CENTER FOR CHILD & FAMILY DEVELOPMENT - Key Persons
Dr. Margaret Tobias is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey. She has specialized training in cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, family therapy, and parenting skills. Dr. Tobias enjoys working with children, adolescents, young adults, and parents. Her treatment covers a range of concerns, including anxiety and stress-related disorders, depression, mood disorders, behavior problems, and ADHD. Dr. Tobias also conducts psychological and psychoeducational evaluations to assess and make specific recommendations for cognitive strengths and weaknesses, processing deficits, learning disorders, ADHD, and problems with social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. As a psychologist, Dr. Tobias addresses the individual needs of each client while recognizing and building on their strengths. She believes that a collaborative relationship between the therapist and client is paramount to therapeutic success and that most progress is made when all parties (family, school, physicians, and others) work together toward common treatment goals.
Dr. Tobias is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dickinson College where she majored in psychology. She earned her Master's and Doctoral Degrees in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland. Dr. Tobias completed an APA Accredited Pre-Doctoral Internship with the Psychological Services department of Virginia Beach City Public Schools in Virginia Beach, VA. Dr. Tobias's additional training experiences included the outpatient psychology department of Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore, MD, and the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Program at Children's National Health System in Washington, DC.
Dr. Tobias is a member of the Morris County Psychological Association, New Jersey Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, and Anxiety and Depression Association of America. She has held leadership positions within both local and national psychological associations. Dr. Tobias has delivered parenting workshops and presentations at regional and national conferences on topics including supervision, self-care, and ethical decision-making.
Job Titles:
- Physician
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician
Since 1998, Dr. Ruiz has been practicing as a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician consultant at the Center for Child & Family Development in Morristown, NJ and as a School Physician/Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician consultant to schools including for children with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as the Park Lake School, The Regional Day School and The Allegro School.
Since 2010, Dr. Ruiz has been proud to be on the Board of Trustees for El Primer Paso, a unique, non-profit, multi-service agency serving its predominantly underserved Hispanic community including offering a much-needed, high-quality, nationally-accredited, developmentally, culturally and financially responsive, affordable bilingual preschool education program at a research-supported critical time for initiating the first steps that can significantly and positively have an impact towards lifelong learning, as well as, providing English as a second language curriculum for adults, family childcare services, professional staff training and community advocacy.
Dr. Ruiz has been and continues to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a designation by the American Academy of Pediatrics for pediatricians who have obtained board certification and made ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and advocacy for children.
Dr. Marilyn Ruiz is a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of New Jersey with specialty in pediatrics and additional medical training in neurodevelopmental pediatrics. She received her M.D. from Howard University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1983 after completing a selective 7-year B.S.-M.D. program initiated at The Sophie-Davis School of Biomedical Education at The City College of New York, CUNY (from where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1981 plus achieved the academic requirements of the 1st two years of medical school then transferred to 3rd year medical school). Notably, Dr. Ruiz was particularly drawn to the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education 7-year-B.S.-M.D. program's mission to expand access to excellent medical education and medical services to individuals from underrepresented, underserved communities of as well as the program's vision of: access - excellence - community.
Dr. Nanette Sudler is a New Jersey licensed psychologist who has been practicing clinical psychology for over 20 years. Since 1999 she has provided both individual and group therapy as part of the team at the Center for Child & Family Development.
Dr. Nanette Sudler is a New Jersey licensed psychologist (#4209) who has been practicing clinical psychology for over 20 years. Since 1999 she has provided both individual and group therapy as part of the team at the Center for Child & Family Development.
Dr. Sudler primarily works from a cognitive-behavioral orientation with a focus toward positive psychology. In addition, she draws from an eclectic range of approaches in order to facilitate an individualized treatment plan. Her areas of expertise include anxiety, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, depression, trichotillomania, coping with hearing loss, social skills deficits, sexual abuse, adolescent issues, improving parenting skills and formulating coping skills for a wide range of concerns. Having three children of her own, and family members who are hearing impaired, as well as working with a diverse range of clients, has given Dr. Sudler a broad perspective on treatment issues.
Majoring in psychology as well as in business, Dr. Sudler earned two undergraduate degrees from the University of Delaware. Continuing her studies in psychology, she focused on both research and clinical work, and received both her master's and doctorate from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA. Her training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and Monmouth Medical Center provided her with an expansive scope of experiences in treating various client populations.
