I welcome your interest in my psychological services. I believe that each of us experiences, from time to time, life circumstances, challenges, problems and daily living situations that require the expert assistance of a trained mental health professional.
With more than forty years of clinical and forensic experience, my goal is to provide quality psychological services to children, adults and families. Always sensitive to your unique emotional needs, my extensive experience in the application of scientific psychological principles provides a firm foundation to assist you in achieving emotional growth, and reaching your treatment goals.
I am a licensed psychologist with offices in West Orange, New Jersey and Elizabeth, New Jersey. I provide assessment, psychotherapy, consultation, and forensic psychological services.
I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1969. Prior to that, I earned my B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Psi Chi. My license to practice psychology was granted by the New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners in 1979.
My forensic specialty areas include custody and parenting time evaluation, parenting coordination, reunification therapy, immigration evaluations, and expert witness testimony. In my private practice, I provide individual, couples, and family therapy.
I have staff privileges at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, and at Bonnie Brae Education Center. I am a under contract with the Department of Child Permanency and Protection (formerly known as the Division of Youth and Family Services). I conduct disability evaluations for the Division of Disability Services. I provide intellectual assessments for potential clients of the Division of Developmental Disabilities.
I was the founder and a Past President of the New Jersey chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). I received that chapter’s Phil Sobel award in 2013.
I have served as Secretary and Treasurer for the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA). I have served as the co-chair of the NJPA Forensic Committee, as Secretary of the Ethics Resource and Education Committee, and as Secretary and as Chair for the Committee on Legislative Action. I have also served as chair of the Committee on Children, Youth and Families and co-chair of the Task Forces on Child Custody and Visitation Assessment, Enhancing the Delivery of Psychological Services to the Division of Youth and Family Services, and Concerned Professionals for the Accurate Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse. I have been selected to serve as liaison between the NJPA and the New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners for 2019 – 2020.
In the Essex Union County Association of Psychologists (EUCAP, formerly known as the Society of Psychologists in Private Practice), I have served as President, Treasurer, Representative to the New Jersey Psychological Association Executive Board, as founder of the Psychologists Educating the Public Program, and as consultant for the development of four public education videotapes: Coping with the Recession, Balancing Priorities in the 90’s, Money Matters and Your Mate, and Why Bright Children Fail.
I am a life member of the American Psychological Association
I have been an active member in many community organizations. I am currently the Vice President and was previously Secretary of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. I was a charter member of the West Orange Human Relations Commission (1993-2003). I am Past President of the B’nai B’rith Northern New Jersey Council. At Congregation Oheb Shalom, I have served as Vice President and Secretary. I have been an elected member of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Budget, Ushering, and Job Relief committees. As a member of the Penn Club of Northern New Jersey, I interview local high school seniors seeking admission to the University of Pennsylvania.
In order to make an appointment, or to chat with me regarding your current needs, please contact me at 973-736-2424 or 908-354-0733.
If you reach my answering service, please leave a detailed message, including your name and telephone number. My live answering service will page me immediately with your complete alphanumeric message. I will then get back to you as promptly as possible.
Billing
My Private Practice fee schedule is available upon request.
My Forensic Services fee schedule is available upon request.
Insurances accepted (in-network):
Aetna, Champus, Cigna, GHI, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Horizon N J Health, Independence, Magellan, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Meritain, PHCS, United Behavioral Health, and Value Options.
If your insurance carrier is not included in the above list, please contact me.
Name: Ronald G. Silikovitz, Ph.D.
Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Marital Status: Married (two adult children)
2019 Lifetime Achievement Award – New Jersey Psychological Association
2020 Presidential Recognition Certificate NJPA
EDUCATION:
1946-1954 Public Schools, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1954-1958 Central High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1958-1962 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (AB, Psychology)
1962-1963 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
1963-1964 Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (MA, Sociology)
1964-1969 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois (Ph.D., Clinical Child Psychology)
PROFESSIONAL LICENSE:
License #35S100132000, Psychologist, New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners (1/12/79-Present)
License #2538, Psychologist, New Hampshire Board of Psychological Examiners (2020-Present)
STAFF PRIVILEGES:
12/97 – present: Morristown Memorial Hospital, Department of Psychiatry
*Participates in Psychiatry Department meetings
10/98 – 04/24: Bonnie Brae Educational Center
*Provides admission and discharge psychodiagnostic evaluations to residents and consultation to staff
*Prepares admission reviews and annual reviews
PARENTING EDUCATION:
2002-2003: Parenting Education Instruction, Bergen County Court
EXPERIENCE:
3/85 – present: PSYCHOLOGIST IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, with offices at:
516 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052
Telephone: 973-736-2424
Fax: 973-736-8922
Email: drronpsych@gmail.com
80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202
Telephone: 908-354-0733
Fax: 973-736-8922
Email: drronpsych@gmail.com
*Specializes in psychodiagnostic evaluations; forensic assessment; intellectual disabilities; sexual abuse; individual, marital and family psychotherapy; reunification therapy; parenting coordination; and expert witness testimony
*Consultant to Office of Public Defender(particularly in Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, and Union Counties), 1995-2016
*Consultant to Federal Disability Determination Services, 1990-present
*Consultant contract with Department of Child Protection and Permanency
(Formerly known as Youth and Family Services) 1980-present
*Consultant to Bonnie Brae Educational Center, 1980-2024
*Under contract with Union County Court, 1988-2005. Served as court expert in cases dealing with divorce, custody, visitation, domestic violence and juvenile delinquency
4/87-8/89: Executive Director, Specialty Psychotherapy Associates, West Orange, NJ
5/80-2/85: Psychologist, Psychological Associates of West Essex, P.A., Caldwell, NJ
10/81 – 2/85: Consultant Psychologist, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Outpatient
Department, Newark, NJ
3/79 – 12/81: Consultant Psychologist, Brookside Academy, Mount Freedom, NJ
2/79 – 9/79: Consultant Psychologist, Ohel Children’s Home, Far Rockaway, NY
10/75 – 9/80: Chief Psychologist, Manhattan Developmental Center, New York, NY
6/73 – 9/75: Administrator, Trumbull County Board of Mental Retardation, Niles, Ohio
7/73 – 6/74: Director of Instruction, Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation, Cleveland, Ohio
9/71 – 7/73: Assistant Director for the Trainable Mentally Handicapped, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
9/69 – 8/71: Unit Psychologist, Intra-Mural Program for Mentally Retarded Children, Herman Adler
Zone Center, Champaign, Illinois
1967-1970: Research Assistant Professor and Research Associate, Institute for Research on Ex-
ceptional Children and Children’s Research Center, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
1966-1967: Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1964-1966: Practicum experience in individual, family and group psychotherapy, Psychological Clinic, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1965-1966: Clinical Psychology Trainee (internship), Veterans Administration Hospital, Danville, Illinois, and Psychologist Trainee (internship), Eastern Illinois Mental Health Clinic, Danville, Illinois
1964-1965: United States Public Health Services Fellow, University of Illinois
PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES:
Silikovitz, Ronald G., Forensic Ethical Guidelines for Therapists, New Jersey Psychologist, Winter, 2012
Silikovitz, Ronald G. September 11, 2002, New Jersey Psychologist, Fall, 2002, Volume 52, Number 4. New Jersey Psychologist, Fall, 2003.
Silikovitz, Ronald G. September 11, 2002 New Jersey Psychologist, Fall, 2003.
Moser, Rosemarie Scolaro and Silikovitz, Ronald G. Maintaining Client Records (If it’s not in the record, it didn’t happen!), New Jersey Psychologist, Fall, 1999, Volume 49, Number 4.
Silikovitz, Ronald G. Computer Conversations, New Jersey Psychologist, Spring, 1997, Volume 47, Number 2.
Silikovitz, Ronald G. The Committee on Children, Youth and Families, New Jersey Psychologist, Summer, 1996, Volume 46, Number 3.
