Speakers
Alisa Bahl, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Alisa Bahl, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital (UVA Health - Children's). Dr. Bahl’s specialties are in PCIT and disruptive behavior disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, trisomy 21, cerebral palsy, FASD) and challenging behavior, as well as in behavioral pediatrics focusing on addressing noncompliance, sleep problems, tantrums, toileting, tics, and compliance with medical procedures. Dr. Bahl is a Certified PCIT Therapist with over 25 years of experience with PCIT. She is in progress to becoming a PCIT Within-Agency Trainer. Dr. Bahl received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University, completed an internship at the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Human Development at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and completed her post-doctoral training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Session
Christina M. Warner-Metzger
Psychologist, PCIT International Certified Global Trainer
Christina Warner-Metzger, Ph.D., hails from Oklahoma State University with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. True to her organization’s motto of Doing good and doing it wellTM, Dr. Warner-Metzger founded Evidence-based Practices and International Consulting (EPIC), LLC, to promote increased accessibility and excellence in professional training, consultation, and program development within the mental health and wellness sector. With a focus on training culturally humble and socially responsible professionals, she has directed the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and early childhood assessment service and training clinics at university-affiliated medical and community mental health organizations. She is 1 of 21 PCIT International Certified Global Trainers worldwide and a Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) co-developer, which provides her with clinical expertise in PCIT and CARE training and dissemination. Dr. Warner-Metzger is also the co-developer of Trauma-Directed Interaction (TDI), an adaption to PCIT which addresses intergenerational trauma. She has served as a trainer and consultant for dissemination and learning collaborative efforts across the United States, as well as Indonesia, Australia, and Moldova. Her contributions as an expert trainer and consultant on institutional, regional, federal, and international grant-funded projects has spanned the greater part of the past decade. Dr. Warner-Metzger’s clinical and research interests include Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), developmental disabilities, disruptive behavior disorders, trauma-informed systems, underserved populations, barriers to treatment participation, and dissemination and implementation science. She has contributed to these topics through numerous peer-reviewed and invited presentations at national and international conferences, as well as authored peer-reviewed journal articles, government publications, and edited book chapters. Her previous clinical work in Memphis and current work in Chicago has focused on serving urban populations experiencing economic and racial marginalization.
Sessions
Joy R. Pemberton, PhD
Associate Professor
Dr. Pemberton is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Psychologist. She received her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and completed her internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Child Study Center. Her primary training focused on evidence-based psychological treatments for parents and children, particularly those experiencing disruptive child behaviors. She also focused on making treatments more accessible to underserved populations and determining mechanisms of change within evidence-based treatments. In addition to these areas of interest, she is also focusing on dissemination and implementation of evidence-based psychological treatments, particularly within the VA system.
Research Interests: behavioral interventions, particularly Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in military families, for families experiencing child behavior problems; and reducing barriers and increasing access to evidence-based treatments for children among underserved populations, particularly ethnic minorities and those with low socioeconomic status
Research Interests: behavioral interventions, particularly Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in military families, for families experiencing child behavior problems; and reducing barriers and increasing access to evidence-based treatments for children among underserved populations, particularly ethnic minorities and those with low socioeconomic status
Sessions
Beverly Funderburk, PhD
Professor of Research
Beverly W Funderburk, Ph.D. is a Professor of Research at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Dr. Funderburk is a Global Trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and President of the Board of Directors of PCIT International. With Dr. Sheila Eyberg, the developer of PCIT, she is the co-author of the PCIT treatment protocol. Dr. Funderburk is active in PCIT training, treatment, and research. Her research interests include issues of training and dissemination in PCIT and cultural applications.
Sessions
Nathan Lutz, PhD
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Nathan Lutz is a post-doctoral fellow in the T32 General Pediatrics Research Fellowship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. He earned his BA in psychology with a minor in neuroscience from Miami University in Oxford, OH. He worked as a clinical research coordinator at Cincinnati Children’s in the Child Welfare Research Lab from 2015 to 2017 before pursuing his doctorate in clinical psychology at Loyola University Chicago. At Loyola, he earned his MA in clinical psychology in 2020, his MS in applied statistics in 2022, and his PhD in clinical psychology with a child-clinical subspecialty in 2023. His dissertation used a structural equation modeling approach to examine how the development of positive relationships with caring adults is protective for children, especially those in the child welfare system. He completed his pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. He is certified as a within-agency trainer for parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) and is interested in continuing to develop, utilize, and improve evidence-based interventions, such as PCIT and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), throughout his career.
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Marta M. Shinn, PhD
Psychologist
Marta. M. Shinn, Ph.D., NCSP is a Licensed Clinical Child Psychologist, Licensed Educational Psychologist, and Research Scientist. She is the Consultant Director of Training at Child Guidance Center in Orange County, California. Dr. Shinn is the founder of Variations Psychology, a practice specializing in clinical and educational psycho-diagnostic assessment. She has served as a faculty member of the Department of Child and Adolescent Studies at California State University, Fullerton, and is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UCI Medical School. Dra. Shinn is a Black Latina who is bilingual, Spanish-speaking, and dedicated to culturally and linguistically informed psychological research and practice.
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Eva Kimonis, MS, PhD
Professor
Dr Eva Kimonis is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of New South Wales. She is Director of the UNSW Parent-Child Research Clinic that specializes in providing state-of-the-art assessment and treatment for children with oppositional-defiant, destructive, and aggressive behaviours. Prof Kimonis is an international authority on the development, assessment, and treatment of child conduct disorders and callous-unemotional traits, having authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and 30 book chapters. Prof Kimonis is Associate Editor for the journal Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (formerly Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology); President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy (2022-2024); and the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Award from the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (2012-2013). She is a certified therapist and trainer of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), which she adapted to target the unique deficits of children with conduct disorders and limited prosocial emotions.
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Arista Rayfield, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Dr. Arista Rayfield received her doctoral degree in Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Florida in 1997 with a concentration in Clinical Child Psychology. She completed her APA accredited internship at the Consortium of the Medical College of Georgia’s Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior and the Psychology Service at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta Georgia. Dr. Rayfield also completed a Post Doctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at the University of Florida in the Department of Psychiatry where she served as the Assistant Director of the Diabetes Project Unit, a short-term residential unit for adolescents with a combination of severe diabetes management problems and psychological problems. Dr. Rayfield served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center from 1998 until 2000. In 2001, Dr. Rayfield joined Children’s of Alabama as a psychologist in the Children’s Behavioral Health Division. Dr. Rayfield is certified as a Within Agency Trainer for Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) by PCIT International. She has been on the University of Alabama Internship Training Consortium since 2002. Dr. Rayfield has multiple scholarly publications and presentations. Dr. Rayfield evaluates and provides psychological treatment to children and adolescents on both the inpatient unit and outpatient clinic at Children’s of Alabama. Dr. Rayfield treats a wide range of ages and presenting problems with particular expertise in preschool children, adherence to medical regimens in children and teens with chronic illnesses, and weight management.
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Brittany Bailey, PhD, MPH
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Brittany Bailey is Licensed Psychologist at the University of Florida Multidisciplinary Diagnostic and Training Program (MDTP). She specializes in autism diagnostic evaluation and treatment of co-occurring psychological symptoms in neurodiverse populations. Brittany recently completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Psychology at the UF Health Division of Psychology and UF Health Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment. In 2021, she completed her predoctoral internship at the Mary A Rackham Institute at the University of Michigan and received her Ph.D. in Clinical and Health Psychology from UF. While working toward her Ph.D., she also completed a Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences at UF in 2020. Her research interests relate to parenting of children with neurodevelopmental differences and behavioral disorders, factors impacting psychological treatment engagement, and topics at the intersection of gender and neurodiversity. Dr. Bailey is a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Within Agency Trainer.
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Elizabeth A. Skowron, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Elizabeth Skowron is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon where she directs the Family Biobehavioral Health Lab. Together with her students and collaborators, she studies the impact of early adversity on children’s developing emotion and behavioral regulation, and parenting interventions like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for helping vulnerable families. Along these lines, her work examines biomarkers of emotion regulation and self-control that support optimal parenting. Her research team uses longitudinal and clinical trial designs to examine how child and family-based interventions improve health outcomes and prevent child maltreatment. Dr. Skowron is a certified PCIT trainer and therapist, and a licensed psychologist in Oregon. She has served on and chaired National Institutes of Health grant review panels and her work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Sessions
Jason Jent, PhD
Psychologist, U Miami
Jason Jent, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Mailman Center for Child Development and is the Director of Training for the clinical psychology internship and postdoctoral training programs at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He completed his doctoral training at Central Michigan University and completed a T32 fellowship in health disparities in minority populations at the University of Miami in 2007. He is a licensed psychologist in Florida and joined the faculty of the Mailman Center in 2007. Dr. Jent has been a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Regional Trainer since 2013. Dr. Jent’s research and training specialty focuses on reducing disparities related to access and the efficiency of behavioral interventions for children’s disruptive behaviors using neighborhood-based, technology-based solutions, and virtual services. Dr. Jent has been awarded approximately $45 million dollars in extramural funding during his career. He is the principal investigator or co-investigator on multiple grants designed to provide evidence-based parenting and education-centered programs to young children and professional development, consultation, and coaching to teachers, allied health professionals, and other parenting program providers.
Sessions
Zohra Chahal, Ph.D.
Director, Mighty Mouth Kids
Zohra Chahal, MA, PhD is the Director of our Mighty Mouth Kids (MMK) program for children with selective mutism and leads our school consultation and teacher training initiatives under the umbrella of our Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) program.
Dr. Chahal has expertise in comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and empirically supported treatments, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT); PCIT Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and DBT for Adolescents (DBT-A), and DBT for Children (DBT-C); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT); and Motivational Interviewing (MI). She has trained under some of our nation’s leading child and adolescent psychologists and psychiatrists. Dr. Chahal also has extensive experience delivering evidence-based treatments to children, adolescents, and their families across school, outpatient pediatric clinic, community mental health, therapeutic camp, and partial hospitalization settings. This, in turn, has propelled her dedication to increasing access to evidence-based mental health services in under-resourced communities by training and supervising clinicians in the provision of treatment and collaborating with community stakeholders.
She is certified by PCIT International as a PCIT Therapist and is working towards certification as a Within Agency Trainer. Dr. Chahal has completed intensive training in DBT through Behavioral Tech; and she has received training and supervision in CBT from Beck Institute Certified Clinicians. She is a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT); the Selective Mutism Association (SMA); and the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Chahal also serves as a member of the APA’s CPT Advisory Group and the ABCT’s Public Education and Media Dissemination Committee, two notable positions of leadership within our profession. Dr. Chahal has presented at national conferences on the topics of disruptive behaviors, anxiety, depression, and chronic illness. She has also co-authored a book chapter on family-based therapy for children and adolescents and a book chapter on PCIT-SM.
Dr. Chahal obtained her B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. She then obtained her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at WellSpan Philhaven in York, PA, and her post-doctoral fellowship at Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC. She is an Early Entry Applicant for board certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
Dr. Chahal has expertise in comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and empirically supported treatments, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT); PCIT Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and DBT for Adolescents (DBT-A), and DBT for Children (DBT-C); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT); and Motivational Interviewing (MI). She has trained under some of our nation’s leading child and adolescent psychologists and psychiatrists. Dr. Chahal also has extensive experience delivering evidence-based treatments to children, adolescents, and their families across school, outpatient pediatric clinic, community mental health, therapeutic camp, and partial hospitalization settings. This, in turn, has propelled her dedication to increasing access to evidence-based mental health services in under-resourced communities by training and supervising clinicians in the provision of treatment and collaborating with community stakeholders.
She is certified by PCIT International as a PCIT Therapist and is working towards certification as a Within Agency Trainer. Dr. Chahal has completed intensive training in DBT through Behavioral Tech; and she has received training and supervision in CBT from Beck Institute Certified Clinicians. She is a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT); the Selective Mutism Association (SMA); and the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Chahal also serves as a member of the APA’s CPT Advisory Group and the ABCT’s Public Education and Media Dissemination Committee, two notable positions of leadership within our profession. Dr. Chahal has presented at national conferences on the topics of disruptive behaviors, anxiety, depression, and chronic illness. She has also co-authored a book chapter on family-based therapy for children and adolescents and a book chapter on PCIT-SM.
Dr. Chahal obtained her B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. She then obtained her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at WellSpan Philhaven in York, PA, and her post-doctoral fellowship at Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC. She is an Early Entry Applicant for board certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
Sessions
Julia L. Kiefer, M.A.
Graduate Research Assistant
Name: Julia Kiefer
Degree: M.A.
Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: N/A
Licensure State: N/A
Professional Title: Graduate Research Assistant
Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): University of Arkansas
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): N/A
Email Address: jkiefer@uark.edu
Phone Number: (716)-310-4210
Degree: M.A.
Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: N/A
Licensure State: N/A
Professional Title: Graduate Research Assistant
Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): University of Arkansas
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): N/A
Email Address: jkiefer@uark.edu
Phone Number: (716)-310-4210
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Shira Kafker, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Shira Kafker is a supervising clinical psychologist and director of the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) program at Andrus, a community mental health clinic in Yonkers, New York. She specializes in PCIT, Parent-Child Care (PC-CARE), and other evidenced based interventions for families with young children. Dr. Kafker is also a Within Agency Trainer of PCIT, training Andrus staff and psychology doctoral level interns, as well as providing introductory lectures on PCIT to psychiatry residents who serve as prescribers to Andrus families. In addition to these responsibilities, Dr. Kafker is an adjunct professor at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in the Bronx, New York, where she teaches two courses to first year doctoral students: Ethical Issues in Professional Practice and Clinical Interviewing. She also maintains a small private practice based out of New York City, focusing on PCIT with young children and their caregivers.
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Donna Washington
Storyteller
Donna Washington is an award-winning internationally known master storyteller, artist-educator, and author who has been providing workshops and performing for audiences of all ages for over thirty-six years. She is renowned for her storytelling for both children & adults from poignant & funny fables about the human condition to racy relationships stories to spine-tingling tales of terror. She has been featured at numerous festivals, schools, libraries, theaters and other venues around the world including Canada, Peru, Ireland Argentina & Hong Kong. During the pandemic, she presented over two hundred shows & workshops virtually online. In 2020, she co-founded the non-profit organization Artists Standing Strong Together with Master Storyteller Sheila Arnold for which they won a 2021 Oracle Award. In 2022 she received the Coleen Salley Storytelling Award.
Donna's eleven storytelling CDs have garnered thirty national awards. She has authored numerous articles about storytelling and education including her very popular blog Language, Literacy & Storytelling. She is also the author of six children’s books: Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa, A Pride of African Tales, The Story of Kwanzaa, A Big Spooky House,award winning Boo Stew.and her latest book, Prak Fills The House, She travels all over the world performing and presenting workshops. She lives with her husband and cat in Durham, NC.
Donna's eleven storytelling CDs have garnered thirty national awards. She has authored numerous articles about storytelling and education including her very popular blog Language, Literacy & Storytelling. She is also the author of six children’s books: Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa, A Pride of African Tales, The Story of Kwanzaa, A Big Spooky House,award winning Boo Stew.and her latest book, Prak Fills The House, She travels all over the world performing and presenting workshops. She lives with her husband and cat in Durham, NC.
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Robin Han, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Robin Han is a certified Within-Agency Trainer and postdoctoral fellow at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC. She completed her doctoral studies in Clinical Child Psychology at West Virginia University under the mentorship of Dr. Cheryl McNeil and her predoctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in the Behavior Management and Child and Family Therapy Clinics. Her clinical interests and research interests include behavioral parent training and function-based interventions for young children with disruptive behaviors.
