Phone: 301.593.6554

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  • Mary K. Alvord, Ph.D Psychologist and Founder

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    Licensed psychologist and Founder of Alvord, Baker & Associates, Dr. Alvord has more than 40 years of clinical experience. Her work recognizes the importance of resilience in the framework of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Alvord specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents and adults with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, ADHD, and emotional and behavioral regulation problems.

    Dr. Alvord holds a position of Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. In 1977, she helped to establish a mental health clinic for children and adolescents through the Cheltenham Outreach Program. She served, first as a therapist, and later as the director of psychology training at the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA), a day and residential treatment center. She has served as training coordinator of the Post-Doctoral Institute on Child and Adolescent Psychology sponsored by the Maryland Psychological Association Foundation (2000-2002). Over the years, Dr. Alvord has given numerous presentations on child and adolescent disorders and on treatment for national and international professional audiences.

    For the past 30 years, Dr. Alvord has developed and refined a resilience-based group therapy model to improve social competence training. She has authored chapters on anxiety and resilience and has coauthored peer-reviewed journal articles on resilience and media ethics. She has made contributions to the American Psychological Association's (APA) public education guides on resilience and stress in children and teens. Dr. Alvord is the past president of the APA Division, Society for Media Psychology and Technology (2013), and served as APA's public education coordinator for the Maryland Psychological Association (2007-2020). Dr. Alvord frequently appears in the media; she has been interviewed by media outlets including Time, NYT, Better Homes and Gardens, Associated Press and health magazines, CNN, NPR, Washington Post, USA Todayand US News & World Report, and local as well as international TV on topics ranging from stress, anxiety, and social competence, to coping with adversity. Dr. Alvord also authored an essay for NPR Health Shots.

    In 2020, Dr. Alvord received a Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association for her lifelong dedication and passion for advancing the health and resilience of children, adolescents and their families through her innovative practice.  She was selected as the 2019 recipient of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (SCCAP)/APA Division 53 award for Promoting Evidence Based Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents. In 2015, Dr Alvord received the Distinguished Applied Contributions to Media Psychology and Technology, awarded by APA Division 46, Society for Media Psychology and Technology. In 2013, Dr. Alvord received the Outstanding Professional Contributions to Psychologyaward by the Maryland Psychological Association, and also the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Behavioral Science Association. Dr. Alvord was honored as the first recipient of the American Psychological Association's Presidential Innovative Practice Citation (2009).

    Dr. Alvord is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and Clinical Fellow of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

    Dr. Alvord is co-author of Resilience Builder Program for Children and Adolescents: Enhancing Social Competence and Self-Regulation — A Cognitive-Behavioral Group Approach (2011). Dr. Alvord is also co-author of Relaxation and Self-Regulation Techniques for Children and Teens: Mastering the Mind-Body Connection(compact disc and digital; released 2011); and for adults, Relaxation and Wellness Techniques: Mastering the Mind-Body Connection (compact disc and digital; released 2013). Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens: A Workbook to Break the Nine Thought Habits that are Holding You Back(2017) is her most recent co-authored book.

    Dr. Alvord has founded a non-profit charity, Resilience Across Borders, Inc. to promote mental health services to youth. Dr. Alvord was profiled in APA for her work in resilience: www.apa.org.

  • Rebecca Abrahams, LCSW-C Social Worker

    AbrahamsR_imageLicensed Clinical Social Worker in Maryland with experience providing individual and group therapy with over 15 years of experience, Ms. Abrahams earned her advanced social work degree from University of Maryland Baltimore. She has extensive experience working with children, adolescents and adults with a range of issues including anxiety, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, OCD, selective mutism, learning differences and parenting issues. Working as a school social worker in Maryland, Ms. Abrahams treated students with a range of learning, behavior and emotional issues. In addition, she has also worked in various inpatient and outpatient settings. Her specialty is in the treatment of children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, as well as children with anxiety, learning differences, social skills needs, ADHD, and cognitive rigidity. As well as working with children and adolescents, Ms. Abrahams works with parents to support effective parenting skills. Her knowledge of educational needs, along with individual and family needs enables Ms. Abrahams to comprehensively treat her clients. She utilizes an evidenced based approach to support changes in thoughts and behaviors, which allows clients to develop healthy coping skills.
  • Lynn F. Bufka, Ph.D, ABPP Psychologist

