Dr. Laurie Zelinger - Child Psychologist

Welcome to my web site, where you will learn about me and my commitment to helping children. You will also have an option to learn about my husband, Dr. Fred (Frank) Zelinger, a very talented licensed psychologist with 35 years experience working with children, adults, families and couples. Information about us and photos of our new office can be seen throughout this web site with the click of your mouse.

My private practice, which is entirely devoted to children, is designed to help youngsters deal with problems that interfere with their daily lives. Please browse this website and find out about my book, The "O, MY" in TonsillectOMY & AdenoidectOMY: How to Prepare Your Child for Surgery. You can also read quotes from the media, where I give information about the challenges of growing up and about parenting.

While I am experienced in treating nearly all childhood issues, I specialize in helping anxious children handle their fears, fostering communication skills in children with selective mutism, building social skills in children with friendship difficulties, helping families navigate the divorce process and preparing children for medical procedures.

Ever since I was a young babysitter, I have wanted to work with children. I became a psychologist in order to help children and their families with the challenges that impact their lives. I earned my Master’s Degree in Education and Professional Diploma in School Psychology at Queens College and obtained New York State Certification as a School Psychologist in 1975. I then went on to earn a Ph.D. in School/Community Psychology from Hofstra University, which was granted in 1993. More recently, I fulfilled the credentialing process as a Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor through the Association of Play Therapy, where in April, 2009, I was elected to the position of Director, within the New York State branch. It was along this journey that I learned one of the most important lessons in my career: playing games in therapy is NOT the same as providing play therapy. Qualified play therapists apply skills derived from empirical research to facilitate communication when a child may be unable to communicate in words. My additional training is listed on the “About Dr. Laurie Zelinger” page.

From my experience as a school psychologist, private practitioner, and therapist in clinic settings, I have developed skills to treat a variety of difficulties. My approach to each youngster is individualized, drawing upon psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, child centered techniques, and lessons learned from being a mother of four. Warmth, humor, and acceptance are a critical part of each treatment plan.

My husband and I recently moved our private practices into a new and beautiful office designed to meet the psychological needs of children, couples, families and individuals. As a result of successful co-parenting for many years and now being able to share professional space, we have developed a unique collaborative parent/child approach that maximizes the time spent in our offices. This technique has two dimensions; while I am having a play therapy session with a child, the parents may choose to have a simultaneous separate session with Dr. Fred Zelinger in his adjoining office equipped with closed circuit television. Dr. Fred Zelinger and the parents observe the session between the child and me, and together analyze and discuss the content of the play as it relates to the parenting practices exhibited in the home. The real time interactions being discussed and the joint observation of play therapy techniques combine to create a pragmatic and spontaneous discussion of best practice. It is our hope that the vividness of the experience will allow the parents to take home concrete and easily understood information individually tailored to their child.

Please let me know if we can be of help to your children and your family.

Laurie Zelinger, Ph.D.

Web Site by Carol Goldberg, Ph.D. Web Sites and Sound Bites^®