WEISSMAN CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Alice Guberman, B.A., is a 2025-2026 predoctoral extern and WCF volunteer at The Child and Family Insitute. She is a rising third year clinical psychology PhD student at Fairleigh Dickinson University and graduated from New York University in 2021 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Alice recently completed an externship at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Center for Psychological Services where she provided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to adolescents and conducted psychological testing for children and adults. She is also training at the NYU Langone Child Study Center this year where she will see individual patients with a wide range of diagnoses and difficulties for therapy and conduct therapy groups. Alice enjoys working from an integrative theoretical orientation and focuses on individualizing treatment to meet the unique needs of every patient and family she works with. In addition to her clinical experience, Alice is a research assistant in the FDU Center for Empathy Research and Training (CERT). She is interested in assessing whether college-based empathy training can improve attitudes about empathy, increase empathetic behaviors, and foster resilience in emerging adults.
Anthony Easter received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California Davis in 2021 and his Master of Social Work degree from Boston College in 2023. Upon graduating from Boston College, he became a Licensed Master Social Worker. He has internship experience in academic and hospital settings. He has worked as a behavioral health counselor with individuals with diverse mental health needs. In addition to working with individuals with diverse mental health needs, he has also worked with older adults, helping them address various social and mental health needs. Anthony is deeply committed to fostering genuine connections with his clients to provide the most effective support for their mental health journey. His approach is rooted in building strong rapport and understanding everyone holistically, recognizing the importance of cultural context in shaping one's experiences and needs. Anthony's therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based practices, prioritizing effective and tailored interventions to the unique cultural and personal factors influencing each client's well-being. He aims to empower clients to navigate challenges, cultivate resilience, and achieve their therapeutic goals through collaboration and mutual trust.
Anthony strongly emphasizes cultural responsiveness and humility, recognizing the significance of cultural identity in shaping individuals' experiences and worldviews. Through ongoing reflection and dialogue, Anthony aims to continuously expand his cultural competence and ensure he continues to be inclusive and affirm diverse perspectives.
Ariana Davis, B.A. is a pre-doctoral extern at Child and Family Institute and a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at Fordham University. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Temple University in 2020. Her work is informed by humanistic and cognitive behavioral treatments. Ariana focuses on providing person-centered, culturally responsive care to youth and families by addressing a variety of concerns, such as anxiety, depression, substance use, and attentional and organizational issues. She also has experience in leading group therapy sessions to promote insight, perspective-taking, and goal-directed behaviors. She is particularly interested in supporting ethnic minority and LGBTQIA+ children and adolescents. As a clinician, Ariana aims to utilize collaborative approaches to promote youth resilience.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Intake Coordinators and Executive Assistants Team
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board
Ava Swanstrom, B.A., is a former Intake and Research Coordinator at CFI. Ava was instrumental in developing our Equity Research and continues to consult and volunteer with WCF's Research Team.
Ava graduated in December of 2020 from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. Throughout her time at Alabama, Ava worked as a peer mentor to undergraduate students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As a UA-ACTS mentor, she guided college students to develop social and academic skills in order to nurture confidence in the challenging transition from high school to college life. Ava also worked as a research assistant in Dr. Bradley White's Prevention of Youth Behavior Problems Lab, testing a computerized treatment for children with callous-unemotional traits and developing new formats of a school-based prevention program for at-risk youth.
Ava is now pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Loma Linda University where her research centers on parenting stress in families of children with ASD, as well as understanding the needs of culturally diverse families of children with ASD.
Job Titles:
- Director of Social Work Training
Dalia Sharps, LCSW, is a trauma-focused therapist and the Associate Director of Clinical Training at CFI/WCF, where she provides individual, couples, and group therapy, as well as clinical supervision to trainees. Dalia brings to CFI/WCF nearly a decade of experience in the mental health and crisis intervention field. She has worked with children, teens, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, body image, chronic pain, life transitions, and relationship stress.
