About

I am a licensed clinical psychologist, board certified registered art therapist, certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior therapist, and trained in therapy for Prolonged Grief Disorder. Therapy. My background includes training and experience in child, adolescent and adult inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, as well as a special interest and background working with children, families and adults impacted by trauma, illness and death.

Educational background includes Magna Cum Laude graduate of Smith College, Masters in Art Therapy, New York University, and Masters and Ph.D. in clinical/school psychology from Derner Institute where I received the Kalike Research Award, Currently I am Associate Director of Public Education and Bereavement for Child HELP Partnership, St. John’s University. Previously I established child life and behavioral health programs at pediatric cancer services at Mt. Sinai and NYU Medical Center. Trauma and disaster work includes as past Director of Family Programs at Voices of September 11, Executive Director and bereavement program director for A Caring Hand Founded in Memory of Billy Esposito and Co-Director of the NYU Child Study Center 9/11 Child and Family Recovery Program. I have consulted on trauma and grief related issues to the Department of Defense Educational Directorate and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

To develop the field, I have held leadership positions at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and state and national professional organizations and served as the Chair of the NY State Psychological Association Disaster Response Network. Being committed to increasing mental health awareness through various media, I developed Caring for Kids After Trauma and Death: A Guide for Parents and Professionals used throughout the country after 9/11. I am the developer of Making Connections, a child and family grief group curriculum. Book credits include, Childhood Revealed: Art Expressing Pain, Discovery and Hope, The Day Our World Changed: Children’s Art of 9/11, Ready to Remember: Jeremy’s Journey of Hope and Healing, and Rosie Remembers: Forever in Her Heart