Inside the Academic World of Michael A. Civin, Ph.D.

How a Lifelong Commitment to Learning Shaped One Psychologist's Extraordinary Career

For most professionals, education is a means to an end. For Michael A. Civin, Ph.D., it has always been something far more enduring — a continuous pursuit woven into every stage of a career that now spans close to thirty years. His academic story is as impressive as his clinical one, and understanding both reveals how this New York psychologist came to occupy such a respected place in his field.

His academic journey began at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. In 1968, he graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. degree, earning the distinction of cum laude honors. That same year, he enrolled at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he studied through 1969. These early academic experiences laid a rigorous intellectual foundation that would shape everything that followed.

The graduate years brought further distinction. Michael A. Civin earned his first Master of Arts degree from the University of Oregon in 1970. He then pursued advanced clinical training at Adelphi University's Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, earning a second M.A. in Clinical Psychology. This program, known for its psychoanalytic orientation and clinical rigor, proved to be a natural home for his scholarly ambitions.

In 1988, Adelphi University awarded him his doctoral degree, making him officially Michael A. Civin, Ph.D. The recognition continued in 1993 when Adelphi granted him a Postdoctoral Certificate in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy — an advanced credential that underscored his theoretical depth and commitment to the psychoanalytic tradition.

But academic achievement is not merely something Dr. Civin pursued for himself. Throughout his career, he has shared knowledge as an educator, serving in roles ranging from faculty member to associate professor to full professor at multiple institutions of higher learning. His influence in academic settings has given him the opportunity to shape the next generation of psychologists.

His scholarly production reflects this same dedication. Numerous articles bearing his name have appeared in peer-reviewed medical journals, while contributed chapters have been featured in significant academic volumes focused on psychology. This body of work ensures that his thinking reaches practitioners and researchers far beyond the walls of his clinical offices.

Today, as a senior psychologist at Rose Hill Psychological Services in the Bronx and a private practitioner serving clients across Manhattan, Astoria, and Bayville, Michael A. Civin, Ph.D. brings all of that learning directly to bear on the people he helps. His career demonstrates something important: that the best clinicians are often the ones who never stop being students.

Rose Hill Psychological Services and the Mission of Accessible Mental Health Care

When Dr. Michael A. Civin co-founded Rose Hill Psychological Services in 2007, he was responding to a need that he had witnessed firsthand over decades of clinical practice: high-quality mental health care was simply out of reach for many New Yorkers. His answer was a practice built from the ground up with affordability and community service at its core. Situated near Fordham University in the Bronx, Rose Hill was designed to bring professional psychological services into the heart of neighborhoods that had long been underserved.

The practice quickly became far more than a neighborhood resource. Under Dr. Civin's leadership as senior psychologist, Rose Hill cultivated a team of skilled mental health professionals committed to delivering therapeutic services with both clinical excellence and genuine empathy. New patients, longtime clients, and individuals from all walks of life found in Rose Hill a space where they could be heard without judgment and without financial strain.

The response from the community was overwhelming. The demand for Rose Hill's services eventually outgrew its original location, prompting expansion to two additional offices — one serving patients on Manhattan's Upper West Side and another located in Mohegan Lake, New York. Each new location carries forward the same founding mission: no one should have to go without mental health support simply because of where they live or what they earn.

Dr. Civin's dedication doesn't end when he steps away from Rose Hill. He also maintains a private practice serving patients across several New York City communities, including Astoria, Manhattan, and Bayville. Whether in private practice or at a community-based clinic, his standard of care remains consistent — personalized, attentive, and rooted in decades of clinical experience.

For Dr. Civin, treating patients well is not just a professional obligation — it is a reflection of his broader values. Across all his practice locations, he insists on treating every patient with the same level of respect and quality of service, whether they are brand-new or have been part of his practice for many years. That philosophy has made Michael A. Civin Ph.D. a cornerstone of New York's psychological services community.

Dr. Michael A. Civin: Shaping a Brighter Future for Mental Health in New York City

A Legacy of Psychological Excellence

Dr. Michael A. Civin has been a leading figure in psychology for over three decades, combining clinical expertise with academic contributions. A 1968 Harvard College graduate (A.B., cum laude), he earned Master of Arts degrees from the University of Oregon (1970) and Adelphi University (1986), followed by a Ph.D. in clinical psychology (1988). His postdoctoral training in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy has equipped him to provide exceptional care across diverse clinical settings.

