Licensed Health Psychologist
"Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being. -J. Stanford
About
Ellen Anderson, PhD
As a psychologist with 30+ years of experience, I work with adult clients coping with medical illness, aging and work-related stress. I have specific training and expertise in working with people coping with cancer and heart disease. I strive to create a safe and welcoming environment and to treat each individual with the dignity and respect.
I obtained my degree in Health Psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University and have been licensed as a psychologist in the State of Connecticut since 1996.
For more than two decades, I worked at Hartford Healthcare, first in the area of preventive cardiology and later in oncology. After retiring from hospital-based work, I have treated clients in my private practice in Orange, CT.
In my personal life, I enjoy hiking, skiing and paddleboarding. I value time with my family, who include my adult children and wonderful grandchildren.
I'm endlessly fascinated by my clients. I credit them with teaching me about what it means to live with a serious health condition. If you think that my background is a good fit for your needs, please feel free to reach out using the contact page on this site.
What is Health Psychology?
A health psychologist applies the principles of psychology to address issues related to health and illness. There were few psychologists working directly with medical patients when I started my career. Though there are now many more psychologists trained in this field, it can still be difficult to find a therapist in the community practice setting who has experience in working with people coping with medical problems. I became interested in writing for health care professionals as a way to make a contribution to the literature in the field. I have also written scientific papers and am the proud editor of American Psychological Association's Clinical Health Psychology book series.