CUCARD Staff and Affiliates

Anne Marie Albano, PhD, ABPP
CUCARD Founder

Anne Marie Albano is Professor of Medical Psychology in Psychiatry at Columbia University and Founder of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders and Clinical Site Director of New York Presbyterian Hospital's Youth Anxiety Center. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Albano is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, a Beck Institute Scholar, and is Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Albano received the Herbert Pardes Faculty Fellowship (2017-2020) at Columbia University Medical Center, was the recipient of the 2015 ABCT Award for Outstanding Contributions by an Individual for Clinical Activities, and in 2008 the Rosenberry Award for service to children, adolescents and families from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Dr. Albano is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, a Past President of the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology of the American Psychological Association and also past-president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). She is past editor of Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, past Associate Editor of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and founding editor of the journal "Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health". She has published more than 200 articles and chapters and is the co-author of several cognitive behavioral treatment manuals and of the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children, all published by Oxford University Press.

As a researcher, Dr. Albano served as a Principal Investigator of a 6-site, National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored study entitled "Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Treatment Study" (CAMS) and the Extended Long Term Follow Up of CAMS (CAMELS) and also was a PI for the Treatments for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). Both trials examined the relative efficacy of CBT, medication, combination treatment, and pill placebo in youth. Her book with Leslie Pepper, Helping Your Anxious Child: Free Your Child from Fears and Worries and Create a Joyful Family Life, was a 2014 ABCT Self-Help Book Award winner and 2014 Self-Help Book Award winner from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. In 2015, a new ABCT award was established in Dr. Albano's name by a family to encourage the proliferation of evidence-based treatment, the Anne Marie Albano Early Career Award for Excellence in the Integration of Science and Practice.

Dr. Albano is on Twitter:  @AnneMarieAlbano

Clinic website: anxietytreatmentnyc.org

Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, MD
Division Director

Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, MD, is the Mortimer D. Sackler, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center; Director of the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), and Columbia University; and Co-Director of both the NIMH T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship for Translational Research in Child Psychiatric Disorders and the Whitaker Scholar Program in Developmental Neuropsychiatry at NYSPI/Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Veenstra-VanderWeele is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who uses molecular and translational neuroscience research tools in the pursuit of new treatments for autism spectrum disorder and pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder. He trained in human molecular genetics in the laboratory of Edwin H. Cook at the University of Chicago. Following his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, he expanded his research experience with a postdoctoral research fellowship in molecular neuroscience with Randy Blakely and Jim Sutcliffe at Vanderbilt University. Prior to joining the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia in 2014, Dr. Veenstra-VanderWeele was director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University, where he was also an associate professor and medical director for the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Dr. Veenstra-VanderWeele's laboratory at Columbia University and NYSPI focuses on the serotonin and glutamate systems in genetic mouse models with abnormal social or repetitive/compulsive-like behavior. His clinical/translational research program at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Center for Autism and the Developing Brain studies potential treatments for autism spectrum disorder and related genetic syndromes. His long-term goal is to be able to develop novel approaches in the molecular laboratory that can then be tested in children. Dr. Veenstra-VanderWeele's work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2017 Blanche Ittelson Award for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association. He is dedicated to helping train and develop the next generation of child psychiatrists and scientists who can generate improved understanding of childhood neuropsychiatric disorders and deliver new treatments to the clinic.

Steve Mazza, PhD
ABC Early Childhood Director

Steven Mazza, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of medical psychology (in Psychiatry) within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC). He is a licensed clinical psychologist and the clinical director of the ABC Early Childhood Program at ColumbiaDoctors. Dr. Mazza graduated magna cum laude from Skidmore College with a B.S. in elementary education. He received his M.A. in developmental psychology from Columbia University and received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Hofstra University. Dr. Mazza completed his predoctoral clinical internship at the NYU Child Study Center and Bellevue Hospital Center, where he worked in outpatient, inpatient, and emergency department settings. He completed is post-doctoral fellowship at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD), where he specialized in applying cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. During his time as a faculty member at CUCARD, Dr. Mazza founded the ABC Early Childhood Program, which provides evidence-based treatments for emotional and behavioral difficulties in children ages 2-8. He is a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) within-agency trainer. Dr. Mazza is a public speaker and consultant who conducts trainings for leadership teams, caregivers, educators, and summer camp staff. He has been featured on SiriusXM "Doctor Radio," HealthLine, InsideHook, PsychHub, and Camping Magazine. Dr. Mazza has published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. He is the co-founder and president of the Early Childhood Provider Network (ECPN), a non-profit organization that cultivates a collaborative community of local behavioral health practitioners to enhance the quality of care provided to young children and their families. 