Sessions
Larissa Niec, LP, PhD
Professor
Name: Larissa Niec
Degree: Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical
Licensure Type: Psychologist
Licensure State: Michigan
Professional Title: Professor
Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): Central Michigan University
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Global Trainer
Email Address: niec1l@cmich.edu
Phone Number: 989-774-6471
Degree: Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical
Licensure Type: Psychologist
Licensure State: Michigan
Professional Title: Professor
Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): Central Michigan University
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Global Trainer
Email Address: niec1l@cmich.edu
Phone Number: 989-774-6471
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Whitney Gealy, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
I am a neurodevelopmental and behavioral psychologist working in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
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Melanie Nelson, PhD
Associate Professor
Melanie Nelson, PhD, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and mathematics at Illinois Wesleyan University and received her doctorate in clinical child psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She completed an APA-approved internship at Wayne State University working with children and families in various settings, including an inpatient psychiatric hospital, an outpatient clinic and hospital-based medical clinics. After her internship, she completed a three-year, postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Florida in the department of clinical and health psychology, during which she focused on treatment outcomes research.
From 2005 to 2013, Dr. Nelson was a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. There, she specialized in clinical practice, training and research in disruptive behavior disorders and autism spectrum disorders for approximately seven years.
In 2014, Dr. Nelson joined the faculty at UF. She directs the parent-child interaction therapy, or PCIT, program at UF Health Psychiatry. PCIT is an empirically supported therapy designed for young children who are displaying disruptive behavior and was developed by Sheila Eyberg, MD, UF distinguished professor emeritus.
Dr. Nelson is one of only 20 Certified Master Trainers in PCIT in the U.S., and she supervises PCIT training and treatment at UF. She is also developing a research program to add to the evidence base that supports PCIT. Clinically, she specializes in assessment of and treatment for families with young children, ages 2 to 8, who have a wide range of concerns, including disruptive behavior, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
From 2005 to 2013, Dr. Nelson was a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. There, she specialized in clinical practice, training and research in disruptive behavior disorders and autism spectrum disorders for approximately seven years.
In 2014, Dr. Nelson joined the faculty at UF. She directs the parent-child interaction therapy, or PCIT, program at UF Health Psychiatry. PCIT is an empirically supported therapy designed for young children who are displaying disruptive behavior and was developed by Sheila Eyberg, MD, UF distinguished professor emeritus.
Dr. Nelson is one of only 20 Certified Master Trainers in PCIT in the U.S., and she supervises PCIT training and treatment at UF. She is also developing a research program to add to the evidence base that supports PCIT. Clinically, she specializes in assessment of and treatment for families with young children, ages 2 to 8, who have a wide range of concerns, including disruptive behavior, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Sessions
Corinna Klein, LCSW, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Corinna Klein, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She has a joint appointment in the Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART), the Family Development Program (FDP), and the PCIT Clinic. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a Within Agency Trainer for PCIT International, and has extensive experience providing PCIT to young children with a variety of clinical presentations. Dr. Klein earned her Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology with a clinical emphasis from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her Masters in Social Work from UCLA. She completed her doctoral internship in UCLA’s Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Clinic, treating youth and families healing from trauma and other stressors. Her research interests include the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based children’s and family-based mental health care.
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Matthew Young, PhD
Associate Professor
Associate Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience
University of Chicago Medicine
PCIT International certified Within Agency Trainer
University of Chicago Medicine
PCIT International certified Within Agency Trainer
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Tsz Wan Wong
Ms
I am a registered Social Worker and serving as a Educational Psycholgy Service Coordinator at TWGHs Ho Yuk Ching Education Psychology Service Centre since 2015 in Hong Kong. My main duties are focusing on child and parent work in school setting. In 2020 , i was a PCIT therapist and studyed PCIT-SM therapy with Dr. Kurtz. In 2021, I was a PCIT-SM therapist and handling child cases with Selectivie Mutism. After 2 years, I became a within agency trainer and developed Train the Trainer Programme for Professionals. I have worked in welfare service for over 14 years and I have rich experinece to handle child and parenting cases. In addition, i was responsible for administration and financial work in the centre.
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Allison Weinstein, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Allison Weinstein is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Mailman Center for Child Development at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her qualifications include certifications as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Within-Agency Trainer, and she currently serves as Director of Training for the UM Parent-Child Interaction Therapy program, Director of The Parent Club in partnership with University of Miami program, and Co-Director of the Mailman Center’s Pediatric Psychology Clinic providing evidence-based services to Miami-Dade County families.
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Eileen M. Davis, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Eileen Davis, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is a PCIT International Certified Within-Agency Trainer for the PCIT305 program at the UM Mailman Center for Child Development, where 300+ families receive PCIT services annually. Dr. Davis is also an Advanced Trainer in TCIT-U, implementing TCIT-U in early childhood intervention preschools since 2017.
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Jonathan Comer, Ph.D.
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Kate Bennett, DSW, LCSW
PCIT International Regional Trainer & Clinical Supervisor
Kate C. Goedtel-Bennett, DSW, LCSW, is a Clinical Supervisor and Behavioral Health Consultant at Children’s Wisconsin and has served the organization in multiple capacities since 2009. She began her career working primarily with families receiving child welfare services. In her current role, she collaborates with pediatric primary care providers across the Children’s organization to support the implementation & goals in the Integrated Mental and Behavioral Health program. Kate provides clinical consultation services focused on treating any and all behavioral health needs in children ages 0-18 and their families.
While pursuing her graduate degree from 2011-2013, Kate helped to establish the Institute for Child and Family Well-Being and championed various Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) scaling projects. Since that time, she has focused her clinical practice on the dissemination of PCIT and its research-supported adaptations as one of two Certified PCIT International Regional Trainers in Wisconsin. Kate is also a Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) Facilitator and serves as a member of the PCIT International Training Task Force. She continues to train other practitioners and provide support for various programs across the state and nationally through her independent clinical consulting practice. Kate received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2013 and her doctorate in clinical social work from the University of Kentucky in 2022.
While pursuing her graduate degree from 2011-2013, Kate helped to establish the Institute for Child and Family Well-Being and championed various Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) scaling projects. Since that time, she has focused her clinical practice on the dissemination of PCIT and its research-supported adaptations as one of two Certified PCIT International Regional Trainers in Wisconsin. Kate is also a Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) Facilitator and serves as a member of the PCIT International Training Task Force. She continues to train other practitioners and provide support for various programs across the state and nationally through her independent clinical consulting practice. Kate received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2013 and her doctorate in clinical social work from the University of Kentucky in 2022.
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Brett Enneking, Psy.D
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Enneking is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Riley Hospital for Children and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Enneking has a strong interest in improving access to evidence-based diagnostic and intervention services for young children with neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders. Clinically, she provides evidence-based psychological evaluations for neurodevelopmental and related disabilities, and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for children and their families. She is a certified Within Agency Trainer for PCIT International and a rostered PCIT Toddlers clinician.
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Becky Scott Ph.D, LCSW
Senior Lecturer
Becky Bell Scott, Ph.D., LCSW is a Senior Lecturer at Baylor University. Her work and research focus on primary care behavioral health, including workforce recruitment and training as well as innovative behavioral health interventions for children with behavioral health concerns. She is the co-creator of Integrated-Child Adult Relationship Enhancement (I-CARE), a primary care model for brief intervention for young children with behavioral concerns. She is certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Motivational Interviewing and Empowered Relief for Chronic Pain. She is trained in CBT for insomnia and a number of other gold standard primary care behavioral interventions. Dr. Scott teaches graduate courses focused on clinical social work theory, integrated behavioral health, and practice with children and families. She is the Program Director for the Integrated Behavioral Health Training Program at GSSW, and has been awarded over three million dollars in funding, in both federal and local grants, to participate in creating training solutions to the primary care behavioral health workforce needs in Texas. Dr. Scott serves on the integrated behavioral clinical team at Waco Family Medicine in the roles of trainer, evaluator and clinician.
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Iza Scherpbier, Msc
Researcher
Iza is currently completing her PhD in child psychiatry in the Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC) in the Netherlands. For her dissertation, she evaluated the addition of Virtual Reality to PCIT.
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Robin H. Gurwitch, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Child and Family Health
Name: Robin H. Gurwitch
Degree: Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: Psychologist
Licensure State: North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio
Professional Title: Professor
Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): Duke University Medical Center
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Global Trainer
Email Address: robin.gurwitch@duke.edu
Phone Number: 405-659-9513
Dr. Robin Gurwitch, a Clinical Psychologist and Professor at Duke University Medical Center, specializes in work with children considered at-risk. She is one of 22 PCIT Global Trainers, Certified by PCIT International and a co-developer of Child Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE). She has been involved with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network since it began in 2001. For over thirty years of her professional career, she has devoted much time to understanding the impact of trauma and disaster on children and ways to increase resilience, cope with grief and loss, and address stressors, including stressors related to parental substance abuse, military deployment and, most recently, COVID-19. Dr. Gurwitch has numerous scientific publications and presentations addressing these topics. A recognized expert, she has provided direct service, consultation, and conducted research for federal and other agencies both nationally and internationally. She is the co-developer of a trauma module for PCIT as well as a CARE adaptation for use after disasters and mass violence events. Among other appointments, Dr. Gurwitch is a subject matter expert regarding at-risk populations and children’s issues for several federal and national organizations including the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the American Psychological Association, The National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, and the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Gurwitch is involved in efforts to improve outcomes during public health emergencies such as COVID-19 and issues related to climate change. She provides media presentations and support on topics related to children’s mental health.
Degree: Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: Psychologist
Licensure State: North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio
Professional Title: Professor
Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): Duke University Medical Center
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Global Trainer
Email Address: robin.gurwitch@duke.edu
Phone Number: 405-659-9513
Dr. Robin Gurwitch, a Clinical Psychologist and Professor at Duke University Medical Center, specializes in work with children considered at-risk. She is one of 22 PCIT Global Trainers, Certified by PCIT International and a co-developer of Child Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE). She has been involved with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network since it began in 2001. For over thirty years of her professional career, she has devoted much time to understanding the impact of trauma and disaster on children and ways to increase resilience, cope with grief and loss, and address stressors, including stressors related to parental substance abuse, military deployment and, most recently, COVID-19. Dr. Gurwitch has numerous scientific publications and presentations addressing these topics. A recognized expert, she has provided direct service, consultation, and conducted research for federal and other agencies both nationally and internationally. She is the co-developer of a trauma module for PCIT as well as a CARE adaptation for use after disasters and mass violence events. Among other appointments, Dr. Gurwitch is a subject matter expert regarding at-risk populations and children’s issues for several federal and national organizations including the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the American Psychological Association, The National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, and the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Gurwitch is involved in efforts to improve outcomes during public health emergencies such as COVID-19 and issues related to climate change. She provides media presentations and support on topics related to children’s mental health.
Sessions
Glenn Mesman, PhD
Professor
Glenn Mesman, PhD is a licensed Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist and Professor in the UAMS Department of Psychiatry, and he is the Assistant Training Director of the department’s psychology training program. Clinically, he specializes in early childhood mental and the assessment and treatment of childhood trauma. Dr. Mesman holds several leadership positions within Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST), a program sponsored by the state legislature to improve outcomes of traumatized children throughout the state. He co-leads the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) statewide dissemination project and is certified as a PCIT Regional Trainer and a DC:0-5 state trainer. He additionally co-directs the UAMS Complex Trauma Assessment Program, which provides trauma-informed psychological evaluation services for high-risk children in the Arkansas child welfare system. Dr. Mesman is actively involved in committees and workgroups as part of several national- and international-level professional organizations and frequently conducts invited and peer-reviewed presentations at state, national, and international conferences in his specialty areas of early childhood mental health and child trauma. Dr. Mesman earned his doctorate in clinical child and adolescent psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and completed his doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at UAMS.
Sessions
Corey Lieneman, PhD, LP
Assistant Professor
Corey Lieneman, PhD, is certified as a therapist and within-agency trainer through Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) International, Inc. She is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Dr. Lieneman specializes in research, diagnosis, and treatment of disruptive behavior in children ages 12 and younger with particular focus on children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and attachment diagnoses. Dr. Lieneman also has expertise in treating sleep disorders and conducting Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). She has authored several research-based publications, including a book, Time-Out in Child Behavior Management with Dr. Cheryl McNeil.
Dr. Lieneman earned a PhD in Clinical Child Psychology from West Virginia University (WVU). She completed a predoctoral internship in Behavioral Pediatrics and Integrated Care and a postdoctoral fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute at UNMC. Dr. Lieneman also holds a master's degree in Clinical Child Psychology from WVU, a master's degree in Community Counseling from Villanova University, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Dr. Lieneman earned a PhD in Clinical Child Psychology from West Virginia University (WVU). She completed a predoctoral internship in Behavioral Pediatrics and Integrated Care and a postdoctoral fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute at UNMC. Dr. Lieneman also holds a master's degree in Clinical Child Psychology from WVU, a master's degree in Community Counseling from Villanova University, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
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Erica Messer, PsyD
Associate Professor
Dr. Messer is a Certified Regional Trainer through PCIT International. She is also the primary developer of Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE). Her research interests include parent training, maternal depression, foster care, and children who have experienced abuse and neglect. She is the Training Director for the Mayerson Center for Safe & Healthy Children at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Sessions
Susan G. Timmer, Ph.D.
Director of Mental Health Research, UC Davis CAARE Center
Susan G. Timmer, Ph.D. is the Director of Mental Health Research for the UC Davis PCIT and PC-CARE Training Center and
CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Dr. Timmer is a developmental psychologist who has conducted PCIT research and implementation projects and published her work in various peer-reviewed journals.
CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Dr. Timmer is a developmental psychologist who has conducted PCIT research and implementation projects and published her work in various peer-reviewed journals.
Session
Katie Smeraglia, Ph.D.
PCIT Within-Agency Trainer
Katie Smeraglia, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of Indiana and PCIT International Certified Within-Agency Trainer. Dr. Smeraglia has been involved in the research and implementation of PCIT since her time at Auburn University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 2012. Dr. Smeraglia received her Master’s degree and Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2019. Prior to completing her doctoral degree, Dr. Smeraglia completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Jefferson County Internship Consortium in Louisville,KY.
Dr. Smeraglia became certified in PCIT in 2020. Dr. Smeraglia was certified as a Within-Agency Level 1 trainer in 2021. Currently, Dr. Smeraglia works in private practice, where she runs the Auxilium Psychological Services (APS) PCIT clinic. The APS PCIT Clinic serves over 15 PCIT families a week, and has four PCIT Therapists delivering services. Dr. Smeraglia actively treats PCIT families, and provides training, supervision, and PCIT certification to doctoral-level students and clinicians. She is passionate about implementing PCIT within a private practice setting.
Dr. Smeraglia became certified in PCIT in 2020. Dr. Smeraglia was certified as a Within-Agency Level 1 trainer in 2021. Currently, Dr. Smeraglia works in private practice, where she runs the Auxilium Psychological Services (APS) PCIT clinic. The APS PCIT Clinic serves over 15 PCIT families a week, and has four PCIT Therapists delivering services. Dr. Smeraglia actively treats PCIT families, and provides training, supervision, and PCIT certification to doctoral-level students and clinicians. She is passionate about implementing PCIT within a private practice setting.
Session
Audrey Milam, MEd
School Psychology Doctoral Student
Audrey Milam is a school psychology doctoral student at the University of Florida interested in supporting neurodiversity across clinic, school, home, and community settings. She has worked as a Registered Behavior Technician and a student researcher in Applied Behavior Analysis prior to beginning her graduate coursework in school psychology. She is currently training to be certified in PCIT and specialize in providing clinical services to neurodiverse individuals and their families across the lifespan.
