BEHAVIORAL CARE CENTER OF NEW JERSEY - Key Persons
Andrew Billups, Psy.D. is a New Jersey certified school psychologist currently working at the elementary and middle school levels. Dr. Billups has a passion for working with children, adolescents, and young adults who struggle with a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges, including: anxiety, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHD, social skill and executive functioning skill deficits, learning disabilities, and school-related difficulties. Dr. Billups utilizes an integrative approach with a focus on cognitive behavioral and behavioral approaches that allow him to work with his clients to develop targeted and effective interventions. He integrates mindfulness into his work to help clients build meaningful lives. Dr. Billups engages in an interdisciplinary practice; collaborating with families, teachers, administrators, and other relevant stakeholders to promote children's social and emotional health.
Dr. Billups graduated from SUNY Cortland with a BA in psychology. He received a doctoral degree in School Psychology from Rutgers University. While earning his doctorate, Dr. Billups completed research on behavior management strategies that are most applicable and feasible for classroom teachers.
Ashley Allshouse, Psy.D. is a New Jersey certified and nationally certified school psychologist currently working at the middle school and high school levels. Dr. Allshouse has experience working with children and adolescents with a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges, including: anxiety, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHD, social skill and executive functioning skill deficits, learning disabilities, and school-related difficulties. Dr. Allshouse focuses on using cognitive behavioral and behavioral approaches to develop effective, meaningful, and targeted interventions. As a school psychologist, Dr. Allshouse views herself as an advocate for children and adolescents, has a deep understanding of the many systems that impact children's daily lives, andis experienced in collaborating with families, teachers and administrators, and other relevant stakeholders to promote children's social and emotional health.
Erica Lander Miller, Psy.D. is the Founder and Clinical Director of the Behavioral Care Center of New Jersey, LLC and is licensed to practice psychology in the states of New Jersey and New York. Dr. Lander Miller specializes in the practice of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, and acceptance and commitment therapy with children, adolescents, and families.
Dr. Lander Miller graduated cum laude from Tufts University with a BA in clinical psychology and English and received her masters and doctorate in School Psychology from Rutgers University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital and accrued her post doctoral hours at Montefiore Medical Center's School Based Health Program. She has conducted research regarding social emotional program planning and implementation in schools. In collaboration with Dr. Alec Miller and colleagues, she has contributed to the adaptation of DBT for elementary school-aged children and their parents. Dr. Lander Miller was formerly the Director of Mental Health Services at the Montefiore School Health Clinic at PS 8 and was an Instructor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Dr. Lander Miller has extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and trauma. She works with children, adolescents, and adults in individual therapy, family therapy, parenting, and group therapy. Dr. Lander Miller has been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a comprehensive treatment for individuals with significant emotional and behavioral difficulties and suicidal and non suicidal self-injury. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and has trained other health care professionals in the evidence based treatment approach. She also conducts workshops on bullying for schools and hospitals.
Dr. Lander Miller received specialized training working with parents and their toddlers through Parent Child Interaction Therapy. While working at Roosevelt Hospital, Dr. Lander Miller co-facilitated DBT groups at the Comprehensive Adolescent Rehabilitation and Education Service, a high school intensive outpatient treatment day program. She also ran DBT groups with elementary aged children as well as DBT groups for parents of elementary aged children while at Montefiore Medical Center. She has run Incredible Years groups at Montefiore with children with disruptive behavior disorders.
Dr. Erik Dranoff is a licensed psychologist in New York and New Jersey. His clinical practice is focused in the areas of psychological, neuropsychological, and forensic evaluation for children, adolescents, and adults, especially those involving child abuse and child custody. Dr. Dranoff's approach to assessment is comprehensive, scientifically driven, and adheres to the highest practice and ethical standards in the field of professional psychology.
Dr. Dranoff graduated with highest honors in Psychology from Rutgers University and went on to complete his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. During his doctoral training, he obtained a strong foundation in the area of psychological assessment with children, adolescents, and adults at Four Winds Hospital and specialized training in neuropsychology at Rehabilitation Specialists. Dr. Dranoff completed his pre-doctoral internship at Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in Brooklyn, New York where he received broad training with an inpatient and outpatient hospital population. His doctoral program and internship training are both fully accredited by the American Psychological Association.
After Dr. Dranoff earned his doctorate, he completed the postdoctoral fellowship at the Northern Regional Diagnostic Center for Child Abuse and Neglect within Hackensack Medical Center where he obtained specialized training in the area of forensic mental health assessment. As part of the fellowship year, Dr. Dranoff completed the postdoctoral certificate programs in family-civil and criminal forensic psychology at Montclair State University.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Dranoff is invested in teaching and research. He is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Seton Hall University where he teaches a wide range of undergraduate classes. Complementing his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Dranoff conducts research in the area of judgment and decision-making in adolescents for the prevention bullying, sexual harassment and violence.
Dr. Dranoff is highly committed to advancing and protecting the integrity of professional psychology. He is an active member of the New Jersey Psychological Association. He is a board member of the Committee of Legislative Affairs (COLA) for which he attends political events and meetings aimed at advocating for the interests of New Jersey psychologists and other mental health professionals.
