Dr. Byrnes is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist who has dedicated her career to assessing and treating children, adolescents, adults and families who have experienced various forms of trauma, exploitation and abuse, as well as those who have engaged in harmful or abusive behaviors.  Additionally, she has subspecialties in treating those who have been diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illnesses, as well as those who identify as LGBT+.

Prior to her doctoral training Dr. Byrnes obtained a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.   After working with civilly committed offenders and youth who had come into contact with the juvenile justice system, Dr. Byrnes decided to further her education, receiving her doctorate from the Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University’s C. W. Post Campus, with a concentration in serious and persistent mental illness.  There, she was dually trained in psychodynamic and CBT based orientations.  Dr. Byrnes is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Forensic Psychology (ABPP) and is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP), a distinction earned by less than 400 psychologists in the US.  

Dr. Byrnes served for over a decade at one of New Jersey’s Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Centers for child maltreatment.  She is on faculty at the Hackensack Meridian Health’s School of Medicine and has conducted research in the field of child maltreatment, commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking, trauma, IPV, grooming, and LGBT counselor competence, presenting findings at regional, national and international conferences.  She has also published chapters and articles related to these topics. Among other organizations, she is a member of the American Psychology-Law Society [APLS; APA Division 41], the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race [APA Division 45], Trauma Psychology [APA Division 56] and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children [APSAC].