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
- Not an all-inclusive list
David Bendor, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
William James College
Dr. Bendor has been a staff psychologist at the Institute of Living since 2008. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from William James College in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed his internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Living. Dr. Bendor designed, staffed, and is presently the clinical coordinator of the Young Adult Medical Track IOP at the Institute of Living—where young adults suffering with co-occurring mental health and physical health conditions are treated. He is a recipient of the Arne Welhaven, M.D. Memorial Award, given to a staff person within the Institute's Department of Psychiatry who best exemplifies genuine concern, respect and generosity toward patients and a quest for excellence in mentorship or education. He is also a graduate of Hartford Healthcare’s Provider Leadership Development Institute.
Lauren Brush, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Program
University of Vermont
Dr. Brush’s Interests include cognitive-behavioral evidence-based treatment for and assessment of individuals with severe mental illness, particularly those with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
Gregg Buongiorno, Ph.D.
Staff Neuropsychologist
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Buongiorno has been an adult clinical neuropsychologist at the Ayer Neurosciences Chase Family Movement Disorders Center since June of 2022, where he evaluates patients with Parkinson’s disease, Atypical and Secondary Parkinsonism, Essential Tremor, Dystonia, and Huntington’s disease, among others, along with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) candidates. He also has extensive experience in neuropsychological evaluation of geriatric patients. Dr. Buongiorno earned his PhD in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed a predoctoral internship at Temple University Hospital and a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University.
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, Psy.D.
Research Director
Pepperdine University
Dr. Choi is a research director at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center and for the Behavioral Health Network. He directs evidence-based cognitive and psychosocial rehabilitation treatments throughout the BHN for adolescents and adults with psychosis and adults with TBI, spinal cord, injury, long COVID, or dementia. 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 on neurofeedback cognitive training, prodrome at risk states for psychosis, schizophrenia, opioid overdose education, physical exercise, and suicide prevention.
Kimberly Cimino, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
University of Hartford
Dr. Cimino is an inpatient adult psychologist at The Institute of Living on Donnelly 3S. Her current work includes diagnostic case formulation and treatment in the individual, group, and milieu settings. She additionally provides leadership and support for milieu management as well as for psychoeducation with staff in an effort to create optimal milieu conditions. Her clinical interests are treatment across diagnostic complexity, with focus on personality pathology, with use of an intentionally integrated theoretical approach incorporating psychodynamic (primarily object relational and transference-focused) and dialectical-behavioral orientations. Research interests center around outcome measures of psychology leadership within the inpatient setting.
Rosemarie Coratola, Psy.D., LMFT
Clinical Psychologist, Coordinator of Family Therapy
Antioch University New England
In addition to clinical psychology, Dr. Coratola is a licensed marriage and family therapist and America Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor. She is involved in multi-disciplinary training, supervision, and consultation in couple and family therapy in addition to the direct service with this population. Her clinical interests include individual, group, couple, and family therapy across the lifespan that incorporates a strength-based and trauma-informed focus. In addition, she has experience with inpatient, outpatient, community mental health, juvenile justice, legal, and school-based settings. She is interested in program development and her current research interests focus on barriers to family engagement in mental health care.
Mara De Maio, Ph.D.
Director of Psychology and Training
St. John's University
Dr. De Maio’s background consists of both direct care and leadership roles with children, adolescents and adults at multiple different levels of care, including inpatient, partial hospital, and outpatient settings. Some of Dr. De Maio’s areas of interest and expertise are in individual, family and group therapy as well treatment for trauma, affective disorders, developmental disorders, borderline personality disorder, and psychotic disorders. Dr. De Maio is involved in various initiatives and councils across the Behavioral Health Network (BHN), such as Trauma-Informed Care and Measurement-based Care. She is also dedicated to work related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
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 and dynamics of a therapeutic milieu. 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.
Gretchen Diefenbach, Ph.D.
Psychologist and Coordinator of Research Program, Anxiety Disorders Center
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale University School of Medicine
Louisiana State University
Dr. Diefenbach's primary clinical and research interests are in the psychopathology and cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety and related disorders. She has particular expertise with generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and trichotillomania.
Maria DiFonte, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
University of Rhode Island
Dr. DiFonte specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety and related disorders, including OCD, trauma, and school refusal. She uses warmth, humor, and compassion to work collaboratively with her patients and their families. Dr. DiFonte is dedicated to using and adapting evidence-based treatments to meet the needs of each family she works with. Her research examines the role of parenting in youth mental health and treatment outcomes.
