HOPE. STRENGTH. GROWTH.
Suffolk Health Psychology Services, PLLCDenise Dixon, PhD, Licensed clinical health psychologist
About Dr. Dixon
Denise Dixon, PhD is a licensed clinical health psychologist dedicated to providing exceptional behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and adults residing in Florida, Maine and New York.
With thirty years of experience in the field, Dr. Dixon is a proud graduate of the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. She currently operates as a private practitioner, serves as an inpatient psychologist at a community hospital in New York, and provides Independent Medical Examinations for Mental and Behavioral Disorders (M&BD IMEs).
Her areas of expertise encompass sleep disorders (insomnia), anxiety, stress management, coping strategies for chronic illness or life-altering injuries, parenting challenges, behavioral pain management, trauma (PTSD), depression (including post-partum depression), work-related incidents, and alcohol/other substance use disorders.
In addition to her role as a leading behavioral health specialist, Dr. Dixon has shared her knowledge at both national and international conferences, addressing critical topics such as post-traumatic stress disorder, maternal depression, childhood obesity, neuroimmunology, and stress and coping mechanisms. She also offers expert research consulting services as an independent contractor.
Denise Dixon, Ph.D.
Licensed clinical health psychologist
Dr. Dixon is a licensed clinical health psychologist that provides support to children, adolescents, and adults, and focuses on evidence-based approaches to address a range of mental health challenges. With a deep commitment to empowering individuals, she helps them discover hope, tap into their inherent strengths, and nurture their personal development.
Dr Dixon is in-network with Aetna in select states, and can help clients with reimbursement for out-of-network benefits. The practice offers evaluations and treatment for Worker's Compensation, as well as unbiased, third-party Independent Medical Examinations for Mental and Behavioral Disorders (M&BD IME's).
Education & Training
- AB (Biological Sciences), Smith College, 1986
- MA (Psychology), Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, 1995
- PhD (Clinical Health Psychology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine & Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, 1997
- Clinical internship in Medical Psychology, Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1997
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship (NIH-funded Post-Doctoral National Research Service Award in Psychoneuroimmunology), University of Miami Behavioral Medicine Research Center, 1998
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology, Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami, 1999
Publications
Dixon, D, & Schneiderman, N. (2000). Overview of behavioral medicine research and interventions: Considerations for physicians. In F. Lopez-Jimenez (Ed.), “Frontiers in Internal Medicine.” Archives of Medical Research, (31)4, 329-52.
Saul, J, Norris, FN, Bartholow, K, Dixon, D, Peters, M, & Moore, J. (2000). Heterosexual risk for HIV among Puerto Rican women: Does power influence self-protective behavior? AIDS and Behavior, 4(4), 361-371.
Dixon, D, Cruess, S, Kilbourn, K, Klimas, N, Fletcher, MA, Ironson, G, Baum, A, Schneiderman, N, & Antoni, MH. (2001). Social support mediates the relationship between loneliness and Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) antibody titers in HIV+ gay men following Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31(6), 1111-1132.
Dixon, D, Antoni, MH, Peters, M, & Saul, J. (2001). Employment, social support and HIV sexual risk behavior in Puerto Rican women. AIDS and Behavior, 5(4), 331-334.
The ENRICHD Investigators. (2001). Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease (ENRICHD) Study Intervention: Rationale and Design. Psychosomatic Medicine 63:747-755.
Freedland, KE, Skala, JA, Carney, RN, Raczynski, JM, Taylor, CB, Mendes De Leon, CF, Ironson, G, Phd, Youngblood, ME, Krishnan, KRR, & Veith, RC, for the ENRICHD Investigators. (2002). The Depression Interview and Structured Hamilton (DISH): Rationale, development, characteristics, and clinical validity. Psychosomatic Medicine, 64, 897-905.
Dixon, D, Peters, M, & Saul, J. (2003). HIV heterosexual risk behavior among Puerto Rican women. Health Care for Women International, 24(6), 529-543.
Carney, RM, Blumenthal, JA. Freedland, KE, Youngblood, M, Veith, RC, Burg, MM, Cornell, C, Saab, PG, Kaufmann, PG, Czajkowski, SM, & Jaffe, AS, for the ENRICHD Investigators. (2004). Depression and late mortality after myocardial infarction in the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease (ENRICHD) Study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 66, 466-474.