For fun and self-care, Dr. Mazza enjoys spending time with his family and friends, exercising, playing guitar, reading, and hiking in national parks. 

Namrata Kulkarni, MD
CUCARD Manhattan Psychiatrist

Namrata Kulkarni, MD, is a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist at CUIMC and ColumbiaDoctors, and assistant professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders including anxiety and OCD, depression and bipolar, ADHD, and PTSD. Dr. Kulkarni completed medical school at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Michigan. She returned to her native New Jersey for general psychiatry training at Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and subsequently completed a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the New York Presbyterian Cornell/Columbia combined program. Alongside medication management of mental health conditions, Dr. Kulkarni’s clinical interests also include individual and family therapy, art/play therapy, and transitions in life stages. Dr. Kulkarni is double board-certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. 

For fun, she likes to spend time with her family and friends, trying new restaurants, and hiking! 

Jiayi Lin-Imada, PsyD
Senior Clinical Psychologist, Training Director

Jiayi Lin-Imada, Psy.D., is an assistant professor of medical psychology (in Psychiatry) within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and a licensed clinical psychologist at CUCARD Manhattan. She also serves as the Training Director at CUCARD Manhattan. Dr. Lin graduated with her B.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she majored in brain and cognitive Science.  She received her master's (M.S.) and doctorate (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology from the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium. Her dissertation focused on the effects of parental hoarding on familial relationships. Dr. Lin completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC) in Hawaii working with underserved populations before moving to Seattle to complete her post-doctoral fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital where she specialized in treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in an intensive outpatient program. A native New Yorker, Dr. Lin moved back to NY to join the CUCARD team and specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with OCD, anxiety, hoarding, and related disorders utilizing evidence-based treatments such as exposure and response prevention (ERP) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). 

For fun and self-care, I love playing with and training my dog, experimenting with baking and making new foods, going on weekend adventures exploring around the city or tristate area, and curling up on the couch to watch a good show with a cup of tea.  

Natalie Javadi, PhD
Senior Clinical Psychologist

Natalie Javadi, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the ABC Early Childhood Program at ColumbiaDoctors. Dr. Javadi received her B.S. in applied psychology from New York University and her Ph.D. in psychology (clinical science) from Florida International University. She completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship training at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Javadi has extensive experience assessing and treating youth with anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, disruptive behaviors, developmental delay, and autism spectrum disorder. She specializes in cognitive-behavioral, exposure-based, and behavioral parenting interventions and she is a Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) international certified within-agency trainer. Dr. Javadi’s program of research focuses on optimizing youth mental health care through innovative treatment redesign. She is particularly interested in developing an evidence-base for informed clinical decision-making for individuals who exhibit slower or fewer improvements throughout the course of treatment, as well as examining the utility of delivering care in naturalistic settings, in intensive doses, and/or with the support of technology.

For fun and self-care, Dr. Javadi enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, exploring NYC neighborhoods and restaurants, running and Pilates, watching true crime documentaries, and decompressing with a good book and cup of tea. 

Jin Lee, PhD
Senior Clinical Psychologist

Jin Lee, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at CUCARD Manhattan. She graduated from New York University with a double B.A. in psychology and journalism, then received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from St. John’s University. Dr. Lee completed her predoctoral internship at Andrus – Mental Health Division in Westchester County. Prior to joining CUCARD, Dr. Lee worked in private practice then at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in both the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program and Outpatient Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services. Dr. Lee has received specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused CBT, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and parenting interventions. Dr. Lee enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety, depression, and trauma, as well as with their parents to help support them. 

For self-care, Dr. Lee enjoys all things food – cooking, baking, trying new restaurants, and watching food competition shows! 