In her work with clients, Dalia aims to create a non-judgmental and nurturing space where clients can identify and work with her toward their goals. Often that may include learning and practicing how to better manage anxiety, respond to painful feelings, develop self-compassion, build stronger relationships, or reduce unwanted behaviors. Dalia uses an integrative approach in her sessions, drawing elements from her training in psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral theories.
Dalia earned her Bachelor's degree in political science and gender studies from Vassar College and received her Master's degree from NYU in clinical social work. She has completed post-graduate studies in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), internal family systems therapy (IFS), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and exposure response prevention (ERP). Outside her work at CFI/WCF, Dalia works at a NYC-based criminal justice reform organization and is a certified mediator with the New York Peace Institute.
Daniel Best is a predoctoral extern at The Child and Family Institute and a third-year Psy.D. student in the School-Clinical Child Psychology program at Yeshiva University's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from McGill University and an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Ferkauf as well.
Before beginning his doctoral training, Daniel provided Functional Family Therapy to high-risk families in the child welfare system. This experience deepened his commitment to utilizing trauma-informed care, a multicultural perspective, and behavioral strategies to help families make necessary changes to graduate from the welfare system.
At his current school-based fieldwork placement, Daniel provides individual counseling, by integrating growth mindset principles and higher-order thinking skills, and group counseling to foster social-emotional growth and resilience. He also assesses students for baseline academic data and school admission purposes.
Daniel's clinical interests center on the theoretical foundations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with a particular focus on integrating trauma-informed perspectives. He is also interested in evidenced based parenting strategies, cultivating executive functioning skills, and administering neuropsychological assessment.
Daniel aims to apply these passions by working with children and adolescents facing ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, or enduring trauma. He is also dedicated to supporting parents in improving family dynamics, understanding their child's cognitive profile, and fostering family resilience.
Across settings, Daniel brings an empathic, developmentally informed, and collaborative approach to his work. He strives to create safe, supportive environments where evidence-based practices, engaging activities, and practical skill-building help children, adolescents, and families navigate challenges and build on their strengths.
Daniel Koffler, B.S., is President of New Frontiers where he provides the overall strategic direction and short/long term planning agenda, while overseeing the financial, marketing and business development aspects of the business. NF is an executive functioning coaching organization. NF provides academic, social, transitional and vocational supports to students with a range of abilities and interests, allowing them to maximize their potential-successful, independent, self-advocating adults. After the sale of a majority of the assets of MetSchools, his family's education business, Daniel's focus moved to the special education practice within the MetSchools portfolio (including Aaron School, and Rebecca School).
Daniella Cohen, LMSW, is a remote-based therapist for CFI. Daniella earned her Masters in Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults using modalities such as CBT, solution focused therapy, motivational interviewing, and play therapy. She has worked with clients on issues ranging from depression, anxiety, family issues, trauma, behavioral issues, and PTSD.
With a background in macro social work, as well as having clinical experience, she provides a unique perspective on understanding not only individuals, but how they fit into their community systems. Daniella works to create a strong therapist-client bond and involves evidence based treatment and practical techniques into her practice to help her clients' success in treatment.
Job Titles:
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board
Danielle Henderson, MPH has a public health and program evaluation background. She is interested in helping with WCF in any way that she can, and she currently sits on the WCF research committee and consults on WCF program evaluation planning, survey development and data analysis. Danielle is also a member of WCF's DEIJ Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board
- Psychologist
Deborah Szanto, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice in White Plains, NY. Dr. Szanto sees adults, 18 and older, including the elderly, for treatment of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, health anxiety, simple phobias, and mood disorders. Dr. Szanto first met Dr. Adam Weissman through the Westchester County Psychological Association and has volunteered with WCF in a myriad of ways; she is an integral member of the WCF board and lends her insights to numerous WCF sub-committees including WCF Research, DEIJ and Development committees.
Debra Vitagliano has 26 years experience as an occupational therapist in pediatrics. She is the Clinical Director of the Occupational Therapy program at CFI-Scarsdale and she is the Founder and Director of Rye Therapies of OT, PT, and Speech in Rye, NY. She has worked in early intervention, private clinics, home health care and schools.
