Mark Terjesen, Ph.D. is the director of clinical training at North Coast Psychological Services. He is an Associate Professor of Psychology at St. John’s University in New York, where he has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels since 1999. Dr. Terjesen has served as the program director of the School Psychology (Doctorate and Masters) programs and has trained and supervised doctoral students throughout his tenure. Dr. Terjesen completed his post-doctoral experience at the Albert Ellis Institute where he served as a psychotherapist, trainer, and coordinator of child, youth, and family services until he joined the faculty at St. John’s University. Dr. Terjesen is a practicing psychologist specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on helping clients understand the role that unhealthy thought patterns may play in contributing to maladaptive behaviors and emotions while then developing more effective ways of thinking with the objective of engaging in and experiencing more positive emotions and behaviors.

Dr. Terjesen provides individual, couples, and family counseling to people of all ages and with a wide variety of presenting problems ranging from mood disorders (anxiety, depression), relationship difficulties, stress, anger, and parenting issues.

Dr. Terjesen views counseling as a collaborative process working with clients to develop their own short-term and long-term goals with an accompanying plan to work towards those goals. The individualized focus on goals and strategies to achieve them is considered an essential component of counseling to help clients not only reduce their struggles but also to work towards greater life satisfaction.