Jessica Feliciano, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, Grace S. Webb School
University of Hartford
Dr. Feliciano is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents and is currently at the Grace Webb School. She completed her graduate training at the University of Hartford and completed both her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute of Living. Her clinical and research interests include individual, family, and group psychotherapy with children and adolescents, complex trauma, serious mental illness and psychosis, and psychological assessment.
Derek A. Fenwick, Psy.D. (he/him/his)
Program Manager, Young Adult Services
Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dr. Fenwick’s clinical interests include LGBTQ+ adolescents, young adults, and adults, the role of identity development, and understanding personality. Dr. Fenwick’s work focuses on the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ population with an aim to help clients struggling with significant emotional distress, minority stress, and identity formation. He is a the clinical program manager at the Institute of Living, Young Adult Services, and also completed his pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the IOL.
Christina Gilliam, Ph.D.
Clinic Manager, Anxiety Disorders Center
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Dr. Gilliam specializes in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Her clinical interests include obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, specific phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and social phobia. As the program manager for the Anxiety Disorders Center, Dr. Gilliam works together with the ADC clinicians and administrative staff to ensure that all patients receive high quality treatment that is personalized to their specific individual needs. She also co-leads the psychology mentorship program for trainees and early career psychologists with Dr. Dana Shagan.
Alexandra (Sasha) Grigorian, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
Carlos Albizu University
Dr. Grigorian specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, psychosis, and eating disordered symptomatology. She currently provides treatment for anxiety disorders and OCD and strives to provide services that utilize empathy, compassion, and sincerity to cultivate growth and promote self-efficacy.
Scott Hannan, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
Fordham University
Dr. Hannan works with children, adolescents, and adults. His clinical interests include obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, panic disorder, and the treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. He specializes in the treatment of school avoidance, collaborating with families and school systems to assist children in their return to the educational setting. Dr. Hannan has specialized in the treatment of Hoarding Disorder and has been a featured expert on the A&E television show Hoarders.
Luke Hendren, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Program and Potential Program
Nova Southeastern University
Dr. Hendren is a staff psychologist with the Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Program and the Potential Clinic for first episode psychosis. His clinical interests include psychodynamic theory and complex trauma intervention.
Erica Hollar, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, Grace S. Webb School
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.
Nicole Iadarola, Psy.D.
Health Psychologist
Pacific University
Dr. Iadarola completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Pacific University in Oregon. She completed her internship at Providence Family Medicine Residency in Anchorage, Alaska before returning to her home state of Connecticut for Fellowship Training at the Institute of Living’s Health Psychology Department. Dr. Iadarola is currently a licensed clinical psychologist at Hartford Hospital/The Heart & Vascular Institute. She provides consultation and intervention services to cardiology patients in order to improve cardiovascular disease outcomes. Her work is focused on addressing anxiety, depression, and trauma following a cardiac diagnosis or an acute cardiac event, lifestyle behavior change, and stress management strategies.
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.
Callie Jowers, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
University of Detroit Mercy
Dr. Jowers is a clinical psychologist on the 2S adult inpatient unit at the Institute of Living. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Institute of Living, and her postdoctoral fellowship was at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT. Her current work includes diagnostic case formulation and treatment at the individual, group, and milieu level. She also works to support inpatient staff. Her clinical and research interests include the influence of personality on symptom presentation, as well as the way in which personality and diagnosis influence the inpatient hospital setting. She primarily works from a psychodynamic and integrative perspective, with strong interests in mentalization-based therapy and transference-focused psychotherapy for personality disorders.
Kelly Knowles, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
Vanderbilt University
Dr. Knowles specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with anxiety and related disorders. She has a particular interest in exposure-based treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder but loves to assist clients in identifying creative exposures for any feared situation. Dr. Knowles integrates mindfulness and values-centered approaches into her clinical work. She also uses her improv training to help clients learn to cope with the unexpected and tolerate uncertainty. In addition to her work with clients, Dr. Knowles has a research interest in understanding the mechanisms of effective exposure-based therapies in order to improve therapeutic outcomes.
Olivia Kolodziejczak, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist, Psychological Testing Coordinator
William James College
Dr. Kolodziejczak completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Institute of Living on the Adult Track and post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute of Living on the Psychological Testing and Outpatient Therapy Track. In her current role, Dr. Kolodziejczak is the Coordinator for the Psychological Testing Service where she serves as the primary supervisor for psychology trainees on the assessment rotation and sees patients directly for testing. Her clinical interests include lifespan psychological assessment, projective assessment measures, autism assessment, complex differential diagnosis, suicide and threat risk assessments, complex trauma, and personality disorders.
