Christine M. Newman earned her Masters and Doctorate in clinical psychology from Hofstra University. Dr. Newman completed her internship as well as her post-doctoral training at a private clinic specializing in intensive outpatient treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders.Dr. Newman also has specialized training in the treatment in the treatment of Eating Disorders.

Dr. Newman is the co-founder of Mid Island Psychology Associates, PLLC, which is a practice which specializes in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. The practice offers intensive treatment options for individuals diagnosed with OCD and related disorders. She currently provides individual therapy for children, adolescents, and adults utilizing Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Her clinical expertise encompasses a wide range of problems including anxiety and mood disorders, more specifically obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders, panic disorder, eating disorders and borderline personality disorder. Dr. Newman has been intensively trained as a DBT therapist through the Linehan Institute, and has completed many trainings and workshops in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She has obtained extensive training in cognitive behavioral therapy as well as exposure and response prevention. Aside from her research and clinical practice,

Dr. Newman has taught various courses in psychology at both Molloy College and SUNY Old Westbury. She also provides trainings for clinicians on a range of topics such as Exposure and Response Prevention for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as well as the treatment of school refusal. Her clinical interests include using empirically supported modalities such as CBT, DBT, and ACT. She maintains a special interest in using in-vivo and imaginal exposure therapies in order to treat obsessive compulsive disorder.

Loren Packer-Hopke earned her Masters and Doctorate in School and Community Psychology from Hofstra University. She received a B.A. from Adelphi University where she focused on clinical psychology.Dr. Packer-Hopke completed her post-doctoral training at a private specialized clinic in the treatment of OCD, where she specialized in intensive outpatient treatment for OCD spectrum disorders.

Dr. Packer-Hopke has worked at the Long Island Counseling Center providing individual therapy using CBT, for the treatment of adults, adolescents, and children with anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, child abuse, and chronic mental illness.In the past she has worked as a counselor in the REACH Continuing Education Program at Hofstra University where she was responsible for socialization training for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She also worked as a therapist for the Institute for Family Forensic Psychology providing individual and family counseling for children and adolescents experiencing divorce, custody issues, foster care, and other types of family transitions.

Despina Konstas earned her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical and School Psychology from Hofstra University where she received the Camelot Foundation Award, as well as a Doctoral Research Fellowship. She received a B.A. from New York University in Psychology. Dr. Konstas completed her post-doctoral training at the student counseling center at Hofstra University where she went on to become a staff psychologist where she provided supervision to psychology interns, and continued her role providing psychotherapy to undergraduate and graduate students in addition to leading various groups such as a Dialectical Behavior Therapy groups, as well as bereavement groups and anxiety reduction groups.

Dr. Konstas has obtained extensive training in cognitive behavioral therapy as well as exposure and response prevention. Dr. Konstas has also received training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.

Dr. Konstas has conducted and presented research on various topics such as the effectiveness of CBT in reducing suicidal ideation, suicide risk reduction in college students, interpersonal trauma, self-injurious behaviors as well as eating disorders. Dr. Konstas has presented various workshops and trainings in the area of sexual assault, eating disorders, drug use, as well as safe space trainings.

Jamie M. Postal earned her Doctoral Degree in School Psychology and Masters Degree in Human Development from Lehigh University. Prior to attending Lehigh, Dr. Postal earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from North Carolina State University. Additionally, Dr. Postal is an adjunct professor at Adelphi University where she teaches General Psychology and Writing in Psychology to undergraduate students.

Dr. Postal completed her post-doctoral training at Mid Island Psychology Associates, where she specialized in the treatment of OCD and related disorders, anxiety disorders, and PTSD with a special focus on utilizing Prolonged Exposure (PE) for the treatment of trauma. Dr. Postal truly enjoys providing support to patients experiencing a wide range of psychological challenges and has developed a special interest in working with young adults and adolescents struggling with self-esteem and body image issues.

Prior to joining the Mid Island team, Dr. Postal’s clinical work was within the school setting, where she provided one-on-one, and group therapy to children. Her work in schools provided her with opportunities to serve children of diverse ages, ethnicities, life experiences and psychological needs. She enjoys consulting with parents and school personnel to promote the use of evidence-based intervention strategies both at home and in school. Dr. Postal also has extensive experience completing comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations. Dr. Postal’s past research has primarily focused on effective parenting skills to foster healthy development during early childhood, particularly for at-risk families and youth. She has both conducted and presented her research at various nationally recognized conferences, and has co-authored publications in the field.

Matthew Lippman earned Masters and Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Hofstra University. Prior to attending Hofstra University Dr. Lippman earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Education with a specialization in guidance and counseling and is licensed as a school guidance counselor. Dr. Lippman has worked in a variety of settings including private practices specializing in the treatment of O-C spectrum disorders, as well as assisted living, and forensic setting.

