Dr. Malani Varma, PhD
Malini Varma, Ph.D.
“I seek to empower and support my clients to be the best versions of themselves from a compassionate and empathic stance.”
As a therapist, I seek to empower and support my clients to be the best versions of themselves from a compassionate and empathic stance. I enjoy working collaboratively with my clients to help meet their therapeutic goals. As a person of color with significant experience in working with diverse populations, I am sensitive to individual differences and needs. I am also passionate about providing holistic care and seek to instill a sense of overall well-being with my clients. I have a primarily cognitive-behavioral and values-driven approach to treatment and specialize in a variety of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, life adjustments, and substance abuse/addictive behaviors. I am also passionate about women’s health and aim to provide support for women-related issues across the various stages of life, notably with gynecologic challenges, preconception/TTC, infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and new parenthood.
Specialties
Training and Experience
Dr. Varma earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at Seattle Pacific University, her master’s at Teachers College, Columbia University, and her undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Providence VA Medical Center/Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Additionally, she has worked in a primary care/behavioral health setting, community mental health clinic, correctional facilities, and a forensic psychiatric hospital. She is licensed in D.C. and PSYPACT-participating states.
Publications and Presentations
Varma, M. (2021, July). The Effect of Values Activation on Coping Strategies for Substance Use
Disorders. PowerPoint (1 CE credit approved) presented to the Providence VA
Collaborative Addiction & Recovery Services (CARS) team. Providence, RI.
Varma, M. (2020, March). Seeking Safety: Treatment for PTSD and substance abuse.
PowerPoint presented to the University of Rochester Outpatient Chemical Dependency. Services team. Rochester, NY.
Varma, M., Stewart, D. G., & Erickson, T. (2018, November). Testing values activation to experimentally influence temptation coping and compassionate goals. Poster presented at the Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ABCT) Conference. Washington, DC.
Varma, M., Moore, L. S., Cataldi, J. S., Estoup, A. C., & Stewart, D. G. (2017). Religiosity and adolescent marijuana use. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 20, 229-238. doi:10.1080/13674676.2017.1334045
Varma, M., Moore, L. S., Cataldi, J. S., Estoup, A., & Stewart, D. G. (2017, November). The protective factor of religiosity on marijuana use mediated by risk perception. Poster presented at the Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ABCT) Conference.San Diego, CA.
Varma, M., Lehinger, E., Estoup, A., Moise-Campbell, C., Moore, L., Stewart, D. G., & Harris, J. (2016, October). The relationship among age of alcohol use onset to adolescent ADHD
symptoms and substance use treatment outcomes. Poster presented at the Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ABCT) Conference. New York, NY.
Varma, M., Campbell, C., Lehinger, E., Moore, L., Estoup, A., Stewart, D. G., & Harris, J. S. (2015, May). Outcomes of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in early alcohol use. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association (WPA) Conference. Las Vegas, NV.