Nicholas Dynan

About Nicholas Dynan, MA

Nicholas is a third-year doctoral student in the Combined School and Clinical Psychology program at Kean University. 

He currently works with individuals across the lifespan and pursues specialization in evidenced-based practices including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). 

His approach to clinical psychology is influenced by exposure to mindfulness training and Buddhist psychology. Prior to his doctoral training, he engaged with mindfulness through personal practice and teachings from several spiritual and philosophical traditions.  Such experiences provide a foundation to support others as they learn to skillfully relate to their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. Nicholas’s emerging practice aims to reduce pathologization. His goal is to help clients face difficult emotions, becoming unstuck from patterns of behavior which constrict their lives, and help them pursue meaningful and fulfilling values-driven action.

Nicholas has worked as a school psychology extern within the New Jersey public school system implementing evidence-based intervention strategies aimed at improving students' academic performance, social skills, emotional functioning, and behavior. He currently serves as a student clinician at Kean University's outpatient clinic, Kean Psychological Services (KPS), where he provides individual psychotherapy to adults and emerging adults. 

In addition to his clinical roles, he is involved in clinical research, which focuses on the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a novel therapeutic approach that integrates ACT and CFT principles. He has also conducted research centered on mental health interventions serving college students. This research examined how trauma exposure affects the response of students to curriculum-based ACT and yoga workshops aimed at reducing psychological distress and increasing psychological flexibility. 

Current areas of research interest also include: the impacts of behavior often associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), emerging adults, climate anxiety, chronic illness, and trauma-informed practice.