Alyssa Bernstein, LCSW
Senior Clinician

Alyssa Bernstein, LMSW is a licensed social worker at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD). She received her BA in Sociology and Psychology as well as her Masters in Social Work at the University of Georgia. Alyssa was selected to for the Intellectual Capital Partnership Program where she completed her internship at the Central State Psychiatric Hospital in Milledgeville, GA. Alyssa has worked in a variety of community-based settings providing clinically informed and culturally relevant individual and group programming across New York City. Alyssa specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and related disorders. She has a specific interest in working with children, adolescents and their families through an evidence-based, culturally sensitive treatment approach.

Alyssa is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.

Margaret DeJong, LCSW
Senior Clinician

Margaret DeJong, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker at CUCARD Manhattan. Margaret graduated magna cum laude from Connecticut College with a B.A. in psychology and received her Master of Social Work from the Columbia University School of Social Work, where she concentrated in advanced clinical practice. Margaret completed training with children, adolescents, and families at the Children’s Aid Society and on the Children’s Day Unit (CDU) at New York State Psychiatric Institute. Prior to joining CUCARD, Margaret previously worked at Montefiore Medical Group’s Behavioral Health Integration Program, where she provided short-term, evidence-based psychotherapy, as well as at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital on the child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric units. Margaret specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety and related disorders. She has a specific interest in working with children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

 For self-care, Margaret enjoys spending time with her dog, Darwin.  

Emily Cruz, LMSW
Senior Clinician

Emily Cruz, LMSW is a licensed master social worker at CUCARD Manhattan. Emily graduated with her B.A in psychology from Florida International University. She also received her Master of Science in Social Work from the Columbia University School of Social Work, where she specialized in advanced clinical practice. Prior to joining CUCARD, Emily worked in private practice working with all age populations experiencing trauma, grief and life transitions. Currently, Emily specializes in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), mindfulness and psychodynamic therapy. She has a special interest in working with children, teens, families, and young adults with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and life transitions. 

For self-care, Emily enjoys going on walks through the park with her puppy while drinking an iced latte.  

Abigail Weber, PsyD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Abigail (Abby) Weber, Psy.D., is a clinical postdoctoral fellow at CUCARD Manhattan. Dr. Weber graduated magna cum laude with her B.A. from Boston College where she majored in applied psychology and human development.  She received her master's (M.S.) and doctorate (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology from the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium. Dr. Weber completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans before moving to New York for her post-doctoral fellowship at CUCARD Manhattan. Dr. Weber provides assessment and treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults with trauma, anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. Dr. Weber has trained in evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and caregiver-focused interventions such as parent management training (PMT) and circle of security parenting (COS-P). Her research interests have focused on increasing access to mental healthcare for youth and their families through school-based and virtual, caregiver-focused programming. 

For fun and self-care, she loves spending time outdoors, walking her pup, and going on weekend adventures around the city.  

Evan Burdette, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Evan Burdette, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at the ABC Early Childhood program. Dr. Burdette graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in cognitive neuroscience, then went on to receive his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Miami. He completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Burdette has received extensive specialized training in behavioral parent training for young children with ADHD, disruptive behavior disorders, and autism spectrum disorder, and is a certified therapist and within-agency trainer in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Dr. Burdette also has significant experience providing evidence-based therapy (e.g., CBT, ERP) to children and adolescents with a wide range of emotional disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, and OCD. Additionally, Dr. Burdette has experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults living with chronic medical illnesses such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and cancer. 

In his spare time, Dr. Burdette enjoys discovering the hidden gems of NYC's restaurant scene, cooking, and spending time with his family. 

Rebecca Mirhashem, MA
Clinical Psychology Extern

Rebecca Mirhashem M.A, is the ABC extern for the 2024-2025 training year. She is a doctoral candidate in the clinical psychology program at Stony Brook University. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont, where she majored in psychology. After graduation, she worked as a clinical research assistant at the Pediatric Anxiety Research Center (PARC) at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. At PARC, she delivered exposure therapy in the context of a clinical trial studying the effectiveness of a novel treatment delivery model aimed to increase access to evidence-based treatment for youth aged 5-17 with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety spectrum disorders. Prior to joining ABC, Rebecca completed an externship at New York City Health + Hospitals (NYCH+H) Queens, where she delivered evidence-based care to youth of all ages across several settings, including a public elementary school, the child and adolescent outpatient department, and the pediatric primary care department. Rebecca’s research focuses on how to increase the engagement and motivation of parents involved in therapy for their young children. The goal of her research is to improve clinical outcomes for all families, particularly those with barriers to care. 

