Mother, Daughter Share a Bond Beyond the Biological: ADAA Membership, Opportunities, and a Path to Making a Difference

Mother, Daughter Share a Bond Beyond the Biological: ADAA Membership, Opportunities, and a Path to Making a Difference

Ruth Lippin, LCSW, JD

Ruth Lippin, LCSW, JD

Ruth Lippin, LCSW, JD is a licensed clinical social worker who has had a private practice in New York City for the past 20+ years specializing in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Ruth utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and other related evidence-based practices, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness to treat her clients. She works with children, adolescents, and adults. A graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work, she was trained in CBT for anxiety disorders at The Anxiety & Phobia Treatment Center at White Plains Hospital in Westchester, New York. Ruth is also a graduate of the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) Pediatric Behavioral Training Therapy Institute. Additionally, along with two colleagues, she created a 12-part online series to train master level clinicians in CBT that can currently be seen on the PESI website. Ruth is a member of ADAA where she has served on numerous committees and is currently the co-chair of the ADAA Child and Adolescent Special Interest Group. Ruth is a recipient of the ADAA's 2012 Clinician's Outreach Award. She is a professional member of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and is currently on the Board of the NYC-CBT Association. Prior to becoming a therapist, Ruth had a successful career as a public interest attorney in New York City.

Ruth and ADAA

"I feel privileged to be a founding fellow of the ADAA. I joined ADAA over 20 years ago and have considered it my professional home ever since. I have worked on numerous committees throughout my time as a member and am currently the co-chair of the Child & Adolescent SIG. I have also truly enjoyed being a mentor in the Career Development Leadership Program (CDLP) where I have been able to support others in building their careers.

To be part of such a dedicated community of fellow clinicians and researchers treating anxiety disorders, OCD and depression has been invaluable to me. It has allowed me to stay current with the research and cutting-edge treatments and it has provided me with numerous opportunities for continuing education. But more than that, it has given me colleagues (some of whom are now good friends), across the country, that I can collaborate with and always turn to for advice and support in respect to my professional endeavors. However, I would be remiss if I did not mention what is the highlight of every year—the annual ADAA conference which I have sorely missed during COVID-19. It is a time to learn, get reinvigorated about the work you do and to reconnect and have fun with fellow ADAA members! 

Finally, I am still pleased that in 2012 I was honored, along with Elizabeth Dupont Spencer and Kimberly Morrow, with the ADAA 2012 Clinician’s Outreach Award."

Rachel Lippin-Foster, LMSW

Rachel Lippin-Foster is a clinical social worker at CBC, where she provides individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Rachel has received extensive training in applying these modalities to various presenting concerns, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and mood disorders.

Before joining CBC, Rachel was a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center where she provided individual and family therapy to children and adolescents within the Child

Outpatient Psychiatry Department. She treated mood, anxiety, OCD, and eating disorders in this role. Rachel also worked as a therapist at Monte Nido in their partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bates College and earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University Silver School of Social Work. She completed her first-year internship at Pathway 2 Leadership, where she utilized CBT to treat adolescents in the middle school setting. She completed her second-year clinical internship at The Children’s Day Unit at the New York State Psychiatric Institute where she provided individual, group, and family therapy to adolescents at the partial hospitalization program and in outpatient care.

Rachel is an active member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and NYC-CBT Association. Rachel is the incoming co-vice chair for the ADAA Students and Early Career Professionals special interest group (SIG). Rachel is a recent recipient of the 2022 Alies Muskin Career Development Leadership Program award.

Boost Search Results
Off

Mother, Daughter Share a Bond Beyond the Biological: ADAA Membership, Opportunities, and a Path to Making a Difference

Share
No
Ruth and Rachel Lippin, Mother and Daughter

At the Anxiety and Depression Association (ADAA), we value each and every one of our members and feel that all of them are a distinguished part of the ADAA “family”. But when we have members who are actually related – mother, son, father, daughter, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew (you see where we’re going here) – we can’t help but find a way to highlight not only the relationship that they have to each other but to ADAA’s work and mission. 

 Members Ruth Lippin, LCSW, JD, and Rachel Lippin-Foster, LMSW embody a delightful, astute, and extremely gracious mother and daughter spirit that we consider a benefit to ADAA and the broader field of mental health clinicians. Ruth and Rachel spoke to ADAA about their shared career paths, ADAA membership, annual conference attendance and support, and an unconventional relationship with cockroaches and dead spiders. 