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Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP
Founder and President, Kurtz Psychology
Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP specializes in assessing and treating child anxiety, such as selective mutism and social phobia, as well as externalizing behaviors, such as ADHD and oppositionality. Dr. Kurtz is the original developer of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM), an empirically supported therapy for selective mutism now used worldwide and created the renowned Mighty Mouth Kids and Brave Buddies intensive SM treatment programs.
He is a Global Trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). As an expert commentator, he has appeared on numerous programs addressing child mental health, including NBC's Today, CBS's The Early Show and PBS's Keeping Kids Healthy and was featured in the Canadian Broadcasting Company's ADD & Lovin' It. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology and volunteers time in the leadership of numerous organizations such as the Selective Mutism Association.
He is a Global Trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). As an expert commentator, he has appeared on numerous programs addressing child mental health, including NBC's Today, CBS's The Early Show and PBS's Keeping Kids Healthy and was featured in the Canadian Broadcasting Company's ADD & Lovin' It. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology and volunteers time in the leadership of numerous organizations such as the Selective Mutism Association.
Sessions
Kaela Farrise
LMFT
Kaela Farrise (she/her) is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology working under Dr. Miya Barnett. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in African and African American Studies, and in Urban Studies. She also has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. Her research interests include the implementation and dissemination of mental health services in under-resourced communities, understanding and mitigating the impacts of domestic violence and racial trauma on families of color, and culturally responsive adaptations of psychological interventions. Kaela is a Health Policy Research Scholar, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as well as a UCSB Chancellor’s Fellow and UCSB Racial Justice Fellow.
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Rebecca S. Bradley, M.A.
Ms.
Becca is a graduate student at the University of Arkansas under the direction of Dr. Lauren Quetsch.
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Rhea Chase, PhD
Co-Founder & Owner, Growth In Action
Dr. Rhea Chase is the co-founder and owner of Growth In Action, an organization providing evidence based assessment, intervention, and consultation to young children and their families. Dr. Chase specializes in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and effective treatment programs for families with young children with behavioral and emotional health concerns. She is one of twenty Global Trainers worldwide endorsed by PCIT International. She previously served as Director of Early Childhood Programs at The Baker Center for Children and Families in Boston and developed its PCIT training and clinical program. Prior to her work at the Baker Center, Dr. Chase served as Assistant Professor at Duke University Medical School and led PCIT of the Carolinas, the nation’s first Learning Collaborative focused on the spread of PCIT to community agencies. She has developed clinical and implementation tools to promote effective adoption of PCIT to community settings. She has led several training initiatives at the regional, national, and international level, including PCIT and Child Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) trainings. Additionally, she has worked with state agencies, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Department of Early and Secondary Education, and the Boston Public Health Commission, to strengthen and standardize their existing programs for young children. Dr. Chase has also been active in global mental health initiatives. She collaborated with Duke Global Health and the International Rescue Committee to develop, implement, and evaluate the Parents Make the Difference parenting program in Liberia. Also in collaboration with Duke Global Health, Dr. Chase trained a group of clinicians at the University of Cape Town in PCIT, which represents the first PCIT training in Africa. Dr. Chase has trained thousands of providers in evidence-based practices worldwide, and has led research and implementation efforts promoting evidence based practices for young children and their families.
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Skylar Bellinger, PhD
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Olivia Soutullo, PhD
Psychologist
Olivia Soutullo, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist specializing in pediatric and clinical child/adolescent psychology and is the director of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Services within the Early Childhood Behavioral Health Program at Children's National Hospital. Dr. Soutullo serves in the Community Mental Health CORE of the Children's National Child Health Advocacy Institute (CHAI) on projects related to mental health systems integration. She also provides outpatient therapy for children and adolescents in the Children's National Division of Psychology and Behavioral Health. Her research and clinical interests focus on facilitating partnerships between patients’ families and pediatric care providers.
Sessions
Alejandra Moreno, LPC
Clinical Supervisor Youth Outpatient Services, QMHP II
Alejandra Moreno, MA. LPC., originally from central Mexico, received a Master’s in Counseling from Southern Oregon University, and most recently a graduate certificate degree in Infant-Toddler Mental Health from Portland State University. Alejandra has been working in community mental health in Southern Oregon for 26 years, and is currently a Clinical Supervisor for the Youth Outpatient Services Team at Jackson County Mental Health, where she also leads the PCIT program. Alejandra is a PCIT International Certified Regional Trainer, and a member of the PCIT International’s Training Task Force; she is a member of the Oregon PCIT Provider Consortium Steering Committee, collaborates with the Oregon Health Authority in conducting annual PCIT Fidelity Reviews with State-funded PCIT sites, planning an annual state-wide PCIT conference, and dissemination efforts. Alejandra is also nationally endorsed in PCIT-Toddlers and Child Parent Psychotherapy; she is bilingual and bicultural.
Sessions
Sharon Phillips
Ms.
Sharon is a third-year doctoral student in Dr. Cheryl McNeil’s Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) lab at West Virginia University. She graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2018 with a BS in Psychology and a double minor in Neuroscience and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. After graduating, Sharon worked as a Clinical and Research Administrative Assistant in the Department of Behavioral Psychology at Kennedy Krieger Institute, where she helped conduct research on how to make child behavioral services more accessible to military families. Sharon attended Towson University’s Master’s program in Clinical Psychology, where she did meta-analytic research on the use of PCIT for different disorders and populations. Her current research and clinical interests include behavioral interventions for children, the use of PCIT with different populations, and best practices for disseminating PCIT and other evidence-based approaches.
Sessions
Sarah Rose Vitale, PsyD
Dr.
I am a neurodevelopmental and behavioral psychologist working in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
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Nicole McDonald, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor
Dr. Nicole McDonald is a clinical psychologist, PCIT International Certified Therapist, and Within-Agency Trainer-in-training. She co-leads a PCIT Clinic within the UCLA Semel Institute and conducts research on early identification and treatment in young children with or at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. McDonald is the PI of an ongoing study, the RAINBOW study, which is assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of internet-delivered PCIT in preschool-aged children with tuberous sclerosis complex.
Session
Marisa D. Serchuk, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Marisa D. Serchuk is a Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow at the Boston Child Study Center, where she provides supervised direct care to children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Serchuk is a certified PCIT Therapist by PCIT International.
Dr. Serchuk earned her B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Education, from SUNY Albany before earning her master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology. While in graduate school, Dr. Serchuk’s research focused on how various forms of stigma impact parents/caregivers of children with mental health challenges. She additionally engaged in various clinical-based research projects at University of Chicago Medicine related to PCIT. She completed her predoctoral internship at Andrus Health and Wellness Centers.
Dr. Serchuk earned her B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Education, from SUNY Albany before earning her master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology. While in graduate school, Dr. Serchuk’s research focused on how various forms of stigma impact parents/caregivers of children with mental health challenges. She additionally engaged in various clinical-based research projects at University of Chicago Medicine related to PCIT. She completed her predoctoral internship at Andrus Health and Wellness Centers.
Session
Zoë Alfonso, B.S.
PCIT Implementation with Child Populations Impacted by Chronic Illnesses
Name: Zoë Alfonso
Degree: Bachelor’s of Science
Field of Degree: Psychology
Licensure Type: N/A
Licensure State: N/A
Professional Title: Doctoral Student
Affiliation: University of Florida
Email: zoe.alfonso@ufl.edu
Phone number: 954-412-1197
Degree: Bachelor’s of Science
Field of Degree: Psychology
Licensure Type: N/A
Licensure State: N/A
Professional Title: Doctoral Student
Affiliation: University of Florida
Email: zoe.alfonso@ufl.edu
Phone number: 954-412-1197
Session
Jacqueline Sullivan, MA
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student
Jacqueline (Jackie) Sullivan is a fourth year clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Tennessee. She earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia. She is broadly interested in how early child experiences may influence socio-emotional development and contribute to the development of psychopathology. She is also interested in exploring factors that may be associated with the development of anxiety and depression among children of anxious parents, and the downstream effects of early onset internalizing disorders. In her free time, she enjoys running and spending time at local coffee shops.
Session
Oi Kwan Chan
I work in TWGHs Ho Yuk Ching Education Psychology Service Centre as the senior social worker practitioner. I specialize in serving students with special educational needs and their caregivers. As the team coordinator for PCIT-SM services, it is my responsibility to ensure that our professional team acquires the necessary knowledge and skills to treat children with selective mutism. Additionally, I am accountable for ensuring that the project development work is tailored to meet the needs of children with selective mutism in Hong Kong.
Session
Anai Cuadra, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Anai Cuadra is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Mailman Center for Child Development since 2007. She completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at George Washington University followed by fellowships in Pediatric Psychology at Childrens’ Hospital Los Angeles and University of Miami. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children with medical conditions (hematology-oncology, sickle cell disease, solid organ transplant, Zika, and HIV/AIDS), integrated mental health in primary care, culture and Latino mental health, psychoeducational and neurodevelopmental evaluations, particularly with bilingual/minority populations, and cultural and linguistic competency and training.
Dr. Cuadra is the Co-Director of an universal parenting program (Parent Club) funded by The Children's Trust which trains community facilitators to provide free, evidenced-based or evidence-informed parenting workshops in the community in multiple languages. She is also the staff psychologist for the University of Miami Pediatric Mobile clinic which provides medical and mental health services to uninsured/underserved children in Miami Dade county. In this role, she conducts developmental and mental health screenings, provides community referrals, and delivers brief treatment to children and adolescents in English and Spanish. Dr. Cuadra’ s research interests include the assessment and treatment of trauma and other mental health conditions among immigrant children and the culturally competent delivery and efficacy of evidenced-based parent training in community settings. In addition, she is also interested in the study of neurodevelopmental outcomes in children/youth exposed to HIV in utero, acquired HIV at birth, pediatric cancer survivors, and youth with sickle cell disease.
Dr. Cuadra is the Co-Director of an universal parenting program (Parent Club) funded by The Children's Trust which trains community facilitators to provide free, evidenced-based or evidence-informed parenting workshops in the community in multiple languages. She is also the staff psychologist for the University of Miami Pediatric Mobile clinic which provides medical and mental health services to uninsured/underserved children in Miami Dade county. In this role, she conducts developmental and mental health screenings, provides community referrals, and delivers brief treatment to children and adolescents in English and Spanish. Dr. Cuadra’ s research interests include the assessment and treatment of trauma and other mental health conditions among immigrant children and the culturally competent delivery and efficacy of evidenced-based parent training in community settings. In addition, she is also interested in the study of neurodevelopmental outcomes in children/youth exposed to HIV in utero, acquired HIV at birth, pediatric cancer survivors, and youth with sickle cell disease.
Session
Rebecca Kanine, PhD
Rebecca Kanine is a clinical child psychologist at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago and Assistant Professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine specializing in early childhood and infant mental health. She began her TCIT-U training in graduate school, receiving training from Dr. Karen Budd and David Stern and conducting her dissertation on the effectiveness of TCIT-U in a therapeutic preschool for children exposed to trauma. Since then, Dr. Kanine conducted another TCIT-U study in Head Start and contributed to further development of TCIT-U. She has been a certified PCIT therapist since 2018.
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Suzi Naguib, Psy.D.
Clinical Director & Founder
My name is Dr. Suzi Naguib, and I'm thrilled to be here today. I'm a passionate and dedicated psychologist, as well as a strong advocate for those affected by behavioral, emotional, developmental, and learning disabilities. I founded Sunfield Center with a mission to offer the highest quality, evidence-based clinical care and increase awareness of mental health needs around the world.
In addition to founding Sunfield Center, I also founded the Sunfield Institute, a professional development organization dedicated to providing gold-standard training for mental health providers. With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, I bring a first-hand understanding of the need for research-informed evaluations and evidence-based treatment interventions to help families.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist, Independent ADOS-2 and ADIR trainer as well as a certified Parent Child Interaction (PCIT) Therapist and Trainer.
I understand, first hand, the importance of providing gold-standard training to mental health providers. I'm passionate about using my expertise to help others, and I'm excited to be here to share my knowledge and experiences with all of you
Thank you for joining this training
In addition to founding Sunfield Center, I also founded the Sunfield Institute, a professional development organization dedicated to providing gold-standard training for mental health providers. With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, I bring a first-hand understanding of the need for research-informed evaluations and evidence-based treatment interventions to help families.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist, Independent ADOS-2 and ADIR trainer as well as a certified Parent Child Interaction (PCIT) Therapist and Trainer.
I understand, first hand, the importance of providing gold-standard training to mental health providers. I'm passionate about using my expertise to help others, and I'm excited to be here to share my knowledge and experiences with all of you
Thank you for joining this training
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Rosmary Ros-DeMarize
Assistant Professor
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Samad Hamidi, MCP
Master's degree in Clinical Psychology
Samad Hamidi is the founder and clinical director of the Afra Counseling and Psychological Services Center in Sanandaj, Iran. Mr. Hamidi has a master's degree in clinical psychology. He works as a cognitive behavioral therapist and conducts Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) with consultation from Dr. Cheryl B. McNeil. Mr. Hamidi is licensed by the Psychology and Counseling Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the Welfare Organization of Kurdistan Province. Additionally, he serves as a therapist in the field of child psychology for the Welfare Organization of Kurdistan Province and the Sanandaj Health Center. Mr. Hamidi's clinical focus and therapeutic work primarily concentrates on treating psychiatric disorders in children aged 2 to 7, with a major emphasis on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Session
Alexis Landa, M.S., LMHC
Research Support Project Manager & Certified PCIT Therapist
Alexis Landa, M.S., LMHC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and trained in PCIT-CALM to treat children with both behavioral challenges and anxiety/fear-related concerns at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. For over 6 years she has been utilizing evidence-based practices to treat children ages 2-16 with externalizing and internalizing difficulties. She has also implemented behavior therapy and parent training at the renowned Florida International University Summer Treatment Program for children with ADHD and behavioral concerns. Her experience also extends to adapting PCIT for children with selective mutism. Along with implementing these therapies, she is a supervisor and Certified Within Agency PCIT trainer leading consultation groups within her team at the University of Miami to support clinicians, provide consultation on cases, and develop training. When working with families, she strives to incorporate a family-centered approach that prioritizes meeting her clients’ needs and using evidence-based practices to positively impact families’ lives.
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Karin Vanderzee, PhD
Associate Professor
Dr. Karin Vanderzee is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the University
of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Psychiatric Research Institute/Department of Psychiatry. Her
clinical and research interests focus on early childhood trauma and intervention development,
implementation, and dissemination of evidence-based treatments to promote resilience following
traumatic events. She serves as a co-investigator for the Arkansas Building Effective Services for
Trauma (ARBEST) program, which aims to strengthen the quality of available trauma services
for children and their families throughout the state of Arkansas. She has been conducting PCIT
since 2009 and is a PCIT International Certified Within Agency Trainer. She is also Chair of the PCIT International Training Task Force.
of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Psychiatric Research Institute/Department of Psychiatry. Her
clinical and research interests focus on early childhood trauma and intervention development,
implementation, and dissemination of evidence-based treatments to promote resilience following
traumatic events. She serves as a co-investigator for the Arkansas Building Effective Services for
Trauma (ARBEST) program, which aims to strengthen the quality of available trauma services
for children and their families throughout the state of Arkansas. She has been conducting PCIT
since 2009 and is a PCIT International Certified Within Agency Trainer. She is also Chair of the PCIT International Training Task Force.
Sessions
Sarah Greenwell, PsyD
Pediatric Psychologist
I am a neurodevelopmental and behavioral psychologist working in the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology- Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Psychology (BMCP-NDBP) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. I specialize in the treatment and assessment of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. I am a PCIT Within Agency Trainer for our BMCP Post-doctoral Fellowship Program, a supervising psychologist for our LEND training program and the NDBP Treatment Lead.
