The HVCCT offers a free telephone consultation with Dr. Christine Ziegler, Director, to assess each client’s specific therapeutic needs. We understand the importance of choosing a therapist. Our priority is making the best match to ensure our clients feel comfortable with their therapists and confident they are receiving the highest quality care.
Meet Our Staff
- Christine Ratto Ziegler, Ph.D.
- Janelle Brown, Ph.D.
- Yoav Cohen, Ph.D.
- Robyn Connuck Jacobson, Psy.D.
- Kevin Kulic, Ph.D.
- Kathariya Mokrue, Ph.D.
- Jordana Muhlmeister, Psy.D.
- Heather Carpenter-Sarmiento, Psy.D.
- Gina Scharoun, Ph.D.
Christine Ratto Ziegler, Ph.D.
Dr. Ziegler is the Founder and Director of the HVCCT. She earned her Ph.D. from Hahnemann University and completed her two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Cognitive Therapy at the Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. Her specialties include:
- Depression and Mood Disorders
- Panic Disorder / Agoraphobia
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Trichotillomania (Compulsive Hair Pulling, Skin Picking)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (chronic worry and anxiety)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Social Anxiety
- Phobias
- Fear of Flying
- Relationship Issues
- Stress-related Medical Conditions (including headaches and irritable bowel syndrome)
- Low Self-esteem
- Personality Disorders
- Workplace Stress
- Schema-focused Cognitive Therapy
The author of several published articles and book chapters, Dr. Ziegler regularly offers talks and seminars to both professionals and the general public. She is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, an organization that certifies those who have demonstrated an advanced level of expertise in Cognitive Therapy.
In 2003, Dr. Ziegler was honored by the Rockland Economic Development Corporation and the Rockland Business Association for its Forty Under 40 list of Rockland's professional leaders who have demonstrated commitment to professional excellence and the positive impact of individuals on the Rockland community.
Janelle Brown, Ph.D.
Dr. Brown earned her doctorate in School, Community, and Clinical Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Child Study Center at New York University. She has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her specialties include:
- Childhood and Adult Anxiety
(e.g., panic attacks, agoraphobia, worry, social anxiety, phobias) - Childhood and Adult Depression and Mood Disorders
- Developmental Disabilities (e.g., Autism, Asperger Syndrome,
Pervasive Developmental Disorder) - Childhood Adjustment Disorders (including divorce and school)
- Childhood Trauma
- Sexual Abuse
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Impulse Control Problems
- Anger Management
- Academic/Learning Difficulties
- Perfectionism
- Behavior Modification
- Family Therapy
- Parent Training and Coaching
- Grieving and Loss
- Personality Disorders
As well as receiving specialized training in Cognitive Therapy, Dr. Brown has significant experience in neuropsychological/psychological assessment and expertise in evaluating cognitive and academic skills, learning aptitudes, personality and emotional development, social skills, learning environment and school climate, and eligibility for special education.
Dr. Brown has been invited to speak at various schools and professional conferences. Topics have included the evaluation and treatment of child sexual abuse, psychological assessment, and violence in teen dating.
Yoav Cohen, Ph.D.
Dr. Cohen received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has received extensive specialized training in Cognitive Therapy. He completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Cognitive Therapy for mood, anxiety, and personality disorders at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Weil Cornell Medical College, an internship at the Cornell Cognitive Therapy Clinic, and an advanced training program at the renowned Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research. He holds a faculty appointment at Yeshiva University and the Albert Einstein School of Medicine and is a certified member of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, an organization that certifies those who have demonstrated an advanced level of expertise in Cognitive Therapy. Dr. Cohen works with adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families, and specializes in the following areas:
- Anxiety (e.g., panic attacks, agoraphobia, worry, social anxiety, phobias)
- Social Anxiety
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Trichotillomania (Compulsive Hair Pulling, Skin Picking)
- Panic Disorder / Agoraphobia
- Depression and Mood Disorders
- Eating Disorders/Weight Management
- Insomnia and Sleep-Related Difficulties
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Personality Disorders
- Parent Training
- Group Therapy
- Schema-focused Cognitive Therapy
Dr. Cohen is licensed in both New York and Israel and speaks fluent Hebrew. He has published several research articles and has been an invited speaker at a number of prestigious national and international conferences on the treatment of anxiety.
Robyn Connuck Jacobson, Psy.D.
Dr. Connuck Jacobson earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Yeshiva University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System. She works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Her specialties include:
- Childhood, Adolescent, and Adult Trauma
- Childhood and Adult Depression and Mood Disorders
- Childhood and Adult Anxiety
(e.g., panic attacks, agoraphobia, worry, social anxiety, phobias) - Childhood and Adolescent Adjustment Problems (including school and divorce)
- Childhood Behavioral and Emotional Problems
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Separation Anxiety
- Issues Related to Foster Care and Adoption
- Substance Abuse
- Eating Disorders
- Weight Management
- Anger Management
- Family Therapy
- Parenting Skills
- Behavior Modification
Dr. Connuck Jacobson also has extensive experience in formalized testing and is available to perform psychological assessments for adults, children, and adolescents. Areas of assessment include intelligence, developmental disabilities, and personality and emotional issues.
