SUNFIELD CENTER - Key Persons
Amna A. Agha is a Temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist (TLLP) and predoctoral intern at Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her PhD in School Psychology at Michigan State University. Her clinical experience includes assessment and intervention for children with neurodevelopmental disorders in school and hospital settings. Amna's research focuses on the cognitive processes involved in reading and writing, self-regulation and literacy development, and reading and writing assessment. Amna's previous experiences as a resource teacher for elementary students guide her work. In her leisure time, Amna enjoys listening to poetry recitations, reading about healthful lifestyles, and practicing mindfulness movement.
Brittany is a master's level clinical social worker at Sunfield Center. Brittany's background is in medical social work and she is passionate about making connections between medical care and behavioral health services for child and young adults with special needs. Brittany has experience in serving individuals (and their families) with autism, ADHD, developmental disabilities, and complex care needs. She is especially interested in supporting families with coping with behavioral concerns, educational advocacy needs, and supporting teens and young adults with transitions from pediatric to adult care services.
Brittany earned her Master's of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2012, and her bachelor's degree in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan. She has her school social work certification and has expertise in navigating systems such as Medicaid, foster care, community mental health, and with adaptive programming and services for children with special needs. In her free time, Brittany enjoys baking, art, swimming, and spending as much time as possible outside with her family.
Job Titles:
- Master
- Limited Licensed Psychologist
Christin Sammons is a master's level psychologist who specializes in supporting individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Anxiety, and their families. She delivers cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) treatment (a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, and related difficulties), and other evidence-based treatments to enhance coping, organizational, social, and independent living skills for children, adolescents, and young adults. Additionally, Christin specializes in the diagnosis and assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders across the life span, particularly in the differential diagnosis of autism, ADHD and emotional/behavioral disorders.
Prior to joining the Sunfield Center, Christin worked as a behavior technician and garnered research experience in parental stress and its relationship with having children on the Autism Spectrum. Christin earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Calvin University. She completed her graduate-level field experience at Sunfield Center prior to joining our team.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Social Worker Intern
Christine Charpie (she/hers) is pursuing her Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan, where she also earned a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. After graduation, Christine was a Registered Behavioral Technician and a Group Facilitator for social skills groups at an ABA clinic in Ann Arbor. She also served as a Co-President of the Red Shoe Crew, a young professionals volunteer and ambassador group supporting the mission of Ronald McDonald house Ann Arbor. Christine is passionate about mental health advocacy and social justice and wants to implement what she has learned into my work with children and families in the future.
Outside of work and school, Christine enjoys listening to music, going on walks, and traveling with her friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical Assistant & Office Manager
Crystal is our full-time Office Manager and a Certified Medical Assistant in clinical and administrative work. She will help coordinate our office and billing and help manage any questions or concerns about Sunfield Center. Crystal has obtained training under Community Living Service for Recipient Rights, Nutrition, Medication Administration, Community Living, and Ross Educational Center. Crystal has been providing health care for adolescents and seniors for over 10 years and has a special place in her heart for helping others. She has experience in assisted living facilities, group homes, and home health agencies coordinating care for patients across the US. Her passion for mental health led her to the Sunfield Center. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, painting, and cooking in her free time.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Allura Malcolm is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Sunfield Center. Allura specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with ASD, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Malcolm has particular expertise in parent management training (PMT), parent-mediated emotion regulation intervention, and working with twice exceptional youth (i.e., gifted and neurodiverse). Dr. Malcolm is passionate about working with parents of young children to develop functionally-relevant strategies to decrease challenging behaviors and promote independent use of coping and adaptive communication skills. She also loves to engage in individual therapy with children and adolescents to help them engage in values-based decision-making, improve cognitive flexibility, and gain the skills needed to successfully navigate emotions, social communication, and/or executive functioning challenges. Dr. Malcolm received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Michigan State University in 2021. She then completed an APA-accredited clinical psychology internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Mary A. Rackham Institute University Center for the Child and Family in Ann Arbor, MI. During this time, she conducted AAEC autism evaluations, psychoeducational evaluations, and provided individual therapy to a wide range of clients with a variety of presenting concerns. In her spare time, you're most likely to find Allura spending time with her lovely family, going for a walk in nature, listening to a podcast, reading a book, or writing out a to-do list to quiet her busy brain.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Training Supervisor
- Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Barbara Hanna is a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical training supervisor at the Sunfield Center. Dr. Hanna specializes in the diagnosis and assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders across the life span. She has a broad clinical background with considerable expertise in other areas as well, including intellectual, educational, and personality assessment in inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment settings. Dr. Hanna previously was the Diagnostic Supervisor for both the Simons Simplex Autism study (a genetic study funded by the Simon Foundation) and multi-center early intervention studies at the University of Michigan Autism and Communications Center (UMACC). Dr. Hanna completed her doctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. Prior to her position at UMACC she also held a clinical faculty position in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Limited Licensed Psychologist ( He / Him ) Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Dr. Chris Owen is a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Sunfield Center. As such, he plays a pivotal role in training students and healthcare providers in evidence-based interventions, notably Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Alongside this, he manages a caseload of clients on a weekly basis. Dr. Owen is passionate about creating a "behavioral health home" for his clients-a place where clients and families can return for different life challenges, from tantrums in early childhood to anxiety during unprecedented times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Think of it as a behavioral health home for any stage of development: tackling tantrums and meltdowns, alleviating event-specific anxiety, navigating learning difficulties by learning compensatory strategies, attending social groups to practice skills and connect with peers, and even planning for future careers and job attainment. He believes in the value of having a consistent, knowledgeable support system that understands your unique needs throughout life's ups and downs. Connect with Dr. Owen today and embark on a journey of understanding, empowerment, and comprehensive care.
His dedication to psychological care can be traced back to his dual-major days at the University of Pittsburgh in psychology and gender studies. During this time, he became strongly aware of the disparities in psychological care, especially for children on the autism spectrum. This understanding propelled him to take a research position at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His academic voyage led him to West Virginia University (WVU) for his Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology. Under the mentorship of Dr. Cheryl B. McNeil, he fortified his expertise in PCIT, evidenced by his multiple peer-reviewed publications and over 30 presentations across various forums. More recently, Dr. Owen completed his predoctoral internship at Sunfield Center with the Mid-Michigan Psychology Internship Consortium. During this time, he continued to sharpen his clinical skills and developed a specialization in autism, including providing clinical services for adults on the spectrum (e.g., career planning, occupational attainment, and stress management).
Melding cognitive-behavioral strategies with a developmental lens, Dr. Owen champions a personalized treatment plan, often weaving in unique analogies and patient interests. He believes in empowering patients, making therapy relatable, and taking a collaborative approach to patient care, particularly with families. His background in gender studies also equips him to uniquely support the LGBTQ+ community and other underserved groups, always promoting equality, understanding, and respect.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Kira Boneff-Peng is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of young children with anxiety disorders, selective mutism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and disruptive behavior. Dr. Boneff-Peng has extensive experience using evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavior therapy and parent management training to treat children with a variety of concerns, including specialized training in the treatment of selective mutism and obsessive-compulsive disorder in youth. Dr. Boneff-Peng values supporting the whole family and incorporating parent psychoeducation, support, and skills-training in children's treatment, as well as supporting and strengthening the parent-child relationship through treatment. Dr. Boneff-Peng has experience working with children and teens of all ages, but she is particularly passionate about early intervention with children ages 2 to 10. Dr. Boneff-Peng received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. She completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship training at the University of Michigan Mary A. Rackham Institute, in the University Center for the Child and Family. Dr. Boneff-Peng's research focuses on selective mutism in youth, including understanding parental accommodation in selective mutism and exploring evidence-based treatments for selective mutism. In her free time, Dr. Boneff-Peng loves playing board games, swing dancing, and spending time with her family, friends, and beloved dog.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Kristin Rispoli is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Sunfield Center. Dr. Rispoli specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with Autism. Dr. Rispoli is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and has broad experience in evaluating and designing interventions to address a range of childhood disorders, including attention disorders, behavior disorders, and intellectual disability. Dr. Rispoli has provided psychological treatment and assessment services in schools, clinics, and homes, working directly with children, training parents, and consulting with teachers. Dr. Rispoli is an Assistant Professor of School Psychology at Michigan State University. Dr. Rispoli's research focuses on parent engagement in education and intervention for young children with autism, the development of a parent-implemented intervention targeting emotion regulation in preschoolers with autism, and the role of parent involvement and expectation in postsecondary transition for adolescents with autism. Dr. Rispoli completed her doctoral studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a research postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and clinical postdoctoral training at clinics serving children and adolescents diagnosed with autism and other neurobehavioral disorders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Fellow
Dr. Lake Sweet is a licensed clinical psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at Sunfield Center. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of young children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, parent behavior management training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and school consultation. Dr. Sweet is also training to become a certified PCIT therapist.