The Path to Becoming a Therapist is Paved with Many Roads  

Ruth went to the Columbia University School of Social Work with a very specific purpose. She wanted to be a clinician who treated anxiety and related disorders. And that she has done. For the past 25 + years, Ruth has had a successful private practice in Manhattan treating children, adolescents, and adults. 

Before becoming a therapist, Ruth had a meaningful career as a public interest attorney in New York City. However, having suffered from her own anxiety disorder in her late teens and 20’s and finding it very difficult to find evidence-based treatment, she decided she could help more people as a clinician.  

“I had an anxiety disorder, and I was lucky enough to stumble upon one of the few therapists who was involved in starting ADAA and was doing in-vivo Exposure and Response Therapy (ERP),” Ruth told ADAA. Ruth credits that treatment with giving her the skills and knowledge she needed to live the life she wanted and not the small life anxiety had in mind for her.  

“One of my main motivations was wanting to have children and not wanting to pass on the anxiety I experienced,” she said, recalling how she needed to be “a fully functional person” to be the mother she wanted to be. Ruth said that driving long distances caused her severe anxiety, and even before her children were born, she knew that she wanted to be a mom who could drive as far as needed to go visit her children in college, not depending on anyone to drive her. 

“I still remember that first time, 25 years later, driving up to Maine where Rachel was at college,” she beamed. “It was exhilarating!” 

Her daughter Rachel was still an undergraduate, but the seeds of becoming a therapist had already been planted. Rachel remembers growing up with a mother whose practice sometimes brought unusual items into their own home. She and her friends thought her mom had an interesting and unique job. 

“My favorite story to tell people is that my first and only pet as a child was a pair of hissing Madagascar cockroaches!” she exclaimed. 

Rachel explained how her mother had a client who was afraid of cockroaches. As a true ERP therapist, she purchased Madagascar roaches and would bring them from their home to her office, once a week, to treat her patient.  

“I hated having them in our house, but at the same time, I also thought it was kind of cool,” Rachel recalled. “We always had something – dead tarantulas or fake vomit – and it seemed like a job that was fun, interesting, proactive, and made a difference in people’s lives.” 

Rachel said she always knew she wanted to work in mental health, and it helped to have a mother who was always excited to go to work and was also happy to come home and spend time with her family. Rachel knew she, too, wanted a job where she could help people, and have a flexible schedule while raising her own children. Soon enough, the daughter was traveling down the same road as her mom. 

The Intersection of Practice and Professional Development 

Early on, Ruth realized, as Rachel would many years later, the important role a professional community could play in building a thriving clinical practice. She knew it would allow her to network with other professionals and continue learning and acquiring skills. She understood that it was an integral part of her career development. 

“I heard about ADAA and went to my first conference, and that’s when I found my professional home,” Ruth said. “It was a lovely, welcoming place where I could continue my education and feel a part of a professional clinical community.” 

Ruth highlighted how every year at the annual conference, she gains insight into the newest and best evidence-based treatments and takes advantage of the webinars and all the learning opportunities throughout the year. Ruth has been a co-chair for the Child and Adolescent Special Interest Group (SIG) for several years and values the peer-to-peer connection she has with the group. 

While Ruth’s initiation to ADDA was over 20 years ago, her daughter Rachel, who became a member in 2017, reiterated the benefits of being part of ADAA and the welcoming feeling she too experiences. 

“There is an incredibly welcoming quality to ADAA,” Rachel said. “I’ve made friends and met colleagues across various disciplines, working on different aspects of anxiety and depression. There are so many ways to slice the cake when approaching any mental health issue, and it was an eye-opening experience to attend the conferences.”  

Both mom and daughter expressed that being a part of the ADAA community expands their knowledge and perspective. They pointed out that clinicians and other mental health professionals are often engrossed in their own daily work. Attending ADAA meetings, webinars, and even social events allows for a view outside of what Rachel called the “bubble” of one’s individual practice. 

“To be able to mesh minds with others in the field, get differing perspectives, and attend these talks and workshops is so essential,” she told ADAA. “I encourage my colleagues to attend because how do you keep growing and developing and become a better clinician if you’re not pushing yourself and learning from others.” 

 Rachel is the incoming co-vice chair of the Early Career SIG and a recipient of the 2022 Alies Muskin Career Development Leadership Program (CDLP) award. While Rachel had the added advantage of being the daughter of an already established ADAA member and perhaps knew more about ADAA than the average clinician before joining the community, she encourages more social workers, in particular, to become members, attend conferences, and apply for awards and scholarships through ADAA.  