Richard Lautenbach, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Coordinator of Group Therapy Services
Kent State University
Dr. Lautenbach, who began his work at The Institute of Living in 1993, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of adults living with severe mental health issues. He leads a number of process-oriented and skills-based therapy groups on inpatient units. He also leads various groups in outpatient settings. Dr. Lautenbach is involved with the teaching and supervision of psychology pre-doctoral interns and post-doctoral fellows. Among his clinical interests are: psychotherapy integration, trans-theoretical therapeutic factors, trauma-informed approaches to staff and patient interaction, existential issues related to discovering and constructing meaning in one’s life, and program development and evaluation. He is and advocate of partnering with those with lived-experience who find healing through sharing their journey with others.
Hannah Levy, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
Concordia University
In her clinical work, Dr. Levy specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with anxiety and related disorders, particularly OCD and PTSD. Her research aims to understand the biological, behavioral, and cognitive mechanisms of anxiety-related disorders, with the goal of using these mechanisms to develop new and improved treatments. She has received funding from Hartford Hospital and the American Psychological Foundation for her work.
Kayla Lord, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
Suffolk University
Dr. Lord specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety-related, obsessive-compulsive and related, and trauma-related disorders. She uses genuineness, humor, and empathy to develop collaborative relationships with her patients. She strives to help her patients nonjudgmentally accept the present while also taking steps toward meaningful change. Dr. Lord is committed to using up-to-date research evidence to inform clinical practice, and to conducting research informed by clinical needs. Her research examines social and interpersonal factors that influence the presentation and treatment of emotional disorders.
Peter Lucchio, Psy.D.
Health Psychologist
University of Hartford
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, Connecticut Children’s
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.
Suzanne Meunier, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
University of Arkansas
Dr. Meunier specializes in cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive compulsive spectrum, and eating disorders. She is committed to the use of empirically supported interventions to optimize treatment outcomes. She also has an interest in helping individuals access and integrate their spiritual or religious beliefs in the treatment process. She is grateful to have the opportunity to assist her clients in learning skills to help alleviate their symptoms and create meaningful change in their lives. She firmly believes in the human capacity to create change and strives to identify the barriers that impede growth.
Heather Murray Latin, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Center
Drexel University
Her expertise in psychological assessment of anxiety and related disorders and experience in providing empirically supported treatments for emotional disorders contributes to the state-of-the-art care at ADC. In particular, Dr. Latin coaches patients on how to apply a variety of strategies, such as mindfulness, acceptance, and thinking skills to increase tolerance to intense emotional and physiological experiences. By developing increased tolerance and confidence in managing distress, individuals can spend their energy on living a better, more meaningful life.
Brittany Newman, Psy.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
University of Hartford
Dr. Newman is a clinical neuropsychologist at the Institute of Living in the Division of Neuropsychology. In her current role, she conducts neuropsychological and psychological evaluations with patients ranging from young adulthood to elderly, and sees a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injuries, mood disorders, and psychotic disorders, among others. She also supervises doctoral-level interns and practicum students in neuropsychological and psychological assessment. Her current research interests relate to test effectiveness for different populations and updating normative data.
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.
Brianna Pollock, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
University of Tennessee
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 clinical program manager at the Institute of Living, Professional’s 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 therapy, theory and research in the psychology department.
Carolina Posada, Ph.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego
Neuropsychological assessment of older adult patients, Spanish-speaking and bilingual patients.
Alexandra Recchia, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
University of Hartford
Dr. Recchia is the Child & Adolescent Inpatient Psychologist at The Institute of Living, overseeing care on both Donnelly 1S and Donnelly 2N. In her current role, she provides group therapy, individual therapy, and positive behavioral support planning, focusing on case formulation tailored to the unique developmental needs of children and adolescents. As part of her leadership role on her units, Dr. Recchia provides psychoeducation for staff on effective milieu management and case formulation strategies. Dr. Recchia's clinical and research interests include integrating psychodynamic and behavioral theories to inform treatment, utilizing trauma-informed interventions, and promoting multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure comprehensive care.
Ila Sabino, Ph.D.
Program Manager, Division of Health Psychology
Yeshiva University, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology
Dr. Sabino specializes in working with people with a variety of medical conditions and health concerns. Her clinical interests include health anxiety, HIV, men’s health issues, and health behavior change. As program manager for the Division of Health Psychology, she provides support to the psychologists and behavioral health clinicians embedded in specialty care medical practices and advocates for and assists with the expansion of integrated behavioral health throughout Hartford Healthcare.