Dr. Sweet completed her doctoral studies in School Psychology at Michigan State University and her clinical internship at Michigan Medicine in Pediatric Psychology. At Michigan Medicine, she received specialized training in Integrated Behavioral Health, Elimination Disorders, and Congenital Heart Center Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Program clinics, focusing on developmental assessment, intervention, parent behavior management training and cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Sweet also holds her master's degree in Special Education from the University of Colorado, Denver and has experience working as a special education and general education teacher.
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Limited Licensed Psychologist Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Dr. Megan Warfle is a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Sunfield Center. Dr. Warfle specializes in the assessment and treatment of individuals diagnosed with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other emotional and behavioral disorders. She enjoys working with children and teens through individual treatment, parent management training, and group social skills interventions. Dr. Warfle emphasizes the use of evidence-based treatments through behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. Dr. Warfle is a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and enjoys working with caregivers collaboratively to help provide whole-family support.
Dr. Warfle received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Michigan State University in 2023. She completed her clinical psychology internship at the MARI University Center for the Child and Family through the University of Michigan, where she conducted AAEC autism and psychoeducational evaluations and provided therapy to children, teens, and parents. In her free time. Dr. Warfle can be found running on Michigan trails, playing with her Corgi, and rooting for the Buffalo Bills.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Fellow
- Licensed Psychologist Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow Psychology Training Coordinator Group Therapy Coordinator
Dr. Nicole Bergamo is a licensed clinical psychologist and postdoctoral psychology fellow at Sunfield Center. In this role, Dr. Bergamo supports the training of predoctoral psychology interns as the psychology training coordinator, leads the development of social group services, and maintains a caseload of weekly clients. She completed her Ph.D. in School Psychology at Michigan State University and her predoctoral clinical internship at Sunfield Center. Dr. Bergamo is passionate about her work with children, adolescents, and families in areas of assessment, intervention, and consultation. She enjoys working with individuals diagnosed with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anxiety, in addition to other behavioral disorders. Dr. Bergamo's specific emphasis on social and emotional skill-building, through individual and group intervention, can be seen in her work with clients presenting with a variety of needs. In her work, she primarily utilizes evidence-based Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques. In her free time, Dr. Bergamo loves reading, crafting, and dancing.
Lake Sweet, Ph.D. (she/her) |Licensed Psychologist | Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Dr. Suzi Naguib is a passionate and dedicated psychologist and a strong advocate for those affected by behavioral, emotional, developmental and learning disabilities. Dr. Naguib founded Sunfield Center with a mission to offer the highest quality, evidence-based clinical care and increase awareness of mental health needs. Dr. Naguib also founded the Sunfield Institute, a professional development organization dedicated to providing gold standard training for mental health providers. In addition to being the director and founder of Sunfield Center and Institute, Dr. Naguib is the clinical director and founder of Sprouted Sage Full Circle Intervention Center, an intensive intervention center for young children diagnosed with autism. Dr. Naguib also established LightUp, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals with special needs.
