We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Hilary Cooper, founder of Clear Mind Psychology in Rye, New York. Clear Mind Psychology is dedicated to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for patients ranging from young children to seniors, often working with entire families to build a strong sense of community. Dr. Cooper shared how her practice also offers couples therapy, teen support groups, and parenting workshops.
This fall, they are launching a new parent group focused on equipping parents with essential skills grounded in Dialectic Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. With a spacious and inviting office that includes a playroom, cozy therapy spaces, and a conference room for group sessions, Clear Mind Psychology is designed to meet the diverse needs of its patients. Read on to learn more about Dr. Cooper’s approach to therapy and how she and her team are helping families thrive.
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
I grew up in White Plains and now live in Harrison. I swear I left Westchester at some point in my life! I went to college in Boston and lived in NYC before having a family.
How many children do you have and what are their ages?
Madeleine is 26 years old
Annie is 23 years old
Teddy is 17 years old
Tell us more about your professional background! How did you get started?
I always gravitated toward children and started volunteering in hospitals at a young age. I studied Child Development at Tufts and Early Childhood Special Education at Bankstreet School of Education before getting my PHD in Clinical Psychology at City University of NY. When I was studying to be a teacher, I realized that my strengths are working with children one-on-one or in small groups. I started my career working at Bellevue Hospital in NYC with children suffering from HIV/AIDS. I was exposed to the worst of human suffering and now I feel very confident about handling the things that my patients bring to me now that I am in private practice.
What services do you provide?
We are really focused on giving our clients the absolute best individual, couples, and family therapy, including the best and most innovative clinical attention there is to offer. We treat patients ranging in ages 5 years to 70+ years of age and frequently help multiple members of a family, wrapping each person that we see in a circle of community and support. We also treat couples and have parenting groups and support groups for teens.
Many parents wonder if their children need services. What is your advice to parents who don’t know where to start?
Often parents think about taking their child to therapy long before they actually start the process. One of the reasons for the delay is that parents don’t know how to speak with their kids about therapy. I would suggest getting the child to “buy in” by using their own words. For instance, many times kids will say things like, “I can’t take this anymore.” After hearing that enough times, a parent should take action. We coach parents to explain the need for therapy by using their children’s own words … for instance, a parent might say, “Remember when you told me ‘you can’t take it anymore?.’ I wanted you to know that I heard you and there are people whose job it is to help you.”
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding moments take place when I realize that a patient has internalized something they have learned in therapy and have shared it with a friend or family member. Or when they report in a session that they used a skill that we have been working on to help themself.
What’s next for Clear Mind Psychology?
We have an amazingly warm, bright and sunny, and modern office suite in Rye, New York. It is big enough for all of our therapists and for running groups. We have a playroom for young patients and cozy offices for adults and teens, as well as a great conference room for groups and meetings. This fall, we are starting a parent group to help parents learn skills based on Dialectic Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. There is so much conflicting information for parents out there and at “Clear Mind Psychology” we want to clarify things for our patients and guide parents to a place where they feel more competent and comfortable in their role.
What advice do you have for us moms trying to find balance and juggle it all?
Wow! This is a tough one. I guess stick with what matters most. Define the goals and values that are non negotiable for you personally and for your children. Any action that puts you on the path to those goals is the priority. Other things can fall by the wayside. And get help! Have multiple hands on deck after school. Babysitters and family members are invaluable. Also, I try to finish work calls in my car on the way home from the office so that my home time is my family time and I can enjoy BOTH my work and my home life and be both happy and productive for our patients and my family.
Thank you Dr. Hilary Cooper for taking the time to speak with us about this important topic! For more information on Dr. Cooper and Clear Mind Psychology, visit https://clearmindwestchester.com/ or call 914-609-1244.