BPS - Key Persons
Avery Carmichael, LMSW, received her Master's Degree in Social Work from Columbia University. While in her master's program, Avery was the Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Social Work Review, an annual peer-reviewed journal for students in the field to share research, experiences, and views. Avery completed her DBT Foundational Training through Behavioral Tech, LLC, studied DBT-informed Therapy through Wise Mind Counseling, and previously interned at Behavioral Psych Studio throughout her final year at Columbia. In addition to DBT training, she has completed trainings in Motivational Interviewing, Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy through the Center for Complicated Grief, and Trauma-Focused CBT through MUSC. While interning at BPS, Avery launched the practice's podcast, House on Fire. Avery received her Bachelor's Degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, a city that is very near and dear to her heart.
Avery also completed an internship at Windsor Terrace Middle School, where she delivered treatment in both individual and group settings, including a psychoeducation group focused on mindfulness and anxiety. Avery's experience working within a charter school environment, particularly amidst a pandemic year, has reinforced her dedication to fostering authentic, mutual, and effective relationships with her clients. Co-creation, balance, and fidelity to evidence-based techniques are at the core of Avery's mission.
An animal lover, foodie, and a born explorer, Avery spent three years working at Indagare Travel where she travelled to and wrote about, among other things, some of the most fantastic animal-based experiences on earth. Her favorite moment? Trekking with mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Now, she keeps things a little lower octane, cuddling with her dogs Lucy and Cooper on a regular basis. Keep an eye out for Avery on the Brooklyn Bridge, where she loves to take in the views and walk with a giant pretzel to-and-from Manhattan.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Clinical Director
Lucy Swank, LCSW Assistant Clinical Director | DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician
Morgan Eugeniois an advanced masters-level clinician. She earned her master's degree in social work from Columbia University and her bachelor's degree in psychology and leadership from the University of Richmond.
Morgan's approach to therapy integrates theory and skills from advanced training in evidence-based treatments including, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She has extensive experience using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to treat OCD, STAIR-NST and CPT to treat trauma, CBT-E to treat eating disorders, and Habit Reversal Training (HRT) for body-focused repetitive behaviors such as hair pulling and skin picking.
Morgan has worked in a variety of settings including New York Presbyterian's adult partial hospitalization program, private practices, and elementary education. She spent the last three years working at The Reeds Center, a private practice in midtown Manhattan that specializes in treating OCD and anxiety disorders (e.g. panic attacks, phobias). While there she grew passionate about helping individuals better understand what keeps them stuck and supporting them in making value-based changes to live a more connected, flexible, and meaningful life. She approaches her work through the lens of mindfulness and compassion.
Morgan has spent time on both coasts. After undergrad, she lived in San Francisco where she spent most of her time outside, hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. In New York City you can find her reading, running, spending time with friends, or trying new restaurants.
Job Titles:
- PsyD, Postdoctoral Fellow
- Therapist
Dr. Emily Hopkins, PsyD, is a postdoctoral fellow at BPS. She earned her master's degree and her doctorate in School Psychology from St. John's University, her bachelor's degree from The George Washington University, and has received training in a variety of school and clinical settings. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at The School at Columbia University, an independent K-8 school in the city.
During her graduate training, Dr. Hopkins completed her clinical externship in the Anxiety Disorders Center at Child Mind Institute where she provided CBT for children and adolescents with anxiety and depression. She is experienced in delivering evidence-based treatments such as DBT, DBT-C and DBT-A, DBT-PE, PCIT adapted for Selective Mutism, and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD. Additionally, Dr. Hopkins is trained in the Unified Protocol for children and adolescents. Recently, she piloted a virtual behavioral parent training program for caregivers whose children exhibited increased rates of disruptive behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A native of Connecticut, Emily is still on the lookout to find a pizza place in the city that rivals the New Haven holy trinity (Pepe's, Sally's, and Modern). Outside of work, you can find her on a playing on a kickball field, hosting game night, or hanging out with her niece, Madelyn.
Job Titles:
- Staff Psychologist
- Therapist
Dr. Jessica Passman, Psy.D. is a Staff Psychologist at BPS. She earned her Doctoral Degree in School Psychology from Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) and her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from SUNY Purchase College. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants (CBC), a DBT-Linehan Board Certified Program, where she received intensive training in DBT from Dr. Alec Miller (one of the developers of DBT for adolescents), as well as training in evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions. At CBC, Jessica provided DBT trainings and consultation to administrators, educators, and mental health professionals in public schools and residential programs. Jessica has also trained intensively in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) with Francheska Perepletchikova, the developer of this treatment. Jessica specializes in CBT and DBT for adolescents, families, and adults. In addition, Jessica is trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based treatment for children experiencing emotion dysregulation.