Debra completed her Bachelors of Science degree from Utica College of Syracuse University and her Masters of Science degree from New York Medical College. She continued her education becoming certified in Sensory Integration and Praxis Testing (SIPT), Interactive Metronome, therapeutic listening and The Listening Program.
She is passionate in working with a variety of clients including children with sensory processing disorder, sensory integration dysfunction, hypotonia, motor coordination disorder, developmental delays, Down's syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and attention difficulties. Her ultimate goal is assisting children to attain their maximum functional potential in their sensory-motor development.
Debra currently lives in Port Chester, New York with her husband and three sons. She enjoys hiking, exercising, Pilates, reading and traveling in her leisure time.
Job Titles:
- Director of Social Work Training
Dominique Pagano, LCSW, is the Associate Director of CFI-Long Island and a psychotherapist. She provides therapy for individuals, families, and groups utilizing a variety of therapeutic approaches including but not limited to Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parent Management Training, Behavioral Activation, Motivational Interviewing, and Child Centered Play Therapy. As a therapist, Pagano strongly emphasizes the therapeutic alliance, utilizing an integrative, dynamic, and holistic approach to mental health with individuals and families. She approaches her work with a strengths-based and trauma-informed lens to best support her clients' emotional, physical and relational health.
Pagano has extensive experience working with children, adolescents and their families prior to joining CFI. Pagano worked for the Mental Health Service Corps at Bellevue Hospital's Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry as a Behavioral Health Clinician, where she primarily treated children and adolescents with depression, anxiety, PTSD, behavioral issues, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and parenting concerns. In addition to providing individual psychotherapy at Bellevue, she helped develop a strong alliance between the clinic and the hospital school (PS 35 M), facilitating group therapy programming and crisis intervention for high-risk youth prior to their return to community school settings. Pagano is experienced in working collaboratively with children, their families, and school staff in advocating for and obtaining the most appropriate services and school placements to allow for the most successful outcomes.
Pagano received her B.A. in Communication Disorders specializing in child development from SUNY New Paltz, and her master's degree in Social Work from Fordham Graduate School of Social Service. During her time at Fordham University, Pagano specialized in treating child and adolescent trauma, working primarily with youth with extensive histories of trauma, and received training in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for the treatment of PTSD.
Dr. Weissman serves as a compassionate role model for his younger clients and an expert confidant for his peers, delivering in-home, state-of-the-art psychotherapies with the highest level of privacy, confidentiality, and discretion in the industry. Dr. Weissman is most known for his genuine compassion, authenticity, good humor, and unique blend of humility, pragmatism, and ability to connect through lived experience, all of which are assets in the therapy room and create rare opportunities for trust-building and connection above and beyond the typical therapy relationship. Dr. Weissman also invests in his clients beyond the typical therapy relationship and is available for texts and phone calls between sessions, as well as other special circumstances given the wishes of the client, including being present at day-to-day activities or special occasions in the life of the client and/or family, contingent on careful clinical and ethical consideration. Virtual Appointments are available upon request.
Dr. Weissman is a renowned pediatric psychologist and healthcare innovator with a mission to broaden equitable and inclusive access to evidence-based mental healthcare. He is the Founding President and Chief Psychologist of The Child & Family Institute, a world-renowned clinical psychology practice with over 50 mental and behavioral health programs and specialists, cutting edge clinical research and training programs, a Sports Psychology practice, Compassionate Parenting Institute, and large-scale pro bono initiatives for underserved children and families-and families in global crisis-through his 501(c)(3) Weissman Children's Foundation. Dr. Weissman is a prolific author and researcher, and foremost expert in the transdiagnostic assessment and treatment of pediatric anxiety, depression, attention, habit, and behavior disorders, including the development of his new Compassionate Parent Training and Feelings Fuzzies book series for young children. Formerly on faculty at Harvard University and Judge Baker Children's Center, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Weissman is an Adjunct Professor/Clinical Supervisor at Columbia University-Teacher's College. He is Past-President of the Westchester County Psychological Association, and recipient of the county's 40 Under 40, Healthcare Heroes, and Public Health Awards, as well as the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Contributions to Practice Award, one of the field's highest honors.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Director of Postdoctoral Training, Senior Supervising Psychologist
Dr. Christina Athineos (she/her) is a clinical psychologist, licensed in NY & NJ. Dr. Athineos specializes in providing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention (ERP), with experience utilizing techniques from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), and mindfulness and acceptance-based behavioral therapy. Dr. Athineos implements these evidence-based treatments across populations for a range of psychological presentations. Her specialties include anxiety disorders (including selective mutism as part of CFI's "Brave Voices" team), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community.
