Ellen C.Weld, PhD
Specializing in Child Custody/Therapeutic Visitation/Family Court Matters
I obtained my PhD in Clinical Psychology from New York University in 1999 and my New York State License in Psychology in 2000. I obtained a B.A. in Music at Williams College followed by Post-Baccalaureate work in Psychology at Yale University. I speak Spanish, and do assessments in Spanish as well. After having taken Spanish in high school, I rediscovered the language in graduate school and spent two months in Spain, which helped me improve my skills.
I have been a member of the Supreme Court Appellate Division Mental Health Professionals panel since 2004 and specialize in child custody evaluations and parent-child visitation.
I have also been employed off and on at St. Dominic's Family Services in the Bronx, where I work with children and families in the foster care system. I have also provided treatment and evaluations for residents of nursing/rehab facilities, but most of my work has been with children and families involved in Family Court and/or Supreme Court (matrimonial).
My areas of specialization include forensic (custody/visitation) evaluations, diagnostic/mental health assessment, parental alienation, and understanding the impact of inter-parental conflict upon children's emotional functioning. Although I am very familiar with alienation, I also know there are many instances in which a parent's own behavior has contributed to the fracture of a parent-child relationship. Each family is different, and each situation is unique.
I love my work, high-conflict as it can be. In addition to my training, I bring my real-life experiences of being a parent, and simply a human being, to my work.
Going through a divorce and a custody dispute is extremely traumatic for the families with whom I work, including the mothers, fathers, and children. A forensic evaluation can add to that stress.
I believe that in most cases, if possible, a child will have the best emotional outcome if he/she has the opportunity to love and be with both parents. That being said, there are times when issues of mental health, substance abuse, and the like, may make that co-parenting more difficult or even impossible, at least in the short-term, and sometimes in the long-term.
I try my best to bring empathy to my work, and I do not believe in "blaming" one parent or the other. We all bring our histories with us to the current time, and many of our histories include trauma, which is part of life.
"It is easier to build strong children than repair broken men." Frederick Douglass
Office at:
71-58 Austin Street, Suite 208
Forest Hills, NYPhone: 917-554-7295
Fax: 516-442-1535
Review posted on Healthgrades by client on March 23, 2023
"Professional and Safe Space
Dr Weld is a professional, wise and quiet observer. My visits were court ordered therapeutic visits. Don't mistake her quietness for complacency since she is very aware of everything going on and will interject and support when needed. She's there in the best interest of the children and not there to take sides with the parents although she will listen and you have to understand that when you meet. She did a great job in creating a safe space for me and my 2 children. I barely noticed she was there which allowed me to interact with my children in an authentic way..."