Patient Empowerment Program

NYBRA's one of a kind Patient Empowerment Program offers tailored, individual support to patients facing mastectomy.

Meet Celeste Rivera, PhD, Clinical Director of the Patient Empowerment Program.

Dr. Celeste Rivera is an accomplished clinical psychologist and board-certified executive coach with over two decades of experience helping individuals in her private practice. Known for her warm and empathetic style, her expertise spans psychotherapy, executive coaching, and workshop facilitation. In her role as the Clinical Director of the Patient Empowerment Program she will bring her deep clinical insight and her integrative approach to care to help our patients reconnect with their inner strength, manage the psychological impact of medical treatments, and navigate the changes that the diagnosis of cancer has brought to their lives. Deeply attuned to the complexities of survivorship, Dr. Rivera’s approach integrates evidence-based therapeutic techniques with a profound understanding of the resilience needed to thrive beyond diagnosis and treatment. Born and raised in the Caribbean, Dr. Rivera earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico. Her clinical training brought her to New York City where she completed her Clinical Internship at NYU Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Clinical Internship Program, more than 20 years ago. After her graduation, she held clinical positions at NYU Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital where she was also Clinical Supervisor and Instructor before moving to her private practice. She has honed her skills across diverse settings, addressing a wide range of psychological needs, which uniquely positions her to support individuals coping with the complexities of survivorship. Dr. Rivera is also a dynamic speaker and facilitator. She has taught and facilitated workshops on the themes of holistic health, wellness, stress management and resilience.