For self-care, Rebecca enjoys cooking, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends. 

Paul Spano, MA
Clinical Psychology Extern

Paul S. Spano, M.A., is a psychology extern at CUCARD Manhattan. Paul graduated from New York University where he studied psychology and child and adolescent mental health. Currently, he is on track to receive his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University (May 2026). Paul primarily provides assessment and treatment services for children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety, depression, OCD, and related conditions. He has received specialized training in a variety of evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). His research has focused on the development and maintenance of anxiety, mood, and suicide-related concerns in youth, with an emphasis on LGBTQIA+ adolescents. 

In his spare time, Paul enjoys cooking for family and friends, going to the movies, and spending time with his three dogs. 

Ohemaa Poku, PhD, MPH
Social Work Intern

Ohemaa Poku, Ph.D., MPH, is an assistant professor of global mental health (in Psychiatry) and clinical social work intern at CUCARD Manhattan. Her specific clinical training includes cognitive behavioral, individual, and group therapy. She is also the Director of Education and Training Initiatives for the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health. Dr. Poku’s research focuses on creating and adapting services to be culturally and contextually inclusive, as well as youth friendly, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities. Dr. Poku has a bachelor's in history and international development from Mount Holyoke College, an MPH in global health from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in Global Mental Health from Johns Hopkins University. She is completing her MSW (May 2025) in clinical care at the Silberman School of Social Work. 

Outside of work, Dr. Poku can be found spending time with her family and friends, going to brunch, and walking all over the city. 

Samantha Katel, BA
Social Work Intern

Samantha (Sam) Katel is a social work intern at CUCARD Manhattan. She holds a bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College with a concentration in psychology. She is currently pursuing her master's in social work at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. During Sam’s college career, she published research about evidence-based practices to support traumatized students in schools. She also conducted research and wrote papers about predictors of friendship quality in children, educational practices for neurodiverse youth, and the psychophysiology of “anger-based disorders.” Before her CUCARD internship, Sam completed a hybrid internship with New Visions for Public Schools, the largest school district in New York, while providing therapeutic support to underserved high school students. Sam also has clinical training and experience in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, exposure and response prevention (ERP), and other evidence-based modalities.  

In her free time, Sam enjoys exploring the New York theater scene, playing sports, and spending time with shelter pups.  

Anthony Garcia, BA
Project Coordinator

Anthony Garcia, B.A., is the project coordinator for CUCARD. At CUCARD, he assists with the development and oversight of research projects, assists with presentation of research data, coordinates ongoing research studies, and assists with the coordination of clinical groups. He is also a research assistant for the Center for Youth Mental Health (CYMH), a clinical and research collaboration of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Weill Cornell Medical College with a common goal of understanding and addressing youth mental health. For CYMH, Anthony is responsible for managing the research duties (e.g. data collection, management, communication, and collaboration) as it pertains to the CUCARD site. Anthony graduated with his undergraduate degree in psychology with a concentration in clinical and a minor in statistics from Hunter College in spring of 2021. During his time at Hunter College, he worked at the Hunter Emotion, Anxiety, and Repetitive Thinking (HEART) lab under Dr. Evelyn Behar and Dr. David Yap who helped improve and refine his research, analytical, and statistical skills. His current research interests are in anxiety and mood disorders, particularly in identifying transdiagnostic mechanisms underlying these conditions and evaluating psychotherapy outcomes.

For fun, Anthony enjoys playing video games, observing and participating in debates, cooking (and eating) food, and engaging in continuous learning.

Anthony Puliafico, PhD
CUCARD Westchester Director

Anthony Puliafico, Ph.D. is an associate professor of medical psychology in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University. He serves director of CUCARD Westchester, and outpatient clinic in Tarrytown, NY specializing in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Dr. Puliafico also directs CUCARD Westchester's Anxiety Day Program, which provides daily treatment programming for adolescents with anxiety, OCD, and school refusal. Dr. Puliafico is an expert in the assessment and cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety, mood, and externalizing disorders. His clinical work and research have focused on the treatment of pediatric OCD, school refusal, and adapting treatments for young children with anxiety.

Dr. Puliafico received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Temple University. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and regularly lectures on the treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders. Dr. Puliafico is the co-author of "The OCD Workbook for Kids" and is a co-developer of the CALM Program for young children with anxiety.