Dr. Sudler has published several articles with topics such as childhood attachment and depressive symptoms during adolescence, and the management of chronic pain. In the "Textbook of Adolescent Health Care", published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, she co-authored two chapters with Steven Tobias, Psy.D; these chapters focused on academic overachievers and underachievers, and gifted/twice exceptional adolescents. Currently, she is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA), Morris County Psychological Association (MCPA), and the New Jersey Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (NJACT).
Dr. Perry Bell specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents and families. His focus includes depression, anxiety, parenting strategies, behavioral challenges in children, stress, life transitions, interpersonal relationships, obsessive- compulsive behavior, ADHD, developmental and social challenges related to the autism spectrum, learning challenges and time management.
Dr. Bell received his doctorate in Psychology from the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. He also holds a masters in School Psychology and a New Jersey Certification as a School Psychologist from the same institution. Dr. Bell completed his undergraduate degree at Brandeis University. Prior to joining CCFD, Dr. Bell worked for public and private educational and clinical institutions.
Dr. Bell practices from a family-systems, cognitive-behavioral orientation. This means that his focus is on the teaching and acquisition of skills to manage the emotional, cognitive, behavioral and interpersonal demands of life. Additionally, Dr. Bell takes into account the family as the context in which children live and the important role of parents in the lives of children.
Dr. Bell's professional interest is in the field of social- emotional learning (SEL) and character development or the avenues, strategies and methods by which children, parents and teachers can learn the skills of emotionally intelligent and morally intelligent living.
His writing, curricula and research has been published in the Journal of Education and Urban Policy, the Australian Handbook of School Psychology, the American Educational Research Organization as well as local newspaper outlets, state and professional organizations.
Outside of clinical work, Dr. Bell develops programs, trainings, consultations, talks and curricula on SEL, character development and stress management for private and public schools, athletic teams, parent organizations and teacher organizations.
Dr. Bell is a former High School Varsity Basketball coach, musician and is a Morris County native.
Dr. Perry Bell received his doctorate in Psychology from the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. He also holds a masters in School Psychology and a New Jersey Certification as a School Psychologist from the same institution.
Dr. Richard Kleinmann has over 14 years of experience providing psychiatric care to children, adolescents and adults. He also provides independent psychiatric evaluations for elementary, middle and high schools. Areas of interest include depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and Bipolar Disorder (manic depression and psychotic disorders.) Dr. Kleinmann believes in a collaborative approach when recommending utilization of medication. He recognizes that all medications have side effects and that it is therefore important to discuss the relative advantages and risks of any medication under consideration.
Dr. Steven Tobias is the Director of the Center for Child & Family Development. He has over 25 years experience working with children, parents, families, and schools. Dr. Tobias primarily utilizes a short-term cognitive-behavioral model focusing on practical skill development for children and adults; however, treatment programs are developed individually in collaboration with clients. While he utilizes a pragmatic approach to psychotherapy, he values the relationship with the client, and believes in establishing a caring commitment to each client.
Dr. Tobias provides treatment for a range of emotional, social, and behavioral problems:
difficulty with emotional regulation, such as anxiety, depression, and anger
behavioral difficulties including oppositional behavior and attention deficits
difficutly establishing peer relationships and social skills
family conflict and parenting
eating and toileting resistance related to anxiety
Dr. Tobias also provides consultation to schools and believes in a team approach to children's difficulties. Communication with and involvement by parents, teachers, and other professionals is crucial to helping children.
Dr. Tobias has coauthored several books, including Emotionally Intelligent Parenting, Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Teenager, and Social Problem Solving: Interventions in the Schools. He is often a contributor to the radio station NJ 101.5, and has given lectures throughout the country on topics related to children's emotional development and parenting.
Dr. Aboudara graduated from The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) in 2014. She is a certified School Psychologist as well as a licensed clinical Psychologist in the state of New Jersey. Additionally, Dr. Aboudara is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
Since completing GSAPP, Dr. Aboudara has been working as a full time School Psychologist/Behaviorist in an elementary school in Piscataway, New Jersey. She feels as though her time spent in the school system brings a greater understanding of children and what the environment where they spend so much of their time is like. During the school day she spends her time consulting with teachers, participating in crisis intervention, running targeted groups as well as conducting classroom social-emotional lessons.
Dr. Aboudara has experience working with a variety of child and adolescent diagnoses. She has a particular interest in childhood anxiety, autism spectrum disorders as well as ADHD.
When she's not working, Dr. Aboudara loves spending time with her family, going on hikes and exploring new restaurants.