Carrie Schaffer, PhD, LCP

Dr. Schaffer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with individuals, groups, and couples who are struggling with a range of problems and wish to better understand their thoughts, feelings and behavior.

She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Yale University where her research centered on the relationship between attachment and emotion regulation. She then completed a 2-year Post-Doctoral fellowship at the Austen Riggs Center in Massachusetts, which specializes in the intensive, psychoanalytic treatment of individuals with prolonged and serious mental illness.

Working from a psychodynamic perspective that is informed by attachment theory, she offers each of her patients a compassionate and non-judgmental space to share their story and aspects of their lives they may have never been comfortable discussing before. She helps them let go of the defenses they have used to get by, face their pain, and work on developing healthier coping strategies.

Her specialties include women's issues, including life transitions associated with aging, relationship issues, sexuality and sexual addiction, gender identity, narcissism, and depression. She helps people who are at a crossroads and want to explore the impact of a significant change on self and others. She has a special interest in working with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. She has worked extensively with UVA students and faculty.

Since moving to Charlottesville in 1995, she has served as a staff psychologist and the Director of Training at UVa Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), as a clinician in private practice, and as a supervisor at the Charlottesville League of Therapists and the UVa Department of Psychiatry. In addition to psychotherapy, Dr. Schaffer is available for supervision and for consultation.

Phone:  (434) 989-1966 or (434) 963-0324, ext 18.