Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Evidence-Based Therapy in Media, PA
Inna Leiter, Psy.D.
Specializing in Child and Adolescent Treatment For: Anxiety, OCD, and Behavior Problems for Young Children (PCIT)
Dr. Inna Leiter is the Director of the Center for CBT. She has been trained on the cutting-edge, gold standard treatments within the field of clinical psychology throughout her graduate studies at Harvard University and the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium. Her scientific research at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University have led her to author a peer-reviewed scholarly journal article and present at multiple national conventions. She has provided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of clinical settings, including academic medical centers and outpatient mental health centers. With certifications in Trauma-Focused CBT and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), as well as expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Exposure/Response Prevention for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Dr. Leiter employs evidence-based treatments for disruptive behaviors (ages 2-7), anxiety disorders, and OCD.
Commencement Speech by Dr. Leiter
Filmed at Stanford University, 2016
Lauren Hallinan, LPC
Specializing in Child and Adolescent Treatment For: Behavior Problems (including PCIT), ADHD, Autism, and ADHD Evaluation
Lauren Hallinan is a National Board Certified Counselor and Licensed Behavioral Specialist with a sub-specialty in evidence-based treatments for children and adolescents experiencing difficulties related to behavior problems, Autism, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She is a nationally certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapist (PCIT) with particular expertise in treating children ages 2-7 with severe acting out behaviors (e.g. intense tantrums, defiance, aggression). Moreover, she has extensive experience with treating Autism (across all levels of severity) and ADHD with a focus on empowering caregivers with the most effective, empirically-supported tools to help their children thrive. Lauren is skilled at utilizing humor, warmth, and her extensive base of knowledge to engage kids in meaningful treatment programs that improve not just the child's functioning, but that of the entire family.
Gabrielle Massi, Psy.D.
Specializing in Child and Adolescent Treatment For: OCD, Anxiety, Trauma, Grief, Behavior Problems for Young Children (PCIT), and ADHD/Autism Assessment
Dr. Gabrielle Massi is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Center for CBT. Dr. Massi completed her graduate training at La Salle University, with a specialty in child clinical psychology. Dr. Massi continued her training as a doctoral intern at Intercommunity Action providing services for children, families, adults, and couples. Dr. Massi completed her post doctoral training at the Center for CBT. Dr. Massi has experience working in a variety of settings with children and adolescents, including outpatient clinics, schools, in home, and residential facilities. Dr. Massi specializes in providing evidenced-based treatments to children and families, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP),Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills. Dr. Massi has a breadth of expertise treating individuals with behavioral difficulties, anxiety, OCD, trauma, grief, and autism. Dr. Massi also specializes in conducting Autism and ADHD evaluations. Dr. Massi aims to help families and children gain the confidence to utilize effective tools and to create positive outcomes and change in the family’s functioning.
Theresa Egan, Ph.D.
Specializing in Child and Adolescent Treatment For: ADHD, Behavior Problems, Executive Functioning Difficulties, Anxiety, and ADHD evaluation
Dr. Theresa Egan is a clinical psychologist who has advanced training in evidence-based, gold standard treatments for children and adolescents, including behavioral interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and organizational skills training. In addition to clinical settings, Dr. Egan has worked in schools and gained extensive experience providing consultation to school staff on evidence-based behavioral interventions. Dr. Egan completed her graduate studies at Appalachian State University and Ohio University, as well as an internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in the Center for Management of ADHD at CHOP. Dr. Egan has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed research publications and presented extensively at professional research conferences, primarily on interventions to address ADHD and executive functioning concerns in youth. She specializes in interventions for children and adolescents with ADHD, behavioral concerns (i.e. oppositional defiance, tantrums), executive functioning difficulties (i.e. organization, planning, time management), and anxiety. Dr. Egan uses a collaborative, warm, and supportive approach to design and implement evidence-based interventions that work for each family's needs.
Bernadette Dougherty, Psy.D.
Specializing in Adolescent and Adult Treatment for: Anxiety, Depression, Perfectionism, Trauma, Suicide, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Chronic Pain, Chronic Illness, Gender Affirming Evaluations and Care, Pre-Surgical Evaluations, Sleep Interventions, Borderline Personality Disorder, and High Risk Behaviors
Dr. Bernadette Dougherty is a clinical psychologist who specializes in evidence-based treatments for adolescents and adults, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). Her approach to treatment is collaborative, individualized, warm, and validating.
