Dr. Cole received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2014. During her graduate training, she completed clinical practica at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Belmont, MA. These included the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Institute (OCDI), the Klarman Center for Eating Disorders, and the 3East DBT program for adolescents with suicidal and self-injurious behaviors.  She went on to complete a predoctoral internship at the Behavioral Health Partial Program (BHPP) at McLean, an adult partial hospitalization program treating patients with a broad range of psychological disorders. During her internship year, Dr. Cole also received intensive training at the Klarman Center for Eating Disorders. She returned to the OCDI at McLean for her postdoctoral fellowship, where she held a combined clinical and research position. Dr. Cole worked closely with patients in an intensive residential treatment setting for OCD and OC-spectrum disorders, while simultaneously developing diagnostic assessment measures for use in ongoing longitudinal treatment outcome at the OCDI and supervising students. She then accepted a position as a staff psychologist at the BHPP, where she gained experience in case management, treatment planning, and crisis intervention, and continued to develop her skills treating adults with a broad range of severe psychopathology. Dr. Cole left the hospital to develop a private practice in June 2016. She specializes in treating adolescents and young adults with eating disorders, OC-spectrum disorders, and bipolar disorder.

Treatment modalities

Dr. Cole is trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The effectiveness of these interventions is supported with evidence from scientific research. Due to her experience working at the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Institute, an intensive residential treatment program for individuals with severe OCD and OC-spectrum disorders, Dr. Cole has conducted exposure and response prevention (ERP) for many years with both adolescents and adults. Additionally, Dr. Cole has worked with adolescents, young adults, and adults with eating disorders for most of her clinical career and specializes in treating patients with anorexia nervosa who also carry a diagnosis of OCD. 

Assessment and diagnosis

Many patients come to therapy knowing that something is wrong but are not able to identify the cause. One role for a psychologist is to accurately assess and diagnose psychological disorders. If you have been suffering with mood problems, difficulty with eating or body image, trouble functioning at home, school, or work, for example, you may wish to seek an evaluation with a psychologist. This will comprise a full psychiatric, medical, and family history, in addition to an assessment of current problems, in order to determine whether a psychological disorder is present. Diagnosis tells mental health providers how to approach treatment, but diagnosis is only one step in the therapy process. 

Treatment planning

As a CBT provider, Dr. Cole believes it is important to inform patients about the treatment they will receive and to collaborate with the patient in their therapy. As a result, when you come for an appointment you will be given an informed consent form, detailing the therapy relationship and expectations for both parties. Additionally, you might be assigned homework to complete between sessions in order to gain the most benefit from treatment - life happens outside the therapist's office, so that is where much of the work needs to be done. Dr. Cole believes in respecting a patient's autonomy and will work with you to adjust the treatment as needed.