Kimberly Sain, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist; ADC Education and Training Coordinator
Southern Illinois University
Dr. Sain specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in children, adolescents, and adults. She uses compassion, warmth, and humor to work collaboratively with patients to face their fears and pursue a life full of meaning and value. Dr. Sain is passionate about using the best evidence from research to inform clinical practice. As the Education and Training Coordinator for the Anxiety Disorders Center, Dr. Sain contributes to the dissemination of CBT. She manages the recruitment, selection, and training of graduate trainees.
Travis Sain, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
Southern Illinois University
Dr. Sain specializes in cognitive behavioral and acceptance-based therapies for the treatment of mood, trauma, and anxiety-related disorders. He strongly believes in the utilization of empirically supported treatments, and works hard to develop a trusting relationship with each of his clients to promote behavior change toward living a more meaningful, values-consistent life. With humor and empathy, he approaches each therapy session with the belief that we are all doing the best we can in this moment and have the ability for further growth and change. At the Anxiety Disorders Center, Dr. Sain works primarily with adults and adolescents and has clinical interests in the treatment of PTSD, panic disorder, OCD, and social anxiety disorder.
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; Director, Center for Gender Health at Hartford Healthcare
Board Certified in Clinical Psychology
University of Hartford
Areas of expertise include LGBTQ mental health, child psychopathology, behavior management, parent training and family therapy. She appears regularly in local TV news to provide psychological commentary on topics relevant to youth and families and currently has two weekly segments called “Checking In” on WFSB/Ch.3, the Great Day CT show, related to child and family mental health.
Jennifer Scagliotti, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
University of Hartford
Dr. Scagliotti provides clinical services and assessments, and coordinates research for the psychosis programs at the IOL. Her interests are in CBT and cognitive therapeutic approaches.
Elisabeth Scherpenisse, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, Grace S. Webb School
University of Tennessee
Dr. Scherpenisse is a licensed clinical psychologist on staff at The Webb Schools at the Institute of Living. She completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Living and is trained to work with children, adolescents and adults. She provides consultation, crisis intervention, psychological assessment and supervision at The Webb School. She supervises all levels of training and teaches seminars in psychological assessment and psychodynamic psychotherapy. Her clinical interests include psychological assessment, particularly projective techniques, complex differential diagnosis, development of personality disorders, identity development in adolescence, mechanisms of change in psychotherapy, interventions for school avoidance, and factors influencing motivation.
Geoffrey Schnirman, Ph.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Fordham University
Dr. Schnirman is a staff neuropsychologist at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute's Chase Family Movement Disorders Center, where has worked in the Mystic office since 2020. He earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Fordham University. After completing his clinical internship in geriatric and neuropsychology at the Brockton and West Roxbury VA Medical Centers, he completed 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 learning and attention disorders, and the impact of medical diseases on cognitive functioning.
Dana Shagan, Psy.D.
Program Manager, Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Program
University of Hartford
Dr. Shagan’s interests include severe, persistent mental illness with adults, group, cognitive rehabilitation, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Jessica Sierra, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist - Division of Health Psychology, Surgical Weight Loss
University of Connecticut
Conduct presurgical evaluations to assess readiness for bariatric surgery. Provide individual therapy for surgical weight loss patients.
Kristin Slyne, Psy.D., ABPP
Board Certified in Clinical Neuropsychology
Program Manager - Neuropsychology, Neuropsychologist
Training Director of Neuropsychology APPCN Fellowship
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
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. Clinical interests include traumatic brain injury (TBI), vascular risk factors, movement disorders, and neurodegenerative illness. 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: Vascular risk factors, use of PVTs/SVTs in older adults, late-life depression, movement disorders, and dementia.
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
Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine
University of Arkansas
Dr. Tolin’s research and clinical interests include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety-related disorders in adults and children, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder
- The nature and treatment of hoarding disorder
- The nature and treatment of body-focused repetitive behavior disorders such as trichotillomania
- The interaction between psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
- Cognitive processes that underlie anxiety disorders, particularly dysfunctional beliefs and mechanisms of information processing.
Blaise Worden, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
Rutgers University
Her current clinical and research interests include treatment outcome assessment and mechanisms of change underlying empirically-supported psychological treatments, particularly decision-making processes within hoarding disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She has co-authored several publications and believes in the integration of science and clinical practice to facilitate up-to-date and effective interventions for patients. Dr. Worden specializes in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders in adults. She has particular experience with cognitive-behavioral treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and hoarding disorder. She is the primary clinician for the hoarding disorder treatment groups at the Center, and served as the primary clinician on a federally funded 5-year clinical trial investigating the neural mechanisms of cognitive-behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder.
Aieyat Zalzala, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Clinical Training, Psychology Department
Assistant Program Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Education & Training
Purdue University
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.