Meet Your Therapist: Dr. El McCabe (she/her)
I am the founder of Grand Slam Psychological Services, as well as a licensed psychologist with a passion for helping athletes, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those struggling with relationship concerns. I have significant experience working with D1 college athletes at Princeton University from 15+ different men’s & women’s teams. I also work with professional athletes, semi-pros, and coaches looking to take their game to new heights AND overcome obstacles in their personal lives. Additionally, as an openly Queer therapist, I love working with all members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially with Bisexual, Non-Binary, and Transgender folx. Outside of the therapy room, I am an avid fan of NY sports, a big reader, and lover of all things outdoors. I am licensed to see clients in New York, New Jersey, & Pennslyvania, as well as authorized to see telehealth clients via PsyPact in 40 other states/territories (see map).
What is your approach to therapy?
As a therapist, I am warm, relationship-oriented, and challenging. I let you set the pace of treatment and help you build confidence in your innate abilities to heal and persevere during difficult seasons of life. I use a mixture of a talk-therapy (psychodynamic) approach & more structured skills from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
What can clients expect from their first and future sessions with you?
I focus the first session on getting to know you, what brings you into therapy, and help you determine if we’re a good fit to achieve your goals. I tend to ask deep, thought-provoking questions and try to infuse humor in our sessions whenever I can. Generally, I am both solution-oriented and process-focused in my approach to sessions after the intake. This means that we will identify and talk through the difficulties you are facing AND learn relevant skills tailored to your specific concerns to help you navigate future obstacles.
Dr. McCabe’s Qualifications and Certifications
Ph.D. in Counseling & School Psychology from the University at Buffalo, SUNY
2026 Early Career Professional Travel Award, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47)
2024-2025 President- The Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation & Gender Diversity (APA Division 44)
Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Princeton University (Specializations: D1 College Athletes & Transgender Health)
Gottman Method Couples Therapy- Level 1 Cetified
2023 Co-Chair- Bisexual Issues Committee (APA Division 44)
Check out Dr. McCabe’s Peer-Reviewed Publications, eBook, & Articles:
Why "Grand Slam Psych"?
Getting Personal
When I was kid, I dreamt of becoming a psychologist and playing third base for the New York Yankees. Safe to say that the latter did not pan out, but my love for playing sports and rooting on my favorite teams is stronger than ever. Thus, specializing in therapeutic work with athletes became a natural fit for me and my practice.
The name itself is inspired by the most electric moment in sports, aka the grand slam. For those unfamiliar, it is the excitement and drama of a home run x4 ; a phenomenon that is only made possible by multiple members of a team working in tandem to get on base and make something amazing happen. That is the feeling of co-collaboration & impact that we strive for between clients and counselor at Grand Slam Psych. In short, we want to knock your journey in therapy and self-discovery out of the park!
Dr. El at Baseball Camp hosted by the Staten Island Yankees (2003)
Dr. El at Short stop- Varsity Softball (2011)
Grand Slam Psych’s mission is to advocate for & empower all its clients, especially those who hold marginalized identities in our society
Our Core Values: 1) Compassion 2) Authenticity 3) Social Justice 4) Trauma-Informed Care