Adriana Rego, MD
Anxiety Day Program Medical Director

Dr. Adriana Rego is a board-certified child & adolescent and adult psychiatrist as well as a child, adolescent and adult psychoanalyst. She serves as the Medical Director of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders-Westchester Anxiety Day Program. She is an assistant professor of psychiatry in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center and adjunct assistant professor at NYU Child Study Center. She is a staff psychiatrist at the New York Presbyterian School Based Health Center. On the undergraduate level, Dr. Rego lectures about gender identity development and sexuality in children and adolescents. Her clinical areas of special interest include anxiety, mood disorders and PTSD.

Rachel Ginsberg, PhD
CUCARD Westchester Asst. Director

Dr. Rachel Ginsberg, PhD serves as the quality director of the Columbia University Psychiatry Faculty Practice Organization and the assistant director at CUCARD Westchester.

She is an Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and specializes in the evaluation and treatment of adolescents and adults with mood, anxiety, and related disorders. She graduated with her Ph.D. from Hofstra University, and completed her predoctoral internship at North-Shore LIJ Medical Center (Northwell Health). She worked as an extern in research and clinical positions at NYSPI, within the Pediatric Anxiety and Mood Research Clinic (PAMRC), and the Columbia University/NYSPI Anxiety Disorders Clinic, where she conducted diagnostic assessments and specialized in providing treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders.

Dr. Ginsberg has expertise in working with women with perinatal issues (such as postpartum anxiety, OCD, and depression), and continues to specialize in women's health. She is trained in Gottman Method couples therapy and has additional background in providing treatment for first-episode mental illness in young adults. Dr. Ginsberg implements evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and has worked in a variety of settings, including pediatric and adult clinics, as well as partial hospital and inpatient hospital settings. Her interests include finding novel and creative ways to personalize and optimize treatment for anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. 

Nicholas Crimarco, PhD
Senior Clinical Psychologist

Nicholas Crimarco, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of clinical psychology in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University. He also serves as the assistant director of the Anxiety Day Program and as the training director for CUCARD Westchester. Dr. Crimarco specializes in the assessment and cognitive-behavioral treatment of obsessive-compulsive spectrum, impulse control, and disruptive behavior disorders across the lifespan. His research interests include the treatment and characterization of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Dr. Crimarco’ s dissertation was an investigation of the relationship between subconcussive head trauma and neurocognitive functioning for NCAA Division I athletes. 

Dr. Crimarco received his B.A. in psychology and his M.S. in mental health counseling with distinction from Pace University. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Hofstra University. His clinical psychology internship was completed at the University of Michigan where he served as a clinician at the Mary A. Rackham Institute Psychological Clinic and the University Center for the Child and Family. Dr. Crimarco completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Northwell Health Behavioral Health College Partnership. He is certified in parent child interaction therapy (PCIT) by PCIT international and has received specialized training in several empirically supported treatments including exposure and response prevention for OCD (EX/RP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), parent training, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and interpersonal and social rhythms therapy (IPSRT).

 In his spare time, Dr. Crimarco enjoys playing the bass and participating in athletics.

Courtney DeAngelis, PsyD
Senior Clinical Psychologist

Courtney DeAngelis, Psy.D., is an assistant professor of psychology (in Psychiatry) within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University. She serves as a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical supervisor at CUCARD Westchester. Dr. DeAngelis specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety and related disorders, OCD, disruptive behavior, posttraumatic stress, completed grief, and school refusal. She has extensive experience collaborating and consulting with schools, other disciplines, and outside professionals to address children's emotional and behavioral issues. 

Dr. DeAngelis received her doctorate in clinical psychology from La Salle University. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and her postdoctoral fellowship at CUCARD Westchester. Throughout her career, Dr. DeAngelis has received specialized training in the provision of evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (EX/RP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). She is currently a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and serves as the chair of ABCT's Continuing Education Committee. 