Sessions
Georgie Fleming, MPsych(Clin), PhD
Dr
Dr Georgette E. Fleming is a Clinical Psychologist and academic in the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She is a certified therapist and within-agency trainer in PCIT. Dr Fleming’s research focuses on children with severe conduct problems. Her research has a ‘big picture’ focus, asking how we can use novel delivery formats to improve the accessibility of early interventions such as PCIT. It also takes a ‘closer look’ approach, investigating treatment mechanisms and identifying the people for whom interventions such as PCIT are less effective. She published several studies demonstrating that personalizing PCIT can strengthen treatment outcomes, especially among children with complex clinical profiles and unique treatment needs.
Sessions
John Paul Abner, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
John-Paul Abner graduated from the University of Florida with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Child and Adolescent emphasis) in 1996 where he had the honor of studying under Dr. Sheila Eyberg, creator of PCIT. A professor in psychology at Milligan College, he is one of 21 people in the world who has been designated as a Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Global Trainer by PCIT International. He has conducted research on the application of PCIT to children with autism spectrum disorders and is currently an active promoter of PCIT to the autism community. He is the Director of PCIT Training for the East Tennessee State University Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody where he helps coordinate a statewide PCIT dissemination effort to help children in the protective services system. Dr. Abner is a frequent speaker at PCIT conferences where he focuses primarily on clinical issues. He is passionate about PCIT and CARE and this passion often comes out at relatively high speed and volume. He favors a highly interactive style of presentation and his presentations often feature storytelling, games, unintentional physical humor, pirate yarrghs, and prizes of minimal value.
Sessions
Brandi Ellis, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
I graduated with my PhD in Clinical Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi. I completed my predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship (two years) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I recently completed training to become a PCIT therapist and became certified in 2023.
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Reeva Morton
Dr. Reeva Morton is a nationally certified school psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst at the doctoral level at the University of Florida. A Maryland native, Dr. Morton’s interest in the field of psychology started in high school while interning at the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) as a Biological Science Aid. While in college as a member of the McNair Scholars Program at West Virginia University, she joined the Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) research lab and provided behavior analytic services at an on-campus multidisciplinary center. Later, Dr. Morton obtained her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in School Psychology from Mississippi State University. She completed her clinical internship training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe Meyer Institute (UNMC-MMI). While on internship, she used a variety of evidenced interventions that were trauma-focused, behavioral, and cognitive-behavioral. Dr. Morton consulted with technicians at a local private practice about the implementation of verbal behavior techniques, provided psychoeducation to families about behavior and development, and supported families in enhancing special education services. She has collaborated with educators, speech-language pathologists, dental providers, and physical therapists to enhance functional life skills and functional communication for children with developmental disabilities. Her clients were exclusively neurodiverse adolescents, children, and toddlers. With her school psychology background, Dr. Morton has used her vast knowledge of the school system to nurture the relationship between mental health accommodations and school needs. Dr. Morton has also taught graduate students in the applied behavior analysis program and undergraduate students in the disability services program at the University of North Florida. These past experiences helped her form her interest in the dissemination and implementation of evidenced based interventions for underserved families, Autism, Cabezas Syndrome, and CHARGE syndrome. Through her work, she has presented and published research on school-based behavioral programs and academic interventions. In her free time, Dr. Morton enjoys traveling with her Goldendoodle and gardening.
Sessions
Amanda N’zi, PhD
Licensed Psychologist and Executive Director
Dr. Amanda N’zi is cisgender, white, woman passionate about providing evidence-based services to families in the Denver Metro Area with cultural humility. As a child psychologist, Dr. N'zi holds expertise in child behavior problems, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, neurodevelopment, and trauma-informed care. She has extensive training in early childhood (0-5), school-age, and adolescent interventions. She is a licensed psychologist in the State of Colorado (PSY.0004155) and the certified trainer for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy in the state of Colorado and Wyoming.
Dr. Amanda N’zi earned her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Clinical and Health Psychology where she trained with the developer of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Dr. Sheila Eyberg. She completed her internship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center with a focus on pediatric and clinical child psychology and participated in the Interdisciplinary Training Program for Child Abuse and Neglect. Dr. N’zi completed a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship at the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect at the Children’s Hospital Colorado focusing researching and implementing family emotion communication Interventions and trauma-informed interventions. She began her career as Clinical Assistant Professor at the Kempe Center and the Department of Rehabilitation at Children’s Hospital Colorado before starting private practice. Throughout her training and career, Dr. N'zi's skills in therapy and communication have been highlighted through awards and recognition, including the Florence E. Shaffer Memorial Award for Excellence in Psychotherapuetic Counseling from the University of Florida.
Dr. N'zi is a published author writing several articles and chapters on evidence-based child intervention. She is a skilled intervention researcher. She is an invited speaker presenting on topics including: evidence-based treatments for children, trauma-informed care, social-emotional development, and child sexual development.
Dr. Amanda N’zi earned her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Clinical and Health Psychology where she trained with the developer of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Dr. Sheila Eyberg. She completed her internship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center with a focus on pediatric and clinical child psychology and participated in the Interdisciplinary Training Program for Child Abuse and Neglect. Dr. N’zi completed a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship at the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect at the Children’s Hospital Colorado focusing researching and implementing family emotion communication Interventions and trauma-informed interventions. She began her career as Clinical Assistant Professor at the Kempe Center and the Department of Rehabilitation at Children’s Hospital Colorado before starting private practice. Throughout her training and career, Dr. N'zi's skills in therapy and communication have been highlighted through awards and recognition, including the Florence E. Shaffer Memorial Award for Excellence in Psychotherapuetic Counseling from the University of Florida.
Dr. N'zi is a published author writing several articles and chapters on evidence-based child intervention. She is a skilled intervention researcher. She is an invited speaker presenting on topics including: evidence-based treatments for children, trauma-informed care, social-emotional development, and child sexual development.
Sessions
Melissa Ortega, Psy.D.
Dr Giglio was part of the founding team of clinicians at Central Health Partners, Child Development Team in Hong Kong. She is a trained behavior therapist with over 15 years of experience, specializing in the treatment of childhood disorders, including selective mutism, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorders. She is currently the Director of the Child Development Team, a multidisciplinary group of specialists offering speech and language therapy services, occupational therapy, learning enhancement, and therapy and counseling.
Dr Giglio established the Confident Crew programme, an intensive group behavioral therapy the first of its kind in Asia. She has invited clinicians and patients from all over the world to participate and learn how to treat selective mutism effectively. Her passion for helping children with anxiety has led her to explore alternative treatments and resources available to teachers and caregivers.
Dr. Giglio received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey. She earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology at The New School in 2003, and her professional affiliations include membership in the American Psychological Association, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, the Selective Mutism Association, the Association of Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, and PCIT International.
Dr Giglio has presented at multiple international conferences, has written and been featured in magazine and newspaper articles, and has been invited on multiple podcasts. In 2022, Dr Giglio co-authored a children’s book about selective mutism and anxiety called Bravery Grows, with her colleague, Daisy Geddes. Dr Giglio also sits on the executive committees for the Zubin Foundation and FOCUS Hong Kong, non-profit organizations in Hong Kong.
Dr Giglio established the Confident Crew programme, an intensive group behavioral therapy the first of its kind in Asia. She has invited clinicians and patients from all over the world to participate and learn how to treat selective mutism effectively. Her passion for helping children with anxiety has led her to explore alternative treatments and resources available to teachers and caregivers.
Dr. Giglio received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey. She earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology at The New School in 2003, and her professional affiliations include membership in the American Psychological Association, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, the Selective Mutism Association, the Association of Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, and PCIT International.
Dr Giglio has presented at multiple international conferences, has written and been featured in magazine and newspaper articles, and has been invited on multiple podcasts. In 2022, Dr Giglio co-authored a children’s book about selective mutism and anxiety called Bravery Grows, with her colleague, Daisy Geddes. Dr Giglio also sits on the executive committees for the Zubin Foundation and FOCUS Hong Kong, non-profit organizations in Hong Kong.
Sessions
Meredith Scafe, Ph.D.
Clinical Child Psychologist/Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Name: Meredith Scafe
o Degree: Ph.D.
o Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
o Licensure Type: Psychologist
o Licensure State: Missouri and Kansas
o Professional Title: Clinical Associate Professor and Clinical Child Psychologist
o Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): The University of Missouri- Kansas City & Children’s Mercy Kansas City
o PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): PCIT Therapist
o Email Address: mjscafe@cmh.edu
o Phone Number: 620-615-1553
o Degree: Ph.D.
o Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
o Licensure Type: Psychologist
o Licensure State: Missouri and Kansas
o Professional Title: Clinical Associate Professor and Clinical Child Psychologist
o Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): The University of Missouri- Kansas City & Children’s Mercy Kansas City
o PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): PCIT Therapist
o Email Address: mjscafe@cmh.edu
o Phone Number: 620-615-1553
Session
Melanie A. Fernandez, PhD, ABPP
Clinical Psychologist
Melanie A. Fernandez, PhD, ABPP, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the delivery of evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents, and adults. She has conducted psychological evaluations and provided behavioral parent training and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to hundreds of children, adolescents, adults, and their families. Dr. Fernandez is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychologists, with a specialty in clinical child and adolescent psychology. She is one of twenty Global Trainers in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) endorsed by PCIT International. She is also the tenth provider to be certified in Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE).
Dr. Fernandez earned her doctorate in clinical and health psychology at the University of Florida, with a specialty in clinical child and pediatric psychology. Her mentor was Dr. Sheila M. Eyberg, the developer of PCIT. Dr. Fernandez completed her predoctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center and her postdoctoral fellowship at the New York University Child Study Center. After completing her postdoctoral fellowship, she continued at NYU as a Clinical Assistant Professor providing evaluations and treatment and as an Assistant Research Scientist treating families in two NIMH-funded clinical trials. In 2010, Dr. Fernandez was one of the original clinicians to join the Child Mind Institute, where she directed the organization’s PCIT Program. As Director of PCIT, Dr. Fernandez provided high-quality treatment and training of clinicians in house and around the world. In her time at CMI, she also served as Principal Investigator of a study funded by the New York City Council examining Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) in NYC schools.
For the past decade, Dr. Fernandez has enjoyed building her private practice, learning and growing alongside the families with whom she has the privilege of collaborating.
Dr. Fernandez earned her doctorate in clinical and health psychology at the University of Florida, with a specialty in clinical child and pediatric psychology. Her mentor was Dr. Sheila M. Eyberg, the developer of PCIT. Dr. Fernandez completed her predoctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center and her postdoctoral fellowship at the New York University Child Study Center. After completing her postdoctoral fellowship, she continued at NYU as a Clinical Assistant Professor providing evaluations and treatment and as an Assistant Research Scientist treating families in two NIMH-funded clinical trials. In 2010, Dr. Fernandez was one of the original clinicians to join the Child Mind Institute, where she directed the organization’s PCIT Program. As Director of PCIT, Dr. Fernandez provided high-quality treatment and training of clinicians in house and around the world. In her time at CMI, she also served as Principal Investigator of a study funded by the New York City Council examining Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) in NYC schools.
For the past decade, Dr. Fernandez has enjoyed building her private practice, learning and growing alongside the families with whom she has the privilege of collaborating.
Session
Leandra Godoy, PhD
Psychologist
Leandra Godoy, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in early childhood mental health. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Children’s National Hospital and the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Godoy is Co-Director of the Early Childhood Behavioral Health Program within the Division of Psychology and Behavioral Health. She serves as a Program Manager within the Child Health Advocacy Institute's Community Mental Health CORE (Collaboration-Outreach-Research-Equity) team, where she oversees community mental health-primary care integration and autism activities. She also serves as Manager for the D.C. Collaborative for Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care and she leads the DC Autism Collaborative, both city-wide initiatives aimed at improving behavioral health in the District of Columbia. Dr. Godoy’s clinical and research interests include early childhood mental health, mental health integration in pediatric primary care and health equity.
Sessions
Lindsey Thomas, PhD
Assistant Professor
Lindsey Thomas, Ph.D. is Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She also works with Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST), a statewide program to provide evidence-based care to traumatized children. She specializes in the evidence-based mental health treatment and assessment of children who have experienced trauma. She is a nationally-rostered provider in three evidence-based therapies for children who have experienced trauma: Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Dr. Roberts completed her doctoral training at Bowling Green State University, where she concentrated in both child psychology and community psychology. She completed her doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellow at UAMS with a clinical focus on providing assessment and therapy for children and families. Throughout her training, she has worked in multiple settings with children and families who have experienced trauma. Her research focuses on parenting, resilience, and program evaluation.
Sessions
Lindsay Druskin
Doctoral Candidate
Lindsay Druskin, MS is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Child Psychology PhD program at West Virginia University. Lindsay’s research and clinical interests focus on the development, evaluation, and dissemination of parenting interventions to address the emotional and behavioral needs of children with disruptive behaviors and trauma.
Sessions
Valerie Rice, PhD
Psychologist
I am a neurodevelopmental and behavioral psychologist working in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Session
Natalie Gallardo, LMFT
Bilingual Licensed Marriage/Relationship and Family Therapist
Natalie Gallardo, MA, LMFT (pronouns: she/her) is a Spanish/English Bilingual Licensed Marriage/Relationship and Family Therapist and owner of Infinity Connection Therapies in Denver, Colorado. She also serves as the Implementation Specialist and Trauma-Responsive Consultant with The Trauma Responsive and Implementation Program (TRIP) with The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect under the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. Natalie is a passionate and empathetic clinician, consultant, educator/trainer, and coach/facilitator in various settings. Whether it is teaching educators and foster parents on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Behavior Issues in Childhood and Adolescence, consulting with elementary school staff and parents on Trauma-Responsive Care, or teaching and engaging with community mental health therapists on Cultural Responsiveness, Natalie’s ultimate goal is not simply to educate others, but to have systems and the people within those systems feel truly seen. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in Biology, as well as a Master of Arts in Counseling with an emphasis in Couples and Family Therapy.
Session
Karolina Grotkowski, PhD
Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow
Karol Grotkowski, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Lezlie & Richard Atlas Early Childhood and Integrated Care Fellowship at UCLA. Her clinical work focuses on supporting children and their caregivers who have experienced trauma. Currently, Dr. Grotkowski is providing psychotherapy and consultation services within the Family Development Program and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) clinic in the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) clinic. Prior to beginning her work at UCLA, she completed her internship at Duke University where she specialized in promoting individual, family, and system healing from traumatic and adverse events. Dr. Grotkowski earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago. She is a PCIT International certified therapist since 2020.
Session
Matthew Edelstein, PsyD, BCBA-D
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Matt Edelstein is a licensed psychologist and licensed behavior analyst, and the director of the Brief Treatment Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute. He is a member of the training faculty for the department, where he supervises doctoral externs, doctoral interns, and postdoctoral fellows. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Edelstein obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Boston University and his Master’s degree from Columbia University. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Rutgers University. Dr. Edelstein completed his doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is a board certified behavior analyst at the doctoral level (BCBA-D), and is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association of Behavior Analysts International (ABAI). Dr. Edelstein’s clinical and research interests include the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior in pediatric populations, child behavior disorders, and behavioral parent training. Current research focuses on the development of assessment and treatment procedures to provide early intervention to young children with behavior disorders, identifying methods of data collection to improve caregiver participation in treatment, and the systematic application of behavior analytic protocols in outpatient settings to improve patient outcomes.
Session
Gabriela Memba, MA
Doctoral Clinical Psychology Intern
I am a 6th year doctoral candidate receiving my PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. I am currently completing my doctoral internship at University of Chicago Medicine. My clinical interests include disruptive behaviors in young children, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and pediatric health psychology. My research examines self-regulation development in young children and I hope to study how self-regulation skills impact the efficacy of evidence-based treatments.
Session
Hannah Miller, B.A.
