Lindsay Chester, LCSW

(she/her)

Founder & Director

Lindsay is the Founder and Director of City Behavioral Health. With over a decade of clinical experience, Lindsay has emerged as a leader in the field, driving innovative practices in the integration of addiction treatment and behaviorally based interventions. Lindsay serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work, where she teaches graduate-level courses in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Advanced Clinical Practice. Lindsay also trains and consults with clinicians and staff at treatment centers nationwide, helping them integrate DBT principles into their broader clinical practices.

Lindsay spent the early years of her career working in addiction treatment, in both clinical and research capacities. She has extensive experience in inpatient and outpatient settings and has been particularly passionate about treating addiction in young adults and families. During this time, she developed a strong interest in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and went on to complete foundational, advanced, and specialized DBT training. Following her training, Lindsay worked at a private DBT practice in Manhattan, delivering fully adherent, comprehensive DBT treatment to clients of all ages.

Lindsay envisioned and launched City Behavioral Health in 2018 in response to the significant gaps she observed in the existing mental health treatment landscape. The siloed approach to treating complex mental health and addiction disorders was often insufficient in supporting individuals with multiple clinical targets. One of her primary goals in founding City Behavioral Health was to integrate evidence-based mental health treatment in a way that addressed multiple aspects of her clients’ lives—both within and beyond the office.

Lindsay believes that behavioral intervention is a cornerstone of growth and change within the therapeutic process. Her warmth, humor, and belief in the therapeutic relationship as a central component of client success have been foundational in building City Behavioral Health on the same principles she values in her clinical work.

Education:

• Master of Social Work, Fordham University
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Fine Art, The George Washington University

Training & Certifications:

• Felt Sense Polyvagal Model: Trauma and Addiction Certificate (Level II), Polyvagal Institute
• Cognitive Processing Therapy, Hunter College
• Advanced Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Behavioral Tech Institute
• Gottman Method Couples Therapy, The Gottman Institute
• Specialized Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Behavioral Tech Institute
• Dual Program (Treatment of Couples and Families), Ackerman Institute for the Family
• Foundational Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Behavioral Tech Institute

Awards & Recognition:

• Greater New York Community Mental Health Professional of the Year Award – Caron Treatment Center, 2025
• Spark Award: Employee Who Exemplifies the Mission of the Organization and Commitment to Their Craft – Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, 2016