Alyssa Ames-Sikora, PhD
Senior Clinical Psychologist

Alyssa Ames-Sikora, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychology (in Psychiatry) within the division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University and a licensed psychologist at CUCARD Westchester. She graduated with her BA from Rutgers University, where she majored in psychology. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Georgia State University, where her research focused on the effects of parental psychopathology, parent-child communication, emotion flexibility, emotion socialization, and the quality of interpersonal relationships. Dr. Ames-Sikora's dissertation investigated the effect of maternal depression on the flexibility of her emotionally expressive behaviors during interactions with her school-aged child. She completed her predoctoral internship at Children's National Medical Center followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at CUCARD-Westchester. Dr. Ames-Sikora works with patients over the lifespan for outpatient individual and group therapy and with teens individually in the Anxiety Day Program at CUCARD Westchester. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of internalizing disorders that affect youth and their families, as well as providing evidence-based assessment and interventions for other concerns, including autism spectrum disorder, adherence to medical regimens, coping with chronic illness, adjustment to new diagnoses, and behavioral challenges. Dr. Ames-Sikora utilizes evidence-based treatments such as exposure and response prevention (ERP), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She also has a passion for supervising psychology trainees and disseminating evidence-based parenting principles to the community. 

For fun and self-care, Dr. Ames-Sikora enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching soccer, reading, drinking tea, and she can escape for hours into a puzzle.

Juliet Schwarz, PsyD
Senior Clinical Psychologist

Juliet Schwarz, PsyD, is a staff psychologist at CUCARD Westchester, where she provides therapy for anxiety and related disorders, OCD, school refusal/avoidance, as well as mood and disruptive behavior disorders. She received her B.A. in psychology and elementary education from Middlebury College and her doctorate in child clinical and school psychology from Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Dr. Schwarz completed her predoctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Child and Family Therapy clinic in Baltimore, Maryland, and her postdoctoral fellowship at CUCARD Westchester. Throughout her training, Dr. Schwarz has provided individual, family, and group therapy, conducted psychoeducational evaluations, and received training and supervision on the implementation of evidence-based interventions including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), functional family therapy (FFT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for a range of anxiety and mood disorders. 

When she's not developing creative exposures for patients, she enjoys playing tennis and baking sourdough bread.

Sarah Garcia, PhD
Senior Clinical Psychologist

Sarah Garcia, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist at CUCARD Westchester and an assistant professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Garcia received her A.B. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Dartmouth College and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Georgia State University. She completed her predoctoral internship at SUNY Upstate Medical University and her postdoctoral training in clinical psychology and developmental psychopathology at the University of Denver. Dr. Garcia has extensive experience assessing and treating children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She helps patients address these disorders as well as related difficulties in interpersonal functioning, life transitions, and emotion dysregulation using evidence-based cognitive-behavioral, exposure-based, interpersonal, and behavioral parenting interventions. Dr. Garcia’s research interests focus on ways to personalize and augment prevention and treatment efforts for anxiety and depressive disorders and interpersonal and emotion dysregulation to maximize outcomes for children, adolescents, and families. Dr. Garcia has published her work in numerous peer-reviewed journals. 

Outside of work, Dr. Garcia enjoys spending time with family, friends, and pets, playing tennis, or relaxing with a good book.

Marsha Mariani, LCSW
Senior Clinician

Marsha Mariani, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker at CUCARD Westchester. Marsha received a Bachelor’s of Arts in psychology from Quinnipiac University and a master’s in social work at New York University Silver School of Social Work. Marsha is dedicated to providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety, OCD, as well as mood and disruptive behavior disorders. She specializes in the treatment modalities of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) for a range of anxiety and mood disorders. During her free time, Marsha enjoys going on walks, enjoying the outdoors, traveling, cooking, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Yael Monselise, LCSW
Senior Clinician

Yael Monselise, LCSW, is an associate in psychiatric social work at CUCARD Westchester working with adolescents at the Anxiety Day Program as well as adults at an outpatient capacity. She received her B.A. in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and her master's in social work at Fordham University. Yael has previous training at Montefiore Hospital, where she participated in their dialectical behavioral therapy program treating children and adolescents in an outpatient setting. Yael also worked with adults at Greenwich Hospital Behavioral Health and was a medical social worker at Montefiore's Kidney/Liver Transplant Department. Yael is certified in trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and has formal training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and exposure and response prevention (EX/RP.) Yael values policy and advocacy work and believes in the development of a positive therapeutic relationship. 

For fun and self-care, Yael enjoys learning new skills such as needle felting with her clients and loves gardening with her family.