Doctoral Student
Name: Hannah Miller
Degree: Bachelor of Art
Field of Degree: Psychology
Licensure Type: N/A
Licensure State: N/A
Professional Title: Doctoral Student
Affiliation: University of Florida
Email: hemiller@ufl.edu
Phone number: 732-610-9733
Degree: Bachelor of Art
Field of Degree: Psychology
Licensure Type: N/A
Licensure State: N/A
Professional Title: Doctoral Student
Affiliation: University of Florida
Email: hemiller@ufl.edu
Phone number: 732-610-9733
Session
Sarah Vess, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, HSP-P, NCSP
Psychologist, Adjunct Clinical Faculty in Pediatrics
Dr. Sarah Vess is a pediatric psychologist in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. She is a Licensed Psychologist and Health Services Provider in the state of North Carolina and is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and Certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Therapist. Dr. Vess’ current research interests involve developing best clinical practices in diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and applying PCIT to families of children with Autism and other developmental disorders. Dr. Vess was recently the co-principal investigator of the Incredible Years Dinosaur School Sustainability Grant funded by the Duke Endowment to retain social-emotional learning practices in pre-K classrooms across Guilford County. Prior to joining Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Dr. Vess was the Associate Dean of the School of Education at High Point University and taught courses in educational psychology, behavior management, special education, and research methods at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Vess’ recent publications include articles in Autism and Developmental Language Impairments, Journal of Applied School Psychology, and Teaching Education.
Session
Julie King, LISW
School Social Worker
Julie King, LISW is a licensed clinical and school social worker at Grant Wood AEA. After writing a proposal to be trained in the TCIT-U model in 2015, she was invited to attend PCIT training with Beth Troutman, PhD at the University of Iowa. Julie provided TCIT-U training to educational staff in the context of her job from 2015-2020 before being granted full release to focus on building a TCIT-U program in the agency in 2021. Julie completed her training as an advanced trainer of TCIT-U in spring of 2023.
Session
Georgette Saad, PhD, LICSW
Session
Jessica Warren, PhD
Dr
Jessica is a Senior Psychologist and Assistant Director of Psychological and Specialist Services with the Department of Communities and Justice. Her clinical work has primarily been with children, young people and their families wo have been exposed to abuse and neglect. Jessica has recently completed her PhD research on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and a trauma-adapted version which aims to reduce posttraumatic stress symptoms in children and their caregivers.
Session
Christina Danko, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor
Dr. Christina Danko received her PhD in Clinical Psychology, Child track, from DePaul University and completed an APA-accredited internship at Louisiana State University Health and Sciences Center. Dr. Danko completed a clinical postdoctoral fellowship at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano at the University of Maryland (UMD). Dr. Danko serves as Program Director for the Master of Professional Studies in Clinical Psychological Science at UMD – a terminal master’s degree program focused on developing students’ research and clinical skills within an evidence-based framework. Dr. Danko's research at the Maryland ADHD Program investigates the impact of evidence-based interventions on the treatment and prevention of mental health disorders for young children and their families. She is also a certified Level 1 PCIT Trainer and a clinical supervisor at the UMD Psychology Clinic.
Session
Kokoro Furukawa, PhD
PhD
she/her
Session
Pia Enebrink, PhD
Degree: PhD
Field of Degree: Clinical psychology
Licensure Type:
Licensure State: Sweden
Professional Title: Associate professor, Clinical psychologist
Affiliation: Karolinska University
PCIT International Certification Type: N/A
Field of Degree: Clinical psychology
Licensure Type:
Licensure State: Sweden
Professional Title: Associate professor, Clinical psychologist
Affiliation: Karolinska University
PCIT International Certification Type: N/A
Session
Lauren B. Quetsch, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Lauren Quetsch is a Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas in the Department of Psychological Science. Her research and clinical interests focus on providing treatments for autistic youth and families. In particular, Dr. Quetsch is passionate about helping families gain effective tools for strengthening the parent-child relationship and reducing child aggression and disruptive behavior. Dr. Quetsch has expertise in a family-focused treatment called Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and helped write the book entitled, “Handbook for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum.”
Sessions
Sarah Olivas, Psy.D.
Dr.
Dr. Olivas is a licensed clinical psychologist at the UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics in Birmingham, Alabama. She is currently involved in the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Clinic and conducts comprehensive autism evaluations for children and adolescents. In addition, she is the co-leader of the Behavior Intervention Clinic with Dr. Brandi Ellis, which provides evidence-based behavioral interventions for children and families including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). She also assists with the coordination of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) at UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics. Dr. Olivas is a certified PCIT therapist and has assisted with PCIT training workshops. Dr. Olivas received her bachelor's degree at Kennesaw State University and her master's and doctoral degrees at Mercer University in Clinical Health Psychology and Clinical Psychology, respectively. Dr. Olivas completed her predoctoral internship at the UAB Psychology Internship Training Consortium as a LEND trainee and was a LEND postdoctoral fellow at UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics. She is credentialed as a Health Service Psychologist through the National Register and is an active member of many professional organizations. Her research interests include PCIT implementation, modifications, and effectiveness, as well as research related to neurodiversity and effectiveness of assessment feedback to families.
Session
Regilda Anne Romero, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Romero was born in the Philippines and immigrated to California after college. She received a bachelor’s in psychology, from Assumption College, Philippines. She attended graduate school at Palo Alto University for her Master and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Romero completed her pediatric neuropsychology internship at Virginia Beach Cities Public School and her postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology in the Division of Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota (U of MN). She received fellowship training in the U of MN Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program. She was an Assistant Professor at Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and an Adjunct Professor at U of MN. Dr. Romero relocated to Florida, where she was in private practice conducting developmental/neuropsychological evaluations and interventions for children and adults and provided supervision.
Currently, Dr. Romero is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry – Division of Psychology and the service coordinator for the UF Health Psychoeducational and Neuropsychological Assessment Services. She has over 20 years of experience working with neurodivergent individuals. Dr. Romero is a member of UF Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Clinical Operations Committee. She supervises graduate students, psychology interns, and postdocs in complex neuropsychological assessments and comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluations. She had contributed many research articles, presentations, and book chapters related to autism and neuropsychology, with particular focus on multicultural considerations.
Currently, Dr. Romero is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry – Division of Psychology and the service coordinator for the UF Health Psychoeducational and Neuropsychological Assessment Services. She has over 20 years of experience working with neurodivergent individuals. Dr. Romero is a member of UF Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Clinical Operations Committee. She supervises graduate students, psychology interns, and postdocs in complex neuropsychological assessments and comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluations. She had contributed many research articles, presentations, and book chapters related to autism and neuropsychology, with particular focus on multicultural considerations.
Session
Kate Kwasneski, M.ed.
Ms.
Kate is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student working under the supervision of Dr. Elizabeth Skowron. She earned a B.A. in psychology at Grinnell College and an M.Ed. in Child Studies from Vanderbilt University. She is interested in the ways that parents and children interact, with a particular focus on how parents’ thoughts and feelings about their children influence their interactions with them. She also has an interest in the neurobiology of parenting behaviors, especially how interventions can influence the neural processes involved in parenting. Kate’s long-term goal is to study the active ingredients of family and parenting interventions.
Sessions
Kathleen Best, LCSW
Ms.
Kathleen Best is cisgender, white, woman passionate about working with children and families. As an LCSW, Kathleen started her career in education working on behavioral supports at the systemic, group, and individual level in the state of Oregon. After leaving Oregon in 2017, Kathleen was hired by Penn State University. At PSU, Kathleen provided therapy to children and families at the university's community clinic, served as a community-engagement specialist for the Clinical Translational Science Institute, and implemented a social-emotional intervention with 5th and 6th graders after-school. Kathleen moved to Colorado in 2020 and has enjoyed being a clinician with Growing Together Therapy, under Dr. Amanda N'zi.
Kathleen earned her bachelor's degree from Boston College and then her masters in school social work from Loyola University with a schools concentration.
Kathleen earned her bachelor's degree from Boston College and then her masters in school social work from Loyola University with a schools concentration.
Sessions
Felipa T. Chavez, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dr. Felipa Chavez is an assistant professor of clinical psychology at Florida Institute of Technology. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with a concentration in working with children and families from the University at Buffalo (UB). She is a former NIAAA post-doctoral fellow at UB’s Research Institute on Addictions, where she trained in research examining early child development and parent-child relationships in heavy drinking alcohol families. Currently, Dr. Chavez is the Director of Building Blocks: PCIT at Florida Tech, which disseminates Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to local families through the Community Psychological Services (CPS) center, which operates out of Florida Tech’s Scott Center for Autism. She also conducts a program of research providing Teacher Child Interaction Therapy (TCIT) services to at-risk underserved community classrooms including schools, daycares, and community centers through her Project Play research program, which has been partially funded by the Fight Against Community Violence Target grant. Through her community-based outreach research, Dr. Chavez examines how improvements in disruptive classroom behaviors, through the implementation of TCIT, can improve classroom manageability, student academic performance, and teacher stress, with rippling effects for reduced child abuse potential in the home. As a within agency trainer, Dr. Chavez has trained over 60 clinical psychology graduate students in the dissemination of PCIT treatment services, several of whom have gone on to become certified PCIT therapist themselves, and she currently working towards becoming a regional level trainer. Dr. Chavez also has over 18-years of experience in teaching multicultural course curriculum, and based on her years of experience in the delivery of both PCIT and TCIT services to underserved communities, she has developed a tips sheet offering clinical/training guidelines for the practical applications of PCIT principles in working with Black families in treatment, in support of the Black Lives Matter social movement. It is entitled: “We are Light that Overcomes Darkness as we strive to be our Brother’s Keeper”: PCIT Applications for supporting Black Families in Treatment. Dr. Chavez has conducted tailored PCIT trainings for Black and LatiniX clinicians who service Black and LatinX families with autistic children which was funded by the Philadelphia Eagles Autism Foundation, as well as working with colleagues at Georgetown University to develop an adapted version of PCIT for servicing Black families. Other noteworthy accomplishments include her NPR academic minute on children and anxiety (https://academicminute.org/2020/05/felipa-chavez-florida-institute-of-technology-anxiety-in-children/) and a two-part series on how to address issues of the COVID-19 pandemic with children (https://news.fit.edu/academics-research/how-do-i-explain-this-pandemic-to-my-child-part-one/ ; https://news.fit.edu/academics-research/how-do-i-explain-this-pandemic-to-my-child-part-two/).
Sessions
Lauren Mutignani, Ph.D.
Senior Instructor
Name: Lauren Mutignani
Degree: Ph.D.
Field of Degree: Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: Psychologist
Licensure State: New York
Professional Title: Senior Instructor
Affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry
PCIT International Certification Type: PCIT Therapist
Email Address: lauren_mutignani@URMC.Rochester.edu
Phone Number: 585-273-4756
Degree: Ph.D.
Field of Degree: Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: Psychologist
Licensure State: New York
Professional Title: Senior Instructor
Affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry
PCIT International Certification Type: PCIT Therapist
Email Address: lauren_mutignani@URMC.Rochester.edu
Phone Number: 585-273-4756
Session
Ashley Scudder, PhD
Associate Director of Research and Outreach
Sessions
Elizabeth Brestan-Knight, PhD
Alma Holladay Endowed Professor
Elizabeth Brestan-Knight, PhD., doctorate in clinical and health psychology, is the Alma Holladay Endowed Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Auburn University, where she has been a faculty member for the past 25 years. She has held two professorships at Auburn, won several awards for her teaching, and served as the department co-chair and undergraduate program director. In 2020, she was named the Outstanding Alumna for the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions. Dr. Brestan-Knight has authored numerous chapters and articles as well as a book published by Wiley-Blackwell, A Guide to Teaching Developmental Psychology. She is the director of the Parent-Child Research Lab at Auburn where her clinical research team conducts PCIT with local families and evaluates PCIT and CARE training workshops. Recent projects have also included the development of an artificial intelligence program for use in therapy and a psychometric investigation of the Child Rearing Inventory.
Brestan-Knight has conducted training focusing on the dissemination and implementation of PCIT to front-line mental health therapists both directly and through training WATer and Regional Trainer candidates across the US (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington DC, Wisconsin) and internationally (Japan, Lebanon, Norway, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea). As a PCIT International Global Trainer, Brestan-Knight maintains ties with these wonderful professionals and provides ongoing consultation to help them establish their own successful PCIT clinics.
Brestan-Knight has conducted training focusing on the dissemination and implementation of PCIT to front-line mental health therapists both directly and through training WATer and Regional Trainer candidates across the US (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington DC, Wisconsin) and internationally (Japan, Lebanon, Norway, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea). As a PCIT International Global Trainer, Brestan-Knight maintains ties with these wonderful professionals and provides ongoing consultation to help them establish their own successful PCIT clinics.
Sessions
Allison Smith, PhD
Assistant Professor
Allison Smith is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is also affiliated with the Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST) program. Her clinical interests center on the treatment of young children and families who have experienced trauma. She is a nationally certified PCIT therapist. Her research interests include the implementation of evidence-based treatments for children and families exposed to trauma.
Sessions
Patty Eiler-Sims, PsyD
I am a neurodevelopmental and behavioral psychologist working in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Session
Megan Flores, LCSW
Outpatient Clinician
Megan Flores, LCSW has been working at Tennyson Center for Children, in the outpatient program, for the last two years. Previously, she worked with Tennyson in their intensive in-home program for about 6 years. Megan got her bachelor's in social work from Metro State University of Denver and attended the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver. Megan was trained in PCIT in 2019 and is now working to become a Within Agency Trainer for Tennyson. The outpatient program at Tennyson has been a small team since it started in 2020, but with support from the HR department and Dr. Amanda N'zi, Megan is hoping to grow the implementation of PCIT at Tennyson with a specific focus on making access to care inclusive and accessible for as many families as possible across Colorado.
Session
Naomi Perry, MSW
Director - Parent and Child Interaction (PCI)
Name: Naomi Perry, MSW
Degree: MSW counseling
Licensure Type: Licensed Certified Counselor
Licensure State: Washington
Professional Title:
Affiliation: Private Practice; Contracted State Regional Trainer/Consultant
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Washington State PCIT Regional Trainer/Consultant/Provider
Email Address: naomip075@gmail.com
Phone Number: 425-772-3806
Bio for Naomi Perry, MSW:
Naomi Perry is a PCIT International Certified Regional Trainer and a Washington State PCIT State Contracted Regional Consultant/Trainer/Provider since July 2000. Ms. Perry
is the host of bi-yearly PCIT conference/boosters overseeing the fidelity to the PCIT model in Washington State. Ms. Perry is a mental health therapist trained in several EBP’s inclusive to Trauma-Focused Therapy for Children (TF-CBT), Common Elements Therapy for Adults (CETA); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Alternatives for Families: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT); Triple P and others. Ms. Perry abides by the NASW code of ethics and practices culturally component therapeutic modalities and is a voting member of PCIT international Associates.
Degree: MSW counseling
Licensure Type: Licensed Certified Counselor
Licensure State: Washington
Professional Title:
Affiliation: Private Practice; Contracted State Regional Trainer/Consultant
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Washington State PCIT Regional Trainer/Consultant/Provider
Email Address: naomip075@gmail.com
Phone Number: 425-772-3806
Bio for Naomi Perry, MSW:
Naomi Perry is a PCIT International Certified Regional Trainer and a Washington State PCIT State Contracted Regional Consultant/Trainer/Provider since July 2000. Ms. Perry
is the host of bi-yearly PCIT conference/boosters overseeing the fidelity to the PCIT model in Washington State. Ms. Perry is a mental health therapist trained in several EBP’s inclusive to Trauma-Focused Therapy for Children (TF-CBT), Common Elements Therapy for Adults (CETA); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Alternatives for Families: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT); Triple P and others. Ms. Perry abides by the NASW code of ethics and practices culturally component therapeutic modalities and is a voting member of PCIT international Associates.