As a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the field of autism, ADHD, behavioral and anxiety disorders, Dr. Naguib brings a first-hand understanding of the need for research-informed evaluations and evidence-based treatment interventions to help families. Dr. Naguib is a certified Parent Child Interaction (PCIT) Therapist and trainer. She is also an independent trainer for two of the gold standard autism diagnostic assessment tools (ADOS-2 and ADI-R) and has trained hundreds of providers in Michigan, across the U.S., and internationally on how to accurately evaluate and diagnose autism. Dr. Naguib, in collaboration with her team at the Sunfield Center, has created a number of trainings for parents and professionals and has expertise in the following areas: adolescent to adult transition planning for individuals diagnosed with autism, family support and empowerment post receiving an autism diagnosis, and autism and sexuality.
Prior to founding the above centers, Dr. Naguib worked at the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC). She completed a two-year fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Behavior Disorders Service at the New York University (NYU) Child Study Center, where she remained for several years. Dr. Naguib completed her doctoral education at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and received her M.S. in clinical psychology at Loyola University Maryland. She completed her clinical training at the Children's Hospital of Michigan, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Johns Hopkins University. She is fluent in Portuguese and proficient in Spanish and Arabic.
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Limited Licensed Psychologist Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Dr. Sydney Nelson is a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Sunfield Center. Dr. Nelson specializes in assessing and treating children with neurodevelopmental and learning disabilities. At Sunfield Center, she completes comprehensive neurodevelopmental and psychoeducation evaluations for children and teens, as well as provides evidence-based treatment related to anxiety, social skills, and executive functioning skills. Dr. Nelson values caregiver-child interactions, which is reflected in her integration of psychoeducation and parent training within treatment sessions. Dr. Nelson is also a certified PCIT therapist.
Dr. Nelson received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Michigan State University. Prior to beginning her doctoral training, Dr. Nelson earned her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University, and worked as a school social worker supporting children with disabilities and their families.
In her free time, Dr. Nelson enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, cheering on the Michigan State basketball team, and crafting.
Emily is a practicum student pursuing her Master's in Social Work from the University of Michigan. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Michigan State University. After completing her undergraduate degree, Emily worked as a behavior technician at an ABA Center in Mid-Michigan. Outside of ABA, Emily was a mentor and advocate for youth within the court system. Emily is passionate about promoting self-efficacy in individuals of all ages. She is interested in serving youth and adults struggling with mental health. Emily enjoys spending time with friends and family outside of work, reading, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Master
- Limited Licensed Psychologist
Ewa Wilkinson is a master's level psychologist with expertise in the assessment of children, adolescents and adults, particularly in the differential diagnosis of ASD, ADHD and emotional/behavioral disorders. In addition to helping families through the diagnostic process, Ewa is passionate about empowering families with knowledge and resources to help them develop a roadmap to access appropriate intervention. With her extensive knowledge and compassion Ewa supports families during the post diagnostic period which can be emotionally overwhelming for many families. Ewa is also pursuing certification to be a trainer for the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program, a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD and related difficulties. Prior to joining Sunfield, Ewa was part of the diagnostic team at the Detroit Medical Center's University Pediatricians Autism Center. She received her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and her psychology master's degree from the University of Detroit Mercy. Ewa has also been a Polish folklore dance teacher for the past 13 years at St. Florian's Parish in Hamtramck. She enjoys traveling, cultural dancing, and the magical world of Harry Potter.
Janelle is a master's level clinical social worker and clinical supervisor to graduate level social worker students at Sunfield Center. Janelle is passionate about serving individuals and families diagnosed with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and behavioral disorders. She provides cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based treatments to help individuals gain organizational skills, grow their social skills, and develop coping skills. Additionally, she is a certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and enjoys assisting families in building a strong parent-child relationship, increasing child compliance, and decreasing parental stress. Janelle earned her Master's of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor in 2020, and her bachelor's degree in social work from Calvin University. Janelle completed her graduate level training at the Sunfield Center before joining the team as a full-time clinician.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations and Development
- LMSW Director of Operations and Development Social Worker
- Partner at the Sunfield Institute
Jeff Snyder is the Director of Operations and Development at Sunfield Center and a licensed social worker. Through this role Mr. Snyder ensures that as a center we use systems effectively to prioritize outstanding care. Additionally, Mr. Snyder guides the center's development and growth to ensure that we continue to meet the ongoing areas of clinical need of our community. In addition to having a senior leadership role at Sunfield Center, Mr. Snyder provides treatment services and is part of the diagnostic team. He has particular expertise in working with school aged children diagnosed with ADHD, ASD and anxiety. He supports his patients by providing research informed interventions addressing social, organizational and coping skills.
