Seleni Spotlight: Liat Claridge, PhD
March 2020 - Dr. Claridge, PhD, has extensive experience working with clients who struggle with depression, anxiety, loss, life transitions, and complex trauma. Dr. Claridge earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She received training in outpatient and inpatient hospital services, university counseling, and community mental health settings. Dr. Claridge’s approach to therapy is based on a psychodynamic understanding of human behavior with an appreciation for the value of skills-based interventions.
What motivates you to work in this field?
I came to psychology because I was fascinated by the human condition, especially the intersection of mind and behavior, and had always been curious about what made people ‘tick.’ Over time, I have had opportunities to explore different avenues of learning about human behavior and found that clinical psychology provided the optimal mix of intellectual engagement and interpersonal practice for me. It is a privilege to work with people on the project of their self-knowledge and growth. We are never fully done growing and I feel blessed to be able to be a participant in their journey, as many have been on mine.
What excites you most about being part of the Seleni family?
I was drawn to Seleni because of the way it executes its mission to support family by emphasizing the importance of emotional health. In our culture, physical wellbeing is often prioritized over emotional health and so many of us are much more likely to seek help for a physical ailment when our hearts and minds need just as much support and care. That is especially true at all stages of family life. Becoming a family is no longer a prescribed process that has clear outcomes. Families are built in a myriad of ways and involve more parties than ever before, all of whom require care and consideration. When children are already present, the life transition that accompanies parenthood and family life is also a time we are more likely to find ourselves in need of additional emotional support. Seleni is here to support all parties at every stage of family creation and family life and that mission has never been needed as much as it is today. The clinicians and staff members who work at Seleni are highly dedicated and deeply compassionate people; the care and energy they bring to their work flows through all aspects of the clinic and programming they provide. Many patients comment on how soothing and calming the space itself is, and that is by design. I feel that Seleni has taken the notion of a holding environment and brought it to life for the benefit of our patients, staff, and community. It is a special place and I am proud to be a member of its community!
What is your favorite podcast, movie, book, or magazine, related to the field of mental health?
Two books that I have found professionally helpful and personally meaningful in the mental health arena are Maternal Desire, by Daphne de Marneffe, and Diary of a Baby, by Daniel Stern. The first is a book that addresses the potential for suppressed desire with respect to “being there” for one’s children. In a world in which economic necessity often dictates the structure of our lives and how we spend our daytime hours, the pragmatic ‘hows’ of family life often eclipse the emotional ‘whys,’ which can stifle the very powerful and deeply meaningful feelings we have about family, in all its forms. I believe very strongly that knowing how we feel about something, in all its complicated and even conflicting forms, is empowering because it opens up the possibility for choice, even within the context of real-life constraints.
The second book, Diary of a Baby, is a classic text that uses infant research to imagine the earliest experiences of childhood, from the perspective of the baby. It is a nice way to begin to imagine what is like to be a baby, and can help us as parents and caregivers make sense of their behavior and think about what they need from us and the world. What I find especially impactful about this book is how it reminds us that what we take for granted as mature adults is breathtakingly new for the infant. It can help us think more purposefully about how we help babies take notice of the world, shield them when it becomes overwhelming, and take delight in their discoveries.
Working in mental health can be emotionally tiring. How do you practice self care?
Self-care is such a ubiquitous term that I find has almost lost its meaning from overuse, or perhaps its elusiveness. I, like most people I know, struggle with making self-care a regular aspect of my daily life. Usually, it is only when we are in crisis that we recognize how important it actually is to take care of ourselves. And often, when we reach the realization of how necessary self-care is, it can then be a challenge to figure out what that might look like for us as an individual. It ends up being a process of trial-and-error to figure out what works for every person. For me, I find committing to a twice-weekly yoga class is the foundation of my self-care regimen (yes, you have to be structured about self-care to see results!). I prioritize eating well and getting eight hours of sleep, when I can, because I know that sleep and nutrition play an integral part in my wellbeing. Also, making social dates with friends, who provide emotional nourishment, is key. Obviously, it isn’t always possible to do all of these things all the time as life can be busy and unpredictable. The important part is committing to at least one self-care activity per week and not letting it get run over by all the other things happening in our busy lives.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Slow down! So easy to say, and so incredibly difficult to enact, which is why part of my self-care routine involved yoga, as it forces my mind and body to slow down.
What’s a quote that you carry with you to uplift yourself? – What quote inspires you?
Know Thyself!
Whatever we do, however we spend our time, the more we can know ourselves, the better we can steer our resources (internal and external) toward living a life of satisfaction and peace. It is a process of cultivating self-awareness, which of course extends to the people and world around us. It is a lifelong task because we can never fully know ourselves, and we change as we grow and encounter new life experiences.
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For more information about Liat Claridge, PhD, learn more here.