In 2004, Dr. Connuck Jacobson was honored by the Rockland Economic Development Corporation and the Rockland Business Association for its Forty Under 40 list of Rockland's professional leaders who have demonstrated commitment to professional excellence and the positive impact of individuals on the Rockland community.
Kevin Kulic, Ph.D.
Dr. Kulic received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Pederson-Krag Center. He works with adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families. Dr. Kulic's specialties include:
- Depression and Mood Disorders
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Panic Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (chronic worry and anxiety)
- Social Anxiety
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Grieving and Loss
- Relationship Issues/Couples Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Parenting Skills
- Anger Management
- Personality Disorders
- Crisis Intervention
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Issues
- Career Counseling
- Group Therapy
Dr. Kulic also assists individuals in determining career paths that are well suited to their strengths and interests, and provides psychological testing for those with learning disabilities and giftedness.
In addition to his work at the HVCCT, Dr. Kulic is an Assistant Professor at Mercy College, where he teaches at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He has worked extensively with survivors and family members of 9/11, and his research studies have included such topics as the effects of 9/11 on college students and the efficacy of groups for prevention. The past president of the Georgia Association for Specialists in Group Work, Dr. Kulic has been an invited speaker at various colleges and universities in the country and has written several articles in the areas of group therapy and psychometrics.
Kathariya Mokrue, Ph.D.
Dr. Mokrue earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Traumatic Stress Studies at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. In addition to her position at the HVCCT, Dr. Mokrue is a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Dr. Mokrue has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her specialties include:
- Childhood and Adult Depression and Mood Disorders
- Childhood and Adult Anxiety
(e.g., panic attacks, agoraphobia, worry, social anxiety, phobias) - Childhood and Adult Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Childhood Adjustment Disorders (including divorce and school)
- Trauma
- Anger Management
- Academic/Learning Difficulties
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Impulse Control Problems
- Perfectionism
- Behavior Modification
- Personality Disorders
- Family Therapy
- Parent Training and Coaching
- Acculturation and Immigration-related issues
- Grieving and Loss
An accomplished instructor and lecturer, Dr. Mokrue has been invited to speak at various hospitals and professional conferences. Topics have included the implementation of empirically validated treatments in school settings and the evaluation and treatment of traumatic injury survivors.
Jordana Muhlmeister, Psy.D.
Dr. Muhlmeister earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Montefiore Medical Center's Child and Adolescent Outpatient Program. She has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Her specialties include:
- Childhood and Adult Depression and Mood Disorders
- Childhood and Adult Anxiety
(e.g., panic attacks, agoraphobia, worry, social anxiety, phobias) - Developmental Disabilities
- Childhood Adjustment Disorders (including school and divorce)
- Childhood Trauma
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Developmental Disabilities
(e.g., Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome) - Foster Care and Adoption Related Issues
- Family Therapy
- Parenting Skills
- Behavior Modification
- Personality Disorders
- Impulse Control Problems
- Issues Related to Health Problems and/or Reproductive Difficulties
Dr. Muhlmeister has been invited to speak on several occasions at schools and treatment centers in our area, as well as at professional conferences. She has conducted workshops for teachers and parents on how to deal with adolescents who are depressed and exhibit self-destructive behaviors.
In 2004, Dr. Muhlmeister was honored by the Rockland Economic Development Corporation and the Rockland Business Association for its Forty Under 40 list of Rockland's professional leaders who have demonstrated commitment to professional excellence and the positive impact of individuals on the Rockland community.
Heather Carpenter-Sarmiento, Psy.D.
Dr. Carpenter-Sarmiento earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Nassau University Medical Center. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center specializing in the treatment of trauma, mood, anxiety, and substance disorders.
Dr. Carpenter-Sarmiento has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her specialties include:
- Childhood and Adult Depression and Mood Disorders
- Childhood and Adult Anxiety
(e.g., panic attacks, agoraphobia, worry, social anxiety, phobias) - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Trauma
- Stress Reduction
- Anger Management
- Addiction/Substance Abuse
- Social Skills Training
- Adoption and Adoption Related Issues
(e.g., adoption process, adoption stigma, identity, adoptee self-esteem, searching) - Infertility/Reproductive Difficulties
- Medical/Health Psychology
(e.g., helping individuals adapt to medical conditions and physical impairments,
including strokes and brain injuries) - Study Skills Training
- Parent Training
- Relationship Issues
- Behavior Modification
- Assessment (e.g., Intelligence, Personality)
- Grieving and Loss
Dr. Carpenter-Sarmiento also has participated in research projects that investigated a wide range of topics, including the prenatal effects of alcohol, cognitive processes and development in children, and adenoviral gene therapy in the treatment of pulmonary and cardiothoracic disease. She has co-authored a number of professional articles and book chapters related to these topics and has been invited to speak on several occasions on issues pertaining to adoption.
Gina Scharoun, Ph.D.
Dr. Scharoun earned her Bachelor’s degree at Brown University and her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Vermont. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Child and Family Therapy at the Pederson-Krag Center.