Session
Camila Ferrario, M.S., AMFT
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist/Behavioral Health Specialist
Cami Ferrario is a psychotherapist (Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #137866/Supervised by a licensed professional) who specializes in treating perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, and complex parent-child relationships. She obtained her bachelor's degree from UCLA and successfully completed her master's degree in psychology with an emphasis in MFT. She is currently expanding her expertise through specialized research and clinical training at UCLA MOMS Clinic and UCLA Family STAR Clinic. Additionally, she serves as a behavioral health specialist at the McDonald Lab within UCLA CART (Center for Autism Research & Treatment) actively supporting research on perinatal depression, parenting stress, the interplay between oxytocin and the developing mother-infant relationship, as well as the neurodevelopment and early social-emotional trajectories in NICU graduates. Currently, she serves as one of the PCIT interventionists in Dr. McDonald’s RAINBOW Study, assessing the effectiveness of an evidence-based treatment for children with TSC. In her research role, Cami is actively involved in various tasks, including coding parent-child interactions using the CIB (Coding Interactive Behavior), to analyze social interactions between infants and mothers. She is also responsible for performing inter-rater reliability, collecting behavioral data and assessments, assessing infants' (0-18 months) gross motor skills using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), and administering the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Third Edition (VABS) to measure adaptive behavior. Additionally, she holds the position of a guest lecturer at California State University Northridge, delivering instruction on quantitative & qualitative research within the MFT program.
Session
Susan Perkins-Parks, PhD
Susan Perkins-Parks, PhD is a licensed psychologist and PCIT within agency trainer at the Behavior Management Clinic (BMC) at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Parks has additional training in behavioral parent training, cognitive behavior therapy and other behavioral strategies to support families with children with challenging or maladaptive behaviors. Dr. Parks is also a clinical supervisor and director of the clinic.
Session
Ellyn Schmidt, PhD
Psychologist
Dr. Ellyn Schmidt is a Licensed Psychologist at Boston Child Study Center. She is also a Licensed and Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Dr. Schmidt specializes in working with young children (i.e., toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary age children), their families, and their teachers to address a wide variety of challenges including disruptive behaviors, attention problems, anxiety, selective mutism, and emotion regulation difficulties, as well as social and behavioral challenges related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She is certified as both a PCIT therapist and a within-agency PCIT trainer through PCIT International, and is clinically trained in treatment adaptations of PCIT for anxiety (PCIT-CALM), selective mutism (PCIT-SM), toddlers (PCIT-Toddler), and ASD. With children over 8 years, she provides cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral interventions along with parent coaching. She also has extensive experience consulting to classroom teachers and school staff regarding the implementation of TCIT and other evidence-based behavioral strategies to address disruptive behavior and emotion regulation challenges.
Session
Haley Raper, BS, MSW Extern
Psychometrist
Haley Raper is a Psychometrist in developmental pediatrics at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Appalachian State University, Boone NC and is a current social work graduate student at Capelle University, Minneapolis MN and expected to graduate in June 2025. Haley spent two tears employed as a county foster care social worker before joining Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. She is interested in child trauma, developmental disabilities, and family systems.
Session
Kristine Wheeler, LMSW
School Social Worker
Kris Wheeler, LMSW is a school social worker at Grant Wood AEA. She was trained in TCIT-U in 2015 and provided it in the context of her position before becoming a Social-Emotional Behavior Health coach for the agency. Kris re-joined the TCIT-U program full time in the fall of 2022, coaching 32 teachers that year. She is currently completing her training as an advanced TCIT-U trainer, supporting 9 educational staff as they work to become TCIT-U coaches.
Session
Tabitha Fleming, PhD
Assistant Professor
Tabitha Fleming is an assistant professor and licensed psychologist at OU Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). Her clinical work includes evidence-based care for children who have experienced traumatic events and/or exhibit behavioral difficulties. Her research focuses on avenues to advance effective parenting attitudes, expectations, and behaviors.
Sessions
Allissa Caudill, Psy.D.
Associate Professor/Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Caudill is a Licensed Psychologist and Associate Professor in the Marshall University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Her clinical and research interests include evidence-based treatment of trauma-related disorders in children adolescents, improving treatment outcomes for juvenile-justice involved youth, mental health in rural communities with a focus on Appalachia, and general psychological assessment. Dr. Caudill is a certified PCIT therapist and is currently in the process of completing her Within Agency Trainer certification.
Session
Soleiman Mohammadzadeh, MD
Subspecialty in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Soleiman Mohammadzadeh, MD is an associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Kurdistan's School of Medicine and is a member of the Neuroscience Research Center in Sanandaj, Iran. Alongside Mr. Samad Hamidi, a clinical psychologist, Dr. Mohammadzadeh is actively engaged in research related to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Within the academic realm, he holds a position on the faculty of the University of Kurdistan, focusing clinically and therapeutically on the treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Dr. Mohammadzadeh's primary clinical emphasis is on addressing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). His collaboration with Mr. Hamidi underscores their dedication to advancing knowledge and treatment approaches in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.
Session
Melanie Nelson, PhD
Melanie Nelson, PhD, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and mathematics at Illinois Wesleyan University and received her doctorate in clinical child psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She completed an APA-approved internship at Wayne State University working with children and families in various settings, including an inpatient psychiatric hospital, an outpatient clinic and hospital-based medical clinics. After her internship, she completed a three-year, postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Florida in the department of clinical and health psychology, during which she focused on treatment outcomes research.
From 2005 to 2013, Dr. Nelson was a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. There, she specialized in clinical practice, training and research in disruptive behavior disorders and autism spectrum disorders for approximately seven years.
In 2014, Dr. Nelson joined the faculty at UF. She directs the parent-child interaction therapy, or PCIT, program at UF Health Psychiatry. PCIT is an empirically supported therapy designed for young children who are displaying disruptive behavior and was developed by Sheila Eyberg, MD, UF distinguished professor emeritus.
Dr. Nelson is one of only 20 Certified Master Trainers in PCIT in the U.S., and she supervises PCIT training and treatment at UF. She is also developing a research program to add to the evidence base that supports PCIT. Clinically, she specializes in assessment of and treatment for families with young children, ages 2 to 8, who have a wide range of concerns, including disruptive behavior, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
From 2005 to 2013, Dr. Nelson was a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. There, she specialized in clinical practice, training and research in disruptive behavior disorders and autism spectrum disorders for approximately seven years.
In 2014, Dr. Nelson joined the faculty at UF. She directs the parent-child interaction therapy, or PCIT, program at UF Health Psychiatry. PCIT is an empirically supported therapy designed for young children who are displaying disruptive behavior and was developed by Sheila Eyberg, MD, UF distinguished professor emeritus.
Dr. Nelson is one of only 20 Certified Master Trainers in PCIT in the U.S., and she supervises PCIT training and treatment at UF. She is also developing a research program to add to the evidence base that supports PCIT. Clinically, she specializes in assessment of and treatment for families with young children, ages 2 to 8, who have a wide range of concerns, including disruptive behavior, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Session
Amanda Newhouse
Session
Elissa Wilburn, PhD
Assistant Professor; Licensed Psychologist
Elissa Wilburn, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Wilburn’s clinical work is dedicated to delivering trauma-informed and evidence-based assessment and interventions for children and adolescents. Dr. Wilburn is a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and PCIT Within Agency trainer. She is also a certified therapist in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Additionally, Dr. Wilburn is co-leading the development of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program for teens and their families at the Child Study Center at UAMS and recently became trained in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). Dr. Wilburn is also an in-house trainer for the Components for Enhancing Career Experience and Reducing Trauma (CE-CERT) to help others attain and sustain wellness in their career. For the past few years, Dr. Wilburn has also collaborated with early childhood education programs to help facilitate and support organizational change and implementation of trauma-informed programming and provides consultation to schools following traumatic life experiences across the state of Arkansas. Furthermore, her research interests are focused on contributing to the scientific literature examining the risk factors associated with child and parent characteristics that independently and together contribute to both the exacerbation and undermining of child psychopathology following traumatic life experiences. Dr. Wilburn earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Texas Tech University and completed both her doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at UAMS.
Sessions
Julia Ruggiero, B.A.
PhD Student
Julia is a first year graduate student in the clinical psychology Ph.D. program working under Dr. Elizabeth Skowron. She graduated from Amherst College in 2021 with a B.A. in mathematics and psychology and spent her post-college years working at the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders in New York City. Julia is interested in studying how parenting and other support networks impact the behavioral features of emotion dysregulation in children, specifically examining the effects of parental psychopathology and high-risk behavior on children. Julia’s long-term hope is to work in a field where she can pursue equitable access to mental health care for high-risk and low-income families.
Session
Samantha Miller
Session
Åse Bjørseth
Associate professor
Name: Åse Bjørseth
o Degree: Ph.D.
o Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
o Licensure Type: Clinical Psychologist
o Licensure State: Norway
o Professional Title: Associate Professor
o Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): Norwegian University of Technology and Science
o PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Regional Trainer
o Email Address: ase.bjorseth@ntnu.no
o Phone Number: 0047 99228216
o Degree: Ph.D.
o Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
o Licensure Type: Clinical Psychologist
o Licensure State: Norway
o Professional Title: Associate Professor
o Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): Norwegian University of Technology and Science
o PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Regional Trainer
o Email Address: ase.bjorseth@ntnu.no
o Phone Number: 0047 99228216
Session
Rafaella Sale
Dr.
Dr. Rafaella Sale, PhD, is the Associate Director of the Center for Evidence-based Partnerships in Virginia (CEP-Va). She is also an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Virginia Commonwealth University. CEP-Va is a technical assistance center governed by state leaders across all child-serving agencies. The purpose of the center is to support implementation of a statewide behavioral health redesign to prevent out-of-home placement for children. In 2020, Dr. Sale graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a doctoral degree in school psychology after completing a clinical rotation in pediatric neuropsychology at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Research interests include the translation of evidence to practice for interlocking systems of care and innovations in training.
Session
Mitchell Todd, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Mitchell Todd is a postdoctoral psychology fellow in the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics department at Dell Children’s Medical Center and Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, he completed his graduate studies at Central Michigan University under the supervision of Dr. Larissa Niec. He currently conducts both diagnostic evaluations and therapy services for children with ASD, ADHD, and other developmental disorders including PCIT. He also has a passion for training providers in evidence-based interventions.
Session
Natalie Justice, PhD
I am a neurodevelopmental and behavioral psychologist working in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Session
Evelin Gomez, PhD, LPC
Associate Professor
Dr. Evelin Gómez is the Director of the Trauma-Responsive Implementation and Practice (TRIP) Program at the Kempe Center and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is a bilingual, Spanish-speaking, bicultural licensed clinician. Her work experience and expertise include child abuse and neglect, trauma; evidence-based treatments and approaches; substance abuse issues; community mental health; educational, child welfare, and juvenile justice issues; infant mental health and early childhood interventions; and integrated primary care behavioral health services. She has been implementing and disseminating trauma-informed practices and evidence-based treatments for over 15 years in various systems. Dr. Gómez oversees the management of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) COACT, Cross-Systems Training Institute (CSTI) and is a co-developer and trainer of several curricula. She is a recipient of the UC Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Chancellor’s Diversity Recognition Award for Faculty Leadership. She has served as an affiliate of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) since 2008 and serves on several national committees.
Session
Ciera Schoonover, PhD
Assistant Professor
Name: Ciera Schonover
Degree: PhD
Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: Clinical Psychology
Licensure State: TN
Professional Title: Assistant Professor
Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): Middle Tennessee State University
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Within-Agency Trainer
Email Address: ciera.schoonover@mtsu.edu
Phone Number: 615-898-2584
Degree: PhD
Field of Degree (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, social work, etc.): Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: Clinical Psychology
Licensure State: TN
Professional Title: Assistant Professor
Affiliation (e.g., agency, university): Middle Tennessee State University
PCIT International Certification Type (if applicable): Within-Agency Trainer
Email Address: ciera.schoonover@mtsu.edu
Phone Number: 615-898-2584
Sessions
Daniel M. Bagner, Ph.D., ABPP
Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training
A licensed and board-certified clinical child psychologist, Dr. Bagner studies interventions for at-risk infants and young children and their families and etiological models of early childhood behavior problems and parenting. He has published more than 100 scientific papers and chapters on these topics, and he has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for over 20 years, in addition to funding from other federal, state, and local organizations, to conduct his research. Dr. Bagner served as a member of the NIH Psychosocial Development, Risk, and Prevention (PDRP) study section, and he is on the editorial board for five journals. He also is involved in several professional and community organizations, including his role as the FIU representative to the board of directors for The Children’s Trust, an organization with a dedicated source of revenue from property taxes to fund strategic investments that improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County. Dr. Bagner also has been quoted in several media outlets, such as The New York Times, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Readers Digest, and USA Today.
Sessions
Jocelyn Stokes, PhD, BCBA
My primary interests are the dissemination of evidence-based practices to help more families to access effective treatment for children with behavioral and emotional challenges. I have been board-certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology since 2022, and I have been a board-certified applied behavior analyst since 2013. In 2019 through 2021, I trained 30 therapists with Cheryl McNeil, PhD, to disseminate PCIT throughout the state of West Virginia through the State Opioid Response grant.
Session
Joshua Masse, PhD
Session
Christine Erdie-Lalena
Professor of Pediatrics/Section Head, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics
Dr. Erdie-Lalena is a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician (DBP) at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital and retired United States Air Force Colonel. She has served as a subject matter expert in Autism for the Defense Health Agency, the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Assistant Secretary of Defense, and for past and present USAF Surgeon Generals.
Her 25 year military career accomplishments culminated in her final assignment selection as the Chief of Pediatric Subspecialty Services (over 13 subspecialty divisions) at the President’s Hospital (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center). She holds an academic appointment of Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Previously Dr. Erdie-Lalena was by name selected as Program Director of the only Department of Defense DBP fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center, a position she held for 6 years, graduating 2 fellows per year during her tenure. Concurrently, she served as the Chief of the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Division, which included both the DBP fellowship, DBP department, and the child psychology division and fellowship.
Dr. Erdie-Lalena functioned as the Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Consultant to the European Regional Medical Command, being responsible for the Army’s dependent Children with Special Health Care Needs in eight countries (and consulates) to include Germany, Italy, Belgium, France, Egypt, Hungary, the Azores, and Turkey. She was the Medical consultant of 15 Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (equivalent to Birth to Three Programs) and was the Medical Director of the sole Army Craniofacial Clinic and Neuromuscular Clinic in Europe.
The recent focus of Dr. Erdie-Lalena’s research has been on the risk factors, co-morbid conditions and epidemiology of autism in children. Her initial research was on Rous Sarcoma Virus, as a similar platform to understanding Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Her clinical research helped pinpoint the appetite dichotomies experienced in with Prader Willi Syndrome due to leptin and ghrelin secretion. She has been a member of several professional societies, and has been involved at all levels of American Academy of Pediatrics from Fellow (FAAP) to West Chapter Vice President and later President, as well as PREP DB editorial board.
Dr. Erdie-Lalena earned her Medical Doctorate at Louisiana State University and completed her residency in Pediatrics in the United States Air Force. She was Chief of Pediatrics at a community hospital in Spokane, WA before she completed a fellowship in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA.
Her 25 year military career accomplishments culminated in her final assignment selection as the Chief of Pediatric Subspecialty Services (over 13 subspecialty divisions) at the President’s Hospital (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center). She holds an academic appointment of Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Previously Dr. Erdie-Lalena was by name selected as Program Director of the only Department of Defense DBP fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center, a position she held for 6 years, graduating 2 fellows per year during her tenure. Concurrently, she served as the Chief of the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Division, which included both the DBP fellowship, DBP department, and the child psychology division and fellowship.
