About Dr. McCue
Over her 25-year career in social work, Dr. McCue has worked in direct care, supervisory, and training roles at social service and legal organizations throughout New York City. She brings extensive expertise in psychodynamically oriented therapy for survivors of incest, sexual and physical abuse, and family violence.
Her therapeutic approach integrates narrative therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Flash Technique, alongside other evidence-based methods.
This holistic, individualized framework helps clients process traumatic experiences on interpersonal, cognitive, and physical levels—empowering them to move from victimization toward healing and resilience.
EMDR is well-known for effectively treating trauma by guiding clients through bilateral stimulations while they process traumatic memories.
Dr. McCue has supported clients facing severe challenges such as sexual and physical assault, intimate partner violence, and incest. Her approach helps clients reclaim control over their stories, shifting from feelings of victimization towards strength and empowerment. Through her trauma-informed care, clients begin to release emotional burdens from their past, gain new perspectives, and craft a new narrative that enables them to reclaim their lives on their own terms.
She earned her master’s degree and post-master’s adult mental health certificate in social work from New York University. During her studies, Dr. McCue distinguished herself through clinical work at a city hospital with adults experiencing trauma and addiction. She received a special award for her clinical skills from the New York State Clinical Society.
Dr. McCue’s academic journey progressed as she pursued her doctorate in Social Welfare at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, concentrating on vicarious trauma and vicarious post-traumatic growth. She conducted a comprehensive citywide study to examine the experiences of social workers who engage daily with survivors of intimate partner violence, with the aim of deepening the understanding of the psychological effects—both positive and negative—of vicarious traumatic exposure on social workers and their intimate relationships. Her research, “Social Workers Working with Intimate Partner Violence Survivors: The Influence of Trauma Work on the Social Worker’s Intimate Relationships ”, can be found here.
Dr. McCue also completed the Vicarious Trauma Training Certificate Program at Boston College, which provided her with a robust foundation for helping professionals manage the impact of trauma exposure in their professional roles.
Moreover, she served as an Adjunct Professor at the Silberman Graduate School of Social Work at Hunter College for eight years, where she taught courses on Human Behavior in the Social Environment and mentored graduate students entering the field as trauma specialists. Dr. McCue has also taught social work and sociology courses at the City University of New York Graduate Center, College of Staten Island, and Wagner College, placing an emphasis on the repercussions of human-induced violence on individuals. She continues to contribute to the academic community as a guest lecturer, offering presentations on trauma, gender-based violence, and vicarious trauma at various colleges and universities throughout the New York City area.
Recently, Dr. McCue received the esteemed New York State Changemaker Award in recognition of her work with survivors of gender-based violence. Her extensive experience working with individuals who have endured trauma, sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence led her to co-create a storytelling initiative for survivors titled “My Story, My Terms,” which is now prominently featured on the “me too.” movement website. Her work can be found here.
Dr. McCue considers her life’s mission to empower individuals in reshaping their lives through insightful healing. She is committed to establishing a warm and secure therapeutic environment and demonstrates both compassion and curiosity regarding her clients’ identities, narratives, struggles, and strengths. Dr. McCue finds continual inspiration in her clients’ strength, resilience, and tenacity.
🖥️ Book Online: Free 20-min Consultation
📩 Email: drclaire@drclairetmccue.com
your healing journey today