Jessica has received training in a variety of settings, including schools, community outpatient clinics, and private practices. At NYU Child Study Center, Jessica led groups for teens with social anxiety and provided individual therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults with ADHD (utilizing Organizational Skills Training), anxiety and mood disorders. Jessica has completed multiple externships in schools, providing consultation to teachers and administration, conducting psychological assessments and counseling.
Jessica was born and raised in Westchester, NY. In her free time, she enjoys photography, crafting, and walking around the reservoir in Central Park (her happy place!).
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director
- Clinical Director - L.a
Dr. Lauren Bochicchio, Ph.D., is the Clinical Director, BPS-L.A. She received her Master's Degree and Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work at Columbia University School of Social Work (CUSSW). While in her master's program, Dr. Bochicchio participated in the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training Program under the supervision of Dr. André Ivanoff, president of Behavioral Tech. Dr. Bochicchio received her intensive training in DBT while in this program and has additionally participated in trainings in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy, DBT for Families and Couples and DBT-PE. Dr. Bochicchio is also experiened in CBT for ADHD, CBT-E for eating disorders, and AFFIRM for LGBTQ2+ individuals.
After graduation from her MSW program, Dr. Bochicchio served as a DBT Therapist and Skills Trainer at Clearview Treatment Programs in Los Angeles, CA where she assisted in the development of the DBT family program. Most recently, Dr. Bochicchio worked as a social worker at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT where she facilitated a weekly group for parents of children in the residential DBT program.
Throughout her doctoral program, Dr. Bochicchio dedicated her studies to reducing mental health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community and identifying best practices for the treatment of suicidality across populations. Her dissertation project entitled, "Home Away from Home": Affirmative Care Practices Among Leading LGBTQ+ Organizations Serving Youth, identifies recommendations for LGBTQ+ youth affirmative care. Dr. Bochicchio now serves as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Columbia University School of Nursing.
Outside of work, Dr. Bochicchio can be found with Poppy, a spunky dachshund-chihuahua mix that she met five years ago, at a dog shelter in Los Angeles. Poppy enjoys long walks in Central Park and dancing for her favorite treats (PB-Nanas), and Dr. Bochicchio enjoys giving Poppy ever-more ridiculous nicknames (popsicle; chicken, etc). They make a top-notch duo.
Job Titles:
- Psy.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
- Therapist
Dr. Nikita Patel, Psy.D., is a postdoctoral fellow at BPS. She received her master's and doctorate degree in School and Clinical Child Psychology from Yeshiva University and bachelor's degree from NYU. She has trained in a variety of settings, including K-12 schools, community-mental health centers, a foster care agency, private practice, an outpatient medical center and an inpatient unit. Her pre-doctoral internship was at Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, where she provided evidence-based treatment, including TFCBT, CBT, and DBT to adolescents, young adults and their families. Further, she gained experience in completing gender evaluations for hormone treatment and providing individual therapy to the adolescent and young adult LGBTQ population.
During her graduate training, Dr. Patel helped implement a pilot study through Columbia University's School-Based Mental Health Program, providing DBT STEPS-A in two urban New York City middle schools. Additionally, she is intensively trained in DBT, and has experience delivering DBT-C, DBT-A, DBT-PE, for children, adolescents and adults who struggle with emotion regulation. Dr. Patel also has experience treating trauma using, PE, CPT and WET.
Outside of work, Nikita spends her time cooking, biking, and bingeing reality tv shows. She is an avid Tennessee sports fan.
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist
- Consulting Psychiatrist
Dr. Sara Chun, M.D., is an independent, licensed Psychiatrist who works closely with the staff at BPS. She received her medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and attended psychiatry residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan. She provides BPS with psychiatric consultation as needed and offers her clients psychiatric medication management. She has also trained under behavioral and psychodynamic therapists, and as a result, has an in-depth understanding of the many tools available to help patients.
Dr. Chun wants to listen to people's hopes, fears, difficulties, and histories to best determine if medication may be a good addition to their treatment plan. She also wants to understand any questions or apprehensions that people may have about taking psychiatric medications. She hopes to provide an informative space for patients to consider different treatment options and collaboratively find their personal balance between therapy, skills, and medicine.
Before Dr. Chun became a psychiatrist, she studied studio art at Scripps College, a women's college in California, and is currently working on making some time to doodle. She loves getting mint tea on Steinway, is very happy to work near Zabar's babka, and often thinks of New York City geography in terms of its food offerings.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founder
- Founder and Executive Director of
Stefanie Sugar, Psy.D., is the Founder and Executive Director of BPS. She earned her doctorate in school-clinical psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University and her bachelor's degree from Columbia University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx and externships at Bellevue Hospital's Intensive Personality Disorders Program.
