Dr. Nicole Pensak is a Harvard- and Yale-trained Clinical Psychologist, maternal mental health expert, TEDx speaker, author, and founder of the RATTLED platform — an evidence-based movement transforming the way we understand and support modern motherhood.

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Known for translating cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience into relatable, actionable guidance, Dr. Pensak specializes in helping individuals navigate anxiety, postpartum mental health conditions, OCD, depression, trauma, relationship stress, and the emotional overwhelm that often accompanies major life transitions. Her work is grounded in evidence-based treatment while remaining deeply human, compassionate, and personalized to each client’s unique experience.

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Dr. Pensak earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and completed her APA-accredited internship and specialty training in Behavioral Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She completed advanced fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in psychiatric oncology, as well as an NIH T32 fellowship at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus focused on aging and palliative care.

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Before transitioning into full-time private practice, Dr. Pensak served as Director of Psycho-Oncology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she led psychosocial oncology services, supervised psychiatry residents in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, conducted clinical research, and provided direct patient care, including being a Co-Investigator on a NIH-funded 6M grant to test the efficacy of caregiver stress management programs. She previously held academic and research appointments at Georgetown University Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center/John Theurer Cancer Center, and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She was also a recipient of the prestigious National Palliative Care Research Center Career Development Award, where she developed innovative interventions to support caregivers coping with serious illness and emotional distress.

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Today, Dr. Pensak has become a leading voice in maternal mental health and matrescence — the profound psychological, biological, and identity transformation that occurs when becoming a mother. She serves on the Expert Review Board for Parents Magazine.

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Her award-winning book, RATTLED: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain, published by Norton and available nationwide and on Audible, has helped thousands of parents feel more informed, empowered, and less alone during early parenthood.

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Beyond the book, RATTLED has evolved into a broader maternal mental health platform focused on transforming postpartum care from reactive to proactive through education, speaking, advocacy, partnerships, and accessible science-backed resources for parents, caregivers, clinicians, and organizations. Through RATTLED, Dr. Pensak is helping lead a national conversation around matrescence, maternal mental health, and the urgent need to better support mothers before they reach crisis.

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Dr. Pensak provides in-person therapy in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and telehealth services in New York and more than 40 states nationwide.