    Alvordbaker_LbufLicensed psychologist in Maryland, Dr. Bufka earned her doctorate from Boston University with pre-doctoral training at Brockton Veterans' Affairs Medical Center / Harvard Medical School . She completed post doctoral training at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University under the supervision of Dr. David Barlow. Her clinical expertise is in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder. In addition to the treatment of anxiety disorders in adolescents and adults, Dr. Bufka is interested in issues related to identity development and cross-cultural adaptation and has experience working with these issues with college students and young adults. Other professional interests include evidence based practice, outcomes management, and health policy.
  • Betsy Carmichael, LCSW-C Social Worker and Director

    Alvordbaker_BCLicensed clinical social worker in Maryland with experience providing individual and family therapy, Ms. Carmichael earned her advanced social work degree with a clinical concentration at The Catholic University of America. She has extensive experience treating children, adolescents, and adults who struggle with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, and effective parenting. She has worked as a school social worker in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. schools treating children with a range of learning and emotional disabilities. She also specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults on the autism spectrum and has had extensive experience running social competence groups and teaching parents and school staff how to promote generalization of these skills. She is trained in PMT (Parent Management Training) and SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) and currently runs a SPACE parent group. Another area of expertise for Ms. Carmichael is treating both children and adults with body focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) such as trichotillomania (hair pulling) and excoriation disorder (skin-picking). Ms. Carmichael is interested in promoting thought and behavior changes to help individuals enhance their self-esteem, develop coping strategies, and foster meaningful relationships.
  • Colleen Cummings, Ph.D Psychologist and Director of Research

    Alvordbaker_CCDr. Cummings (she/her) is a licensed psychologist, specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and depressive disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. She has extensive experience providing parenting training for parents/caregivers of youth with disruptive behavior and anxiety disorders. She recognizes the importance of implementing evidence-based treatments with cultural humility and acceptance of all client identities. Dr. Cummings is the Director of Research at Alvord, Baker & Associates, a Research Fellow at the nonprofit organization Resilience Across Borders, and a psychiatry resident therapy supervisor at Georgetown University. She has published journal articles and book chapters on topics including CBT for anxiety, mood disorders, and dissemination of effective treatments to the community. Dr. Cummings earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at Ohio State University and her predoctoral internship at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She has specialist training in CBT for youth anxiety disorders, which she pursued during her postdoctoral fellowship at the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University. She is clinician certified in the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in children and adolescents (UP-C/A)—a form of CBT that teaches clients new ways of responding to uncomfortable emotions. She is also certified in Kazdin Parent Management Training (KPMT) and has been trained to administer Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE).
  • Alison Kramer-Kuhn, Ph.D Psychologist

    Dr. Kramer-Kuhn, she/her, is a clinical psychologist licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Dr. Kramer-Kuhn earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed her predoctoral internship at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, VA, where she provided treatment for children hospitalized on an acute inpatient unit, as well as outpatient treatment and assessment for children with a variety of mental health and medical concerns. Dr. Kramer-Kuhn completed clinical postdoctoral work at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters’ Child Abuse Program in Norfolk, VA, where she provided evidence-based treatment to families with histories of maltreatment. Dr. Kramer-Kuhn has strong training and skills in cognitive behavioral therapy with interests in trauma, anxiety, and behavior problems. She is a Certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Therapist and has specialized training in Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), which is an brief intervention in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event to prevent the development of PTSD. Outside of her work at Alvord, Baker & Associates, Dr. Kramer-Kuhn is on the working Board of Directors of TRUE Center, a D.C.-based nonprofit focused on increasing access to trauma-informed services for children.
  • Erin Lewis-Morrarty, Ph.D. Psychologist

