Psychology Department Contacts
Mara De Maio, PhD
Director of Psychology and Training
Mara.DeMaio@hhchealth.org
Aieyat Zalzala, PhD
Assistant Director of Psychology Training
Aieyat.Zalzala@hhchealth.org
Ms. Paula Snedeker
Administrative Assistant
860.545.7167
Paula.Snedeker@hhchealth.org
Training Staff
* = Psychology staff who are part of the training staff
David Bendor, Psy.D.
A licensed clinical psychologist with the Institute of Living since 2008, Dr. Bendor is the Clinical Coordinator of the Medical Track at Young Adult Services. Before joining Young Adult Services he was the psychologist on the adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit. Dr. Bendor received his doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. He completed his internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Living. Prior to joining the staff at the IOL, Dr. Bendor worked at Riverside Community Care in Newton, MA where he treated children, adolescents, and adults in an ambulatory setting. Additionally, Dr. Bendor was a member of the Town of Newton Youth Outreach Program, the Town of Needham Suicide Prevention Coalition, and the Riverside Community Care Statewide Trauma Center.
Lauren Brush, Ph.D. *
Clinical Psychologist, Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Program
University of Vermont
Interests include evidence-based treatment for and assessment of individuals with severe mental illness, particularly those with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
Jennifer A. Caruso Psy.D. *
Staff Neuropsychologist
Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy/Phoenix
Dr. Caruso is an adult clinical neuropsychologist at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute Chase Family Movement Disorders Center. Her interests include the assessment of patients with various movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Atypical and Secondary Parkinsonism, Essential Tremor, Dystonia, and Huntington’s disease, among others, as well as pre-and post-surgical evaluations for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) candidates.
Jimmy Choi, Ph.D.
Dr. Choi is a senior scientist at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center and staff psychologist in the psychosis day treatment clinics, where he directs the cognitive and physical fitness rehabilitation programs for adolescents and adults with psychosis. For the past 15 years, he was on the faculty at Columbia and Yale medical schools and a neuropsychologist at the VA Connecticut Health Care System and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, where he led NIMH and VA studies in psychosis and Alzheimer’s disease on treatment motivation, risk factors, and psychosocial rehabilitation. He currently conducts funded studies in psychosis on neurofeedback cognitive training, physical exercise, and suicide prevention.
Rosemarie Coratola, Psy.D., LMFT *
Clinical Psychologist, Child and Adolescent Inpatient Service
Antioch University New England
Clinical interests include individual, group, and family therapy with children and adolescents and couples’ therapy. Strength-based and trauma-informed treatment to address social-emotional and psychological difficulties.
James DeGiovanni, Ph.D. *
Clinical Psychologist
Temple University
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, group psychotherapy of severe personality disorders; object relation approaches to marital and family therapy. Treatment of adult inpatients. Efficacy of long-term group therapy in treatment of resistant and character-disordered patients. Brief treatment of depression and anxiety. Ericksonian and hypnotherapeutic models of psychotherapy.
Mara De Maio, Ph.D.
Director of Child and Adolescent Services
St. John's University
Treatment of patients with severe and prolonged mental illness, eating disorders, dually-diagnosed patients; group psychotherapy. Effects of gender-role socialization on behavior. Clinical and research interests include psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, and cognitive remediation.
Gretchen Diefenbach, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Louisiana State University
Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders; research interests include the psychopathology, assessment, and treatment of anxiety and related disorders, in particular generalized anxiety disorder, trichotillomania, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Christina Gilliam, Ph.D. *
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Dr. Gilliam specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and PTSD. She is also the director of the CBT training program at the Anxiety Disorders Center.
Scott Hannan, Ph.D. *
Program Manager, Anxiety Disorders Center
Fordham University
Dr. Hannan has expertise in the area of cognitive-behavioral therapy. He treats children, adolescents, and adults. His clinical interests include obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, panic disorder, and school refusal.
Erica Hollar, Psy.D. *
C/A Psychologist
Pace University
Dr. Hollar is a child and adolescent Clinical Psychologist at the Grace Webb School. She earned her Psy.D from Pace University and completed her internship at JCCA, a residential treatment facility in New York. She finished her post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute of Living on the child and adolescent inpatient units. Her current clinical and research interests include psychological assessment, child development and parent-child relationships.
Melissa Jourdain, Psy.D. *
Staff Psychologist
Nova Southeastern University
Dr. Jourdain is an adult inpatient psychologist who specializes in the treatment of serious mental illness. Additional clinical interests include: psychodynamic psychotherapy; mindfulness based interventions; recovery orientated therapy; individual, group, and family therapy; diagnostic and risk assessment; crisis intervention; program development; and systems change. Dr. Jourdain is involved in the supervision of the residents and fellows with training emphasis in developing Psychologists as leaders. Her research interests include the use of psychotherapy in inpatient settings, themes surrounding frequent re-hospitalizations, and mindfulness intervention for psychosis.