Dr. Athineos graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in communication disorders from The College of New Jersey's honors program. Dr. Athineos then earned her M.S and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. She trained in Suffolk's Community Action-Based Research Lab, where she designed social justice-based research studies. These included her master's thesis on nonprofit organizational use of social media and her dissertation on the individual and systemic effects of cyber harassment.
Prior to her work at CFI, Dr. Athineos completed an American Psychological Association-accredited pre-doctoral internship at ANDRUS, a family-centered nonprofit specializing in trauma-informed, community-based mental health. During her year there, she provided individual, family, and group therapy via teletherapy, as well as neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Athineos has previously trained and worked with New York Presbyterian Hospital, Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, The May Institute, Hybridge Learning Group, and McLean Hospital's child and adolescent OCD Institute.
Job Titles:
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board
Dr. Maggie Vaughan, a licensed psychotherapist based in New York City, specializes in the treatment of mood disorders, couples concerns, and family dynamics. She is the founder of Happy Apple®, a psychotherapy center for mood disorders, couples concerns, and trauma.
With degrees from Duke University, the California Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology, and the University of Southern California (USC), Dr. Vaughan incorporates a diverse range of therapeutic approaches, blending existential, attachment-based, and cognitive-behavioral models with integrative medicine. As a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider and ongoing student in the realm of metabolic mental health, she brings an awareness of how food and lifestyle influence mood and overall well-being.
Dr. Vaughan's clinical work extends to youth development, serving as Head of Youth Transformation at tapouts, a pioneering live e-learning program that fosters interpersonal and resilience skills in children.
She is the author of The Depression Relief Journal: Creative Prompts & Mindfulness Practices to Release Negative Emotions and is currently writing a book on parenting in a competitive culture.
Her expertise has been featured by several media outlets including CNBC, The New York Times, HuffPost, and Parents.
Dr. Martin Jones is Licensed Master of Social Worker with several years of experience working with youth, young adults and their families throughout New York City. As a NY virtual based Mental Health Clinician with CFI, Dr. Martin Jones provides a range of support for a range of diagnoses including and not limited to: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and depression.
Utilizing a holistic approach and culturally adapted evidence-based practices, Dr. Martin Jones focuses on the interconnectedness of social, emotional, and cultural factors that may impact self and how individuals and families may navigate the world. This is most noticeable in her use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), psychoeducation and mindfulness. Focusing on creating a collaborative space with an integrative and strengths-based approach as her focus to therapy, Dr. Martin Jones examines the whole person and their environment to find the best route for support.
Before her time at CFI, Dr. Jones was an Emotional Wellness Specialist at Harlem Children's Zone where she provided parents and families tools to thrive. Additionally, she was a community based school social worker for 5 years providing crisis intervention, therapeutic support and academic support to youth ages 14-20.Outside of CFI, Dr. Martin Jones is an assistant professor and researcher on youth well-being.
Dr. Martin Jones earned her Bachelor's degree from Penn State University, Masters in Clinical Social Work from NYU and a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She specializes in self-esteem, anxiety, depression, general life transitions and identity exploration with adolescents.
Elizabeth Kenney (she, her), LMSW, is a psychotherapist practicing out of the CFI Brooklyn location in Carroll Gardens and by telehealth.
Elizabeth studied social work at New York University with a clinical focus on children and families who have experienced trauma. She works holistically with adults, adolescents and children through an integrative and relational lens, working together to establish goals for positive mental health and wellness within the context of cultural and family connections. Elizabeth has expertise in providing LGBTQ+ affirming psychotherapy for youth, adults and families, play therapy, Child Parent Psychotherapy (0-5), is trained as a K-12 mindfulness instructor, and utilizes Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and EMDR with clients for processing and healing trauma, anxiety and depression.