    Alvordbaker_ELMLicensed psychologist, Dr. Lewis-Morrarty, earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Delaware, with a particular focus on evidence-based assessment and intervention for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She provides evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral approaches to the assessment and treatment of childhood disorders. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, through which she provided a wide range of assessment, treatment, and consultation services for children and adolescents (ages 2–19 years) experiencing anxiety, depression, and attention and behavior problems. Dr. Lewis-Morrarty has also been a therapist for clinical research studies of a home-based intervention for foster parent-infant dyads and of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for depressed adults. She is also currently employed as a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the department of psychology at the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park, where she has acquired additional diagnostic experience as well as training in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a research-based treatment for young children with behavior problems (ages 4–7 years). Dr. Lewis-Morrarty has particular interests in working with parents and families to treat childhood anxiety, depression, and attention and behavior problems through a cognitive-behavioral framework. She additionally has experience and interest in providing CBT to adults with depression.
  • Keri Linas, Ph.D, Psy.D Psychologist and Director of Continuing Education

    Alvordbaker_KLDr. Keri Linas, She/her, is a clinical psychologist licensed in the District of Columbia and Maryland. She is PsyPact authorized to provide telehealth services in all PsyPact participating states (PsyPact Map). Dr. Linas obtained a dual doctoral degree (Ph.D. and Psy.D) at the University of Denver. She completed her internship at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC and her post-doctoral training at the Georgetown Center for Child and Human Development. Dr. Linas is passionate about the application of evidence informed treatments with children, teens, and parents. Dedicated to keeping her knowledge up-to-date, Dr. Linas continues post graduate training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT) and Exposure with Response Prevention including the Behavior Therapy Training Institute at the International OCD Foundation and professional consultations groups. She is certified in the Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UPC/A), which is a form of CBT that helps individuals learn new ways of responding to uncomfortable emotions. She is also certified in Kazdin Parent Management Training (KPMT), and has been trained to administer Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). Dr. Linas has broad experience working with preschoolers, children, and adolescents with Anxiety, OCD and OCD- related disorders; ADHD; Autism; and mood disorders including Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. She collaborates with schools and other professionals to support the optimal function of her patients. Dr. Linas values cultural humility, acceptance of neurodiversity, and gender affirming care. She has specialized training and extensive experience working with gender nonconforming people and aims to provide a safe and understanding space to explore identity. She understands the intersection between autism and gender dysphoria and seeks to support youth on their journeys. Dr. Linas also enjoys teaching and training other mental health providers how to provide evidence-based treatments to youth and is a psychiatry resident therapy supervisor at Georgetown University. She directs Alvord Baker’s Continuing Education Program, approved as APA and NYS CE sponsors.
  • Heather Loffredo, Psy.D Psychologist and Director of Psychological Testing

    Heather_IMG_0458Licensed psychologist with expertise in psychotherapy with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Dr. Loffredo completed her pre-doctoral training at Children’s National Medical Center's Neurodevelopmental Clinic, where she gained experience assessing children with developmental delays, and Children’s National Medical Center at HSC Pediatric Center, where she specialized in psychological treatment and assessment of pediatric populations. During her internship in a community mental health center and post-doctoral training, she concentrated extensively on group and individual therapy with children, adolescents, and adults and psychoeducational and clinical assessments. Dr. Loffredo has also worked as the lead psychologist for Friendship Public Charter Schools, where she focused on treatment of children with special education needs, including academic, behavioral, and social-emotional difficulties. Specific areas of clinical expertise and interest include: psychoeducational and psychological evaluations, parent training, and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with social deficits, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, mood disorders, behavioral challenges, grief and loss, issues related to self-esteem, stress-management, chronic pain, and co-morbid medical diagnoses.
  • Elizabeth Malesa, Ph.D Psychologist and Director