Gabriela Rodrigues, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Gabriela Rodrigues, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow at CUCARD Westchester, where she provides therapy for anxiety and related disorders, OCD, school refusal/avoidance, as well as mood and disruptive behavior disorders. Dr. Rodrigues received her B.A. in psychology from SUNY Oneonta, her M.A. in clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Adelphi University. She completed her predoctoral internship at Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS).

Dr. Rodrigues has experience evaluating and treating children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety and depressive disorders and a wide range of other psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, including PTSD, ADHD, autism, and oppositional and disruptive behaviors. Dr. Rodrigues has been extensively trained in various evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Dr. Rodrigues’ training has also emphasized supporting parents of children and teens with various behavioral challenges using evidence-based interventions such as parent management training (PMT).

Dr. Rodrigues’ research interests focus on parent-child attachment and the development of children’s positive traits (e.g., gratitude) and its relation to children’s internalizing symptoms. Dr. Rodrigues has published her work in numerous peer-reviewed journals. 

Outside of work, Dr. Rodrigues enjoys spending time with family and friends, relaxing by the beach, and traveling to new places, learning about the culture and trying new foods!

Kimberly Tom, MA
Clinical Psychology Extern

Kimberly Tom, (pronouns: she/her) is a clinical psychology extern at CUCARD Westchester. She received her B.S. in psychology from University at Buffalo, and her M.A. in psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with the University of North Dakota. Kimberly has previous clinical experience working in residential treatment and behavioral health. Her professional experiences have included working as a research assistant at Montefiore Medical Center in the Behavioral Health Integration Program and working as a graduate assistant with the Office of Disability Services at Barnard College. More recently, she completed a clinical practicum rotation at Sanford Health in rural Minnesota.

Kimberly has worked with individuals across the lifespan. She has experience delivering individual, family, and group therapy. She has been trained primarily in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Kimberly’s professional interests include community mental health, behavioral health integration, and multicultural psychology.

Kimberly enjoys reading, volunteer work, community building, and spending time with her pet rabbit Mr. Timothy

Jill Malik, MA
Clinical Psychology Extern

Jill Malik, M.A., is a clinical psychology extern at CUCARD Westchester. She received her B.A. from the University of Southern California and her M.A. in psychology from Pepperdine University. Jill is a fourth-year graduate student at Yeshiva University, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology's Combined School-Clinical Child Psychology PsyD program. Through her previous training experiences, Jill has provided individual and group therapy and conducted psychoeducational evaluations. Jill has received training in psychodynamic therapy and the provision of evidence-based interventions, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety, trauma, grief, and mood disorders. Jill’s doctoral research focuses on resilience as a preventative factor in suicide ideation and attempts among youth.

Lauren Gunther, BA
Social Work Intern

Lauren Gunther, B.A, is a social work intern at CUCARD Westchester, currently pursuing her Master of Social Work degree at Fordham University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Quinnipiac University. Lauren has extensive experience working with children across various age groups. In her previous internship at a high school, she provided individual counseling and co-facilitated both dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and social skills groups.

Outside of her professional interests, Lauren enjoys reading, hiking, and spending quality time with her family.

Diane Leach
Practice Manager

Diane Leach is the Practice Manager at CUCARD Westchester. Diane oversees all day-to-day and fiscal operations for CUCARD Westchester previously worked as the Administrative Coordinator for the Vice Chair of Clinical Services in Columbia's Department of Psychiatry. Before joining the Columbia team, Diane worked as the Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health. Diane brings her knowledge, efficiency and professionalism to the CUCARD Westchester with the goal of providing excellent customer service to all.

Debora Macarchuk, MPS
Anxiety Day Program Teacher

Debora Macarchuk, MPS, is a teacher in the Anxiety Day Program at CUCARD Westchester. She earned her BA in marketing and management from Siena College and completed her masters in elementary and special education from Manhattanville College. As a member of the CUCARD team, Debora is responsible for providing academic support and serving as the liaison between CUCARD and the patient's school district. Debora collaborates with clinicians, guidance counselors, and parents to provide a team approach to supporting patients in an academic setting. Previously, Debora has worked for a non-profit human service agency and several school districts in both Westchester and Putnam County. In her role as both a general education teacher and special education teacher, she supported a wide range of students in multiple classroom settings. 

Outside of work, Debora enjoys spending time with family, reading, and beach vacations.