PSYCHOLOGISTCONNECTICUT.COM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- BCBA Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Alessandra received her Bachelor's degree in Children and Youth Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2012 and her Master's degree in Special Education-Autism and Other Spectrum Disorders from Southern Connecticut State University in 2019. Alessandra became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in February 2022 and is also certified in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM). Over the past ten years, she has worked with children and adults in schools, homes and community settings. Alessandra focuses on the use of principles of Applied Behavior Analysis to help children participate fully in life.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist Clinic Director
Dr. Schwartz graduated with her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Miami under the mentorship of Doctors Heather Henderson and Peter Mundy. Her research focused on examining individual differences among individuals with autism spectrum disorders in order to predict what leads to the most adaptive life outcomes.
In addition, Dr. Schwartz completed a two-year Fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center where she received generalist and autism-specific training. Upon completion of her postdoctoral training, she joined the Autism Program at the Yale Child Study Center as a faculty member.
Dr. Schwartz began a private practice in 2010 and has completed numerous comprehensive psychoeducational and psychological evaluations as well as diagnostic evaluations requested by both parents and school systems. She has provided treatment in individual and group formats for individuals with a variety of presenting concerns, including autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, and issues related to adoption. She has also conducted support groups for adults with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Schwartz works closely with families during treatment to ensure the most beneficial outcomes for the family system.
Currently, Dr. Schwartz holds the position of Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center. She has also completed a certification in Clinical Issues in Adoption developed jointly by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, the UConn School of Social Work, and Southern Connecticut State University.
Job Titles:
- Behavior Specialist / Adaptive Behavior Instructor
- Certified Consultant for Relationship Development Intervention
Mary Beth has worked with children and young adults with developmental disabilities for over 27 years. For 24 of those years, she worked under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Nancy Schwartz, providing direct intervention, parent training, and school consultations. Her primary focus, across all settings, has been to help embed social relatedness and language content into every aspect of each child's life.
Mary Beth has been a Certified Consultant for Relationship Development Intervention® (2005-2010). She continues to use elements of this programming within her intervention plans.
In addition, Mary Beth obtained a Behavioral Intervention Autism Program Certificate from UMass Lowell in 2012, to gain further insight into behavioral intervention strategies to apply in her work with children and families.
Mary Beth's passion is to support parents in guiding their children to become engaged members of their households!
Job Titles:
- B.S. Marriage and Family Therapy Intern
- Marriage and Family Therapy Intern
After graduating from Eastern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences, Matthew discovered his passion for psychotherapy. He is currently enrolled in the Marriage and Family Therapy Master's program at Southern Connecticut State University, where he will graduate in August 2023. He is committed to providing the best psychotherapy possible to his clients and is excited to learn everything he can from Dr. Schwartz and her highly experienced team. In his spare time, he can usually be found at the gym, reading a history book, or playing guitar.
Nancy Schwartz is a Dr. of Speech and Language Disorders who received her Doctorate from the City University of New York Graduate Center in 1977. She has been in private practice in Connecticut since 1979. She is licensed by the State of Connecticut, and certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association. She has been certified in Relationship Development Intervention. As the director of the Communication Clinic of Connecticut, Dr. Schwartz has trained multiple therapists as they have worked together to help children develop language, thinking, and relatedness skills. The children she has worked with have ranged in age from 6 months to 22 years of age. She also evaluates children and offers treatment and consultation to school systems. She has taught in universities at both undergraduate and graduate levels, in California, New York, and Connecticut. She has done numerous workshops/presentations on issues relating to autism such as: Assessment, Language Characteristics, The Development of the First Words, The Coordination of Language/Speech Therapy with a Behavioral Approach to Treatment, Speech Apraxia, Developmental Characteristics of Children with Autism, Expectations and Responsibilities for Children with Autism, Development of Relatedness Skills, Development of Social Cognition, Development of Thinking Skills, Teaching in a Dyad. She has developed programs for children in Australia, Hong Kong, New York and Connecticut. The strong focus of all of her programs is the coordination of the development of language with relatedness skills, use of language across communicative functions, and the integration of thinking and life skills. Underlying all skill development is the philosophical position that the responsibility for the skill must be transferred to the child through the development of the child's competence.