Dr. Lippman has a special interest in the treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders, more specifically OCD. Dr. Lippman uses evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, as well as Behavior Modification Techniques.  Dr. Lippman also specializes in the area of behavioral parent training.

Chelsea Huttner earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in School and Community Psychology from Hofstra University. She received a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Teachers College Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Adelphi University. In addition to Mid Island Psychology Associates, Dr. Huttner works as a School Psychologist where she specializes in psychoeducational testing and counseling students with a wide range of behavioral, developmental, and emotional concerns.

Prior to joining Mid Island Psychology Associates, Dr. Huttner’s clinical work has been in the school and university settings. Her work in schools has given her experience providing therapy and counseling to children of all ages as well as young adults. Additionally, while at Hofstra University, she provided therapy, conducted therapeutic visitation, and completed forensic evaluations in the Institute for Family Forensic Psychology. Dr. Huttner is also experienced in conducting psychological evaluations.

At Mid Island Psychology Associates Dr. Huttner utilizes evidence-based interventions and psychological approaches in treatment and specializes in Anxiety and OCD. Dr. Huttner works with parents, schools, and other service providers in order to provide a collaborative approach to treatment.

Christine Voll has been providing psychological services to adults, children, adolescents, and families for over 15 years.  She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of various disorders.  She offers intensive treatment for individuals diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and related disorders.  Her clinical expertise includes anxiety and mood disorders, including OCD, social anxiety, specific phobias, panic disorders, eating disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders and school refusal behavior.  

Dr. Voll earned her Masters and Doctorate in School and Community Psychology from Hofstra University.  She completed her internship at South Nassau Community Hospital where she worked with individuals struggling with alcohol and drug addiction providing individual and group psychotherapy as well as their inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care units. Dr. Voll’s  post-doctoral training was at a private clinic where she treated children, adolescents and adults with a variety of mental health challenges.  In addition, Dr. Voll is also a certified School Psychologist who has worked extensively with children and families providing counseling, parent training, specialized evaluations of learning, attention, developmental, social, emotional and behavioral difficulties.  She offers comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations and is knowledgeable about Special Education services  and Individualized Education Plans.  Dr. Voll has extensive knowledge of the academic and mental health challenges facing children today.  She works closely with both parents and children to facilitate changes in behavior.

Keith Woythaler has spent more than 10 years providing direct therapeutic services to help adults, children, and families live meaningful and productive lives, despite suffering from the often chronic and pervasive effects of mental illness.  He specializes in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related obsessive-compulsive “spectrum disorders”, as well as other forms of anxiety including but not limited to Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and Phobias, as well as various forms of mood disorders, including Major Depression.  While CBT is my foundational approach, I utilize aspects of other therapies (ACT, DBT, etc.) when clinically relevant.

Dr. Woythaler completed his undergraduate degree at Lafayette College, and went on to complete both his Masters and Doctoral degrees at Hofstra University.  While at Hofstra University, I became one of the first at that institution to complete research in the field of utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) technology as a therapeutic tool in treating phobias, specifically the fear of flying.  In private practice, I have continued to help individuals overcome their fear of flying with more traditional, non-VR, forms of therapy.

Dr. Mitchell L. Schare, holds the rank of Professor and is a long-term faculty member and the former director of training in the PhD program in Clinical Psychology at Hofstra University. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the State University of New York ­- Binghamton in 1985 following an internship at the Brown University Medical School Consortium in Providence, R.I. He holds a specialty board certification from the American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology, is a Fellow of the Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies and is a licensed New York State Psychologist. He has served as a mental health consultant for the New York State Department of Mental Health, the United States Navy, the United States Air force as well as numerous other hospitals and institutions.

Dr. Schare completed his doctorate in Clinical Psychology with specializations in anxiety disorders treatment, substance abuse behaviors, and human sexuality & sexual dysfunction therapy at the State University of New York ­- Binghamton in 1985 following an internship at the Brown University Medical School Consortium in Providence, R.I.

As a scientist, Dr. Schare continues an interest and expertise in the area of anxiety disorder treatment. He mentors doctoral students in and researches the application of Exposure therapy for the treatment of phobias, OCD and traumatic reactions of PTSD. Having worked with trauma victims for 40 years, Dr. Schare has refined a professional interest in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it is manifest over multiple causes. He has developed expertise on this issue and disseminates his knowledge through his teaching of doctoral candidates, professional research publications, media interviews, scientific presentations worldwide and through training sessions to professional and general audiences. At Hofstra, Dr. Schare directs the Phobia & Trauma Clinic, a university-based facility where he supervises advanced doctoral students on many sexual trauma cases and combat related trauma in the Armed Services Adjustment Program (ASAP). He is a long-term proponent of Exposure therapy in all of its modalities of application and has been a leader with extensive research & experience in the application of virtual reality exposure therapy.