As a high school-based therapist in Manhattan, Elizabeth gained expertise in working as part of a treatment and IEP team, supporting neurodivergent clients (ADHD, ASD), twice exceptional (2e) youth, and co-creating supportive strategies with individuals to mediate executive function challenges. In her work with parents, Elizabeth incorporates mindfulness-based and positive parenting strategies for strengthening the parent-child relationship, especially during the teen years, as well as support with processing residual trauma from adverse childhood experiences that may surface during the parenting journey. As a former designer and an artist, Elizabeth especially enjoys working with creative and "quirky" clients and believes humor and shared curiosity are fundamental to a positive therapy experience.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Supervisor at Columbia Teachers College
- Director of Adoption & Attachment Center, Senior Supervising Psychologist
- Director of the Adoption
Emily Becker-Weidman, Ph.D., is the director of the Adoption and Attachment Treatment. She is an adolescent psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children, adolescents, and young adults and attachment-focused family therapy.
Dr. Becker-Weidman is certified in CBT from the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and in trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT), intensively trained in DBT, and is certified by the Attachment Treatment-Focused Institute as an Attachment-Focused Family Therapist and is certified in the practice of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. She is also trained in Habit Reversal Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and Exposure Response Prevention Therapy for OCD.
Becker-Weidman is certified in CBT from the Academy of Cognitive Therapy; in trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT); as an attachment-focused family therapist by the Attachment Treatment-Focused Institute; and in the practice of dyadic developmental psychotherapy. She has also trained in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), habit reversal therapy, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), and exposure response prevention therapy (ERP) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Becker-Weidman is the clinical supervisor at Columbia Teachers College, where she teaches a graduate practicum in CBT for children and adolescents. She is also clinical director of the New York City Division of the Center for Family Development. Dr. Becker-Weidman is president of the Clinical Division of the Westchester County Psychological Association (WCPA). She is a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), the American Psychological Association (APA), the New York City Adoption/Foster Care Therapist Network, the New York City Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Association (NYC-CBT), and the New Jersey Psychological Association. She has presented research at several national conferences, co-authored three book chapters on child and adolescent psychopathology, and published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Becker-Weidman received her B.A. in psychology and health and societies from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the New York University Child Study Center/Bellevue Hospital and a two-year postdoctoral clinical research fellowship in anxiety and mood disorders and autism at the NYU Child Study Center.
Currently, Becker-Weidman is practicing teletherapy and working from her practice in Closter, New Jersey.
Emily Henning is an Ivy League-educated tutor specializing in English and History. She graduated from Brown University in 2019 with honors in Literary Arts and a GPA in the 93rd percentile of her graduating class. Emily has a passion for language, and helping students express themselves in writing and excel at standardized testing. She has been working as a tutor and mentor for the past five years. Through experiences as varied as advising high school students from underserved communities on the college application process to leading university workshops about imposter syndrome, Emily has cultivated the skills to help students of all ages and academic levels.
As a tutor, Emily prioritizes fit. Her teaching pedagogy revolves around the student. She designs a tutoring curriculum based on the individual needs of her students, focusing on obtaining measurable, timely, and realistic goals. Whether she's working with a seventh grader to prepare for an ELA state test, or helping a high school senior with college essays, Emily is committed to helping her students excel. She is an expert on the SAT English section and enjoys showing students that, despite all the fear mongering advanced by prep companies, it is absolutely attainable for most students to receive a 700 or higher if they study smart.
When Emily is not working with students, she enjoys reading, traveling, and taking long walks in Prospect Park with her dog.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Intake Coordinators and Executive Assistants Team
Job Titles:
- Billing Coordinator at CFI
Emma Santo is the Billing Coordinator at CFI and WCF. She prepares invoices and superbills, manages payments, ensures accurate billing records, and resolves any billing discrepancies. She also works closely with clients to offer flexibility with payment options and provide support in navigating billing questions and concerns.
