Dr. Jessica Lawson is a clinical psychologist, licensed in New York and Connecticut, and an assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine, within the Department of Psychiatry. She specializes in health psychology and trauma-informed psychotherapy and has expertise working with adults across the lifespan, couples, and supporting parents along their parenting journey.

Dr. Lawson values a client-centered, collaborative approach and brings her warm, encouraging and supportive nature to the evidence-based care she delivers.  Her clinical orientation is informed by her significant training in cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness interventions. She applies these orientations flexibly and skillfully to support her clients, and her background in dance lends a creative perspective to her work.

Dr. Lawson earned a Master of Science in Health Psychology from City University in London, England, and her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University in New York, NY. She completed a clinical research postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine where she specialized in eating disorder treatment. Dr. Lawson is active in multiple professional organizations, speaks regularly at academic conferences and in her community, and most recently served as the Early Career Representative on the board of the Connecticut Psychological Association. Honoring her expertise and leadership in her profession as a clinician, educator and scholar, Dr. Lawson is included in Marquis Who’s Who. Dr. Lawson has over 25 peer-reviewed publications and her program of research focuses on weight bias, eating behaviors, and best practices in telemental health.

Dr. Jess values the privilege and responsibility of being a clinical psychologist and is committed to providing psychological care that cultivates holistic well-being. She believes that client-centered, high-quality healthcare and mental health services should be accessible to all. Her family is a source of joy and pride and she lives in Darien, Connecticut with her husband, Nick, their two beautiful daughters, Violet (6), Grace (3), and three rescue kitties.

Jess loves dancing and staying active, all shades of the color purple, spending time with family and friends, playing the piano and practicing speaking French in her spare time. She believes in the power of the village, the power of connecting with each other and with our values, and the importance of infusing laughter and love in every way she can into her own journey.