Biography

Emily Bernstein, Ph.D., is a Pediatric Psychologist at the Children’s Health℠ Heart Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern. Her clinical interests include neurodevelopmental and behavioral support for infants and young children with congenital heart defects. She is also interested in coping, mood and behavior concerns related to chronic medical conditions. 

“I am passionate about promoting family-centered care and helping children reach their full developmental potential,” she says. 

Dr. Bernstein earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida followed by an internship in Child Clinical Psychology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She then completed her fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“I strive to help families cope with medical diagnoses and the associated changes to their daily activities,” Dr. Bernstein says. “I see patients from infancy to adolescence and tailor care to their developmental level and partner with families to help achieve their psychological goals.”

Dr. Bernstein is the founder of the Cardiology Outpatient Psychology Clinic at Children’s Health, where she works with patients from infancy through adolescence. She uses a variety of behavioral and cognitive-behavioral strategies based on the unique strengths and weaknesses a child presents with. She also plays a leading role in the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program.

Outside of clinical care, Dr. Bernstein is committed to mentorship and creating supportive training environments for psychology trainees. She is also engaged in quality improvement and program development to ensure services meet families’ needs and are accessible to all.

In her spare time, Dr. Bernstein enjoys spending time with her family, watching and training in gymnastics, exploring the outdoors and traveling.

Biography