Most recently, Dr. Sugar was a staff psychologist at Evidence Based Treatment Center of Seattle, specializing in providing CBT and DBT to adolescents, adults, couples and families, before joining the staff at Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She is a Clinical Faculty Member at the University of Washington, providing DBT supervision to graduate students in Dr. Marsha Linehan's Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics, and a Clinical Supervisor at both the Teacher's College of Columbia University in NYC and Lenox Hill Hospital. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Born and raised on bagels and coffee in NYC, Stefanie spent three years in Seattle and learned to love the rain, even better coffee, and a city that is charmingly stuck in 1995. But she couldn't stay away, and returned to NYC with her co-parent and slightly emotionally dysregulated shepherd mix, Fatsy. She is now both the proud mother of a five-year-old boy named Bear and two cats named Frank.
Ethan Sapienza is a part of BPS's team in California as an ACSW, while also seeing clients virtually in New York as an LMSW. Ethan values a validating, compassionate approach to therapeutic work, prioritizing the relationship between therapist and client. He is a part of the DBT team at BPS, offering consultation during weekly team meetings, co-leading DBT groups, and working with adults, adolescents and children on improving emotion regulation, increasing impulse control, and developing effective and productive coping mechanisms. He greatly enjoys the work of DBT, utilizing the balance of acceptance and change to help clients achieve their goals. Ethan also works with those experiencing anxiety and depression, recovering from trauma, and clients who are struggling with OCD, as he is trained in Exposure and Response Prevention (Ex/RP) and is currently receiving training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Ethan completed his Master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University, where he was selected to be a part of the DBT Intensive Training Program and Lab, under the supervision of Dr. André Ivanoff. While at Columbia, Ethan completed Behavioral Tech's Intensive Training in DBT with Randy Wolbert and Gwen Abney-Cunningham. Additionally, Ethan gained experience in providing cognitive behavioral interventions, Ex/RP for OCD, and EMDR while being a part of the team at Brooklyn Heights Behavioral Associates, a private practice that specializes in comprehensive DBT.
Ethan has also completed trainings on suicide risk assessment, the fundamentals of Motivational Interviewing, utilizing DBT for eating disorders, and how to use functional analyses with individuals and families. Prior to practicing DBT, Ethan worked as an in school counselor to high schoolers, taught kindergarteners and first graders evidence based social and emotional learning curricula, and co-lead a middle school boys mentorship group. He also worked as a data collector and team leader for the NYU ROSES lab, which has sought to prove the effectiveness of a community based alternative to incarceration for adolescent girls in New York City.
In his free time, Ethan enjoys frequenting his local movie theater with his partner and defending his home state of New Jersey (which does have the best bagels and pizza).
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Operations
Fred joins BPS with over twelve years of experience managing finances and administration for several New York City nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining BPS, Fred was Director of Finance and Operations for the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, a nonprofit working with City agencies and offices, institutional funders, and community-based partners to advance initiatives that improve the lives of New Yorkers.
Prior to the Mayor's Fund, Fred worked as Director of Finance & Administration for The Institute of Play and The City Kids Foundation, two youth-development nonprofits focused on education, workforce development, and social awareness. In addition to consulting for several other nonprofits as a financial management professional, Fred served as Director of Operations of a no-kill animal shelter, Animal Haven.
Fred received a BA in communications from Purchase College and his M.P.A. in nonprofit administration from Baruch College. Fred lives on the Upper West Side, where he goes for long runs in Central Park, plays Ice Hockey, and continues to practice his own art of multimedia painting and custom surfboard design, through his company Fat Cat Surfboards.
Job Titles:
- Director of Training and IOP
- LCSW - R
Jacquelyn N. Smith, LCSW-R, (she/her) is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™, and independently licensed clinical social worker. She first learned Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in 2004 as a 2nd year social work intern on a long-term inpatient unit at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, a unit specializing in providing DBT to women with Borderline Personality Disorder, severe emotion dysregulation, and behavioral dyscontol.
Upon graduating from Columbia University with her Masters of Science in Social Work in 2005, she proceeded to provide comprehensive DBT across various settings and levels of care, including private, community-based, hospital-based, and non-profit, within inpatient, outpatient, and day treatment programs. She has worked with historically oppressed and marginalized adolescents, adults, and families of LGBTQIA+, TGNC, BIPOC identification, often with complex psychosocial and psychiatric presentations.