Dr. Scharoun has expertise in working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her specialties include:
- Childhood and Adult Anxiety
(e.g., panic attacks, agoraphobia, worry, social anxiety, phobias) - Separation Anxiety, School Refusal
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Social Anxiety
- Child/Adolescent Social Difficulties
- Phobias
- Childhood and Adult Depression and Mood Disorders
- Childhood Adjustment Disorders (including divorce and school)
- Trauma (e.g., Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Perfectionism
- Parent Training and Coaching
- Grieving and Loss
- Low Self-esteem
- Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine
- Insomnia, Sleep Difficulties
- Coping with chronic medical conditions
(including stroke, cancer, MS, diabetes)
Dr. Scharoun has been invited to speak at a number of colleges and professional conferences on such topics as assessment and treatment of child and adolescent depression, the treatment of phobias and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and racism. She has also participated in a number of research projects that investigated AIDS prevention, sleep, and smoking cessation.
Staff Publications
Newman, C. F. & Ratto, C. L. (2003). Cognitive therapy for narcissistic personality disorder. In M. Reinecke and D. Clark (Eds.), Cognitive Therapy across the life span. New York: Cambridge.
Ratto, C. L. & Capitano, D. L. (1999). New directions in cognitive therapy: A schema-focused approach. Cognitive-Behavioral Practice, 6, 68-73.
Newman, C. F. & Ratto, C. L. (1999). Cognitive therapy for substance abuse. In E. T. Dowd & L. Rugle (Eds.), Comparative treatments of substance abuse (pp. 96-126). New York: Springer.
Ratto, C. L. (1994). Gender differences in the relationship between academic self-esteem and academic achievement. Der Zeitgeist, 1, 109-118.
Cohen, Y., Lachenmeyer, J.R., & Springer, C. (2003). Anxiety and selective attention in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 41, 1311-1323.
Glickson, J. & Cohen, Y. (2000). Can music alleviate cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia? Psychopathology, 33, 43-47.
Kulic, K. R., Horne A. M., & Dagley, J. C. (2004). A comprehensive review of prevention groups for children and adolescents. Group Dynamics, 8(2), 139-151.
Kulic, K. R., (2003). Group work with family members of 9/11. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 26(3), 195-198.
Kulic, K. R., Dagley, J. C., & Horne, A. M. (2001). Prevention groups with children and adolescents. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 26 (3), 211-218.
Owens, P. C. & Kulic, K. R. (2001). What's needed now: Using groups for prevention. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 26 (3), 205-210.
Dagley, J. C., Campbell, L.F., Kulic, K.R., & Dagley, P.L. (1999). Identification of subscales and analysis of reliability of an encouragement scale for children. Journal of Individual Psychology, 55(3), 355-364.
Cooper, D.L., Miller, T.K., Saunders, S.A., Chernow, E., & Kulic, K. R. (1999). Professional development advice from past presidents of ACPA and NASPA. Journal of College Student Development, 40(4), 396-403.
Mokrue, K., Elias, M., & Bry, B. (in preparation). Gender Differences in the Predictors of Social Competence and Problem behaviors among Urban Elementary School Children.
Mokrue, K., O’Neill, P., Weiden, P., & Friedman, S. (in submission). Barriers to Early Psychological Intervention of Trauma Survivors in an Inner-city Acute Surgical Trauma Service.
Mokrue, K. (in preparation). Home-based prolonged exposure of MVA related PTSD: a case example.
Huselid, R., Mokrue, K., & Deaux, K. (in preparation). Cultural Orientation, Family Conflict, and Psychological Distress among Young Asian Immigrants: Stress moderating effects of social support.
Mokrue, K., Elias, M., Bry, B. (2005). Implementation dosage and the efficacy of a social and emotional skills building curriculum. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 21 (2) 329-346.
Dilworth, J., Mokrue, K., Elias, M. (2002). The efficacy of a video-based teamwork- building series with urban elementary school students: A pilot investigation. Journal of School Psychology, 40(4), 329-346.
Kane, J. & Carpenter, H. (2003). Imagination and the growth of the human mind. In S. Olfman (Ed.), All work and no play… How educational reforms are harming our preschoolers. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
Mack, C.A., Song, W., & Carpenter, H. (1997). Circumvention of anti-adenovirus neutralizing immunity by administration of an adenoviral vector of an alternate serotype. Human Gene Therapy, 8, 99-109.
Song, W., Kong, H., & Carpenter, H. (1997). Dendritic cells genetically modified with an adenovirus vector encoding the cDNA for a model antigen induce protective and therapeutic antitumor immunity. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 8, 1-10.
Chotro, M.G. & Carpenter, H. (1995). Prenatal alcohol exposure changes responses to alcohol taste in the rat fetus. Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, 19, (2), 102A.
Solomon, L.J., Scharoun, G.M., Flynn, B., Secker-Walker, R.H., Sepinwall, D. (2000). Free Nicotine Patches Plus Proactive Telephone Peer Support to Help Low Income Women Stop Smoking. Preventative Medicine, 31, 68-74.