Rebecca Suffness, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Suffness specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families, with a particular interest in working with pre-adolescents and adolescents. Her primary clinical interests include depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, generalized anxiety, and other anxiety disorders. Additionally, Dr. Suffness completed her pre-doctoral internship in the school system, which provided her with experience with and knowledge of special education services within the public school system.
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Dr. Suffness prefers to utilize evidence-based forms of therapy, but she also values personalization in order to provide the best form of therapy for each individual’s needs. As such, Dr. Suffness incorporates components from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), exposure and response prevention, and other evidence-based treatments in her clinical work. These forms of therapy require a collaborative relationship with the clients and families, so Dr. Suffness prioritizes building rapport and ensuring that therapeutic plans are discussed at the start of treatment and as treatment progresses. Additionally, based on her experience in the school system, Dr. Suffness recognizes the importance of the time spent in school for children and adolescents, so therapy is customized to assist children and adolescents in all domains in which they are seeking help.
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Dr. Suffness earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with a minor in English, at Duke University in Durham, NC. She also received Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) in Greensboro, NC. She has received training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP). She also has experience leading evidence-based group therapy in outpatient, inpatient, and school settings.
Dr. Suffness has experience working with children and adolescents in outpatient, inpatient, school, and medical settings. She completed an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), where she gained experience providing school-based therapy to children and adolescents experiencing a wide range of concerns that were having an academic impact for these students, including providing therapy through a program for students with severe emotional disabilities. Dr. Suffness completed evaluations of toddlers, children, and adolescents for special education services; completed threat assessments; and assisted with district-wide crisis interventions. Additionally, she participated in meetings to assess eligibility for a disability as well as meetings to discuss and implement in-school interventions for children having difficulty with emotions, behavior, and/or academics. Dr. Suffness is a licensed psychologist in the state of Texas (38044).
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While Dr. Suffness is adamant that she is not a “cat lady,” she will openly discuss her fondness for her blonde tabby named Oscar Wildecat. Dr. Suffness enjoys various movies and TV shows, reading fiction, and eating excellent food. As a Dallas native, she is a fan of the Dallas baseball, basketball, and hockey teams. Additionally, as a Duke alumna, she is a fan of Duke basketball. Dr. Suffness also loves to travel, both abroad and domestically, and she has a goal to visit all 50 states.
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Dr. Suffness provides online video therapy sessions and also sees clients at our Westlake office. For more information about Dr. Suffness’s availability or to schedule an appointment please call 512-246-7225 or visit our client portal.