Dr. Florence Tam has been a New York licensed psychologist since 1999.  She also holds a license in New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Honors from the University of Rochester, and her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver.  Dr. Tam completed her internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York City with a specialty in Forensic Psychology. 

Dr. Tam has experience in working with adults (including the geriatric population), adolescents and children, in both outpatient and inpatient settings.  She also has extensive experience in providing crisis intervention and working with trauma victims.  Dr. Tam worked in the Victim Assistance Unit of the Denver Police Department providing on-scene crisis intervention with victims of violent crime and in other emergency situations.  She has also worked with severely mentally ill patients at various New York City psychiatric hospitals.  She was a Senior Psychologist at the Brooklyn House for Men (a detention center in the New York City Department of Correction) and a Psychologist at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (part of the Federal Bureau of Prisons) providing crisis intervention as well as short-term, long-term and group therapy.

Dr. Tam has helped her patients deal with a wide range of psychological issues including anxiety, depression, anger, aging, bereavement, trauma and substance abuse.  Dr. Tam recognizes that individuals may benefit from a variety of techniques in psychotherapy.  Therefore, she uses a combination of approaches in therapy.  Dr. Tam also believes there can be many potential benefits to therapy.  Some patients who are depressed may find their mood lifted as a result of therapy.  Others may no longer feel afraid, angry or anxious.  In therapy, patients are able to verbalize their feelings in a safe and non-judgmental environment.  Dr. Tam's patients may derive more satisfaction out of social and family relationships as a result of therapy.  Their personal goals and values may become clearer.

Dr. Tam is passionate about helping her patients grow in various aspects of their lives – as individuals, in their close relationships, in their work or schooling, in their ability to enjoy their lives.  She strongly believes each individual should feel comfortable with the therapist he or she chooses, and should be hopeful about the potential benefits of therapy.  The goal of Dr. Tam's first meeting with a patient is to develop a good understanding of her patient's background and of the reasons her patient is seeking treatment in the first place.  At the same time, the first visit also provides Dr. Tam and her patient the opportunity to decide whether or not they are a good match.