Photo credit: Mike Shane Photography
Dr. Robinson is a graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts (The “Fame” School) in New York City, where she majored in art and developed a love for visual design.
She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts and graduate magna cum laude with honors in psychology from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island, where she received the award for excellence in psychology. While in college, Dr. Robinson worked as a preschool teacher in regular and special education, and became passionate about understanding human development and the impact of family dynamics.
Dr. Robinson began her graduate studies in psychology on a predoctoral fellowship at the University of Connecticut. There, she was awarded a teaching assistantship, and conducted research on infant social communication and parent-child attachment, training under some of the country’s most prominent researchers in these fields. Dr. Robinson left UConn with a Master of Arts in Child and Developmental Psychology, and a passion for furthering her clinical skills with mothers, infants and children.
Dr. Robinson became a research assistant at the New York State Institute for Basic Research, assessing newborn infants in the NICU of St. Vincent’s Medical Center, and completing developmental follow up assessments with these infants through the age of five. During her time at IBR, Dr. Robinson and her colleagues were honored by the New York City Council for their outstanding accomplishments in early identification of developmental disabilities.
Dr. Robinson chose to further her clinical training in the doctoral program in School and Clinical Child Psychology at Pace University. During her training, she gained extensive clinical experience in pediatric neuropsychological assessment (NYU Rusk Institute), psychoeducational assessment (Rahway School District), child and adolescent psychiatry (Kings County Hospital Center), as well as play therapy, group therapy, psychodynamic/cognitive behavioral therapies and grief counseling (Steinway Child and Family Services, McShane Center for Psychological Services). During her graduate training, Dr. Robinson enjoyed working as a behavioral specialist at a group home for adults with developmental disabilities, where she learned things beyond measure from an extraordinary group of residents. Dr. Robinson earned a Master of Science in Education in School Psychology, and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in School and Clinical Child Psychology, and completed her doctoral dissertation research on developmental outcomes in premature infants at NYU Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital Center.
Upon earning her doctorate, Dr. Robinson completed a post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychological assessment at Pediatric Assessment and Learning Support in Manhattan. She went on to serve as a Clinical Neuropsychologist on the inpatient and outpatient Rehabilitation Medicine services at North Shore LIJ – Staten Island University Hospital, where she worked with individuals across the lifespan. She also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the graduate program in Special Education at the City University of New York, College of Staten Island.
Dr. Robinson opened her private practice in Manhattan in 2011, offering neuropsychological assessment and therapy for children, adolescents, young adults and their parents. Shortly thereafter, she opened a second office in Staten Island, and eventually transitioned to full-time practice in this location in order to meet the high demand for services in her local community. During the pandemic, Dr. Robinson shifted to providing telemedicine services, and began offering walk and talk therapy. Walk and talks have been well-loved for their combination of movement and time in nature, they are still offered today. Teletherapy and teleassessment have also remained popular, and continue to be offered as well.
A long-time believer in the power of clean living and wellness-based interventions, Dr. Robinson became certified in Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals in 2021. She now offers all of her clients treatment from this framework, which focuses on optimizing lifestyle factors such as nutrition, sleep, movement, and mindfulness-based practices to maximize wellness and treat the root causes of illness. These interventions are incorporated in a customized fashion alongside treatments rooted in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, and mindfulness-based interventions. Strengths within each individual and their support network are used to overcome challenges in all cases.
Parent support is at the core of Dr. Robinson’s work, and is available in conjunction with child treatment, as well as separately. As a mother, Dr. Robinson possesses a deep understanding of the joys and challenges associated with parenting, as well as the way it impacts our identity, self-care, and dynamics in marriage and romantic partnerships. She offers compassionate and supportive care for parents seeking to foster their child’s development, as well as their own.
Dr. Robinson is a member of the American Psychological Association and the New York State Psychological Association – for which she previously held a volunteer position as Grassroots Political Action Coordinator for Richmond County, working with New York State legislators to facilitate improved access to quality mental health services for all New Yorkers. Dr. Robinson presents at professional conferences and provides workshops for local educators and parents. She has served as an expert witness and fact witness on litigation related to educational law, and has consistently achieved successful outcomes for her clients.
Throughout her career, Dr. Robinson has consistently been recognized by her peers and patients as a consummate professional who remains approachable and warm. Patients feel safe in her care, and empowered by the knowledge she shares and the confidence she instills. Dr. Robinson believes that each of us is made up of many strengths which, with the right understanding, can be used to work through our vulnerabilities. It is her passion and privilege to help people find their way.