Gia N. Campagna earned her Doctoral degree in School-Community Psychology at Hofstra University. Prior to attending Hofstra, Dr. Campagna earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from St. John’s University.

Dr. Campagna’s past clinical work was within the school and college setting. In the school setting, Dr. Campagna served children of varied ages and cultural backgrounds. She worked closely with school personnel as well as parents to create appropriate intervention programs relevant to the students’ educational and psychological needs.

Also, having earned a Doctoral Degree from a school-based program, Dr. Campagna was provided years of psycho-educational assessment experience. Dr. Campagna continued this work as a part-time evaluator at Bay Shore High School where she observed and assessed students to determine the appropriate educational setting and subsequent accommodations based upon the student’s needs. In addition, during Dr. Campagna’s training, she has participated in forensic clinics where she  conducted forensic evaluations for Nassau County Family Court.

Dr. Campagna continues to apply Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to relevant areas via individual, group, and/or family therapy. Her participation in multiple clinics provided specific training to effectively serve families living in high conflict, individuals exposed to trauma, and functionally impaired college students, as well as several other psychological concerns (e.g., ADHD, anxiety, trauma, OCD, personality disorders).

Dr. Ashleigh Garretson earned her Masters and Doctorate in School and Community Psychology from Hofstra University.

Olivia earned her Masters Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University and Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from The University of Delaware.

Olivia has been working in the mental health field as a School Social Worker, specifically providing services including individual and group counseling, evidence-based prevention programs, and collaborative treatment methods. Additionally, Olivia has experience working with patients diagnosed with mood and anxiety disorders in a psychiatric setting providing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy. She has experience working with children, young adults, families and geriatric population.

Dr. Desiree Curcio earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Long Island University Post, where she worked under the mentorship of Dr. Jill Rathus, the co-founder of DBT for adolescents. Prior to attending LIU Post, Dr. Curcio earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hofstra University.

Dr. Curcio has been extensively trained in evidence-based treatment modalities including CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care such as cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure. She has served on 3 comprehensive DBT teams during her training. She has applied evidence-based treatments in inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization settings with adolescents and adults.

Dr. Curcio completed her pre-doctoral internship at Northwell Health’s Zucker Hillside Hospital (ZHH), where she worked on the adolescent inpatient unit, perinatal outpatient program, and adult partial hospitalization program. She completed her two pre-doctoral externships at Montefiore Medical Center’s Child and Adolescent Outpatient Department and at Northwell Health’s ZHH Behavioral Health College Partnership (BHCP). At these placements, Dr. Curcio received specialized training in the treatment of adolescents and young adults who often presented with a range of presenting problems including borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, panic, anger, chronic suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, OCD, selective mutism, eating disorders, and significant psychosocial stressors. In addition to her work at MIPA, Dr. Curcio has continued to work at Zucker Hillside Hospital, and is currently a post-doctoral fellow at BHCP.

Dr. Curcio’s clinical expertise encompasses a wide range of problems including anxiety and mood disorders, complex trauma and PTSD, borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders, and perinatal mental health. She continues to apply CBT and DBT to relevant areas via individual, group, and family therapy. Additionally, she is passionate about serving marginalized communities including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks. Dr. Curcio’s dissertation research explored methods of adapting DBT for Latinx youth with deportation related distress.

Caryn DePinna earned her Master’s and Advanced Certification in School Psychology from CUNY Brooklyn College and Doctorate in School and Community Psychology from Hofstra University.  Dr. DePinna completed internships and clinical training in various schools, a pediatric psychiatric hospital, and community mental health clinic providing mental health support to children, adults, and families.  Dr. DePinna uses an integrative approach when working with clients, applying her training in Behavioral Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Theory, Attachment Theory, and Mindfulness.  Her research interests include integrative and holistic mental health, incorporating evidence based interventions with mindfulness, nutrition, and exercise science.  

Dr. DePinna works full time for New York City Public Schools, supervising school based clinicians.  In her tenure with NYC Public Schools, Dr. DePinna has held several roles supporting students, families, and school staff; providing individual and group counseling, conducting psychoeducational evaluations, providing professional development and coaching around behavior intervention and positive behavior support, and overseeing crisis intervention and mental health support for schools.  

Dr. DePinna is an adjunct professor and teaches graduate courses at CUNY Brooklyn and Queens Colleges, including supervising school psychology interns and courses about behavior intervention, consultation, and learning difficulties.  Dr. DePinna has presented at several professional conferences including the International Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference and co authored several publications in the field. 

Dr. DePinna is an animal lover and volunteers with her rescue pup through the Good Dog Foundation as a Therapy Dog team to bring joy to people around New York City.