She earned a degree in Psychology with minors in Behavioral Science and Italian from McGill University in Montreal. In addition to her role at CFI, she works part-time as a Research Coordinator in the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, with a focus on oncology. Her previous experience as a pharmacy technician gave her valuable insight into healthcare operations and patient care.
With a strong interest in health sciences, she plans to further her education and explore areas such as neuroscience, genetics, and immunology.
Erica Silen is board-certified, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specializing in diagnosis, medication management, and therapy. Since graduating from Columbia School of Nursing in 2012, Silen has gained extensive experience treating children, adolescents, adults, and families with a wide range of symptoms.
Addressing mental health issues can be scary, especially for children and parents. Silen works with families to create a calming and trusting environment. Clients and families are encouraged to discuss their wants, needs, and fears, which in turn helps to destigmatize the process. Trained in motivational interviewing, Silen incorporates many of the skills she acquired through daily practice, including active listening, reflection, and meeting clients "where they are at." She conducts a thorough evaluation of each client, and uses evidence-based practices in order to individualize treatment options.
Francesca Giannattasio B.S., is a predoctoral extern under the at The Child and Family Institute (CFI). Fran is a third-year Counseling Psychology doctoral student at Fordham University. Fran previously worked as a clinical extern at a college counseling center in New York City, where she supported a diverse population of young people presenting with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, grief, and trauma. Fran has supported clients navigating major life transitions, financial stressors, and interpersonal concerns. Fran believes in working collaboratively with her clients, utilizing a warm, culturally sensitive, person-centered approach. Fran enjoys working from an integrative theoretical orientation, primarily drawing from Humanistic and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches. Outside of her clinical work, Fran also serves as a Research Consultant for Born This Way Foundation. In this capacity, she supports the evaluation of the Foundation's programs and youth-led initiatives to promote youth mental health.
Hannah Buhasira will be working as a predoctoral psychology extern at the Child and Family Institute. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Jewish studies from City College in 2022 and her master's degree in psychology from Touro University in 2022. Hannah is currently obtaining her doctorate of clinical psychology from Touro University.
Hannah's professional experience originates from an educational background, during which time she was a teacher for ages 3-14 for 4 years. Hannah has been practicing therapy for one year and previously worked at the Brooklyn College Personal Counseling center, assisting older adolescents and young adults within a range of different clinical presentations. Within her practice, Hannah often leans on techniques from dialectical behavior therapy to encourage nuanced reflection and emotion regulation skills as well as mindfulness, acceptance, and self compassion practices.
Hannah's therapeutic approach can be described as holistic and intersectional, she is passionate about balancing holding space for broader systemic influence on mental health with tailoring treatment to what is practical and unique to the individual. Hannah's focus is on the relationship and individual strengths in order to promote healthy challenges and growth. Hannah's clinical interests include sexuality/sex therapy, health psychology, self-injury, and trauma.
Hannah has enjoyed working with older adolescents and young adults, she is interested in continuing this work with a broader range of adolescent ages as well as being open to working with any age group. Hannah is open to working with any population.
Hannah Thomas, M.A. (she/her/hers) is a fourth-year doctoral student at Montclair State University's Clinical Psychology PhD program and an extern at CFI. Hannah received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin and Marshall College and Master of Arts in Psychological Science from Catholic University. Hannah has worked with a wide range of populations, including children, young adults, and parents. Her experience includes treating social anxiety, generalized anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Hannah has received training in various evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Hannah also has experience conducting neuropsychological, diagnostic, and educational assessments. Hannah prioritizes building the therapeutic alliance by utilizing a compassionate and collaborative approach while integrating evidence-based practices to help clients achieve their therapeutic goals.
Job Titles:
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board
J. Ryan Fuller, Ph.D. is an NYC psychologist, specializing in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Anger Management, and Weight Loss in New York City. Dr. Fuller's varied experiences conducting research, treating patients, training professionals, and working with the public have given him insights into cognition, emotion, and behavior, enhancing his understanding of the human condition. Dr. Fuller is the Co-Founder of My Best Practice, the electronic health record system used by CFI and WCF; he also serves on the WCF board as a valued thought and development partner.