Rose Hill Psychological Services and Beyond

In 2008, Dr. Civin co-founded Rose Hill Psychological Services in New York City, where he serves as a senior psychologist. He also operates private practices in Manhattan, Astoria, and Bayville, specializing in psychodiagnostics, adolescent and adult therapy, group therapy, and supervision. His work in inpatient, outpatient, and addiction treatment settings reflects his commitment to accessible mental health care.

Shaping Future Psychologists

As a professor and faculty member, Dr. Michael A. Civin has mentored countless students who have gone on to successful careers in psychology. His published works, including Male Female Email and numerous scholarly articles, explore the psychological implications of modern societal trends. His research, presented globally, has significantly influenced the field of psychology.

A Dedication to Lifelong Learning

Dr. Civin’s extensive education, including a year at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and postdoctoral certifications, underscores his commitment to continuous learning. This ensures that his clinical practice remains at the forefront of psychological advancements, benefiting his diverse clientele.

Comprehensive Mental Health Support

With offices in Manhattan, Astoria, and Bayville, Dr. Michael A. Civin provides personalized psychological services to individuals, couples, and groups. His three-decade career and patient-focused approach make him a trusted choice for mental health care in New York City.

The Educational Path That Shaped Dr. Michael A. Civin

A distinguished career in psychology rarely happens by chance, and Dr. Michael A. Civin is a clear example of how sustained education and determination can shape professional excellence. His academic journey reflects decades of commitment to learning, refinement, and growth within the psychological sciences.

Dr. Civin’s formal education began at Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. degree with cum laude honors in 1968. This early achievement laid the groundwork for his lifelong pursuit of academic and professional excellence. Immediately following Harvard, he attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, further exposing him to the medical sciences and clinical thinking that would later influence his psychological work.

In 1970, Dr. Civin earned his first Master of Arts degree from the University of Oregon. At that point, his educational path paused as he entered the professional world. Like many driven individuals, he stepped away from formal schooling for more than a decade, gaining real-world experience that would later enrich his academic perspective.

The mid-1980s marked a decisive return to higher education. Dr. Civin enrolled at Adelphi University’s Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, where he earned a second Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology in 1986. This milestone represented a renewed focus on psychology as both a scientific discipline and a clinical vocation.

His momentum continued at Adelphi, where he completed his doctoral studies and earned his Ph.D. in 1988. This achievement formally established him as Michael A. Civin, Ph.D., and allowed him to transition fully into advanced clinical and academic roles. Never content to stop learning, Dr. Civin pursued postdoctoral training and was awarded a Postdoctoral Certificate in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in 1993.

This layered educational background directly informs his clinical practice today. Dr. Civin applies his training in psychodiagnostics to assess personality structure and behavioral patterns through evidence-based testing methods. His work extends across adult and adolescent psychology, group therapy, and professional supervision.

In addition to clinical care, Dr. Civin’s academic contributions are substantial. He has held roles as a professor, associate professor, and faculty member, sharing his knowledge with future generations of psychologists. His research and writing have appeared in medical journals and influential psychology books, reinforcing his reputation as both a practitioner and a scholar.

Through persistence, academic rigor, and intellectual curiosity, Dr. Michael A. Civin has demonstrated that education is not a single chapter, but a lifelong process—one that continues to shape his impact on the field of psychology.

Michael A. Civil, Ph.D. and Rose Hill are A Match Made in Psychology

 

One thing that can be said about Michael A Civin is that he is highly educated. In 1968, he graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1968 with his A.B. degree, which he earned cum laude. Following that, by 1970, he had attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and earned his first Master of Arts degree from the University of Oregon. He earned his second M.A., in Clinical Psychology from the Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University in 1986, which is where he earned his Ph.D. in 1988. Dr. Michael Civin also received a medical degree from the Pennsylvania Institute Of Straight Chiropractic with his medical degree in 1988 and he completed a Postdoctoral Certificate in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in 1993.

Currently, Dr. Michael A Civin, Ph.D. works as a specialist in clinical psychology in New York City, where he has been highly regarded by many in the close-knit New York City psychological services industry, due to his long career there. Besides being a co-founder of Rose Hill Psychological Services, where he is a senior psychologist, Dr. Michael Civin also works out of a private practice that serves patients in the Astoria, Manhattan, and Bayville areas of the city. Dr. Michael Civin treats new patients and some who have been around a long time and he does so with the greatest of care. Rose Hill Psychological Services was founded to offer affordable high-quality psychological services to underserved populations nearby, and they have grown to three offices with their tendency to offer high-quality services that are affordable and accessible to all.

At various times during his long career, Dr. Michael Civin has been a professor, faculty member, and associate professor at several institutions of higher learning and his writing has been published many times, in the form of journal articles and book chapters.