Dr. Dougherty completed her doctoral degree at La Salle University, training at sites including the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Cognitive Therapy, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Corporal Michael V. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She has authored several peer-reviewed research publications and presented at professional research conferences. Her dissertation, Longitudinal Impact of Parental Catastrophizing on Child Functional Disability in Pediatric Amplified Pain, was published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology. Dr. Dougherty completed her doctoral internship at Montefiore Medical Center in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, receiving extensive training in evidence-based interventions for trauma, anxiety, depression, crisis intervention, solid organ transplant, chronic illness, and gender-affirming care. She completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Princeton University, with advanced specialty training in DBT, trauma, and harm reduction approaches to substance use.
Kennedy Wong, Psy.D.
Specializing in Adolescent and Adult Treatment For: OCD, Panic Attacks, Trauma, Self-Esteem, and Adjustment to Cancer Diagnosis/Treatment/Survivorship
Dr. Kennedy Wong is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at the Center for CBT. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania in three years, Dr. Wong completed her doctoral training at La Salle University. She continued on as a doctoral intern at Christiana Care Health System, providing services for cancer patients and their family members. Most recently, she published A Scoping Review of Psychosocial Interventions Promoting Posttraumatic Growth in Oncology, in the Journal for Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice (JPORP). Dr. Wong also provided outpatient psychotherapy as an integrated behavioral health consultant within a primary care office treating individuals 13 and older. Moreover, at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Cognitive Therapy, she provided psychodiagnostic assessments and psychotherapy to adults presenting with a variety of anxiety, depressive, and trauma-related concerns. She has experience working in a range of other settings with adults, adolescents, and families, including community mental health centers, primary care offices, and hospital facilities. Dr. Wong has a breadth of experience treating and assessing individuals with depressive disorders, trauma, generalized anxiety, social and performance-based anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties. She has additional experience treating illness anxiety, caregiver distress, and helping clients cope with cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Dr. Wong currently specializes in providing evidence based treatments (i.e., CBT, ERP, CPT, MCPT) for adults and adolescents coping with OCD, panic attacks, trauma, low self-esteem, and the adjustment to cancer diagnosis/treatment/survivorship. Dr. Wong aims to empower her clients to learn cognitive and behavioral strategies for managing life’s stressors and building a life worth living.
Jenny Plotnick, Psy.D.
Specializing in Child and Adolescent Treatment For: OCD, Anxiety, Behavioral Problems for Young Children (PCIT), and Executive Functioning Difficulties
Dr. Jenny Plotnick is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for CBT. Dr. Plotnick completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Michigan and her doctoral training at La Salle University, with a specialty in Child Clinical Psychology. Dr. Plotnick continued her training as a doctoral intern at Intercommunity Action, where she provided services for children, adults, and families. Dr. Plotnick specializes in providing evidence-based treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in various settings, including outpatient clinics, hospitals, and schools. Dr. Plotnick has expertise in working with children and adolescents presenting with anxiety, depression, and trauma. She is skilled in working with children and their families to address behavioral challenges at home and in school. In addition, she has expertise in working with mothers who are experiencing postpartum depression. Dr. Plotnick works to empower her clients with the necessary skills to explore emotions, identify and understand unhelpful thought and behavioral patterns, and develop effective coping techniques so that they can engage in more successful interactions and relationships with family and friends at home and in school. She strives to create a warm, supportive, safe, and collaborative environment that provides a space for hope and positive change.
Kelsey Gaier, Ph.D.
Specializing in Child and Adolescent Treatment For: Behavior Problems (including Parent Management Training), Anxiety, OCD, School Consultation, and Psycho-Educational/Autism/ADHD Assessment
Dr. Kelsey Gaier is a Licensed Psychologist at the Center for CBT. Dr. Gaier completed advanced training in School Psychology at Lehigh University, where she worked extensively with school-aged children and families with a variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and academic concerns. Dr. Gaier continued her training as a doctoral intern at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, where she provided individual, group, and family therapy in both school and pediatric primary care settings, utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) approaches. Throughout her training, Dr. Gaier has provided consultation to school-based staff on evidence-based behavioral interventions and to families on supporting their children’s mental health. She has presented at professional conferences and co-authored numerous peer reviewed publications, all focused on comprehensively supporting children/adolescents’ academic and behavioral functioning across settings.