Jason Lewinter has experience in working with children, adolescents and families using evidence-based interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), parent management training (PMT), collaborative problem solving (CPS) and applied behavior analysis (ABA). He believes in offering a safe and supportive environment and in developing the therapeutic relationship by working collaboratively with patients, caretakers and providers throughout treatment.
Lewinter has worked in a number of schools, homes, clinics and agencies treating children and adolescents with anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), selective mutism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and other social, emotional and behavioral challenges. To ensure treatment remains consistent across settings, he frequently collaborates with families, schools and outside providers.
Lewinter earned a master's degree in social work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and a B.A. in psychology from Queens College. He is currently practicing via telehealth.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director
- Member of the AATA
Jess Fox is the clinical director of the creative arts therapy program at CFI. Fox is a board-certified creative arts therapist and she has been providing art therapy to children, adults, families and couples for over eighteen years across a variety of settings.
Fox has provided bereavement counseling and art therapy to 9/11 victims' families at the Healing and Remembrance on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, art therapy workshops to empower and mentor teens in the school setting, as well as numerous in-services in both school and hospital settings. She has conducted lectures and public speaking engagements at local, state and national conferences on the benefits of art therapy with the homeless population. In 2009, Fox spoke to NYC Council members at City Hall to advocate the need to keep Recreation Departments in the homeless shelters. The fight was won and the programming and jobs remain in place.
Fox is a member of the AATA (American Art Therapy Association), ATCB (Art Therapy Credentials Board), and NYATA (New York Art Therapy Association). She is the vice president of NYC Regional Arts in Healthcare, a group of professionals that work in the healthcare profession providing creative arts. In addition to her role as a creative arts therapist, Fox is also a visual artist and is a member of the BWAC (Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition), an artist collective. Fox's artwork via mixed media, oil, watercolor and acrylic painting are on display throughout the NY Metro area.
Fox received her master's degree from Hofstra University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the creative arts therapy program. Her thesis was on self-esteem and the exhibition of clients' artwork. Over the years, Fox has facilitated more than ten art exhibits, one of which, "Hope for the Homeless", was filmed and aired on local news. Fox was interviewed personally about her involvement in curating the show and her role as an art therapist with the homeless population.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Association for Cognitive
Kaitlyn Hennig is a predoctoral clinical extern at CFI. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Manhattan College in 2022. She also received her master's degree in general psychology from Touro University in 2024, and is currently pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology (Psy.D.) from Touro University.
Kaitlyn practices evidence-based approaches, including cognitive therapy (CBT), behavioral activation (BA), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), on a range of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and various behavioral difficulties. She has been conducting therapy for the last year in a college counseling center with a wide range of patients spanning all different ages and presenting difficulties. She practices a client-centered, strengths-based, integrative approach by pulling from CBT, ACT, and DBT. These approaches inform how she conducts therapy by helping clients notice the changes they want to make surrounding unhelpful patterns and how they can best enact that change. In addition, Kaitlyn works to help clients become more in touch with their emotional experiences and thus better engage in emotion regulation, self-compassion, and acceptance.
Kaitlyn is interested in self-compassion, mood disorders, and health psychology. In addition, she has enjoyed working with young adults and is interested in expanding her experience to working with children and their families. She typically works with young adults presenting with mood disorders, but she is open and excited to work with everyone to expand her understanding of the different experiences and presentations of mental health.
Kaitlyn is a member of the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. She presented two posters at the last conference about the DERS scale, including Development of the Revised Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-R): A Higher-Order Factor Analysis and A Closer Look: Examining the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) with Exploratory Graphical Analysis (EGA). In addition, she has been recognized as an author on three different published peer-reviewed articles. Two of the articles are about empirical aesthetics, and one is on post-traumatic growth in a non-Western culture. Finally, Kaitlyn has recently undergone training in DBT through PESI and CBT through NYC-CBT.
