Darin Witkovic (he/him)

I’m a former psychologist at Mount Sinai Health System and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine. I was also a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School and teaching fellow at Boston University School of Medicine. I was inspired to become a health psychologist because I believe in people’s potential to drive positive change. As a biracial gay man, I understand the challenge of inhabiting multiple marginalized identities and how this can negatively impact health. I focused my doctoral training on VA hospitals, LGBTQ+ community mental health organizations, and a county medical center in order to gain greater experience working with people from multiple backgrounds; these experiences taught me skills for creating a safe and supportive space where those I work with feel heard, understood, and empowered to navigate the challenges they face.

I care about people’s well-being and personal growth and work hard to advocate for my clients. I believe this requires me, as a clinician, to thoughtfully consider my approach to each individual. I am committed to understanding the cultural and societal factors that influence each person’s perspective. I draw on my own intersectional identity experiences to examine my privileges and areas of oppression. I bring curiosity and thoughtfulness to my interactions with clients, particularly those whose cultures and lived experiences are different from my own. I believe that, in making cultural humility a pillar of my therapeutic approach, I create space for critical reflection that may provide a greater understanding of my clients and, consequently, better therapeutic outcomes.