Schneiderman, N, Saab, PG, Catellier, DJ, Powell, LH, Debusk, RF, Williams, RB, Carney, RM, Raczynski, JM, Cowan, MJ, Berkman, LF, & Kaufmann, PG, for the ENRICHD Investigators. (2004). Psychosocial treatment within sex by ethnicity subgroups in the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Clinical trial. Psychosomatic Medicine, 66, 475-4834
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R, Schneiderman, N, & Delamater, A. (2004). Gender differences in TNF-alpha levels among obese versus non-obese Latino children. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58, 696-699.
Burg, MM, Barefoot, J, Berkman, L, Catellier, DJ, Czajkowski, S, Saab, P, Huber, M, DeLillo, V, Mitchell, P, Skala, J, Taylor, CB for the ENRICHD Investigators. (2005). Low perceived social support and post–myocardial infarction prognosis in the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease clinical trial: The effects of treatment, Psychosomatic Medicine 67:879-888.
Campagnolo, DI, Dixon, D, Schwartz, J, Bartlett, JA, & Keller, SE. (2008). Altered innate immunity following spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord, 46, 477-481.
Meng, H, Wamsley, BR, Eggert, GM, Liebel, D, Dixon, D, & Van Nostrand, J. (2009). Urban-rural differences in the effect of a Medicare Health Promotion and Disease Self-Management program on physical function and health care expenditures. The Gerontologist, 49(3), 407-417.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R, Meng, H, Schneiderman, N, & Delamater, A. (2009). BMI, stress, and TNF-alpha levels in children. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 24(5), 378-388.
Meng, H, Wamsley, BR, Friedman, B, Liebel, D, Dixon, D, Gao, S, Oakes, D. & Eggert, GM. (2010). Impact of Body Mass Index on the effectiveness of a disease management-health promotion intervention on disability status. American Journal of Health Promotion, 24(3), 214-22.
Dixon, D, Peters, M, & Saul, J. (2010). Psychosocial correlates of HIV sexual protective behavior among Puerto Rican women residing in the Bronx, New York. Health Care for Women International, 31(3), 1-20.
Meng, H, He, XZ, Dixon, D, & Bonder, B. (2010). Self-Reported versus measured height and weight in the Health and Retirement Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58(2), 412-413.
Osipoff, JN, Dixon, D, Lane, A, Wilson, TA & Preston, T. (2012). Prospective memory and glycemic control in children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology, (1): 29.
Tafuri, K., Dixon, D., Markarian, K., Lane, A., & Wilson, T. (2015). Relationship between growth hormone and cytokines in short children undergoing growth hormone stimulation testing. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 6(12): 912-918.
Lorber, M. F., White-Ajmani, M. L., Dixon, D., Slep, A. M. S., & Heyman, R. E. (in press). The relations of child adiposity with parent-to-child and parent-to-parent hostility. Psychology and Health.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Kilbourn, KM, Wagner, S, Schneiderman, N, Klimas, N, & Fletcher, MA (1998). Social support buffers PTSD symptoms and HHV-6 antibody titers in HIV+ gay men following Hurricane Andrew. Neuroimmunomodulation, 5, 15.
Dixon, D. (1998). Predictors of HIV sexual risk behavior in Hispanic women. Scientific and Engineering Dissertation Abstracts International, 59(5B), 2409.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Wagner, S, Kilbourn, K, Schneiderman, N, Klimas, N, & Fletcher, MA (1999). Acute and sustained effects of anxiety on immune status and social support in HIV+ gay men following Hurricane Andrew. Neuroimmunomodulation, 6, 214.
Dixon, D, Cruess, S, Kilbourn, K, Klimas, N, Fletcher, MA, Ironson, G, Baum, A, Schneiderman, N, & Antoni, MH. (2000). Social support mediates the relationship between loneliness and Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) antibody titers. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 14(2), 91.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Theodore, P, Fletcher, MA, & Schneiderman, N. (2000). Extra-relationship resources, source of social support and HIV sexual risk behavior in Hispanic women. Journal of International Health Psychology, 7(Supp 1) 51.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Theodore, P, Fletcher, M, & Schneiderman, N. (2000). Providing nurturance, unprotected anal receptive sex and viral load in HIV+ gay men on HAART: A boomerang for re-infection? Journal of International Health Psychology, 7 (Supp 1) 50.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R, Delamater, A, Fletcher, MA, & Schneiderman, N. (2001). TNF-alpha, obesity, and insulin resistance in children: Where do we go from here? Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 15(2), 145.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R, Schneiderman, N, & Delamater, A. (2003). Obesity and stress are associated with fasting TNF-alpha levels in children at risk for type 2 diabetes. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 17(3), 170-171.