Karisa Jaime, LMSW, specializes in trauma-focused therapy, incorporating evidence-based treatments such as TF-CBT, CPT, PE, and Motivational Interviewing (MI). She has been certified in STAIR to help individuals with trauma improve emotion regulation and interpersonal functioning. Karisa is licensed in both New York and New Jersey and has experience working with veterans and their families.
While her primary focus is trauma, Karisa is passionate about working with children and young adults, addressing ADHD, anxiety, depression, behavioral concerns, and social learning challenges. She believes in a strong therapeutic alliance and a person-centered approach tailored to each client's goals.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Intake Coordinators and Executive Assistants Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Intake Coordinators and Executive Assistants Team
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board
Kendra Plummer is a former CFI and WCF Intake Coordinator and Executive Assistant and a current candidate for her masters degree in Mental Health Counseling at George Washington University. Kendra served an integral role in the foundation of WCF and serves as the Secretary of the WCF Leadership Board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Intake Coordinators and Executive Assistants Team
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director, New York Sports & Performance Psychology
Mary Beth Finegan, she/her, LMSW, has ten years of experience working as a social worker and Clinical Director in New York City covering a wide range of clinical services for children, adolescents, family, and adults across the lifespan including end of life care. She has worked in various settings from school-based mental health, alternative to incarceration, and supportive housing programs. Her most recent work includes working with homeless adults with severe mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and chronic health conditions. She specializes in trauma-focused, long-term, and relationship-centered work. She uses a wide range of evidenced based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and Psychotherapy for anxiety and depression. She has extensive experience working with complex clinical issues and is trained in mental health first aid.
Mary Beth graduated from New York University's Silver School of Social Work in 2017. Prior, to receiving her master's degree, she lived in Cape Town, South Africa where she helped launch a grass roots NGO with a mission to bring social services and other community services into the township community of Imizamo Yethu. Her strengths are her unique ability to connect with individuals of all backgrounds and ages utilizing strong interpersonal communication skills, modeling healthy relationships, and truly meeting people's needs where they're at.
Mary Beth is also a celebrated athlete having played volleyball at Meredith College and at Triangle Volleyball Club both located in Raleigh, North Carolina. She has awards for both on the court and off the court success including setting the record for Meredith's College's "Career Digs," and was named "2008 USA South Conference Libero of the Year" in addition to having Triangle Volleyball Club re-name their student-athlete community service award the "Mary Beth Finegan Award" for those who exhibit excellence through service to their community. At just eighteen years old, Mary Beth accepted her first head coaching position for a competitive 12U travel team and won the Regional Championships that same year. Ever since her first opportunity, Mary Beth has not stopped coaching whether it be head coaching a competitive youth travel team, coaching grassroots community-based clinics in Cape Town, South Africa, to coaching individual and small group private lessons. Today, she coaches with New York City's NYC Juniors Volleyball Club where she is both head coach for the competitive 13 National team and the Program Director of their Youth Development Program called "Skills Academy." She has won nine Regional Championship titles and has led fourteen teams to compete in USAV's National Championship event.
Drawing clear connections between her clinical skills and the use of strong communication and relationship skills, Mary Beth brings evidenced-based practices into the student-athlete experience. She works one on one, in groups, and with parents to help student-athletes navigate the unique pressures of being a competitive athlete. She specializes in applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness techniques specifically visualization and breathwork, with pre-game and "re-set" routines, in addition to equipping the coach-parent-support network with skills needed to assist their child through the student-athlete experience. Mary Beth is passionate about expanding the Sports Psychology field to cover the specific needs of competitive youth athletes and their surrounding adult support system.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Intake Coordinators and Executive Assistants Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board
Rose Arditi, LMSW, is a youth and family advocate with a demonstrated history in educational psychology, practice, and publishing. She works to empower youth and families by promoting evidence-based care and innovating social and emotional curricula. Having worked as a research assistant in John R. Weisz, Ph.D. Lab for Youth Mental Health at Harvard University, Rose helped to develop the Youth Top Problems Assessment, a key assessment used in our everyday clinical practice here at CFI and within our program evaluation; Rose serves as our research team's supervisor for the Youth Top Problems Assessment.
Job Titles:
- Member of the WCF Advisory Board