Dr. Wasserman holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) in Educational Psychology from the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) with a specialization in School Psychology with an earned Master of Science in Education (M.S. Ed) and Professional Certificate in School Psychology from Queen's College, CUNY. Dr. Wasserman also holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology from City College of CUNY and a Master in Philosophy from the Graduate Center, CUNY. After completing her postdoctoral work in Psychology, Dr. Wasserman continued her formal education to earn her Administration and Supervision Professional Certificate (SAS/SDA) from Hunter College, CUNY. Dr. Wasserman earned her original psychology degree with her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Barnard College, Columbia University in New York City.
Dr. Karen N. Wasserman is a licensed psychologist in both New Jersey and New York and is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and has worked as a school psychologist for more than 20 years. Her expertise are in the areas of behavior modification, social skills training, advocacy, and counseling.
Phil Oliveira, Psy.D. is a New Jersey certified school psychologist currently working at the elementary and middle school levels. Dr. Oliveira has experience working with children, adolescents and young adults with a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges, including: anxiety, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHD, social skill and executive functioning skill deficits, learning disabilities, and school-related difficulties. Dr. Oliveira primarily uses cognitive behavioral and behavioral approaches in developing targeted and effective interventions and often supplements his interventions with the practice of Mindfulness techniques.Dr. Oliveirabelieves in the importance of collaborating with families, teachers,school administrators, and other relevant stakeholders to promote children's social and emotional health, academic, and behavioral goals.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Social Worker
- Staff Therapist
Elyssa is a licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She has experience working with adolescents and adults with a range of emotional and behavioral challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, borderline personality disorder, OCD, and psychosis. Elyssa believes that each individual is unique and works to identify their specific needs in order to help them thrive. She provides a warm and non-judgmental space to allow clients and families a place where they can work together to problem solve the issues at hand. Elyssa is committed to providing effective therapy and tools to assist her clients in improving their quality of life.
Elyssa received her BA from Queens College and her Masters of Social Work from Columbia University. She completed her internship at LIJ Zucker Hospitals Adult and Child outpatient DBT programs. Elyssa has provided care to underserved populations for years in a non profit organization in New York City where she provides training and supervision to other clinicians in Dialectical Behavior Therapy through her role as Director of Clinical Support and Training. In addition to DBT, Elyssa has received training in various evidenced based practices including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and acceptance and commitment therapy and is passionate about training other clinicians in evidence based approaches.
Megan Donohue is a licensed social worker with expertise in utilizing evidence based treatments for a variety of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Ms. Donohue earned her masters degree from Columbia University School of Social Work where she received advanced training in the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training Program. Through the DBT Training Program, Megan completed the comprehensive ten-day Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training™ provided by Behavioral Tech, LLC.
Megan competed a clinical internship at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center on the inpatient ward dedicated to DBT as its model of care. While working at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, Megan provided provided comprehensive DBT including individual therapy and DBT Skills Group to clients experiencing severe and persistent mental illness. Her previous experience includes counseling clients at New York University Langone Hospital, and a two-year position as a research technician associate on the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry. She contributed to the Prechter Program's goals to discover the fundamental biological changes that cause bipolar disorder and develop new interventions to treat and prevent the illness. As the lead research associate, Megan assisted in the development of an app to predict mood episodes through the Longitudinal Voice Patterns in Bipolar Disorder project.
Megan provides individualized, evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents and adults experiencing emotion dysregulation, life-threatening behavior, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. She is enthusiastic to work collaboratively with clients and build an authentic therapeutic relationship. Megan is committed to provide effective treatment to improve the quality of life of clients and clients' support systems.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Social Worker
- Staff Therapist
Melanie Andrade-Ramos is a licensed clinical social worker who has experience working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Montclair State University and her master's degree from the Silver School of Social Work at New York University. Melanie has experience in diagnosing and providing therapeutic services in Spanish and English to children and adolescents who struggle with depression, anxiety, PTSD, disruptive behavioral disorders and ADHD. Melanie is trained in Dialictical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and provides individual, family and parent coaching therapy to adolescents and their families. She co-leads DBT skills groups and runs a DBT graduate group at Trinitas Regional Hospital. Melanie is devoted to helping children and adolescents thrive. She has provided early intervention services as a certified facilitator in the Nurturing Parenting program and ACT/Parents Raising Safe Kids Program. She also implemented Incredible Years Program for children with ADHD at Trinitas Regional Hospital. Melanie is committed and passionate about providing evidence-based treatments to help children, adolescents and their families reach their full potential.
Sarah Keir, MSW, LSW: Sarah Keir is a Licensed Social Worker with experience working with adolescents and families that struggle with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Sarah has experience working with a wide range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance use disorders, anger management, and social skills deficits. Sarah uses an integrative, evidence-based approach to therapy, with an emphasis on utilizing DBT and CBT, as well incorporating a large component of mindfulness practice. Sarah utilizes an individualistic approach, recognizing that each individual responds to treatment in their own way, allowing for each individuals strengths to be focused on.