Dr. Erdie-Lalena functioned as the Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Consultant to the European Regional Medical Command, being responsible for the Army’s dependent Children with Special Health Care Needs in eight countries (and consulates) to include Germany, Italy, Belgium, France, Egypt, Hungary, the Azores, and Turkey. She was the Medical consultant of 15 Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (equivalent to Birth to Three Programs) and was the Medical Director of the sole Army Craniofacial Clinic and Neuromuscular Clinic in Europe.
The recent focus of Dr. Erdie-Lalena’s research has been on the risk factors, co-morbid conditions and epidemiology of autism in children. Her initial research was on Rous Sarcoma Virus, as a similar platform to understanding Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Her clinical research helped pinpoint the appetite dichotomies experienced in with Prader Willi Syndrome due to leptin and ghrelin secretion. She has been a member of several professional societies, and has been involved at all levels of American Academy of Pediatrics from Fellow (FAAP) to West Chapter Vice President and later President, as well as PREP DB editorial board.
Dr. Erdie-Lalena earned her Medical Doctorate at Louisiana State University and completed her residency in Pediatrics in the United States Air Force. She was Chief of Pediatrics at a community hospital in Spokane, WA before she completed a fellowship in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA.
Session
Ellyn Schmidt
Psychologist
Dr. Ellyn Schmidt is a Licensed Psychologist at Boston Child Study Center. She is also a Licensed and Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Dr. Schmidt specializes in working with young children (i.e., toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary age children), their families, and their teachers to address a wide variety of challenges including disruptive behaviors, attention problems, anxiety, selective mutism, and emotion regulation difficulties, as well as social and behavioral challenges related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She is certified as both a PCIT therapist and a within-agency PCIT trainer through PCIT International, and is clinically trained in treatment adaptations of PCIT for anxiety (PCIT-CALM), selective mutism (PCIT-SM), toddlers (PCIT-Toddler), and ASD. With children over 8 years, she provides cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral interventions along with parent coaching. She also has extensive experience consulting to classroom teachers and school staff regarding the implementation of TCIT and other evidence-based behavioral strategies to address disruptive behavior and emotion regulation challenges. In her clinical work, Dr. Schmidt values providing evidence-based treatment, developing authentic connections, respecting client values and world views, engaging in collaborative decision making, and building upon client strengths to support them in reaching their goals.
Session
Magdalena Romanowciz, M.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Magdalena Romanowicz, MD graduated from Warsaw Medical School. She then went on to complete general psychiatry residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and child psychiatry fellowship at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. Currently Dr. Romanowicz is an Associate Professor at Mayo Clinic. Her clinical and research interests are focused on assessment and treatment of young children between the ages of 0 and 5 years old. Dr. Romanowicz is a Within-Agency Trainer for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and she has trained and certified a number of therapists in PCIT. Dr. Romanowicz has been leading Young Child Behavioral Clinic at Mayo for the last 7 years. Dr. Romanowicz also has been very interested in studying parent-child interactions. Recently she has been studying the use of AI to augment PCIT. Dr. Romanowicz has over 60 publications, majority of them are devoted to young children.
Session
David E Bard, PhD
Professor
Dr. David Bard is a health services researcher with expertise in implementation science, psychometrics, biostatistics, informatics, and the applied science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). He is currently Professor and Director of the Biomedical and Behavioral Methodology Core in the University of Oklahoma HSC Department of Pediatrics, and a Children’s Health Foundation Endowed Research Chair. He is also Director of the Center for Environmental and Biological Research on ACEs and Resiliency (EmBRACER). Dr. Bard is active in multiple lines of research aiming to establish effectiveness and improve quality of ACEs intervention services. These services directly address prevention of future adverse experiences and equip families with caregiving strategies and resources that build child resiliency. Dr. Bard’s team is also working to identify and better understand the long-term biological and social consequences of early adversity exposures and their enduring impact on health and wellness later in life.
Session
Caitlin Williams, Ph.D.
Associate Clinic Director
Dr. Caitlin Williams is the Associate Director of the University of Tennessee Psychological Clinic. She received her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, with a concentration in Clinical Psychology, from George Mason University. Dr. Williams completed her pre-doctoral internship in the Child Trauma Track at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. While there, Dr. Williams completed the requirements to become a PCIT Within-Agency Trainer. Previously, while working as an extern at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., she completed the requirements to become a certified PCIT therapist. Dr. Williams primarily works with adolescents and young children and their caregivers who have experienced trauma using a variety of evidence-based interventions, including PCIT. Broadly, her interests include child maltreatment and high risk behaviors among children and adolescents, as well as dissemination and implementation of trauma-informed EBTs for children and families.
Sessions
Jaclynn Kuchta, PhD, LP, NCSP
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Kuchta is a licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist in Savannah, Georgia. She is the Clinical Manager of the Pathways Transition Programs office in Savannah, and is a certified PCIT therapist and a PCIT Within Agency Trainer. Clinically, Dr. Kuchta's areas of focus include early childhood disruptive behavior disorders, early childhood trauma, and consultation/collaboration with early care and education, as well as with community implementation of evidence-based treatments. She has a particular interest in Parent-Child interaction Therapy (PCIT) and its adaptation with teachers (Teacher-Child Interaction Training - TCIT).Her research interests include community implementation of evidenced-based interventions, specifically the implementation of PCIT and TCIT.
Session
Morganne Warner, MS
Graduate Student
Morganne Warner is a third-year doctoral student in the Clinical Science in Child and Adolescent Psychology PhD program at Florida International University (FIU), under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Bagner, PhD, ABPP. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida (2021) and a Master of Science in Clinical Science in Child and Adolescent Psychology from FIU (2024). Her research focuses on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatments for young children with behavior problems, the influence of parenting on early childhood behavior and sleep
outcomes, and psychosocial functioning and adjustment in families of pediatric patients.
outcomes, and psychosocial functioning and adjustment in families of pediatric patients.
Session
Cheryl McNeil, PhD
Professor, UF Dept. of Psychiatry
Dr. McNeil obtained her Ph.D. in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at UF in 1989 and is excited to be conducting research at her alma mater. Her academic interests are focused on program development and evaluation, specifically with regard to managing the disruptive behaviors of young children in both the home and school settings. Dr. McNeil has co-authored many books (e.g., Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Second Edition, PCIT-Toddler, Time-out in Child Behavior Management, Handbook of PCIT for Children with ASD, Short-Term Play Therapy for Disruptive Children), a continuing education package (Working with Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children), a classroom management program (The Tough Class Discipline Kit), and a Psychotherapy DVD for the American Psychological Association (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy).
She has a line of research studies examining the efficacy of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Teacher Child Interaction Training across a variety of settings and populations, including over 150 research articles and chapters related to the importance of intervening early with young children displaying a range of mental health concerns. Dr. McNeil is a Global Trainer for PCIT International and has disseminated PCIT to agencies and therapists in many states and countries, including Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Dr. McNeil’s hobbies include fishing, tennis, travel, and swimming.
Dr. McNeil works in PCIT and related approaches, provides training and consultation services at Springhill II, and teaches Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows, MHC interns, and Psychology Graduate students while promoting the research, educational and clinical mission of the Department of Psychiatry.
She has a line of research studies examining the efficacy of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Teacher Child Interaction Training across a variety of settings and populations, including over 150 research articles and chapters related to the importance of intervening early with young children displaying a range of mental health concerns. Dr. McNeil is a Global Trainer for PCIT International and has disseminated PCIT to agencies and therapists in many states and countries, including Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Dr. McNeil’s hobbies include fishing, tennis, travel, and swimming.
Dr. McNeil works in PCIT and related approaches, provides training and consultation services at Springhill II, and teaches Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows, MHC interns, and Psychology Graduate students while promoting the research, educational and clinical mission of the Department of Psychiatry.
Sessions
Andrew Burkley, PsyD
Psychologist
Dr. Andrew Burkley is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with the University of Tennessee Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody. He graduated from Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Burkley is also a nationally certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Regional trainer. As a rostered Trauma-Focused CBT and Child-Parent Psychotherapy therapist, he regularly treats children of all ages who have been exposed to trauma and those with significant disruptive behaviors. Through the Center of Excellence, he routinely provides guidance and recommendations on improving the relationships between children and their caregivers. His clinical focus is on young children with disruptive behaviors, trauma, and those involved in the child welfare system. Dr. Burkley is also an avid Star Wars fan, so be prepared for sublte Star Wars references!
Session
Allison Smith, PhD
Assistant Professor
Allison Smith is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is also affiliated with the Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST) program. Her clinical interests center on the treatment of young children and families who have experienced trauma. She is a nationally certified PCIT therapist. Her research interests include the implementation of evidence-based treatments for children and families exposed to trauma.
Session
Kamo Toshiko, MD, PhD
President of PCIT-Japan (Tokyo, Japan)
Session
Abigail Peskin, PhD
Staff Psychologist
I am a child psychologist working remotely in FL for the University of Miami. I specialize in working with young children and their families, and have experience with anxiety, depression, selective mutism, disruptive behaviors, trauma and developmental delays, but my passion is working with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I also teach child development and child psychopathology remotely at the University of Miami, and work as the project manager for the statewide dissemination and training of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy throughout Florida. I have co-founded a 501c3 non-profit organization - Play it Forward is a toy lending library with a focus on equitable access to high-quality, developmentally supportive toys and inclusion for children with disabilities. We have recently partnered with the Miami-Dade public library system, where we will be able to distribute hundreds of sets of toys for children all throughout the county, including adaptive toys for children with disabilities in the catalog.
I also engage in research in my job as a clinical psychologist, with a focus on decreasing family disparities and increasing access to needed services. I am lucky enough to work under a grant from the Children's Trust in Miami-Dade, meaning that we can provide our therapeutic services for free to families. Recently we have submitted papers about the telehealth translation and implementation of several of the evidence-based services we practice, and we are currently working on papers evaluating our screening and recruitment procedures for whether they're reaching the Miami-Dade population in an equitable manner (i.e., are we reaching a larger percentage of wealthy or highly educated families than the percentage in the Miami-Dade population as a whole?).
In my free time I have been busy training for a half-marathon to raise money for Play it Forward so we can purchase more toys for children with disabilities to add to the toy library.
I also engage in research in my job as a clinical psychologist, with a focus on decreasing family disparities and increasing access to needed services. I am lucky enough to work under a grant from the Children's Trust in Miami-Dade, meaning that we can provide our therapeutic services for free to families. Recently we have submitted papers about the telehealth translation and implementation of several of the evidence-based services we practice, and we are currently working on papers evaluating our screening and recruitment procedures for whether they're reaching the Miami-Dade population in an equitable manner (i.e., are we reaching a larger percentage of wealthy or highly educated families than the percentage in the Miami-Dade population as a whole?).
In my free time I have been busy training for a half-marathon to raise money for Play it Forward so we can purchase more toys for children with disabilities to add to the toy library.
Sessions
Lise Stenmo, Ph.D.
Educational Therapist
Name: Lise Stenmo
Degree: Ph.D.
Field of Degree: Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: Clinical Psychologist
Licensure State: Norway
Professional Title: Educational Therapist
Affiliation: Hospital of Levanger Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic, Nord Trøndelag Hospital Trust
PCIT International Certification Type: PCIT Therapist
Email Address: lisem.stenmo@helse-nordtrondelag.no
Phone Number: 0047 74098000
Degree: Ph.D.
Field of Degree: Clinical Psychology
Licensure Type: Clinical Psychologist
Licensure State: Norway
Professional Title: Educational Therapist
Affiliation: Hospital of Levanger Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic, Nord Trøndelag Hospital Trust
PCIT International Certification Type: PCIT Therapist
Email Address: lisem.stenmo@helse-nordtrondelag.no
Phone Number: 0047 74098000
Session
Meaghan Parladé, PhD
Meaghan V. Parladé, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics. She serves as the Co-Director of the Autism Spectrum Assessment Clinic (ASAC) and Division Director of Assessment and Intervention Services at the University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM CARD). She is also a Within Agency Trainer and Clinical Supervisor in UM's Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Program. Dr. Parladé received her doctorate in Clinical and Developmental Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her clinical internship at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine with a specialization in neurodevelopmental disabilities. Her clinical and research interests include the early screening, assessment, and diagnosis of ASD, as well as the development and evaluation of interventions to improve social skills and disruptive behavior in preschool- and school-aged children with ASD. She has over 15 years of experience in the assessment of children, adolescents, and adults with or suspected of ASD using evidence-based measures (e.g., ADOS-2, ADI-R, CARS2), as well as training in state-of-the-art teleassessment methods. Dr. Parladé has published and presented locally and nationally on topics related to child development, PCIT, and autism. She also serves as a clinician and consultant to autism-related research projects at the University of Miami.
Session
Ala Nosatii
Dr
Ala Nosatîi is a program manager at NGO CCF Moldova (Children, Community, Families) since 2010. She coordinates the deinstitutionalization program in the Northern region of the Republic of Moldova. This includes collaboration with local public authorities at all levels (central, counties and local) for the planning and implementation of preventing the institutionalization of children and dezinstitutionalization of children from the baby home in Balti municipality; development of foster families and support services (Early Intervention Service, social nurseries, after school clubs, etc.); support in strengthening the capacity of specialists in the field of child protection and related fields, etc. Since 2021, she is coordinating the implementation of the CARE methodology (Child Adult Relationship Development) within the organization.
Between 2007-2010, she worked as a psychologist, speech therapist and case manager, working directly with children and families involved in the closing of 5 residential institutions. In the period 2012-2014, she contributed to the development of educational inclusion services for children with special educational needs. Ala Nosatîi was the coordinator of the first Early Childhood Development Service in the country, which CCF Moldova developed in 2006. Ala began her work as a speech therapist, later also a lecturer at the ''Ion Creangă'' State Pedagogical University. Ala Nosatîi has a degree in nursing, special psychopedagogy and speech therapy, she has a doctorate in psychology since 2010; fluent in Romanian, English and Russian.
Between 2007-2010, she worked as a psychologist, speech therapist and case manager, working directly with children and families involved in the closing of 5 residential institutions. In the period 2012-2014, she contributed to the development of educational inclusion services for children with special educational needs. Ala Nosatîi was the coordinator of the first Early Childhood Development Service in the country, which CCF Moldova developed in 2006. Ala began her work as a speech therapist, later also a lecturer at the ''Ion Creangă'' State Pedagogical University. Ala Nosatîi has a degree in nursing, special psychopedagogy and speech therapy, she has a doctorate in psychology since 2010; fluent in Romanian, English and Russian.
Session
Liliana Rotaru
CEO
Liliana is the founding director of CCF Moldova - Children, Communities, Families, which was established in 2004. As the leader of the organization, she formed and supported a strong team that, together with public authorities in the social and educational fields, implemented the reform of the child protection system, the promotion of inclusive education, the development of integrated services, policy development and others.
Since 2005 CCF Moldova represents Hope and Homes for Children UK.
The organization's values - Excellence, Courage, Integrity - also guide its relationships with people outside the professional environment.
The hope for a better life for all children in Moldova is what motivates and encourages us to continue our work.
Liliana has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Alliance of Child Rights NGOs (APSCF) (2017-2021), Regional Representative (Europe and CIS countries) of AFLATOUN Child Savings International (Netherlands) (2013-2019) and is currently a Board Member of Step by Step (Moldova) and KidsFirst (USA).
Since 2005 CCF Moldova represents Hope and Homes for Children UK.
The organization's values - Excellence, Courage, Integrity - also guide its relationships with people outside the professional environment.
The hope for a better life for all children in Moldova is what motivates and encourages us to continue our work.