I was one of only two social workers in the CDLP program in 2022. I’d love to see a more diverse base at ADAA,” Rachel said. “In the Early Career SIG, we are working to attract more members, and we’re highlighting the various ways one can be in the mental health field by disseminating information about the various mental health degrees to those interested in entering the field.” 

Opportunities for Moms, Daughters, and Everyone Else 

 Ruth recalled how more than 20 years ago, there were very few master-level clinicians within ADAA membership, but that the relationships she formed with fellow ADAA members  Elizabeth DuPont Spencer, LCSW-C, and Kimberly Morrow, LCSW, and their work together helped open the doors to a more diverse community.  Elizabeth’s father, Robert DuPont, MD, was a founding member of ADAA in 1980, when it was known as the Phobia Society of America, and held meetings in his den at his home in Washington, DC, with fellow founder Jerilyn Ross.  

More than 40 years later, Ruth appreciates the strides ADAA has made and is delighted that her daughter has joined the professional family. Both Ruth and Rachel admit mom had a big influence on “pulling” her daughter into the ADAA fold, but that Rachel quickly found her own footing and ran with it. 

“My mom introduced me to ADAA, but I made the decision that if I want to really become involved and network, I have to jump in,” Rachel said. “I attended the annual conference in San Francisco (2017) before I started graduate school and then the Denver conference (2022) as a practicing clinician.” 

Rachel takes every opportunity to credit ADAA with helping to obtain her current job at Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants (CBC) in White Plains, New York. At CBC, Rachel treats anxiety and OCD disorders across the lifespan. She met and networked with the co-founder and co-director of CBC, Dr. Lata McGinn, and took advantage of the Early Career Networking Lunch at the conference, where she had lunch with her current supervisor, Dr. Rachel Busman, who directs the child and adolescent anxiety and related disorders program. 

When talking about her daughter, Ruth has a huge smile on her face. She says she watches Rachel in awe as she negotiates being an early career clinician.  

“She has an innate ability to relate to people,” said Ruth. “She has a very strong work ethic and takes the practice so seriously. I am so proud of her.” 

And at ADAA, we take pride in all our members and feel that even if we aren’t related, there is an intrinsic connection in our professional community. 

Ruth Lippin, LCSW, JD

Ruth Lippin, LCSW, JD

Ruth Lippin, LCSW, JD is a licensed clinical social worker who has had a private practice in New York City for the past 20+ years specializing in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Ruth utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and other related evidence-based practices, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness to treat her clients. She works with children, adolescents, and adults. A graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work, she was trained in CBT for anxiety disorders at The Anxiety & Phobia Treatment Center at White Plains Hospital in Westchester, New York. Ruth is also a graduate of the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) Pediatric Behavioral Training Therapy Institute. Additionally, along with two colleagues, she created a 12-part online series to train master level clinicians in CBT that can currently be seen on the PESI website. Ruth is a member of ADAA where she has served on numerous committees and is currently the co-chair of the ADAA Child and Adolescent Special Interest Group. Ruth is a recipient of the ADAA's 2012 Clinician's Outreach Award. She is a professional member of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and is currently on the Board of the NYC-CBT Association. Prior to becoming a therapist, Ruth had a successful career as a public interest attorney in New York City.

Ruth and ADAA

"I feel privileged to be a founding fellow of the ADAA. I joined ADAA over 20 years ago and have considered it my professional home ever since. I have worked on numerous committees throughout my time as a member and am currently the co-chair of the Child & Adolescent SIG. I have also truly enjoyed being a mentor in the Career Development Leadership Program (CDLP) where I have been able to support others in building their careers.

To be part of such a dedicated community of fellow clinicians and researchers treating anxiety disorders, OCD and depression has been invaluable to me. It has allowed me to stay current with the research and cutting-edge treatments and it has provided me with numerous opportunities for continuing education. But more than that, it has given me colleagues (some of whom are now good friends), across the country, that I can collaborate with and always turn to for advice and support in respect to my professional endeavors. However, I would be remiss if I did not mention what is the highlight of every year—the annual ADAA conference which I have sorely missed during COVID-19. It is a time to learn, get reinvigorated about the work you do and to reconnect and have fun with fellow ADAA members! 

Finally, I am still pleased that in 2012 I was honored, along with Elizabeth Dupont Spencer and Kimberly Morrow, with the ADAA 2012 Clinician’s Outreach Award."