Silikovitz, Ronald G. and Witt, Philip H. The role of the Psychologist in Guardianship [termination of parental rights] Proceedings, New Jersey Psychologist, Summer, 1992, Volume 42, Number 3.
Chalfant, James C. and Silikovitz, Ronald G., Systematic Instruction for Retarded Children: The Illinois Program, Experimental Edition, 1972. Interstate Printers and Publishers, Inc., Danville, Illinois; Final Report to US Office of Education, Project #7-1025, Grant No. OEG-0-8-001025-1777 (032). Part I, Teacher-Parent Guide, Part II, Systematic Language Instruction, Part III, Self-Help Instruction, Part IV, Motor Performance and Recreation Instruction.
Whimbey, Arthur, Fischov, Valerie and Silikovitz, Ronald G., Memory Span: A Forgotten Capacity, Journal of Educational Psychology, 1969, 60, 1, 56-58.
Silikovitz, Ronald G. My Family and Me: How Can Therapeutic Mediation Help Us? A FABLE
Silikovitz, Ronald G. Facilitating Forensic Child Interviews via Use of Laptop Computers
FILMS PRODUCED:
Served as coproducer of and commentator for videotape program, Money Matters and Your Mate, Society of Psychologists in Private Practice, New Jersey Psychological Association and Tiger Tracks, 1994.
Served as script editor and coproducer of the following films, produced by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Illinois, 1972: Teaching Language Concepts; Analyzing a Lesson Plan; Teaching Self-Help and Motor Skills.
SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS:
3/31/17, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, co-presented to South Jersey Psychological Association members, with Dr. Jane Simon, on behalf of NJPA Ethics Committee, Ethical Dilemmas: Working with Vignettes
4/21/12, Iselin, New Jersey. Served on panel presenting Ethical Issues Regarding Email and Texting as part of the New Jersey Psychological Association Program, “From Twitter to Telephone: The Ethical Delivery of Mental Health Services.”
1/23/08: Iselin, New Jersey. Served on interdisciplinary panel on The Evolution of Parenting Coordination in New Jersey: Where Are We Now?, sponsored by the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
5/4/05: Parsippany, New Jersey. Served on interdisciplinary panel on The Alienated Child and Visitation Refusal, sponsored by the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
11/16/02: New Brunswick, New Jersey. Served on Interdisciplinary Planning Committee of the program, Family Part Best Practices: Judges, Lawyers, Mental Health Experts, and Other Professionals Working Together.
4/29/00: New Brunswick, New Jersey. Served as Program Coordinator of seminar, Containing Conflict in Family Law Cases, sponsored by New Jersey Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
11/20/98: New Brunswick, New Jersey. Served as moderator and presenter of seminar, Creative Solutions in High Conflict Custody Cases, a two-day conference sponsored by New Jersey Psychological Association and New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section.
2/5/97: Elizabeth, New Jersey. Presentation on Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods in Custody/Visitation Assessments, a seminar sponsored by the Union County Family Court for judges, probation officers, and other court personnel.
4/2/96: Elizabeth, New Jersey. Presentation on Facilitating Resolution of High Conflict Custody-Visitation Litigation, a seminar sponsored by the Union County Family Court for judges, probation officers and court staff.
12/8-12/9/95: New Brunswick, New Jersey. Coordinated and served as panelist on two-day seminar cosponsored by the New Jersey Psychological Association, the NJSBA Family Law Section and the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education on Interventions with High Conflict Litigating Families in Custody Disputes.
11/21/95: Glenpointe, New Jersey. Served as panelist at New Jersey Judicial College course on Resolving Family Issues with Therapeutic Mediation.
10/28/95: Somerset, New Jersey. Coordinated and served as panelist at New Jersey Psychological Association Fall Conference symposium on Psychologists and the Division of Youth and Family Services: Partners in Service Delivery.
11/6/94: Union, New Jersey. Presentation on Money Matters and Your Mate, at YM-YWHA Health Fair.
11/1/94: Union, New Jersey. Presentation on Improving Couples Communication, for Kean College Psychology Club.
