WESTERN RESERVE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Author of Husbands, Wives
David Moultrup (1990), author of Husbands, Wives, and Lovers, has broadly defined an extramarital affair as "a relationship between a person and someone other than (the person's) spouse or lover that has an impact on the level of intimacy, emotional distance, and overall dynamic balance in the marriage-the role of the affair is to create emotional distance in the marriage." By this definition, sexual involvement is neither a necessary ingredient in defining the presence of an affair, nor in understanding its impact on the committed relationship. Of course, for the emotionally unfaithful partner, citing the absence of sexual activity may be a way to neutralize the sense of extramarital wrongdoing. "But we didn't have sex" is somehow supposed to make the betrayal of an emotional affair less painful. In fact, because infidelity means different things to different people, those involved in an emotional affair might not even consider their behavior as inappropriate or hurtful. Men in particular often seem to hold this view, but for women who stereotypically put more emphasis on emotional rather than sexual intimacy, an emotional affair may prove to be even more destructive to a relationship than a one night stand or casual sexual encounter.
Dr. Donna McDonald is a licensed psychologist who has worked as a therapist, educator, and program developer for over 25 years in both community and university settings. At the heart of her work is a belief in the resiliency of the human spirit. She approaches her work with compassion, cultural humility and a reliance on collaboration and understanding. Dr. McDonald values working with people and considers relational and personal dynamics before exploring solutions.
As a therapist, Dr. McDonald works from a systemic perspective using evidence based transdiagnostic approaches. Areas of practice include anxiety, depression and mood disorders, trauma, adjustment and developmental issues, parenting and family of origin concerns, relational and emotional difficulties, academic and vocational concerns, self-image and identity issues. She has specialized training in Complex Trauma, Emotion-Focused approaches, Multicultural Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Dr. McDonald received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from Michigan State University and has a Master's degree in Counseling from Ball State University. She also works as the Training Director at the Counseling and Testing Center at the University of Akron where she leads the APA accredited doctoral internship program and provides mental health services to University of Akron students. In addition, Dr. McDonald provides professional continuing education seminars through Heisel and Associates.
Dr. Joyce Giovannelli is a clinical and developmental psychologist who has been in practice for more than fifteen years. Because of her joint clinical and developmental Ph.D., she is qualified to treat individuals at all stages of life. She works with issues ranging from high functioning autism spectrum disorder (formerly Asperger's Syndrome), to women's issues, end of life issues, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depressive and anxiety disorders, ADD/ADHD, and couples & family therapy. Dr. Giovannelli also conducts psychological testing, with a specialty in diagnosing autism spectrum disorders.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Member of Both the Ohio
Dr. Mary E. Hickcox is a clinical psychologist who works with adults and couples. Dr. Hickcox utilizes insight-oriented and cognitive-behavioral therapies, and engages clients with compassion to help them overcome their difficulties. She offers individual therapy for a variety of issues including adjustment and identity issues, anxiety, life transitions, mood disorders, phobias, stress management, and substance abuse. She also works with couples to help improve understanding, communication and relationship satisfaction.
Dr. Hickcox received her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed her clinical internship at the Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She has conducted forensic and neuropsychological evaluations and is a member of the Public Safety Forces Evaluation team at WRPA.
Dr. Hickcox is a member of both the Ohio and American Psychological Associations. She enjoys serving on community boards to facilitate growth and change. She serves as a consultant for "Two Tribes One Vision", a cultural exchange partnership between local students and the Northern Cheyenne Nation in Montana, which fosters individual and cultural identity building and cross-cultural understanding.
Dr. Robertson has provided psychological services to adults in a variety of clinical settings including university counseling, community mental health, and medical hospitals. He completed his doctorate in clinical psychology at Xavier University and trained at the Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He has worked with veterans in residential treatment for substance use, provided evidence-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder, and helped individuals with other problems such as adjustment to life changes, caregiver stress, depression and anxiety, addiction, spiritual struggles, and serious mental illness. He also worked in a primary care clinic for veterans where he delivered behavioral interventions for insomnia, tobacco cessation, grief, suicidality, and chronic pain. He has experience providing assessment services for court-referred clients as well as older adults to evaluate cognitive wellness and decision-making capacity.