    Alvord_ElizabethMLicensed psychologist in Maryland who received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Vanderbilt University and completed her internship and post-doctoral training in Pediatric Psychology at the A. I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. Dr. Malesa has experience providing a broad range of consultation, assessment, and intervention services for children, adolescents, and their families, with particular expertise in developmental disorders of infancy and childhood (e.g., autism spectrum disorder). Dr. Malesa has provided mental health services in a variety of settings including the early intervention system, hospitals, pediatric primary care, community mental health clinics, and private practice. With regard to psychotherapy, she uses empirically-grounded treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavior therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Specific services include individual and family therapy for anxiety disorders, OCD, ADHD, depressive disorders, mood dysregulation, autism spectrum disorder, encopresis/enuresis, and feeding disorders, as well as parenting strategies for children with disruptive behaviors. She also specializes in conducting comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for children with a variety of presenting conditions including ADHD, executive function dysregulation, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and mood and anxiety disorders. Outside of her work at Alvord, Baker & Associates, Dr. Malesa is an Adjunct Professor in the Master's in Clinical Psychological Science program at the University of Maryland, College Park. In addition, she is the coordinator for the Montgomery County Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) parent support group.
  • Lindsay Myerberg, Ph.D Psychologist

    Photo of Dr. Lindsay Myerberg Licensed psychologist, Dr. Myerberg has experience treating children, adolescents, and young adults with a range of clinical presentations including mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, behavioral difficulties, ADHD, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal/relational problems. Her integrative clinical approach emphasizes evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that is culturally sensitive and incorporates techniques from other empirically supported treatments such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), behavioral parent training (BPT), and dialectical strategies. Dr. Myerberg earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Temple University, where her research focused on risk and resilience factors associated with youth psychosocial adjustment across developmental periods. Dr. Myerberg completed her predoctoral internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Unit, where she led dialectical behavior therapy skills groups for adolescents, as well as gained training in trauma focused-cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). She is currently completing her postdoctoral fellowship at Alvord, Baker & Associates. Dr. Myerberg also has extensive training in the assessment and treatment of youth anxiety disorders through her experience providing exposure therapy in the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University under the supervision of Dr. Philip Kendall. She has provided individual, group, and parent-focused therapy, as well as comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological assessments, across a range of additional settings, including community and specialty clinics, hospitals, and schools.
  • Nina Shiffrin Starin, Ph.D Psychologist and Director of Research

    Alvordbaker_NS Licensed psychologist, Dr. Shiffrin has experience treating children, adolescents, and adults with a range of clinical presentations including behavioral difficulties, mood and anxiety disorders, and difficulties regulating emotions.  Dr. Shiffrin earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Yale University. While at Yale she received her certification in Kazdin Parent Management Training (KPMT), an evidence-based treatment for children with behavior problems, under the supervision of Dr. Alan Kazdin. She also received her certification in dialectical-behavior therapy for children (DBT-C) with emotion dysregulation and was trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with anxiety and mood disorders at the Yale Center for Anxiety and Mood Disorders. Dr. Shiffrin completed her predoctoral internship at Temple University under the supervision of Dr. Philip Kendall, where she gained experience providing the Coping Cat treatment, a cognitive-behavioral therapy program for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. She has provided individual, family based, and group therapy in a variety of clinical settings including outpatient, school, and intensive outpatient programs utilizing empirically supported treatments.
  • Kelly Trimble, LCSW-C, Social Worker

    Photo of Kelly Trimble, LCISWLicensed clinical social worker in Maryland and Washington, D.C. with over 15 years experience working with children, adolescents and adults, Ms. Trimble earned her advanced social work degree with a clinical concentration at The University of Maryland with a specialization in Trauma-Focused Evidence Based Treatments. She has extensive experience treating children, adolescents, and adults who struggle with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, grief, adjustment and trauma-related disorders. She headed her own practice in Dakar, Senegal which specialized in working with children, adolescents and adults with mood-related disorders in the context of living abroad. Ms. Trimble uses a person-centered approach utilizing evidence-based treatments such as CBT, TF-CBT, IFS and others to provide clients coping tools and strategies around their thoughts, emotions and behaviors and to implement meaningful changes in their lives to achieve their goals.
  • Tom Verratti, LCSW-C, BCD Social Worker