6/13/94: Newton, New Jersey. Copresenter, seminar on Adoption: Psychological Knowledge, Legal Decision-Making and the Lives of Children, cosponsored by Newton Memorial Hospital and the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services.
4/21/94: Elizabeth, New Jersey. Conducted seminar for Union County Superior Court judges and court staff on the New Jersey Board of Examiners Specialty Guidelines for Psychologists Custody/Visitation Evaluations.
6/1/93: Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Panelist and coordinator, Permanency Planning in the Best Interests of the Child, training seminar/conference cosponsored by Superior Court, Family Division, County of Union and the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services.
10/8/92: Freehold, New Jersey. Panelist, Protecting the Interests of the Child in Guardianship [termination of parental rights] Cases, conference sponsored by the Monmouth County Family Division.
6/2/88: South Orange, New Jersey. Coordinator and panelist, Not My Child: Exploring the Realities of Day Care Sexual Abuse, symposium at Oheb Shalom Congregation regarding issues in the Margaret Kelly Michaels trial. Coproduced videotape, which was shown on Channel 13, based on this symposium.
11/3/78: Kiamesha Lake, New York. Try Another Way – A Powerful Method of Training the Developmentally Disabled, annual meeting of Council for Exceptional Children and American Association on Mental Deficiency.
10/25/78: Binghampton, New York. Try Another Way: Helping the Developmentally Disabled Attain Competencies, Annual Conference of Psychologists in New York State Service.
10/14/76: Kansas City, Missouri. Systematic Instruction for Retarded Children: Method, Content and Strategies for Individualized Programs, Annual Meeting of American Association for the Education of the Severely and Profoundly Handicapped.
5/30/73: Atlanta, Georgia. The Integration of Language Development and Evaluation Systems into Teacher Education Programs for the Mentally Retarded, Annual Meeting, American Association on Mental Deficiency.
10/31/72: Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Two-day workshop on Systematic Language Instruction, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama and Partlow State School.
10/28/72: Chicago, Illinois. Systematic Instruction for Retarded Children: A Progress Report, Annual Meeting, Illinois Council for Exceptional Children.
3/24/72: Washington, D.C. Teaching and Evaluating Language Skills in Young Retarded Children, Annual Meeting of the Council for Exceptional Children.
1/31/72: Cincinnati, Ohio. Systematic Language Instruction workshop sponsored by Special Education Regional Resource Center – IRMC.
10/30/71: Chicago, Illinois. Systematic Instruction for Retarded Children: Implementation in Illinois TMH and pre-TMH Settings, Annual Meeting of Illinois Council for Exceptional Children.
6/19/71: Houston, Texas. Systematic Instruction for the Retarded: New Directions in Curriculum, Annual Meeting of the American Association on Mental Deficiency.
5/20/71: Springfield, Illinois. The Illinois Program, Annual Meeting of the Illinois Association for the Mentally Retarded.
1/31/71: Lake Ozark, Missouri. Systematic Instruction for Retarded Children: The Illinois Program, three-day workshop sponsored by Missouri Department of Education and Central Missouri State College.
11/6/70: Chicago, Illinois. Systematic Instruction for Retarded Children: New Directions in Curriculum, Annual Meeting of the Illinois Community Day Centers for the Mentally Retarded.
10/30/70: Chicago, Illinois. Language and Self-Help Development with Severely Retarded Children: A New Approach, Annual Meeting of Illinois Council for Exceptional Children.
5/23/69: Columbia, Missouri. Systematic Language Instruction workshop, cosponsored by the Woodhaven Learning Center and the Department of Special Education, University of Missouri.