Diana Kolcz, Psy.D. *
Neuropsychologist
Dr. Kolcz is a lifespan clinical neuropsychologist primarily involved with assessment and consultation for cases seen through our outpatient clinic. She supervises in the neuropsychology residency, internship programs and has practicum and undergraduate mentees. She has clinical and research interests in psychological and neuropsychological assessment, TBI, dementia, movement disorders, wellness, and most recently has been working on research examining the neuropsychological sequelae of COVID-19 in long-haulers. She completed her child track internship and neuropsychology fellowship at the IOL.
Richard Lautenbach, Ph.D. *
Staff Psychologist, Coordinator of Group Therapy Services
Kent State University
Treatment of patients with severe and prolonged mental illness, eating disorders, dually-diagnosed patients. Group psychotherapy. Effects of gender-role socialization on behavior.
Hannah Levy, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
Concordia University
Dr. Levy specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with anxiety and related disorders, particularly OCD and PTSD. Her research focuses on biological, behavioral, and cognitive mechanisms of anxiety and related disorders, with the ultimate goal of improving current treatments by targeting these mechanisms.
Nicholas Lombardi, Psy.D. *
Psychologist, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Program
University of Hartford
Treatment of adults and adolescents with borderline personality disorder. Personality disorders. Dialectical behavioral therapy. Mood and anxiety disorders. Individual and group psychotherapy. Cognitive and personality assessment
Peter Lucchio, Psy.D *
Health Psychologist
Dr. Peter Lucchio completed his doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Hartford, and is currently a licensed clinical psychologist at Hartford Hospital/Bone and Joint Institute. He specializes in the practice of clinical health psychology. He has specific interests in chronic pain conditions, improving psychological readiness for surgery, recovery from injury in athletics, as well as optimizing athletic performance. Dr. Lucchio provides educational in-services to physical therapy and orthopedic staff within Hartford Hospital’s Rehabilitation Network on utilizing psychologically informed care with patients.
Kelly Maynes, Psy.D. *
Pediatric Psychologist
Dr. Maynes is a pediatric psychologist at Connecticut Children's within the Child & Adolescent Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry Service and within the Division of Pain and Palliative Medicine. She enjoys multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to pediatric care with special interests in the assessment and treatment of disordered eating and feeding in a pediatric hospital setting and use of cognitive-behavioral therapy in promoting pain self-management and skill development.
Adrienne Miscimarra, Psy.D
Health Psychologist, Surgical & Medical Weight Loss
University of Indianapolis – Psy.D, M.A.
University of Notre Dame – B.A.
Dr. Miscimarra completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Indianapolis and went on to complete her post-doctoral residency in health psychology at the VA Connecticut Health System – West Haven/ Yale University School of Medicine. She has been a member of the IOL’s health psychology department since 2018. Dr. Miscimarra is currently a licensed clinical psychologist within the Surgical and Metabolic Weight Loss Program in the Central Region. Her particular areas of interest include: obesity, stigma and motivation underlying health behaviors, improving psychological readiness for weight loss surgery, self-compassion centered therapy models, and integrated healthcare.
Heather Murray Latin, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
Drexel University
Psychological assessment and delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders; research interests include identifying common mechanisms associated with the development and maintenance of emotional disorders, developing a transdiagnostic treatment approach targeting common underlying mechanisms of emotional disorders
Kevin O'Shea, Psy.D. *
Clinical Psychologist
American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Washington, DC
Integration of psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive-behavioral techniques and perspectives in time-limited individual, group, and family therapy for depression, anxiety disorders, and character pathology. Late adolescent, adult, and older adult populations. Special interest in the treatment of substance use disorders and dementia.
Brianna Pollock, Ph.D. *
Dr. Brianna Pollock is a clinical psychologist with clinical and research interests in psychodynamic and mentalization-based psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, personality pathology and the intersection of diversity, equity and behavioral health treatment. She is a staff psychologist at the Institute of Living (IOL), Professional’s Intensive Outpatient Program, and also completed her pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the IOL. She is involved in training psychology fellows, interns and practicum students in areas of advanced psychodynamic theory and research in the psychology department.
Carolina Posada, Ph.D. *
Staff Neuropsychologist
San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego
Neuropsychological assessment of older adult patients, Spanish-speaking and bilingual patients.
Ila Sabino, Ph.D. *
Staff Health Psychologist
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University
Clinical interests include integrated mental health and primary care, behavior change, and weight management.
Melissa Santos, Ph.D.
Division Chief of Pediatric Psychology, Connecticut Children's
Texas Tech University
Dr. Santos is a pediatric psychologist at Connecticut Children's conducting individual, group, and family-based treatment of pediatric obesity. She also provides the psychological assessment of adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery. Her research is in the treatment of pediatric obesity and factors influencing weight maintenance.