    Alvordbaker_TVMr. Verratti is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 40 years of clinical experience. He has served as a consultant to the Montgomery County (Maryland) Child Mental Health Staff, MCPS as well as private secondary schools and served as Chief Clinical Social Worker for a private child psychiatry practice for over 15 years. He also served as the Clinical Program Director for an alternative residential treatment center for Court referred drug abusing adolescents. Mr. Verratti specializes in family therapy and couples therapy and works individually with adolescents, children, and adults. He also works with children and adolescents in resiliency building social skills group therapy. Additionally, Mr. Verratti is a Life and Executive Coach. 

  • Candice Watson, Ph.D Psychologist

    Photo of Dr. WatsonLicensed psychologist in Maryland, Dr. Watson specializes in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. She also has extensive training working with children with ADHD. Dr. Watson received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Catholic University of America and completed her predoctoral internship from Children’s National in Washington, DC. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington. Dr. Watson also has experience providing assessment and intervention services for children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings including Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, Child and Family Therapy Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD), and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Watson uses empirically-grounded treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavior therapy, parent management training (PMT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP). Specific services include individual therapy for anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, OCD, ADHD, emotion dysregulation, behavior challenges in young children (as young as 4 years old), sleep difficulties, food aversions, as well as parenting strategies for children with anxiety and ADHD. Furthermore, Dr. Watson also has extensive experience running social competence groups for kids with anxiety, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders.
  • Rachel Weinstock, Ph.D Psychologist

    Photograph of Dr. Rachel WeinstockLicensed psychologist, Dr. Rachel Weinstock specializes in evidence-based, culturally-sensitive cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Dr. Weinstock has experience providing a broad range of assessment and intervention services for children, adolescents, and adults. She has particular expertise in CBT and exposure and response prevention (ERP) for youth with anxiety and related disorders. Dr. Weinstock received her PhD from Georgia State University, where she focused her research on associations between parenting behaviors and youth anxiety. She completed her predoctoral internship in the Behavior Management and Child and Family Therapy clinics at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. During her predoctoral internship training, Dr. Weinstock provided evidence-based individual, family, and parent-focused services for children and families with a wide range of concerns, including behavioral dysregulation, anxiety, depression, and ADHD. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Anxiety Disorders Program at Children's National Hospital, where she specialized in the treatment of children and adolescents with concerns including OCD, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, selective mutism, and separation anxiety disorder. She has provided individual, family-based, parent-focused, and group therapy in a variety of clinical settings including outpatient, hospital, and intensive outpatient programs.
  • Sue Wilson, Ph.D Psychologist

    ABA-swsmallLicensed psychologist, Dr. Wilson earned a double doctoral degree in Clinical and Applied Social Psychology from Vanderbilt University, where she gained experience with children, teens and adults in outpatient, inpatient and school settings. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Children's National Medical Center. Dr. Wilson pursued post-doctoral training in cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents and family therapy at the George Mason University Center for Psychological Services. She also received training in neuropsychological assessment and therapy with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children's National Health System. Dr. Wilson utilizes evidence-based therapies, cognitive behavioral (CBT) and systems frameworks, in her work with children, adolescents and adults with a range of anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, and autism spectrum disorders. In addition, she has extensive experience working with parents providing parenting strategies behavioral parent management training.
  • Lemuel Yutzy, Ph.D. LCSW-C Social Worker and Director

    Alvordbaker_LYLicensed Clinical Social Worker in Maryland and Virginia. Dr. Yutzy has extensive psychotherapy experience working with adolescents and adults in individual and group settings. Dr. Yutzy earned his graduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and his PhD from The Catholic University of America. Dr. Yutzy has worked as a mobile clinician, in outpatient settings, and as an in-school therapist for middle school and high-school students. He has clinical experience in crisis intervention, assessment, and diagnosis and has worked with individuals, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds surrounding issues of mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, parenting concerns, spiritual dissonance, and psychosexual development. Dr. Yutzy has been trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and a variety of evidence-based therapies.

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