Dr.  Toni Falcone | The Psychology Group Fort Lauderdale

Dr. Toni Falcone

Specialties at a glance: Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, unhealthy patterns in coping and relating to others, self discovery & growth, phase of life issues, skill building, and relationships.

Welcome! I’m Dr. Toni Falcone. I’m a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in treating adolescents and adults seeking personal growth, improvement in their relationships with themselves and with others, and wanting to make changes in their patterns of thinking and behavior.

Common problem areas that I work with include anxiety, depression, low self esteem, eating disorders, phase of life issues, and trauma related stressors. I work with individuals to break unhealthy patterns in communication, coping, and relating to others, and to learn new skills to replace unhelpful behaviors. I also work with couples to enhance communication, address areas of conflict, and establish healthy boundaries within the relationship.

As a psychologist, I most enjoy empowering those I work with to find their voice, believe in themselves, and reach their full potential. The growth and change I see in my patients as they progress through treatment is what I consider the most rewarding part of my work. In both individual and couples therapy settings, I use evidence based treatment methods to understand how the problems you are facing developed and determine what is keeping you stuck. Together, we will create a specific and individualized plan of action to address the issues keeping you from living your best life. I have experience and training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP), as well as specialized training in providing trauma informed care including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Most commonly, I take a transdiagnostic approach to treatment which allows for mood, behavior, and relational problems to be addressed simultaneously. I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential to success in treatment. Respect for you as a person, your goals, and your values create the building blocks to our therapeutic relationship and allow for the most important issues to be addressed rather than avoided. I strive to provide a safe, supportive environment that combines concrete skill building, insight oriented exploration, and a space to challenge the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that are holding you back.

Background

I completed my undergraduate studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and was awarded my Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Psychology. During my undergraduate training, I completed an internship at Coney Island Hospital’s dual-diagnosis (MICA) treatment program. This opportunity sparked my interest in working with patients with multiple and complex issues, and I gained skill in case conceptualization, treating the individual behind the disorder, and learned the benefits of working as a comprehensive treatment team when addressing complex cases.

Shortly after graduation, I moved from New York to Florida to pursue my doctorate in Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. While in graduate school, I completed training in outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment settings. My experience while training at The Renfrew Center was a huge part of what shaped my clinical approach. During this time I developed my understanding of how unhealthy coping patterns develop, the factors that maintain these behaviors, and just how difficult it can be to make changes. I also learned the importance of considering the whole person when approaching treatment, rather than just focusing on treating the immediate symptoms. I completed two years of training at Renfrew before leaving to complete my internship in community mental health.  

My doctoral internship allowed me to gain experience working with diverse populations experiencing a variety of mental health related issues. I provided individual, family, and group therapy services in office, home, and school settings. In addition to therapy, I also gained experience in psychological testing and assessment and administered child and adult psychological evaluations for the purposes of diagnostic clarification, IQ and achievement testing, and to aid in treatment planning.

I returned to working at The Renfrew Center where I completed my Post Doctoral Residency, and worked as a Primary Therapist.  I furthered my experience working as a Primary Therapist at Oliver Pyatt Centers adult residential eating disorder treatment program, before transitioning to providing therapy services on an outpatient basis. I am a certified eating disorder specialist (CEDS).

In addition to providing therapy and conducting assessments, I have supervised masters and doctoral level practicum students, predoctoral interns, and registered mental health interns. I am a qualified supervisor for Registered Mental Health Interns and enjoy advocacy, training, outreach, and education in the mental health field.

Professional Affiliations

I am a licensed psychologist in Florida, and a member of the Outreach and Education committee for the Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness.

A note on payment: I have chosen not to contract with insurance; however, you may be eligible for reimbursement of a significant percentage of out-of-pocket costs through your out-of-network benefits. I’m happy to provide assistance with determining your eligibility for reimbursement through your insurance provider, and assistance in seeking reimbursement.