Defne Ekin

Psychologist l, team clinician for New Jersey lawyers assistance program

Dr. Defne Ekin is the team clinician for New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program. Defne is a versatile
clinician who has helped many individuals, families and groups navigate crises and transitions. She
earned a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from New York University and has an M. A. in Organizational
Psychology from Columbia University. She was trained at the Ackerman Institute for the Family for her
post-graduate work.
Before joining NJLAP, she served as a faculty member at Columbia University, Adelphi University, New
York University and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. For much of her years in academia, she
held key administrative and supervisory positions in addition to teaching. She remains actively involved
in clinical treatment research and maintains a private practice in New York City since 2009. Her research
on mindfulness-based interventions and resiliency informs her counseling approach. She believes in the
power of listening closely, earning trust, and building collaborative relationships. Clients value her
strengths-based perspective and straightforward style. In her personal life, she enjoys exploring the
world and tries to step out of her comfort zone by trying new activities.