In addition to being Dr. Naguib's senior partner at Sunfield Center, Mr. Snyder is also a partner at the Sunfield Institute and Sprouted Sage Full Circle Intervention Center. At the Sunfield Institute, a professional development organization dedicated to providing gold standard training for mental health providers, as well as at the Sprouted Sage Full Circle Intervention Center, an early intervention center for young children diagnosed with autism, Mr. Snyder plays a leading role in both of these organizations.
Prior to joining Sunfield, Mr. Snyder served as an education advocate for families experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County through the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD). He also has experience working at the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC), the University of Michigan Athletic Department Learning Services Office, as well as Novel Responses, providing ABA services. Jeff obtained his Master's of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. He received his Bachelor's degree in psychology from Albion College. Mr. Snyder also serves on the Board of Directors for LightUp, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals with special needs.
Jessica Camacho is a Temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist (TLLP) and pre-doctoral intern at Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her PsyD in Clinical Psychology with a Neuropsych concentration at JFK School of Psychology through National University located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her passion is to work in pediatrics and has had the experience in providing psychological assessments as well as providing child and family therapy through a multicultural lens as a bilingual clinician in diverse clinical settings. With a background in ABA therapy, Jessica has continued to expand her knowledge and interest in working with children diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Her goal is to continue to work with children that have neurodevelopmental needs as well as working with families and collaborating with other providers to provide the best care and support for them and their child throughout the treatment process. During her spare time, Jessica enjoys traveling, cooking, and exploring new food spots.
Jessica Tschida is a Temporary Educational Limited Licensed Psychologist (TELLP) and advanced clinical practicum student at Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Michigan State University. Jessica enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults with a variety of internalizing and externalizing concerns and is passionate about working with youth on the autism spectrum and their families. Her research examines how community-engaged approaches can improve use of mental health evidence-based practices for autism in community-based settings. Prior to beginning her doctoral training, Jessica was a clinical research assistant at the Center for Autism Research at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Jessica enjoys dancing, reading, and spending time with her dog.
Job Titles:
- Child / Adolescent Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- Professional Nurse
Judith Coucouvanis is a Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. At Sunfield Center Judy provides parent consultations to help families address concerns related to behavioral, feeding, sleeping, and toileting. Judy has been an advanced practice psychiatric nurse for over 40 years, specializing in the treatment of children with developmental disabilities, severe behavior challenges, autism spectrum disorders and co-occurring conditions. Prior to joining Sunfield Center, Judy worked as a Nurse Practitioner at the Department of Child Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Hospital. Judy completed her BSN and MA in Nursing from the University of Iowa. She has authored books on topics of parenting, toilet training and social skills.
Judy is a dedicated professional nurse with years of experience who has helped countless families with a multitude of problems and concerns. We are thrilled to have Judy as a key member of our team.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Social Worker
- LLMSW, Social Worker
Juno is a clinical social worker who earned her Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan in 2023. Prior to this, she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and worked as a Registered Behavior Technician. This was when Juno realized she wanted to continue working with individuals with autism by providing different types of evidence-based treatments. Juno also realized her passion for serving individuals with ADHD, anxiety, and behavioral disorders during her time as an MSW practicum student here at Sunfield.
Outside of work, Juno enjoys spending time with family and friends (whether that be staying in with them to watch a movie or a night out to do absolutely anything), dancing, and exploring different cities.
Maisy Seale is a social work practicum student pursuing her Master's in Social Work from the University of Michigan. She earned a B.S. in Psychology and Political Science from Eastern Michigan University. During her time at Eastern, Maisy volunteered in the Youth and Adolescent Relationships Lab and focused her research on eating disorders. She also worked as a registered behavior technician and as a caretaker. Maisy hopes to work with youth on the autism spectrum and their families. She loves spending time with her family and pets and enjoys creating art.