Dr. Gaier specializes in treating and assessing individuals with behavioral problems (e.g., school refusal, defiance, etc.), anxiety, and OCD. As a state certified school psychologist, Dr. Gaier is also trained in psycho-educational evaluative techniques and educational (including special education) processes and procedures. In all areas of practice, Dr. Gaier relies on evidence-based practices and an individual approach, building positive and collaborative relationships along the way.
Dayna Younis, Ph.D.
Specializing in Child and Adolescent Treatment For: Anxiety, Behavior Problems (including PCIT), School Consultation, and Psychoeducational/ADHD/Autism Assessments
Dr. Dayna Younis is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for CBT. She received her master’s degree in counseling psychology and completed her PhD training in school psychology at Lehigh University.
Dr. Younis specializes in providing evidence-based treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), for children and adolescents experiencing behavioral problems and/or anxiety. As a Pennsylvania certified school psychologist, Dr. Younis also has a passion for using her knowledge of evidence-based treatments, as well as school procedures and processes, to advocate for the well-being of students.
Dr. Younis works with children and adolescents, as well as their caregivers and educators, to create a positive and effective support system around the child. She uses a caring, supportive, and collaborative approach to design an evidence-based treatment plan that works for each client’s individual needs. Dr. Younis strives to empower youth to gain control of their thoughts and behaviors while also supporting adults in gaining the skills and knowledge they need to help their youth thrive!
Michael Silverstein, Ph.D.
Specializing in Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Treatment for: Anxiety, OCD, Panic Attacks, Needle Phobia, Medication Adherence, Sleep Difficulties, Coping with Chronic Illness, and Behavior Problems in Young Children (PCIT)
Dr. Michael Silverstein is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for CBT. He earned his undergraduate degree from Yeshiva University with a double major in psychology and biology, as well as his doctoral degree in clinical psychology, with a focus on child and adolescent psychology, at Drexel University. Dr. Silverstein then completed his doctoral internship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and its affiliated Kennedy Krieger Institute, obtaining advanced training in evidence-based interventions for youth and young adults with psychological and related medical concerns.
Dr. Silverstein has also completed clinical training at Penn Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Nemours Children's Health, where he frequently collaborated with schools and medical providers to optimize care. Additionally, as part of his clinical research at Drexel University, he delivered and trained others in the delivery of a social-emotional learning program in school settings. He has also provided behavior management training to schools and after-school programs.
Dr. Silverstein specializes in providing evidence-based treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), behavior therapy, Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP). He also utilizes approaches from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Silverstein employs warmth, humor, and a strengths-based approach to guide youth and their families in the journey to reduce distress and improve functioning.
Caroline Martin, Ph.D.
Specializing in Child and Adolescent Treatment for: ADHD, Anxiety, OCD, Early Childhood Mental Health (behavior problems, anxiety, toileting, sleep, feeding, selective mutism, trauma, daycare/PreK consultation), and ADHD evaluation
Dr. Caroline Martin is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Center for CBT, specializing in providing evidence-based assessment and intervention services for youth experiencing a range of concerns such as ADHD, behavioral challenges, anxiety, OCD, selective mutism, depression, and trauma.
She completed her graduate training at the University of Vermont and her doctoral internship at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Dr. Martin is particularly passionate about working with very young children (ages 2-6) and their families, and received state-of-the-art specialty training in the area of infant and early childhood mental health while completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Dr. Martin has worked across a wide variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, schools/early learning centers, pediatric primary care, acute care, and inpatient pediatric care. She draws on gold-standard treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and group-based programs such as the Incredible Years. In addition to providing clinical care, Dr. Martin is dedicated to applied research, policy, and advocacy centered on advancing equitable systems of high-quality mental healthcare delivery across the nation. She has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles and has presented at professional research conferences across the country on topics such as the assessment and treatment of ADHD, prevention of postpartum depression, and approaches to improving trauma-informed practices within school settings.
Dr. Martin utilizes a warm, collaborative, and strength-based approach to establish meaningful connections with children and families and support each individual in their unique therapeutic journey.