Laura M. I. Saunders, Psy.D., ABPP *
Child Psychologist
Board Certified in Clinical Psychology
University of Hartford
Child, adolescent, and family psychotherapy; behavioral management strategies; clinical interests in children with attentional, hyperactive, impulsive, and disruptive behaviors; research in gay/lesbian youth issues.
Elisabeth Scherpenisse, Ph.D. *
Clinical Psychologist, Grace S. Webb School
University of Tennessee
Psychological assessment, particularly projective techniques; personality disorders; psychotherapy with children and adolescents; school avoidance; group psychotherapy in a school setting; identity development in adolescence; mechanisms of change in psychotherapy.
Geoffrey Schnirman, Ph.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Fordham University
Dr. Schnirman is an adult neuropsychologist at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute Chase Family Movement Disorders Center. He completed his doctoral internship at the Brockton and West Roxbury VA Medical Center and a two-year post-doctoral neuropsychology fellowship at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. His clinical interests include dementia, developmental disorders, and cerebrovascular risk factors.
Dana Shagan, Psy.D. *
Program Manager, Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Program
University of Hartford
Severe, persistent mental illness, adults, group, cognitive rehabilitation, diversity, equity and inclusion
Marissa Sicley-Rogers, Psy.D. *
Dr. Marissa Sicley-Rogers completed her graduate training in clinical psychology at Antioch University New England. At the Institute of Living, she completed her pre-doctoral internship in child and adolescent psychology and a postdoctoral fellowship in lifespan psychological assessment and group psychotherapy for suicide prevention with adolescents. After completion of her fellowship, she joined IOL’s Psychological Testing Service in 2017 as a staff psychologist where she provides clinical and assessment supervision to both pre-doctoral interns and postdoctoral fellows. Dr. Sicley-Rogers’ primary clinical interests and activities include psychological testing and consultation, risk assessment, suicide prevention and intervention, and group psychotherapy.
Jessica Sierra, Ph.D. *
Clinical Psychologist-Division of Health Psychology
University of Connecticut
Psychological assessment of adults, with a focus on bariatric surgery and transplant candidates. Provide individual therapy for medical patients.
Jessica Silva, Psy.D. *
Dr. Silva specializes in individual, family, and group psychotherapy with children and adolescents. Clinical and research interests include complex trauma, attachment, chronic mental illness, and psychological assessment.
Kristin Slyne, Psy.D. *
Staff Neuropsychologist
University of Hartford
Dr. Slyne received her PsyD in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford. She later completed her doctoral internship in Clinical Neuropsychology at Yale University and her two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at the University of Connecticut, School of Medicine. She is presently a Clinical Neuropsychologist at Hartford Hospital/Institute of Living and the Hartford HealthCare Memory Care Center. Clinical interests include traumatic brain injury (TBI), vascular risk factors, movement disorders, and dementia. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Slyne has participated in several research studies, presented at professional conferences, and enjoys teaching/supervising trainees. Research interests are similar to clinical interests and include the following: TBI, vascular risk factors and late-life depression, movement disorders, and dementia. She serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
Kimberly Stevens, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
Southern Illinois University
Dr. Stevens works at the Anxiety Disorders Center and specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. Her clinical interests include obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Warren Thime, Ph.D.
Per Diem, Clinical Psychologist, Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Program
Fordham University
Severe mental illness; group, family and individual psychotherapy, assessment.
David Tolin, Ph.D., ABPP *
Director, Anxiety Disorders Center
Board Certified in Clinical Psychology
University of Arkansas
Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders, particularly OCD and PTSD; treatment outcome research; experimental psychopathology; cognitive models of anxiety; clinical psychopharmacology.
Blaise Worden, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
Rutgers University
Dr. Worden received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Rutgers University. In 2009 she completed her predoctoral internship at the Greater Hartford Internship Consortium in Hartford, CT. In 2012 she completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Anxiety Disorders Center and has remained on staff as a licensed psychologist. Her clinical and research interests include treatment outcome assessment and mechanisms of change underlying empirically supported psychological treatments. Dr. Worden is also involved in several research projects at the Anxiety Disorders Center, including studies on the treatment of hoarding disorder and co-occurring anxiety and substance use disorders. Dr. Worden specializes in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. She has particular experience with cognitive-behavioral treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding disorder, and substance dependence.
Aieyat Zalzala, Ph.D. *
Counseling Psychologist
Dr. Zalzala is a counseling psychologist with clinical interests in providing insight-oriented therapy to individuals suffering from severe mental illness, with special emphasis on schizophrenia spectrum disorders. She is involved in training fellows, residents and interns across disciplines in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Research interests are centered on improving treatment for those with SMI and the intersection of multiculturalism and social justice in mental health care.