Kier, C, Dragos, M, Ahmad, KS, Dixon, D & Mallea, JM. (2009). Polysomnogram findings of obstructive sleep apnea for children with HIV. Chest, 136:38S-a.
Kuluz J, Kim H, Dixon D, Samdani A, Gonzalez-Brito M, & Mulcahey M. (2009).“Special considerations for the child with SCI.” In: Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. FA Davis: Philadelphia, PA.
Dixon, D. (2010). Exercise psychotherapy for the treatment of obesity among child and adult populations. In: Integrative clinical psychology, psychiatry and behavioral medicine: Perspectives, practices and research (Roland A. Carlstedt, Editor). Springer Publishing.
Presentations
Bartlett, JA, Goldklang, AR, Schleifer, SJ, Dixon, D, & Keller, SK. (2001). Immune function in healthy children. Presented at the Annual Research Day of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Newark, New Jersey: USA.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R, & Delamater, A. (2001). Implications of obesity, stress, & TNF-a for pediatric insulin resistance. Presented at the Annual Research Day of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Newark, New Jersey: USA.
Dixon, D. (2002, February). Implications of child obesity on immune function. Department of Psychiatry Invited Grand Rounds Presentation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey: USA.
Dixon, D. (2006, November). Negotiation skills for women academic professionals. Invited “Building Bridges” presentation, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York: USA.
Dixon, D. (2006, December). Insight into childhood obesity. Department of Pediatrics Invited Grand Rounds Presentation, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York: USA.
Dixon, D. (2007, February). Childhood obesity prevention and treatment: Strategies for parents of children with special needs. Three Village School District Special Education Parent Teacher’s Association. Stony Brook, New York: USA.
Morelli, P, & Dixon, D. (March, 2007). Lifestyle modification of obese children through a supervised exercise and nutrition program. The 4th Annual Pediatric Health Weight Summit: Childhood Obesity: Cognitive and Behavioral Tools for Treatment, Greenville North Carolina, USA.
Dixon, D. (2007, April). Childhood obesity: Current perspectives and directions. Department of Psychology, Wayne Patterson University, Wayne, New Jersey: USA.
Dixon, D. (2007, August). Obesity, stress and immune markers in children: What do we understand now, and where do we go, from here? Virginia Treatment Center for Children, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia: USA.
Dixon, D. (2007, October). Obesity, stress and immune markers in children: What do we understand now, and where do we go, from here? Stony Brook University, Department of Psychology, Division of Social and Health Psychology, Stony Brook, New York: USA.
Dixon, D. (2007, November). Obesity, stress and immune markers in children: What do we understand now, and where do we go, from here? Stony Brook University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child Psychiatry & The Applied Behavioral Medicine Institute, Stony Brook, New York: USA.
Dixon, D. (2008, November). Negotiation skills for women academic professionals. Invited “Building Bridges” presentation, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York: USA.
Dixon, D. (2009, November). Whom am I treating here: The child or the mom? The impact of maternal depression on child cognitive, emotional and physical health. Invited “Women and Health” presentation, Stony Brook University, Department of Psychology, Stony Brook, New York: USA.
Chitkara, MB, Lapsia, S & Dixon, D. (2011, April). Lumbar punctures performed by pediatric residents: Implementation and evaluation of a teaching curriculum and training program. Presented at the. Stony Brook University Medical Center Annual Women in Medicine Research day: Stony Brook, NY, USA
Harrison, J, Norris, F, Kelly, K., Dixon, D, Peters, M, & Moore, J. (1996, July). Heterosexual risk for HIV among Puerto Rican women: Does power influence self-protective behavior? Paper presented at the Eleventh International Conference on AIDS: Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA.
Harrison, J, Norris, F, Kelly, K., Dixon, D, Peters, M, & Moore, J. (1996, September). Defining and measuring power: Researcher and study participant perspectives. Paper presented at the APA conference on Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors in Women’s Health: Washington, D.C, USA.