Morgan Ragazzone is a Clinical Social Worker at Sunfield Center who is passionate about serving individuals and families diagnosed with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and behavioral disorders. She provides evidence-based treatments to help individuals gain organizational skills, grow their social skills, and develop coping skills. Morgan earned her Master's in Social Work at the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor in 2021, and her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2018. As part of her undergraduate experience, Morgan conducted and presented research focused on communication, self-confidence, and outside factors affecting personality traits at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research. She is passionate about supporting individuals of all ages diagnosed with autism, behavioral and emotional disorders, as well as parents seeking to learn more strategies for supporting their children. Morgan employs holistic and evidenced-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), in her work. During her spare time, Morgan enjoys watching movies and playing board games with her friends and family, camping, and caring for her two cats.
Job Titles:
- BCBA, M.S., TLLP ( She / Her ) Doctoral Psychology Intern
Nicole Gegas is a Temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist (TLLP) and pre-doctoral intern at Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in School Psychology at Ball State University. Nicole enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults with diverse neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders and their families. Nicole is passionate about supporting families across multiple systems of care, utilizing evidenced- based interventions, enhancing the parent/caregiver and child interactions, and providing culturally responsive care. Prior to beginning her doctoral training, Nicole earned her master's degree in applied behavior analysis. She has maintained her Board-Certified Behavior Analyst certificate and previously worked as a BCBA at Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Columbus, Ohio. Nicole enjoys spending time with her two adorable dogs, watching movies, reading, and painting.
Nora is a master's level Clinical Social Worker with over 14 years of experience. She is passionate about working with kids, young adults, and people of all ages living with challenges. Nora's background is in medical social work and is skilled at helping connect medical and behavioral health needs. Nora's skill set and passions include advocating for school/educational needs, supporting the transition from youth to young adulthood, and supporting parents in navigating challenges. Nora is also a fierce advocate for supporting people with chronic health issues and getting the emotional support they and their families need.
Nora received her Master's in Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2010. She received her Bachelor's in Human Development and Social Relations from Earlham College in 2009. She completed her graduate-level training at Michigan Medicine, where she was hired as a clinician and worked for 13 years before coming to Sunfield Center. In her free time, Nora enjoys cooking, baking, doing watercolors, and spending time out in the country with her family, dog, and three chickens.
Job Titles:
- Director of Social Work Training
Rachel Piper Kress is a Director of Social Work Training at the Sunfield Center. She is passionate about supporting children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities as well as youth diagnosed with ADHD, behavioral and anxiety disorders. In addition to providing individual treatment to help her patients develop better organizational skills, coping skills to handle emotions, and social skills to help with forming and maintaining relationships, Rachel is also a certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and trainer. In addition to seeing patients at Sunfield Center, Rachel heads the PCIT training program at the Sunfield Institute along with Dr. Naguib. In that capacity, Rachel provides weekly training and supervision to clinicians working towards becoming certified in PCIT. Rachel earned her Master's of Social Work degree in 2018 from the University of Michigan School of Social Work, as well as her bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Social Worker
- She / Her ) Social Worker Intern
Shreeja Vachhani is a practicum student at the Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She earned her B.A. in Neuroscience and Psychology from Lawrence University. Post-graduation, Shreeja gained additional research experience working as a research assistant at the Laboratory for Child Brain Development at Washington University in St. Louis. Her interests are twofold: 1) understanding the neural underpinnings of emotion regulation, especially in light of early childhood psychopathology, and 2) examining the effects of evidence-based and trauma-informed interventions on child psychopathology and socio-emotional development. Shreeja is passionate about working with children who have experienced trauma and those from under-resourced communities. Outside of work, Shreeja enjoys reading, barre workouts, dancing, and spending time with loved ones.
Venus is one of our front desk Administrative Assistants here at Sunfield Center. She has been working in various administration roles for over 20 years. She has recently returned to her hometown in Michigan, after spending the previous 10 years in California as a Director in Information Management. Venus has also worked with the community in various capacities, such as supporting homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. Venus is attending classes for certifications through CLS, Southwest Michigan Children's Trauma and Growth Works Crisis Intervention. She enjoys reading and is making her way through a Michigan bucket list with her family and friends.