW; Yusufov, M; Brewer, BW; Jacobs, JM; Callan, S; Ulrich, GR; Pensak, NA; Natvig, CL; Laudenslager, ML.
(in press) More often than not, we’re in sync: Patient and caregiver well-being over time...
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.
Pensak, N. A., Carr, A. L., Jones, J., Mikulich‐Gilbertson, S. K., Kutner, J. S., Kilbourn, K., ... & Laudenslager, M. L. (2020).
A pilot study of mobilized intervention to help caregivers of oncology patients manage distress. Psycho‐Oncology.
