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My Background

I am a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania and received my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from LaSalle University where I received specialized training in Acceptance-Based therapies and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to treat a wide variety of mental health disorders.

Historically, many approaches to treating psychological disorders have focused on eliminating maladaptive thoughts associated with difficult things that we experience in our lives. While this approach works for some, I have found that it is much easier said than done. Our thoughts and emotions in reactions to our experiences come automatically, and are largely out of our control. Acceptance-Based strategies focus on changing what we actually have control over…our behaviors. Instead of struggling with trying to not think about things that distress us, Acceptance-Based strategies work to help you to non-judgmentally accept the thoughts and feelings that automatically arise in response to distress, while teaching you how to adaptively respond to this distress in ways that will allow you to function successfully and still do the things that you need to do in your life. A major principle of this strategy is that we can have distressing thoughts or emotions AND still have a successful life…it does not have to be either/or. Acceptance-Based approaches have been found to be highly effective in treating a variety of disorders including: substance-abuse disorders, eating disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, problematic anger, anxiety disorders and severe mental illness.

Through my training, I have applied these techniques in a variety of settings with adults, adolescents and children. As part of my pre-doctoral training, I completed an externship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s ADHD Center, where I worked exclusively with children and adolescents diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, completing comprehensive evaluations and group interventions as part of a research protocol. I have also participated in a program at LaSalle University’s Mental Health Clinic that involved using Acceptance-Based strategies to treat problematic anger with court-mandated anger clients who were recently paroled or placed on probation. I completed my pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral residency at Girard Medical Center where I provided individual and group therapy to clients diagnosed with substance dependence and mental health disorders in outpatient, inpatient and residential settings. My experience at Girard Medical Center provided me with the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge about addiction and the various mental health concerns that usually accompany it. In addition to working at Pliner Psychological Associates, I also am a Clinical psychologist for Silver Springs – Martin Luther School, where I complete comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluations for children with significant behavioral and emotional difficulties to request the authorization of necessary services in the child’s home, community and school settings.

My approach to therapy is collaborative and aims at de-mystifying the process of therapy itself. I believe in a direct approach in handling life’s difficulties and attempt to reach a balance of both acceptance and change within an individual through empathy, genuine concern for well-being and a recognition of an individual’s inherent capacity to function adaptively and achieve success in their lives and their relationships.

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Silver Springs – Martin Luther School (present): Clinical Psychologist; complete comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluations to assess the need for BHRS services to manage behavioral and emotional difficulties of children within their home, community and school environments.
• Girard Medical Center (2008-2011): psychology resident; as part of Miracles in Progress II, a long-term residential unit working towards rehabilitating and reintegrating chronically homeless, dual-diagnosis adult males within the Philadelphia area. Provided individual and group therapy to an adult population with substance dependence and mental health disorders.
• LaSalle University’s Community Mental Health Clinic (2005-2008): psychology extern; worked as part of a collaborative team for the treatment of anxiety disorders and childhood disorders including ADHD and ODD. Participated in a program that provided Acceptance-Based therapy to court-mandated anger clients recently paroled or placed on probation.
• Northwestern Human Services (2007-2008): psychology extern; provided individual therapy to a diverse population of adults, adolescents and children in a community behavioral health setting.
• Einstein Behavioral Health (2006-2007): psychology extern; conducted individual therapy for the treatment of a variety of mental health disorders ranging from chronic and severe mental illness to relationship concerns with a diverse, low-income, urban population.
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (2005-2006): psychology extern; completed psychoeducational evaluations and reports to assess ADHD and Learning Disorder symptomotology with children and adolescents. Participated in an NIMH study regarding the role of parental education in the management of ADHD symptoms.