Overview. Dr. Cipriano, a clinical psychologist and formerly practicing lawyer, is an international speaker, executive coach, and consulting psychologist.

She provides keynotes and other presentations, provides consultation related to law firm wellbeing initiatives, and works with lawyers and leaders to prevent and address burnout, as well as develop presence and influence through emotional intelligence.

Dr. Cipriano's first book, The Thriving Lawyer: A Multidimensional Model of Well-Being for a Sustainable Legal Profession, was published in July 2023, with Routledge (Oxford & New York). The book takes a big-picture approach to promoting thriving and sustainability in the legal profession, utilizing her multidimensional model as a framework for understanding the many factors influencing well-being at both the individual and organizational levels, along with providing practical strategies for taking action.

She has been addressing well-being in the legal profession for nearly 20 years as a speaker, psychotherapist, and coach. Her dissertation research in the early 2000’s was cutting edge at the time, examining the relationship between perfectionism and distress in lawyers who were experiencing work-family conflict challenges.

As both a psychologist and a formerly practicing lawyer, her education, training and experience give her a unique perspective and approach to her work.

Dr. Cipriano is an assistant clinical professor in the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and was recently elected to Fellow status in the American Psychological Association.

Keynote Speaker. Dr. Cipriano provides keynotes for large events and leadership retreats. She is a dynamic local and international speaker, addressing the multitude of issues facing lawyers and leaders—including burnout—by taking a big picture approach to promoting thriving and sustainability in the legal profession. She also provides interactive workshops, on or off-site trainings, and other speaking services. She is a law school orientation speaker.

Executive Coach. Dr. Cipriano provides personalized executive coaching to leaders and emerging leaders. She is certified in assessment of emotional intelligence and her services target leadership development and healthy work environments. She advises and coaches the legal community and other professionals on ways to mitigate stress, uncertainty, and burnout, improve workplace culture and optimize performance.

Academic Experience. Dr. Cipriano has been an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, since 2010. From 2010 to 2016, she was a Consulting Clinical Supervisor in the Yale Department of Psychology. She consults to law schools and is a law school orientation speaker.

Recent Publications & Media Appearances. In addition to her book, The Thriving Lawyer: A Multidimensional Model of Well-Being for a Sustainable Legal Profession (Routledge, July 25, 2023), Dr. Cipriano has published articles addressing topics such as burnout, lawyer loneliness, and stigma around bar exam mental health questions, with Law360, Reuters Legal, Westlaw Today, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the San Francisco Daily Journal, The Connecticut Law Tribune, Connecticut Lawyer Magazine, and California Lawyer.

She has also been featured or quoted in articles published by Law360 Pulse, The American Lawyer, The National Law Journal, Law.com, Law.com Morning Minute, Corporate Counsel Business Journal, The Hartford Courant, and The New England Psychologist.

Her 2020 WFSB-TV media appearances addressed managing stress, uncertainty, and mood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinical Experience. Dr. Cipriano’s clinical experience includes working with attorneys and other high achieving professionals in distress, women who chose to primarily focus their energy on raising their children, college and graduate students, high school students, couples in conflict and individuals coming to terms with divorce.  Issues addressed include: mood, anxiety, life transitions, career and work-life issues, relational difficulties, identity issues, serious illness, trauma, and loss.

Mediation. Dr. Cipriano is a trained mediator who facilitates workplace related conflict resolution.

Advocacy. Dr. Cipriano has extensive professional practice and mental health advocacy experience through the Connecticut Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.

Awards, Honors and Recognition

• 2023 - Elected to Fellow status in the American Psychological Association

• 2022 - Connecticut Legal Awards Game Changer Honoree

• 2015 - Connecticut Psychological Association, Distinguished Contribution to the Practice of Psychology Award

Professional Organizations. Since 2012, Dr. Cipriano has held leadership and governance positions in the American Psychological Association, the Connecticut Psychological Association, and the Connecticut Bar Association, as well as a non-profit board and local government commission.

She has been a member of the Connecticut Bar Association Lawyer Well-Being Committee since its inception as a Task Force in 2017. As Co-Chair (2020 - 2021) of the Committee, she spearheaded the drafting and implementation of the CBA Well-Being Pledge.

Dr. Cipriano is a member of the editorial board for Practice Innovations, the peer-reviewed journal published by Division 42 of the American Psychological Association (2023 - present).

She is a member of many professional organizations, including:

• American Psychological Association (APA)

  • past member, Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice (2016 - 2019, elected governance committee, sunset in 2019),

  • past member, Committee of State Leaders (2016)

  • Interdivisional Healthcare Committee (2016 - Present)

• APA Division 12 - Clinical Psychology

• APA Division 13 - Consulting Psychology

• APA Division 14 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology

• APA Division 38 - Health Psychology

• APA Division 42 - Independent Practice

  • Board of Directors, Member-at-Large (2020 - 2023)

• Connecticut Psychological Association

  • former Director of Professional Affairs (2012 - 2017)

  • former Legislative Chair (2011 - 2016)

• Connecticut Bar Association

  • Past-Co-Chair, Lawyer Well-Being Committee (2020 - 2021)

  • Member, Lawyer Well-Being Committee (formerly task force, 2017 - present)

  • COVID-19 Task Force (2020 - 2021)

• American Bar Association (2022 - Present)

• International Bar Association (2021-2022)

• International Association of Collaborative Professionals

• Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce

Licensure

• Licensed Psychologist, Connecticut

• Admitted to Connecticut Bar (inactive); New York (retired); US District Court, District of Connecticut