Dr. Naomi Tabak
Areas of Focus
Anxiety
Depression
Traumatic stress
Everyday and relationship stress
Parental and mid-life stress
My Role as your Psychologist
I am a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience in private practice. My approach is rooted in evidence-based methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In addition to my clinical work, I’ve spent much of my career teaching and supervising Clinical Psychology PhD students, and I currently serve as the Clinic Director at the UC Irvine Psychological Services Center. While I dedicate much of my time to training future therapists, I’ve intentionally maintained a small private practice because I deeply value the connection and growth that comes from working directly with clients. It’s a privilege to be trusted in this role, and I would be honored to support you in your therapeutic journey.
A Little About Me
I was born in New York and raised in South Florida, and since then, my education and career has taken me across the country and around the world. From a young age, I found myself drawn to the deeper questions of psychology and philosophy and sought out experiences that have expanded my understanding of people and their diverse life stories. I studied in New England and Miami, spent time abroad in India, and worked as a research assistant in Nepal. These formative experiences continue to shape my approach to therapy, helping me appreciate how culture, values, and context shape each person’s path.
Education and Training that Informs my Practice
I completed my BA in Biomedical Ethics at Brown University. After college, I went to graduate school at the University of Miami, where I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus on treating individuals with serious mental illness who are often overlooked in the mental health care system. From Miami, I moved to San Diego to continue my research and clinical training in working with individuals with psychotic disorders at the San Diego VA Hospital and UC San Diego and then to Los Angeles where I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the West Los Angeles VA and UCLA.
I have been fortunate across my career to learn from excellent mentors in the field and eventually was drawn to channel my experiences into the education and training of the next generation of clinical psychologists. In 2016, I accepted a position as the Director of the psychology training clinic in Southern Methodist University’s Clinical Psychology doctoral program, and I found my professional niche. At SMU, I served as Clinic Director and Co-Director of Clinical Training for six years until our family made our most recent (and final!!!) move to Orange County in 2022 where I have served as the innaugural Clinic Director of UC Irvine’s Clinical Psychology training clinic, the UCI Psychological Services Center.
Education
BA Biomedical Ethics, Brown University
MS Clinical Psychology, University of Miami
PhD Clinical Psychology, University of Miami
Training
APA-accredited Pre-doctoral Clinical Internship, San Diego VA Hospital/UCSD Department of Psychiatry
Postdoctoral Fellowship, UCLA/West LA Veterans Administration
University Appointments
Director of the UCI Psychological Services Center, UC Irvine
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology and Director of the SMU Psychology Clinic, SMU
License information
License Number PSY26153
NPI #1932492089
FAQs
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Dr. Naomi Tabak charges $300 for a 50 minute therapy session.
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost.
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We accept credit cards, debit cards, and direct ACH bank transfers.
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As Out-Of-Network Providers, we do not accept insurance. However, we are happy to provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance if you receive any benefits from Out-Of-Network providers.
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We require 24 hours notice for cancellations to avoid being charged.
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We do not prescribe medication, but can provide you with referrals to exemplary local psychiatrists.