Clinical Team

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Psychology – University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA (2008)
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology – American School of Professional Psychology, Arlington VA (2010)
Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology – American School of Professional Psychology, Arlington VA (2013)

Experience:
Amanda is a licensed psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. She holds clinical hours in the autism program at Dickinson Center, Inc. (DCI) where she is responsible for completing diagnostic evaluations related to autism spectrum disorder. Amanda is also a clinical consultant for both DCI and Beacon Light Behavioral Health System’s Community and School Based Behavioral Health (CSBBH) Programs

Amanda completed her post-doctorate at DCI, where she was also responsible for completing diagnostic assessments, running social skills groups as well as individual and family therapy. She has worked in various settings in the Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC area. Her doctoral internship was completed at Interdynamics, Inc., where she worked primarily with low SES children and adolescents completing diagnostic evaluations and outpatient therapy.

Skills and Services:
Amanda’s areas of expertise include working with children, adolescents, adults, and their parents who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disabilities. Amanda also has skills and experience working with severe behavioral problems, anxiety disorders, impulse control disorders, and mood disorders, amongst others.

Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, with minors in Legal Studies and Gender Studies, Eastern University, St. Davids PA (2006)
Master of Studies in Women’s Studies, University of Oxford, United Kingdom (2007)
Master of Arts in Clinical-Counseling Psychology, La Salle University, Philadelphia PA (2011)

Experience:
Amanda is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania, and has been a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) since 2014. She is experienced in working with families, children, and adolescents, especially with emotionally disturbed youth through Pennsylvania’s Family Based Mental Health Services. She currently provides outpatient therapy services at Dickinson’s Ridgway office.

Skills:
Amanda’s specialties include family relational problems, women’s issues, gender and sexual identity issues, as well as management of depression and anxiety. She has received training in Mindfulness-based play therapy techniques for use with young children, and employs a combination of solution-focused counseling and cognitive behavioral techniques as well as psychodynamic approaches in meeting each client’s individual treatment needs. She has also been trained specifically in the trauma-specific interventions of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Education:
University of Pittsburgh- Social Work
Clarion University - Special Education
Temple University - Social Work

Experience:
Carol has experience in working with young children, school age children, children on the autism spectrum, and adolescents. She has worked with individuals in family settings and on an individual basis. As an intensive case manager, Carol gained experience working with the chronically mentally ill. Carol has also built her experience in an inpatient setting, partial hospitalization setting, and while working mobile crisis.

Skills and Services:
Carol is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and Registered Play Therapist (RPT). Carol is specifically trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). She provides services at Dickinson's Ridgway outpatient office and within the Elk County School districts as part of the HOPE program.

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Social Work – Edinboro University of PA (2015)
Master of Social Work – California University of PA (2016)

Experience:
Emma holds a Social Work license in Pennsylvania. She has been with Dickinson Center, Inc. since 2017 as a Blended Case Manager and joined the outpatient program in 2018.

Skills and Services:
Emma has experience working with individuals with mental illnesses. Emma works from the perspective of the person in the environment and strengths based. She also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma Art Narrative Therapy. Emma provides services to individuals of all age groups at the Ridgway outpatient offices and with students as part of the Mental Health Specialist program in the Ridgway School District.

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Communication, Clarion University
Master of Science in Training and Development, Clarion University

Experience:
A.J. has 13 years of experience in the mental and behavioral health field. Before coming to Dickinson, A.J. served as a therapist in Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) with Beacon Light for 5 years in Elk, Cameron, McKean and Potter Counties. Prior to MST, A.J. was a Mobile Therapist (MT) with Beacon Light, serving both Elk and Cameron Counties.

Skills and Services:
A.J. has experience providing services with the child and adolescent populations, as well as at-risk youth. He is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). A.J. currently serves as the Mental Health Specialist at St. Marys Area High School.