PROFESSIONAL AND HONORARY SOCIETIES:
American Psychological Association, and its Division of Psychologists in Independent Practice, Life Member
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, New Jersey Chapter, Founder and President, 1999-2002; Past President, 2003-present, Recipient of Phil N. Sobel Award, 2013
New Jersey Psychological Association, Member, 1984-present; Secretary, 1998-2000; Treasurer, 2003-2005
*Committee on Legislative Action, Board, Chair, 2000; elected Member, 1995-1998; Chair-Elect, 1999,
Immediate Past Chair, 2001
*Children, Youth and Families Committee, Member (1986-present), Secretary (1986-1989), Cochair (1994),
Chair (1995-1996)
*Task Force for Enhancing Psychological Services to the Division of Youth and Family Services, Cochair,
(1990-1998)
*Task Force, Concerned Professionals for the Accurate Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse, Charter Member (1986-1996)
*Task Force on Child Custody and Visitation Assessment, Co-chair (1996)
*Forensic Committee, co-chair, 1997-1998, and 2014-2016
*Interprofessional Relations Committee, Member (1995-2000)
*Continuing Education Annual Recognition Award (1999-present)
*Ethics Committee, Member, 2010-2017, secretary, 2014-2017
*Liaison between the NJPA and the New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners (2019-2022)
Phi Beta Kappa, Elected Member, 1962
Psi Chi (National Honorary Society in Psychology), Elected Member, 1961
Pi Gamma Mu (National Social Science Honorary Society), Elected Member, 1961
Essex-Union County Association of Psychologists (formerly Society of Psychologists in Private Practice), Member, 1982-present; Board of Trustees, 1989-1993; 2003-2005; Secretary/Membership, 1990; President, 1991 and 2007; Treasurer, 2001-2002
*Initiated and coordinated Psychologists Educating the Public (PEP) program (1992-1998). Assisted with development of four videotape programs: Coping with the Recession; Balancing Priorities in the 90’s; Money Matters and Your Mate; Why Bright Children Fail
*Coeditor of newsletter, Some Potpourri for Practicing Psychologists (1994-1995)
*SPPP representative to New Jersey Psychological Association Executive Board (1993-1994; 2002; 2007)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Better Business Bureau, Member, 2017-present
B’nai B’rith
*West Orange Lodge: Member (1976-present); held various offices; President, 1982-
1983. Awarded Man of the Year, 1992
*Northern New Jersey Council: held various offices; president, 1990-1991; Council
representative to District III Administrative Board, 1993-1995
*District III (serving New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware): Delegate to
Board of Governors, 1984-present, Chair, Member Involvement and Orientation,1992-
1994
Executive Exchange, Inc., Member, 1992-1997; Member of Executive Board, 1995
Mensa: Member since 1971
Oheb Shalom Congregation, South Orange, New Jersey: Member since 1976; Member, Board of
Trustees, 1986-1992, 1998-present; Men’s Club President, 1988-1989; United Synagogue Chair,
1994-1995; Coeditor, Oheb Shalom Review, 1994-1996; Member, Executive Committee, 1995-1998; Recording Secretary, 1995-1997; Vice President, 1997-1998; Job Relief Chair, 1998-2008; High Holidays Sexton, 2003-2019; Usher, 2003-present
Union County Chamber of Commerce, Member, 1997-2000
West Orange Chamber of Commerce, Member, 1993-present, Board Member, 2013-present; Secretary, 2017, 2018, 2020; Vice President, 2019
West Orange Human Relations Commission, Charter Member, 1993-2003
[Rev. 5/24]
If you are traveling by automobile, you may take the New Jersey Turnpike (Exit 15W) or the Garden State Parkway (Exit 145) to Route 280 West. Take Exit 7 (Pleasant Valley Way). Turn right. Pass two traffic lights. Enter lot to right of second building after West Orange High School. It is a brick building with black awnings and there is a sign on the right awning with Dr. Silikovitz’s name on it. Park in lot behind the building. Enter the rear door and wait in the waiting room.
If you are traveling by New Jersey Transit, take the #71 bus. Get off on Pleasant Valley Way across the street from West Orange High School. Cross Pleasant Valley Way and proceed to the rear door as above.
ENTER OFFICE via rear door at ground level and wait in waiting room.
Twenty-four hours notice is requested for any appointment changes or cancellations. Unexcused late cancellations or missed appointments are subject to a fee of $25 up to my private rate for one hour.