Board Certified Psychiatrist
Meet Dr. Sarah Fajgenbaum-Teslja: Your Partner in Mental Health and Well-Being
“I love working with professionals, midlife women, neurodivergent adults, and gifted young adults because I get you. I’ve been there.”
Like many of my patients, I know what it’s like to juggle multiple responsibilities, hold yourself to impossibly high standards, and appear capable while quietly struggling. My goal is to help you better understand yourself, work with your brain rather than against it, and create a life that feels sustainable.
Fun Facts About Me
- I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago.
- I attended the University of London, St. George’s University Medical School and completed my psychiatry training in New York City.
- I’m an avid reader and host a book club for Montclair therapists.
- I love true crime documentaries and am endlessly fascinated by human behavior.
- When I’m not working, you’ll find me spending time with my husband, two daughters, and our dog.
- Like many of my patients, I appreciate good coffee, deep conversations, and lifelong learning.
I’m a truly multicultural person. I was born and raised in the Caribbean island of Trinidad, attended the University of London in the UK, completed my medical training in New York City and have called New Jersey home for the past 12 years.
After completing medical school, I attended a 4-year psychiatry residency program at the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate in Brooklyn. I especially enjoyed learning about psychotherapy and during residency, I pursued additional training in the theory and practice of psychoanalysis at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Education in New York City. In my final year of psychiatry residency, I took the Psychiatry Resident In Training Examination (PRITE) and scored in the 95th percentile of all US psychiatry residents.
After passing the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology exams, I became licensed to practice medicine in the state of New York and honed my skills in the psychiatric emergency room at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx – the busiest emergency room in New York City and third busiest in the nation.
Since then, I’ve worked as an outpatient psychiatrist in New Jersey in a variety of capacities. I served as the medical director of the Hoboken University Medical Center Giant Steps program, treating adults and adolescents suffering from mental illness and addiction. I also provided patient care at the Hoboken University Medical Center Community Mental Health Center and Family Medicine Clinic as well as St. Clare’s Hospital’s Outpatient Counseling Services in Morris Plains.
When I’m not caring for patients, I love spending time with my husband, our 2 daughters and our goldendoodle, Rusty. You can find me devouring audiobooks, taking long walks and bike rides, digging in my garden and experimenting in the kitchen.
I’m proud to bring this wealth of personal and professional experience to my private practice and look forward to working with you!