Rachel Lippin-Foster, LMSW

Rachel Lippin-Foster is a clinical social worker at CBC, where she provides individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Rachel has received extensive training in applying these modalities to various presenting concerns, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and mood disorders.

Before joining CBC, Rachel was a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center where she provided individual and family therapy to children and adolescents within the Child

Outpatient Psychiatry Department. She treated mood, anxiety, OCD, and eating disorders in this role. Rachel also worked as a therapist at Monte Nido in their partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bates College and earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University Silver School of Social Work. She completed her first-year internship at Pathway 2 Leadership, where she utilized CBT to treat adolescents in the middle school setting. She completed her second-year clinical internship at The Children’s Day Unit at the New York State Psychiatric Institute where she provided individual, group, and family therapy to adolescents at the partial hospitalization program and in outpatient care.

Rachel is an active member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and NYC-CBT Association. Rachel is the incoming co-vice chair for the ADAA Students and Early Career Professionals special interest group (SIG). Rachel is a recent recipient of the 2022 Alies Muskin Career Development Leadership Program award.

Use of Website Blog Commenting

ADAA Blog Content and Blog Comments Policy

ADAA provides this Website blogs for the benefit of its members and the public. The content, view and opinions published in Blogs written by our personnel or contributors – or from links or posts on the Website from other sources - belong solely to their respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ADAA, its members, management or employees. Any comments or opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors only. Please remember that the open and real-time nature of the comments posted to these venues makes it is impossible for ADAA to confirm the validity of any content posted, and though we reserve the right to review and edit or delete any such comment, we do not guarantee that we will monitor or review it. As such, we are not responsible for any messages posted or the consequences of following any advice offered within such posts. If you find any posts in these posts/comments to be offensive, inaccurate or objectionable, please contact us via email at [email protected] and reference the relevant content. If we determine that removal of a post or posts is necessary, we will make reasonable efforts to do so in a timely manner.

ADAA expressly disclaims responsibility for and liabilities resulting from, any information or communications from and between users of ADAA’s blog post commenting features. Users acknowledge and agree that they may be individually liable for anything they communicate using ADAA’s blogs, including but not limited to defamatory, discriminatory, false or unauthorized information. Users are cautioned that they are responsible for complying with the requirements of applicable copyright and trademark laws and regulations. By submitting a response, comment or content, you agree that such submission is non-confidential for all purposes. Any submission to this Website will be deemed and remain the property of ADAA.

The ADAA blogs are forums for individuals to share their opinions, experiences and thoughts related to mental illness. ADAA wants to ensure the integrity of this service and therefore, use of this service is limited to participants who agree to adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Refrain from transmitting any message, information, data, or text that is unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, that may be invasive of another 's privacy, hateful, or bashing communications - especially those aimed at gender, race, color, sexual orientation, national origin, religious views or disability.

Please note that there is a review process whereby all comments posted to blog posts and webinars are reviewed by ADAA staff to determine appropriateness before comments are posted. ADAA reserves the right to remove or edit a post containing offensive material as defined by ADAA.

ADAA reserves the right to remove or edit posts that contain explicit, obscene, offensive, or vulgar language. Similarly, posts that contain any graphic files will be removed immediately upon notice.

2. Refrain from posting or transmitting any unsolicited, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain mail," "pyramid schemes" or any other form of solicitation. ADAA reserves the right to delete these posts immediately upon notice.

3. ADAA invites and encourages a healthy exchange of opinions. If you disagree with a participant 's post or opinion and wish to challenge it, do so with respect. The real objective of the ADAA blog post commenting function is to promote discussion and understanding, not to convince others that your opinion is "right." Name calling, insults, and personal attacks are not appropriate and will not be tolerated. ADAA will remove these posts immediately upon notice.

4. ADAA promotes privacy and encourages participants to keep personal information such as address and telephone number from being posted. Similarly, do not ask for personal information from other participants. Any comments that ask for telephone, address, e-mail, surveys and research studies will not be approved for posting.

5. Participants should be aware that the opinions, beliefs and statements on blog posts do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of ADAA. Participants also agree that ADAA is not to be held liable for any loss or injury caused, in whole or in part, by sponsorship of blog post commenting. Participants also agree that ADAA reserves the right to report any suspicions of harm to self or others as evidenced by participant posts.

RESOURCES AND NEWS
Evidence-based Tips & Strategies from our Member Experts
RELATED ARTICLES
Block reference