Dr. Jesse Finkelstein, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist in New York (#026638) and New Jersey (#35SI00753600).
Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™
Dr. Finkelstein is a clinical psychologist and a Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™ DBT therapist, specializing in evidence-based treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, OCD, trauma, and emotion dysregulation.
His approach blends structured interventions with authenticity, humor, and curiosity — balancing research-driven methods with a deeply human style of practice.
He received his BA from Brown University. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University, completed his predoctoral internship at Montefiore Medical Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where he later served as an Instructor in Clinical Psychology and Training Supervisor.
At Columbia University Medical Center’s Day Program, he provided supervision in CBT, DBT, and exposure-based interventions, and helped develop programming for emotion regulation and trauma recovery.
Dr. Finkelstein has received intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and additional advanced training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and the Unified Protocol.
His teaching and consultation emphasize transdiagnostic case formulation, exposure work, cognitive modification, and skills-based learning, helping clinicians integrate flexibility and creativity into evidence-based practice.
Beyond clinical work, Dr. Finkelstein is the creator of The Game of Real Life — a DBT-based card game designed to make skill use engaging and accessible — and co-founder of TheraHive, a digital learning platform for evidence-based therapy.
He is also a contributor to resources such as the DBT-PTSD manual, the Rutgers DBT-RU skills video series, and the GBAT training videos for CBT and autism. He is an executive editor of the DBT Bulletin.
His recent book with Dr. Shireen Rizvi, Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide for Stress, Emotions, and Relationships (Guilford Press, 2025), translates therapeutic principles into practical skills for everyday life.
Education and Training
Brown University, B.A., Political Science and Visual Arts, magna cum laude.
Rutgers University, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, PsyM, Clinical Psychology.
Rutgers University, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, PsyD, Clinical Psychology.
Montefiore Medical Center, Clinical Psychology Intern, APA-Accredited Internship Program.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) — Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology.
Additional projects
Books and Games
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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