Liliana has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Alliance of Child Rights NGOs (APSCF) (2017-2021), Regional Representative (Europe and CIS countries) of AFLATOUN Child Savings International (Netherlands) (2013-2019) and is currently a Board Member of Step by Step (Moldova) and KidsFirst (USA).
Session
Lori Day
Professor/Licensed Psychologist
Lori Day Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychology in the School of Human Services and Sciences, Gallaudet University where she is engaged in training the next generation of psychologists to support the behavioral health of deaf people. She is also the Director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child Resilience Center which is a research and training center whose mission is to support the mental health of deaf and hard of hearing children and families by increasing resources and reducing barriers to quality care. Dr. Day and her diverse team of students and professionals are actively addressing disparities in mental health services for deaf and hard of hearing youth through innovative translation, adaptation, training, and content creation activities. including adapting PCIT for use with deaf and hard of hearing children and families.
Sessions
Kerrie Murphy, PhD
Owner and Licensed Psychologist, Lowcountry Child Psychology
Kerrie G. Murphy, Ph.D., received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical-Community psychology from the University of South Carolina and completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowships in developmental disabilities and trauma-informed care in youth at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis, TN. Dr. Murphy is certified as a PCIT International Within Agency Trainer and trained as a Child- Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) Facilitator, showing her passion to support and empower caregivers of young children. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and currently owns a private practice in Charleston, SC, where she exclusively provides PCIT. Dr. Murphy is heavily invested in infant and early childhood mental health in South Carolina, as she is Endorsed as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (ECMH-E®), and serves on the Board of the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association (SCIMHA). She is committed to increasing support and awareness to infant and early childhood mental health and increasing access to evidence-based treatments throughout South Carolina, particularly to underserved families.
Sessions
Brett Enneking, PsyD, HSPP
Asst Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Enneking is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Riley Hospital for Children and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Enneking has a strong interest in improving access to evidence-based diagnostic and intervention services for young children with neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders. Clinically, she provides evidence-based psychological evaluations for neurodevelopmental and related disabilities, and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for children and their families. She is a certified Within Agency Trainer for PCIT International and a rostered PCIT Toddlers clinician. Dr. Enneking is committed to developing the future interdisciplinary neurodevelopmental disability workforce. She leads curriculum development and implementation for pediatric medical residents rotating within Developmental Medicine.
Session
Jaime L. Benson, PhD
Associate Director of Behavior Management Clinic
Jaime L. Benson, PhD is a licensed psychologist and PCIT within agency trainer at the Behavior Management Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Benson has additional training in behavioral parent training, cognitive behavior therapy and other behavioral strategies to support families with children with challenging or maladaptive behaviors. Dr. Benson is also a clinical supervisor and coordinates the postdoctoral fellowship program. She is a member of the PCIT International Policy and Advocacy Task Force
Session
Cheryl Bodiford McNeil, PhD, LP
Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Florida
After a 28-year career at West Virginia University, Cheryl B. McNeil, Ph.D. is now a tenured Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida. Dr. McNeil obtained her Ph.D. in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at UF in 1989 and is excited to be conducting research at her alma mater. Her academic interests are focused on program development and evaluation, specifically with regard to managing the disruptive behaviors of young children in both the home and school settings. Dr. McNeil has co-authored six books (e.g., Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Second Edition, PCIT-Toddler, Time-out in Child Behavior Management, Handbook of PCIT for Children with ASD, Short-Term Play Therapy for Disruptive Children), a continuing education package (Working with Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children), a classroom management program (The Tough Class Discipline Kit), and a Psychotherapy DVD for the American Psychological Association (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy). She has a line of research studies examining the efficacy of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Teacher Child Interaction Training across a variety of settings and populations, including over 150 research articles and chapters related to the importance of intervening early with young children displaying a range of mental health concerns. Dr. McNeil is a Global Trainer for PCIT International and has disseminated PCIT to agencies and therapists in many states and countries, including Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Dr. McNeil’s hobbies include fishing, tennis, travel, and swimming.
Sessions
Tybytha Ryan Lengacher, PhD, HSPP
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Tybytha Ryan Lengacher is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. Dr. Ryan Lengacher provides comprehensive psychological evaluations for children with suspected neurodevelopmental disabilities and related disabilities. She has a strong interest in providing evidenced-based treatment for children with challenging and disruptive behaviors. Dr. Ryan Lengacher is a certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist, and she is working on becoming a rostered PCIT Toddlers clinician.
Session
Jennifer Crockett, PhD, BCBA-D
Psychologist
Dr. Crockett is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and Alabama, as well as through PSYPACT. She is the director of Kennedy Krieger's Telehealth Department as well as director of the Behavioral Health Program for Military Families. Dr. Crockett is the PI (sub) for the DoD Child Collaboration Study through Uniformed Services University/USU (prime), funded by the Department of Defense, which aims to enhance and expand use of tele-education and telehealth care in support of military children with behavioral, emotional, and developmental concerns.
Session
Erinn Victory, MS
Doctoral Student
Erinn Victory is a second-year doctoral student at West Virginia University under the guidance of Dr. Cheryl McNeil. She is currently pursuing certification in PCIT. Her research has largely focused on the dissemination of PCIT and PCIT-Toddler across the state of West Virginia to address adverse family outcomes associated with the opioid crisis. Her clinical and research interests include parenting, child maltreatment, child disruptive behavior, and increasing access to evidence-based treatments, especially within underserved populations.
Sessions
Steven Behling, PhD, ABPP
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Behling is a licensed psychologist in the State of Washington (PSYC.PY.60232031) and is a Board Certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He also serves as co-chair of the PCIT International Communications Task Force.
Sessions
Ashley McGinn, PhD, HSPP
Ph.D .
Dr. Ashley McGinn is a Licensed Psychologist within the Division of Developmental Medicine at Riley Hospital for Children and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics within the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. McGinn provides diagnostic evaluations for children with suspected neurodevelopmental disabilities as well as evidenced-based treatment to improve parent-child relationships. Dr. McGinn is a certified Within Agency Trainer for PCIT International and a rostered PCIT Toddlers clinician.
Session
Katherine Gibson, Psy.D., ABPP
Psychologist
Dr. Kate Gibson is a Licensed Psychologist, Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Gibson earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. She has dedicated her career to the provision of evidence-based treatments. Dr. Gibson owns Parent and Child Psychological Services in Sarasota, Florida, a group private practice focused on providing EBTs for children and teens. Dr. Gibson has expertise in treating anxiety, OCD and related disorders, selective mutism, trauma and behavior challenges. Dr. Gibson is certified by PCIT International as a PCIT Therapist and Within Agency Trainer and is a Regional Trainer Candidate. Dr. Gibson is co-author of “Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Adapted for Older Children: A Research Development Manual.” Dr Gibson is also certified by Kurtz Psychology Consulting as a PCIT Adapted for Selective Mutism Therapist and Within Agency Trainer.
Session
Tasha M. Brown, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Tasha Brown, is the Director and Founder of TMB Psychological Services, PLLC. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Brown specializes in providing clinical care to children, adolescents, parents, and young adults. She provides a wide variety of evidence-based clinical services and is passionate about helping the individuals she works with function adequately at home, school, and in their communities. She provides clinical care for individuals who have concerns related to behavioral challenges, inattention, hyperactivity, mood, anxiety, school-related concerns, trauma, and life transitions. Dr. Brown prides herself in being able to provide client-centered care with a strength-based approach. Specifically, she focuses on providing Parent Management Training (PMT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and is a certified Within Agency trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Additionally, she specializes in working with parents as they navigate the complexities of parenting. Dr. Brown has published work related to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, depression prevention for adolescent girls, and school consultation.
Contact Us Today!
Dr. Tasha M. Brown
Dr. Tasha M. Brown
Dr. Tasha M. Brown
Director and Founder
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Licensed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida
Dr. Tasha Brown, is the Director and Founder of TMB Psychological Services, PLLC. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Brown specializes in providing clinical care to children, adolescents, parents, and young adults. She provides a wide variety of evidence-based clinical services and is passionate about helping the individuals she works with function adequately at home, school, and in their communities. She provides clinical care for individuals who have concerns related to behavioral challenges, inattention, hyperactivity, mood, anxiety, school-related concerns, trauma, and life transitions. She gets excited when her clients incorporate skills learned in treatment into their daily lives. Dr. Brown prides herself in being able to provide client-centered care with a strength-based approach. Specifically, she focuses on providing Parent Management Training (PMT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and is a certified Within Agency trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Additionally, she specializes in working with parents as they navigate the complexities of parenting. Dr. Brown has published work related to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, depression prevention for adolescent girls, and school consultation.
Prior to transitioning full-time into TMB Psychological Services, Dr. Brown served as a clinician in the School-Based Program and as an Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center for over 5 years. Dr. Brown graduated from Syracuse University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies and Psychology, and minor in African American Studies. In 2013 she received her Master of Arts from DePaul University in Clinical Psychology. She then completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology in 2016 from DePaul University. Dr. Brown completed her Predoctoral Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Brown founded Tasha M. Brown, Psychological Services, PLLC. (TMB Psych) in 2019.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Brown conducts a wide range of trainings and workshops for various groups such as schools, community groups, religious institutions, and corporations. The focus of these workshops is primarily to empower parents with the right tools and knowledge to support their child’s mental health. Dr. Brown also conducts workshops and training sessions for parents, educators, and therapists, focusing on how to talk to children about race, racism, and social justice.
Contact Us Today!
Dr. Tasha M. Brown
Dr. Tasha M. Brown
Dr. Tasha M. Brown
Director and Founder
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Licensed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida
Dr. Tasha Brown, is the Director and Founder of TMB Psychological Services, PLLC. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Brown specializes in providing clinical care to children, adolescents, parents, and young adults. She provides a wide variety of evidence-based clinical services and is passionate about helping the individuals she works with function adequately at home, school, and in their communities. She provides clinical care for individuals who have concerns related to behavioral challenges, inattention, hyperactivity, mood, anxiety, school-related concerns, trauma, and life transitions. She gets excited when her clients incorporate skills learned in treatment into their daily lives. Dr. Brown prides herself in being able to provide client-centered care with a strength-based approach. Specifically, she focuses on providing Parent Management Training (PMT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and is a certified Within Agency trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Additionally, she specializes in working with parents as they navigate the complexities of parenting. Dr. Brown has published work related to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, depression prevention for adolescent girls, and school consultation.
Prior to transitioning full-time into TMB Psychological Services, Dr. Brown served as a clinician in the School-Based Program and as an Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center for over 5 years. Dr. Brown graduated from Syracuse University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies and Psychology, and minor in African American Studies. In 2013 she received her Master of Arts from DePaul University in Clinical Psychology. She then completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology in 2016 from DePaul University. Dr. Brown completed her Predoctoral Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Brown founded Tasha M. Brown, Psychological Services, PLLC. (TMB Psych) in 2019.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Brown conducts a wide range of trainings and workshops for various groups such as schools, community groups, religious institutions, and corporations. The focus of these workshops is primarily to empower parents with the right tools and knowledge to support their child’s mental health. Dr. Brown also conducts workshops and training sessions for parents, educators, and therapists, focusing on how to talk to children about race, racism, and social justice.
Sessions
Caroline Harvey, PsyD
Child Psychologist
Dr. Caroline Harvey is certified by PCIT International as a PCIT Therapist and Within Agency Trainer. Dr. Harvey is also certified by Kurtz Psychology Consulting as a PCIT for Selective Mutism Therapist and Within Agency Trainer. She completed her Doctor of Psychology degree in Clinical-School Psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University. She has a passion for empowering parents to manage their children's challenging disruptive and anxious behaviors while also strengthening the parent-child relationship. She specializes in utilizing evidence-based approaches in treating children and families with ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, selective mutism, as well as other childhood anxiety disorders.
Session
Emma Girard, PsyD
Associate Clinical Professor / Staff Development Officer
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Co-Author PCIT with Toddlers (PCIT-T)
Certified Global Trainer, PCIT International, Inc.
PCIT Training Partner, UC Davis PCIT Training Center
Nationally Certified, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Assistant Clinical Professor, UC Riverside School of Medicine
Adjunct Lecturer, Georgetown University, School of Continuing Studies, Early Childhood Mental Health Clinical Certificate Program
Co-Author PCIT with Toddlers (PCIT-T)
Certified Global Trainer, PCIT International, Inc.
PCIT Training Partner, UC Davis PCIT Training Center
Nationally Certified, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Assistant Clinical Professor, UC Riverside School of Medicine
Adjunct Lecturer, Georgetown University, School of Continuing Studies, Early Childhood Mental Health Clinical Certificate Program
Sessions
Leni Swails, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Leni Swails is an Associate Professor, Clinical Site Director, and Licensed Psychologist at the University of Kansas Medical Center. An active clinician, Dr. Swails specializes in behavioral management of young children and interdisciplinary assessment of ASD. Dr. Swails is also involved in multiple grant efforts with a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and training, community dissemination of evidence-based practice, and dissemination of PCIT in Kansas. She is a Within Agency Trainer and Regional Trainer Candidate, and founder of the PCIT of the Heartland, a consultation group for PCIT clinicians in Kansas and Missouri. Dr. Swails is also a CARE workshop facilitator and co-developer of TeleCARE, a videoconferencing adaptation of CARE.
Sessions
Hannah Hoch, PhD, BCBA-D
Psychologist
Dr. Hannah Hoch is a licensed clinical psychologist and behavior analyst specializing in the education and treatment of children with behavior and developmental disorders. She received her Ph.D in Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center Learning Processes and Behavior Analysis Psychology program. Dr. Hoch is currently an adjunct professor in the Psychology Departments at Barnard College and Columbia College. She is the proud recipient of the 2015 Columbia University School of General Studies GSSC Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Hoch is also the proprietor of the Developmental Psychology Practice of Queens, where she provides therapeutic services to individuals with behavior disorders and their families in the NY area. She recently received her certification in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Her clinical and research interests include reduction of challenging behavior and increasing language and social skills in children with ASD and related disorders.
Session
Eleanor Ezell, LCSW
Owner, Child and Family Therapy Collective
Eleanor Ezell, LCSW, is a licensed therapist in Tennessee and is the Founder and Clinical Director at Child and Family Therapy Collective based in Nashville, TN. She has extensive experience providing evidence-based therapy to children and young teens who struggle with selective mutism, anxiety, ADHD, ODD and disruptive behavior disorders, Autism and a wide range of developmental delays.
She attended New York University for graduate training where she trained with and worked very closely with Dr. Steven Kurtz over 5 years treating children with selective mutism, ADHD, ODD, and other disruptive behavior disorders. She completed a two-year Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship at The University of Mississippi Medical Center where she also was grant funded to bring PCIT-SM and the Brave Buddies/Mighty Mouth Kids Camp model to the state of Mississippi.
Eleanor is currently a WATer trainer working towards PCIT Regional Trainer status.
In 2021, she opened her practice in TN serving children across the southeast with specialized care for anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders. Eleanor serves as Chair of PCIT Continuing Education Task Force with a core effort to increase equity and access in the PCIT community.
She attended New York University for graduate training where she trained with and worked very closely with Dr. Steven Kurtz over 5 years treating children with selective mutism, ADHD, ODD, and other disruptive behavior disorders. She completed a two-year Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship at The University of Mississippi Medical Center where she also was grant funded to bring PCIT-SM and the Brave Buddies/Mighty Mouth Kids Camp model to the state of Mississippi.
Eleanor is currently a WATer trainer working towards PCIT Regional Trainer status.
In 2021, she opened her practice in TN serving children across the southeast with specialized care for anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders. Eleanor serves as Chair of PCIT Continuing Education Task Force with a core effort to increase equity and access in the PCIT community.