Dr. Samantha Goodin is a clinical psychologist who works with adults. As a member of WRPA's Public Safety Forces Evaluation Team, Dr. Goodin provides pre-employment evaluations for police officer, firefighter, and dispatcher candidates. She also provides individual counseling for anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, LGBTQ+ concerns, traumatic experiences, life transitions, and other concerns. She has special interests in providing counseling for college students and young adults.
Dr. Tanisha Knighton has over a decade of experience working with culturally diverse clients in residential and correctional settings, community mental health and private practice. Her clinical interests involve the treatment of children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families using evidence-based practices. She conceptualizes cases from cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, and family systems perspectives. She specializes in working with the following presenting situations: suicidality/grief/loss, depression, trauma, sexual abuse, sexual offending behaviors, forensic issues, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).
Dr. Knighton has a passion for working with those affected by missing persons and human trafficking issues. She also enjoys serving those in the BIPOC community that are impacted by suicidality and helping those who identify as LGBTQI+ navigate the complexities that may exist in being their authentic selves.
Dr. Knighton has served as a consultant, designed curricula and presented/led dozens of seminars and workshops on a variety of topics for federal/state grants/grantees, NGOs, CACs and national conferences.
Dr. Tracy Dawyduk is a clinical psychologist with almost 25 years of experience in assessing and treating children, adolescents, and adults. She believes that collaboration is the relational foundation necessary to helping individuals meet their personal life goals. With training in a variety of treatment approaches, Dr. Dawyduk personalizes care by using the strategies that work for the individual. She considers herself a generalist, and areas of practice include aging, anxiety, adjustment issues, anger management, abuse issues, depression and mood disorders, relationship difficulties, stress management, self-esteem, LGBTQ+ issues, sleep problems, trauma, grief and loss, including survivors of suicide loss.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Consultant
- Staff Psychologist
Dr. Eve Whitmore is a developmental/clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience in private practice. She provides consultation and therapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her career interests are health psychology and helping people optimize their functioning and regulate their life stresses through improved self-adaptation, cognitive approaches, and behavior modification. Her goal in working with people is to decrease risk for problems and increase resilience in physical, mental, and behavioral health.
Dr. Whitmore has served as a staff member and consultant to hospitals. She has taught Psychology at various universities and colleges. After earning her M.A. in Developmental Psychology/Disabilities and her Ph.D. in Developmental/Clinical Psychology from Ohio State University, Dr. Whitmore interned at the Nisonger Center and completed a post-doctorate at the Ohio State University Medical Center, Department of Psychology, in Rehabilitation Medicine.
Dr. Jay Levine is a counseling psychologist who has been in practice for more than twenty years. He treats children 10 years and older, adults and couples. He works with issues ranging from depressive and anxiety disorders, ADD/ADHD, and career coaching and change. He has directed Employee Assistance Programs that responded to the psychological needs of thousands of individuals.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Staff Psychologist
Dr. John Schell is a clinical psychologist who sees clients of all ages, either individually or as a couple or family. He is trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and brief psychodynamic psychotherapy. Areas of specialization include: couple/marital/partner relationship issues, problems with life satisfaction, self-esteem, interpersonal difficulties, adjustment disorders, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorders. He also has extensive experience in psycho diagnostic assessment and psychological testing.
Dr. Virginia Fowkes Clark is a clinical psychologist who provides treatment to clients of all ages with a specialty in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents. Areas of practice include depression, anxiety including obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder, behavioral and developmental problems including trichotillomania and ADHD. Other areas of practice include: treating adults with depression or anxiety, coping with family members with alcoholism or addictions and women's issues. She also performs evaluations for gastric bypass surgery, intellectual and achievement assessments, and personnel selection and consultation to businesses, government and safety forces. Evaluations are performed for documentation of disabilities for schools, college and college entrance exams. Dr. Clark is registered as a Star Behavioral Health Provider to help military members and their families.
Dr. Clark received her Ph.D. from Miami University (Ohio) and belongs to both the Ohio and American Psychological Associations.