Who’s Who: Dr. Amy Ellis

Dr. Amy Ellis, PhD

Can you tell me about your educational background and professional experience?

I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology from Hofstra University, and then did a Master’s in Psychology at Adelphi University while I worked as the Program Director of the Institute for Parenting. I then moved to Florida and completed by doctoral degree at Nova Southeastern University. Took another attempt at doing cold weather and completed my predoctoral internship at Massachusetts Mental Health Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School. But alas, the cold weather was too much and I moved back down to Florida to complete my postdoctoral training at the Renfrew Center of Coconut Creek. 

I’m currently the Director of the Trauma Resolution & Integration Program which is a community mental health center entirely staffed by predoctoral practicum students and a predoctoral intern where we serve individuals 18+ years of age who have a history of traumatization, with a particular emphasis in helping folks with complex trauma, dissociation, and multiple comorbidities. As such, a big part of my role at NSU is supervision, but I also teach, run a research lab, and work on grants. I also have a small part-time private practice.

What inspired you to become a psychologist?

This question sometimes triggers memories of applying to grad school or internship, where our answers have to be so calculated and nuanced. But the truth is, seeing mental health issues all around me, and my own desire to know and figure out myself, were primary motivators. Like many, I’ve been exposed to not-so-great psychologists and I wanted to actually make a difference for mental health treatment seekers, destigmatize mental health issues, and actually advocate for change on a greater level.

What are some common misconceptions about the psychotherapy field that you encounter?

My number one pet peeve is when people think that psychotherapy is just talking to a friend and it lacks science or empiricism. As a researcher, so much of my clinical work and supervision is guided by articles, theory, and data, so it hurts me to my core when people think that I’m just being swayed by intuition and opinion. 

A second misconception that I hear often from trainees is that they “didn’t do anything in the session” because they “just listened” or “just validated.” Much of my work centers around the importance of evidence-based relationship variables (i.e., genuineness, warmth, congruence, goal consensus and task agreement), and how we can use routine outcome monitoring to facilitate and strengthen these aspects of the relationship. In particular, EBRVs become even more important in trauma work where so much of the pain points center around relational ruptures and wounds. We’re never JUST listening, we’re attuning, empathizing, connecting, and being with our clients which is often far more than they received in their formative developmental years. The power of that, and attending to ruptures and repairs, is monumental to treatment and is often what clients report as being the most effective in their treatment over and above any specific worksheet or intervention.

What has been the most rewarding part of your work?

I genuinely believe that each and every client has transformed me. I learn about myself through clients and in working with them. The most rewarding part of clinical work becomes the fact that I get to take a piece of my clients with me, truly internalizing our work, and carrying it with me in everyday life and beyond.

What has been the most unexpected part of your work?

The level of demand and energy the work constantly requires of you. I had this preconceived notion that once I progressed far enough post-doctoral training, I would level out and care less. I thought it was possible to care less. In fact, as I get older and as time passes in this field, more and more I want to show up with a fullness and wholeness for my students and clients. And that becomes harder and harder as we navigate pandemics, world and national tragedies, and even just the experiences of day-to-day life. There’s a lot of energy that goes into caring and showing up as your best self, and I’m not sure I was fully prepared to understand how much demand that places on one’s ego.

What is your hope for the field of psychotherapy?

That we recognize it’s impossible to be apolitical in trauma work. That we recognize how self-care is not necessarily about taking time off, but actually about throwing ourselves into this work on an individual and macro level. That we focus more on training and education and ensuring that therapists have access to quality materials that can enhance their work, rather than relying on outdated or biased work. 

What are your future plans?

I see my work continuing to center on building systems that make trauma-informed training more accessible, sustainable, and deeply rooted in evidence-based relational practice. I hope to expand the Trauma Resolution & Integration Program, strengthen the integration and intersection of research and practice specifically as it relates to EBRVs, and contribute to a field where high-quality supervision is viewed as foundational rather than supplemental. I also have begun partnering with the Traumatic Stress Institute and see some future plans in there about really studying organizational change and how system-wide change is instrumental to client outcomes.