Bridget Aiello, PsyD

I’m Dr. Bridget Aiello, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California (PSY #35038), Colorado (PSY.0006710), and New York (NY 027618). I provide individual and group therapy for adults navigating a range of mental health concerns, with specialties in trauma recovery, eating disorders, body image, emotion dysregulation, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges. ​My therapeutic approach is relational, warm, and collaborative. I integrate psychodynamic and humanistic values with evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I aim to create a space that is affirming, empowering, and attuned to the ways personal identity and lived experience intersect with mental health. ​I earned my master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology in San Diego, CA. My pre-doctoral training took place at R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility, where I specialized in DBT and LGBTQIA+ care, providing therapy to queer and trans incarcerated individuals and helping to coordinate the first Pride celebration at the prison. I completed my post-doctoral training at UCSD Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), with a focused emphasis on eating disorder treatment. ​Throughout my clinical career, I’ve worked across a range of settings—including a residential crisis house, substance use programs for mothers, correctional facilities, university counseling centers, and eating disorder treatment centers at multiple levels of care. I have extensive experience on trauma-specific teams and was part of the trauma team at UCSD's Eating Disorders Center, where I provided integrative care for individuals with co-occurring trauma and disordered eating. I’ve also worked with children and adults on the autism spectrum and with developmental disabilities, tailoring care to support emotional regulation, social connection, and identity development in ways that honor neurodiversity. ​Eating disorder care has been a meaningful focus of my work for many years. I've had the privilege of supporting clients in both the UCSD Eating Disorder Center and the eating disorder track at CAPS, where I developed a strong foundation in treating disordered eating through a trauma-informed and inclusive lens. My doctoral dissertation explored body image and eating concerns within the trans community—an experience that deepened my understanding of how identity and lived experience shape our relationships with our bodies. These experiences continue to guide me in creating a space that’s affirming, compassionate, and respectful of each person’s unique story. ​In addition to my clinical practice, I serve as an Adjunct Professor and Supervisor at Alliant International University, where I support the training and development of future clinicians. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my two rescue dogs, catching San Diego sunsets, and savoring a good cup of coffee.