Education:
Bachelors of Science in Psychology- University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
Master of Social Work- University of Pittsburgh

Experience:
Racquel has worked in the mental health field for fifteen years, with her primary focus being children and adolescents. She has been with Dickinson since 2017 working as a Mental Health Specialist in the Johnsonburg Schools. Prior to bringing her services to Dickinson she was employed at Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems where she worked as the supervisor of the Wraparound Community Based Program as well as Multi-systemic Therapy (MST) program in Elk and Cameron Counties. She has also served as a member of the CASSP team of Elk/Cameron County.

Skills/ Services:
Racquel has experience providing clinical services to children and adolescents dealing with effects resulting from trauma, mood disorders, behavioral problems, depression, anxiety, and self- injury. She brings a solutions focused, client centered approach to the individuals that she serves. Racquel is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Functional Behavioral Analysis (FBA) as well as traditional psychotherapy approaches.

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Psychology- University of Pittsburgh (2015)
Master of Social Work- Edinboro University (ongoing, 2021)

Experience:
Alissa has been with Dickinson Center, Inc. since 2018. She has experience in case management services, adolescent mental health and behavioral health, and Forensic Mental Health Specialist and also provides therapeutic services in the Outpatient setting at the Ridgway office. Prior to working at Dickinson Center, Alissa worked with the juvenile delinquent population for three years as a Mental Health Worker.

Skills and Services:
Alissa has experience working in juvenile and adult corrections. She has also worked with adolescents in the home, community, and school settings. Alissa is trained in Motivational Interviewing and has training related to trauma treatment. Alissa believes in a client-centered, individualized approach to treatment, while maintaining a strengths-based focus to address areas of need.

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS)—Pennsylvania State University (2020)
Master of Social Work- Edinboro University (ongoing, 2022)

Experience:
Nikol has been employed at Dickinson Center, Inc. since 2021. At Dickinson Center, Inc. she currently provides therapeutic services in the clinical outpatient setting at the Ridgway location. Prior to working at Dickinson Center, Inc, Nikol has almost two years of experience with providing therapeutic services to sexual offenders and survivors of sexual assault.

Skills and Services:
Nikol works with children, adolescents, and adults. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and has also received trainings related to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), trauma, and substance use. Nikol utilizes a client-centered approach with techniques from CBT, DBT, and other trainings she has received, and believes that an individual’s therapeutic experience allows for transformative change where personal insight, empowerment, and a better mindset can be achieved.

Education:
Practical Nursing - Clearfield County Career and Technology Center (2015)

Experience:
Leah is a Licensed Practical Nurse in Pennsylvania with 6 years of experience in a variety of fields, including family practice, urgent care, and school nursing. She has been employed with Dickinson Center Inc. since August 2020. At Dickinson Center Inc., she currently provides medication management services for our outpatient program along with the forensic program.

Education:
Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Experience:
Cristen has over 20 years of experience as a Physician Assistant. As DCI Physician Assistant, she’ll be working with individuals with mental illnesses from the perspective of the person in their environment and evidence-based treatment.

Skills:
Accreditation by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

Education:
Bachelor of the Arts- University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (2012)

Experience:
Katie has worked at Dickinson Center, Inc. for the past 8 years. She started at Crossroads in 2015 and soon transitioned to working as a clinician at both Crossroads and the Intensive Outpatient Program in Elk County (EIOP), before transitioning to EIOP full time.

Skills:
Katie has been working in the mental health field since 2012 and is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and positive psychotherapy. Katie is a clinician at the Elk County Intensive Outpatient Program, serving individuals in grades 5 through grade 12.

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice; Forensic Psychology – University of New Haven of CT (2015)
Master of Arts in Forensic Mental Health Counseling – City University of New York: John Jay College (2018)

Experience:
Bobbi has been with Dickinson Center, Inc. since 2018. She has worked in the partial hospitalization program as well as outpatient settings.

Skills:
Bobbi has experience working with children and adolescents with mental illness. She uses a strengths based, client-centric approach with cognitive behavioral and play therapy techniques. She provides services to K-12 grade students in the Cameron County School District through the Mental Health Specialist and H.O.P.E. programs.