Cynthia Ortiz, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Psychology Resident who specializes in working with adults experiencing challenges related to health psychology, addiction, personality disorders, eating disorders, sleep concerns, chronic medical conditions, and chronic pain. She strives to create a collaborative, supportive space where clients can explore their concerns, learn new skills, and move toward lives that feel more meaningful and authentic.
Inspiration
Dr. Ortiz was drawn to psychology by her interest in the connection between physical and mental health, as well as her desire to provide care that is both compassionate and grounded in science. She values the importance of interdisciplinary care, having seen how collaboration among medical and mental health providers can improve outcomes. She is passionate about empowering clients to make changes that align with their unique goals and needs.
Education
Dr. Cynthia Ortiz holds a doctoral degree in Medical/Clinical psychology from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. During her doctoral training she worked in a variety of medical and community settings, including primary care, specialty medical clinics, inpatient units, and outpatient mental health services. She completed her doctoral internship at the Phoenix VA Health Care System, where she provided care to Veterans managing chronic health conditions, chronic pain, eating disorders, serious mental illness, and borderline personality disorder.
Professional History
Dr. Ortiz has specialized training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and regularly integrates DBT skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness into her work. She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), tailoring treatment to each individual’s needs. Her clinical experience includes supporting adults with addiction, eating disorders, personality-related challenges, sleep issues, and the psychological impact of chronic medical conditions and pain. She values working within interdisciplinary teams and believes that collaboration among providers is essential to delivering effective, whole-person care. In addition, Dr. Ortiz has co-authored research on addiction, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and the experiences of vulnerable populations in psychedelic research, presenting this work at national conferences. She also has training in psychedelic-assisted therapies and is interested in incorporating innovative approaches into her clinical practice where appropriate.
Personal Interests
When she is not working with clients, Dr. Ortiz enjoys hiking with her dog, traveling, going to concerts, visiting with family, and playing board games with friends. She has also been learning to crochet and finds it a relaxing creative outlet. A plant enthusiast, she enjoys caring for her houseplants and spending time gardening outdoors.