Dixon, D, Harrison, J, Peters, M, & Schneiderman, N. (1998, March). Predictors of HIV sexual risk behavior in Hispanic women. Presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine Nineteenth Annual Scientific Sessions: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Kilbourn, K, Wagner, S, Schneiderman, N, Klimas, N, & Fletcher, M. (1998, April). Social support buffers PTSD symptoms and HHV-6 antibody titers in HIV+ gay men following Hurricane Andrew. Presented at the 1998 meeting of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society: Bristol, UNITED KINGDOM.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Kilbourn, K, Wagner, S, Schneiderman, N, Klimas, N, & Fletcher, M. (1998, August). Acute and sustained effects of social support on HHV-6 antibody titers in HIV+ gay men following Hurricane Andrew. Symposia presentation at the Fifth International Congress of Behavioral Medicine: Copenhagen, DENMARK.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Wagner, S, Kilbourn, K, Schneiderman, N, Klimas, N, & Fletcher, M. (1999, April). Acute and sustained effects of anxiety on immune status and social support in HIV+ gay men following Hurricane Andrew. Presented at the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society Meeting: Galveston, Texas, USA.
Dixon, D, Cruess, S, Kilbourn, K, Klimas, N, Fletcher, M, Ironson, G, Baum, A, Schneiderman, N, & Antoni, M. Social support mediates the relationship between loneliness and Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) antibody titers. (2000, May). Poster presented at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society: Cape Fear, North Carolina, USA.
Dixon, D, Delamater, A, Goldberg, R, Antoni, M, & Schneiderman, N. (2000, November). Implications of stress & TNF-alpha for pediatric insulin resistance. Poster presented at Integrating Psychology and Medicine: Waiheke Island, NEW ZEALAND.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Theodore, P, Fletcher, M, & Schneiderman, N. (2000, November). Providing nurturance, unprotected anal receptive sex and viral load in HIV+ gay men on HAART: A boomerang for re-infection? Poster presented at the Sixth International Congress of Behavioral Medicine: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA.
Dixon, D, Antoni, M, Peters, M, Saul, J, & Schneiderman, N. Extra-relationship resources, source of social support and HIV sexual risk behavior in Hispanic women. (2000, November). Poster presented at the Sixth International Congress of Behavioral Medicine: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R, Delamater, A, Fletcher, M, & Schneiderman, N. (2001, May). TNF-alpha, obesity, and insulin resistance in children: Where do we go from here? Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society: Utrecht, THE NETHERLANDS.
Goldberg, R, Dixon, D, Brito, A, & Delamator, A. (2001, June). Serum C Reactive Protein is strongly associated with obesity in Hispanic children. Poster presented at the 61st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R, & Delamater, A. (2001, September). Obesity, stress and immunity in children. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Health Psychology Society: St. Andrew’s, Scotland, UNITED KINGDOM.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R Schneiderman, N, & Delamater, A. (2002, March). Gender differences in TNF-alpha levels among obese versus non-obese children. Poster presented at the 60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society: Barcelona, SPAIN.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R Schneiderman, N, & Delamater, A. (2003, May). Stress and TNF-alpha levels in obese versus non-obese Latino children. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society: Amelia Island, Florida, USA.
Dixon, D, G, Vizcarra, G, Campagnolo, D, Bartlett, JA, & Keller, SK. (2003, May). Stress, depression, and TNF-alpha in spinal cord injury. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society: Amelia Island, Florida, USA.
Dixon, D, Goldberg, R Schneiderman, N, & Delamater, A. (2006, May-June). Stressful life events, BMI and TNF-alpha levels in children at risk for metabolic syndrome. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society: Miami, Florida, USA.
Ahmed, KS, Kier, C, & Dixon, D. (2007, June). Sleep characteristics and polysomnographic findings for children with HIV. Poster presented at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Preston, T, Eisenberg, P, Dixon, D, Li, P, Yagudayeva, R, Silverberg, J., & Flacon, J. (2009, August). Prospective memory functions in clinically referred children. Poster presented at the 118th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association: San Diego, California, USA.
Dixon, D, Meng, HD, Goldberg, R Schneiderman, N & Delamater, A. (2011, April). Serum C Reactive Protein, but not IL-6, is strongly associated with obesity pre-pubescent Latino children. Paper presented at the Fourth International Congress of Prediabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome: Madrid, SPAIN.
Osipoff, JN, Dixon, D, Lane, A, Wilson, TA & Preston, T. (2011, June). Determinates of diabetic control in adolescents. Poster presented at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetic Association: San Diego, California, USA.
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