In addition to intensive and advanced training in standard DBT, she is trained in evidence-based adaptations of the treatment, including DBT-PE (Prolonged Exposure) to treat PTSD using Prolonged Exposure concurrently, DBT-SUD for substance use disorders, DBT-PTSD for complex PTSD with severe dissociative symptoms, and DBT-ED for binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. Immersive in vivo training in the DBT-A adaptation for adolescents and their families came when she worked at Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants under the direct supervision of Alec Miller, PsyD, the co-developer of DBT-A. Beyond DBT, she is trained in and utilizes Cognitive Processing Therapy for treating those who struggle with PTSD, and has implemented a variety of CBT-driven protocols such as Exposure Response Prevention for OCD.
While her career has been primarily dedicated as a DBT clinician providing direct care, she has extensive experience supervising and training across all mental/behavioral health disciplines and years of practice, including as primary faculty for the DBT Training Program at the Columbia School of Social Work, the only training program within a graduate school for social workers in the nation. As a result of her broad scope of treating, teaching, and training, she has also consulted to a wide range of DBT practitioners on both the individual and agency levels, providing support to continue to make DBT as accessible to both clients who are in need of the treatment, and the clinicians who provide it.
JoJo received her Master's in Social Work from Columbia University in New York, NY and her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan with a Major in Psychology and a Minor in Community Action and Social Change. JoJo has been trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy by Behavioral Tech and in Motivational Interviewing by the Training and Practice Implementation Institute. Notably, she studied abroad at the University of Cape Town with a focus in Critical Psychology.
Most recently JoJo was a DBT Therapist at a non-profit substance abuse outpatient program called Freedom Institute where she taught the DBT skills in the Intensive Outpatient Program, facilitated an Advanced DBT Practice group, and combined behavioral approaches with psychodynamic therapy in individual therapy. She has expertise working with individuals ranging from seventeen years old to eighty years old with co-occurring substance abuse issues and borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression, trauma history, grief, and/or eating disorders.
Prior to Freedom Institute JoJo interned at a residential treatment facility called Silver Hill where she ran DBT skills groups and process groups for adults and adolescents. She was trained and supervised by the Director of Group Therapy, where she learned the techniques for creating a safe and supportive environment in group work. Additionally, JoJo interned at Westchester Medical Center where worked on a myriad of medical units including internal medicine, burn, trauma, oncology, pediatrics, neurology, surgery, and ventilation and supported clients through their stay and discharge.
Outside of work, JoJo enjoys taking long walks in New York City in every season, avoiding going to the same restaurant twice, mindful cooking, and planning trips around the world. She spends quality time with her nephew and niece whenever she can and loves rainy days and sunny days just the same.
Kristin Ortiz, LMSW, received her Master's Degree in Social Work at Columbia University. While in her master's program, Kristin participated in the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Intensive Training Program, organized by Drs. Marsha Linehan and André Ivanoff and completed her DBT Intensive Training through Behavioral Tech, LLC. In addition, she has completed trainings in Motivational Interviewing and Imminent Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention.
Kristin practiced comprehensive DBT at each of her clinical internships, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center and STEP Aftercare at The Children's Village. At these internships, she worked with both adults and adolescents who struggled with severe emotion regulation difficulties. She also delivered short-term Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Depression and is experienced at facilitating group therapy, psychoeducation, and behavioral skills training.
Kristin is committed to creating a nonjudgmental, supportive, and genuine environment while implementing evidence-based interventions to assist her clients in achieving their goals and building fulfilling lives. Kristin leads our AFFIRM group for both adults and adolescents and is passionate about providing evidence-based behavioral interventions through a queer-affirming lens.
Kristin lives in Brooklyn with her fiancé and her amazing Siberian cat Boris. When not working she enjoys travel, reading and begrudgingly exercising.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Staci has a multifaceted background in theater, hospitality, and business development. She is an NYC licensed tour guide and has had the pleasure of curating unique experiences for a global clientele. She co-launched a luxury non-profit venue in lower Manhattan that hosted events of all kinds, which provided free space, mentorship, and resources for artists and creators in all sectors.
She is a dedicated leader, learner, and connector who values authenticity, knowledge-seekers, and anyone with an exceptionally sharp wit. She is continuously curious about people and approaches every interaction with empathy and openness. Staci has always had a passion for mental health and plans to continue her education in the field, specifically to advocate and improve equity and access to mental health care.
Staci has been a proud New Yorker for over 15 years. In her free time, Staci serves as a Samaritans suicide crisis hotline volunteer, reads constantly (actually checks out books from the New York Public library!), listens to several pop-culture podcasts, and re- watches Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Team Spuffy!)