Chief Executive Officer
Licensed Clinical Psychologist/Director of Research

DBT-C, DBT, MFDBT, ED, GMH, OCD

**Dr. Marino currently has limited availability**

Dr. Marino works with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families dealing with emotional and behavioral health issues. She specializes in treating Anorexia Nervosa, OCD/Anxiety, Hair-pulling/Skin-picking, self-injury, and chronic suicidality. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Maudsley Family-Based Treatment (FBT), Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She works with "high conflict" couples using Alan Fruzzetti's DBT approach.

She is intensively trained by Behavioral Tech/Linehan Institute in DBT for adolescents and adults and DBT for Children (DBT-C). She is certified by the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) in Maudsley Family-Based Treatment for adolescent eating disorders. She’s been intensively trained in Radically-Open DBT for the disorder of overcontrol (eating disorders, anxiety, depression, autism). Her clinical internship at the University of Florida/Shands Hospital included rotations in medical psychology, neuropsychology, and pediatric/child psychology. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of North Dakota and her B.A. from Susquehanna University. She serves in leadership roles for the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) and Northern Virginia Clinical Psychologists (NVCP).

Assistant Clinical Director

Eating Disorders, DBT Adult, DBT Adolescent/Family, Trauma, OCD/BFRB, Psych Assessments

Dr. Arcuri works with children, adolescents, adults, and families facing a variety of emotional and behavioral health concerns. She specializes in treating those struggling with eating disorders, OCD/anxiety disorders, hair-pulling/skin-picking, trauma, mood disorders, self-injury and chronic suicidality.

She is trained in collaborative, evidence based approaches including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), enhanced cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-E), Maudsley model family based therapy (FBT), trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), exposure response prevention (ERP), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing. Dr. Arcuri also has extensive training and experience in conducting psychological and psychoeducational assessments for a variety of presenting concerns.

Dr. Arcuri completed an APA accredited internship at Penn Medicine Princeton House, where she worked in both inpatient eating disorder and intensive outpatient dual diagnosis programming. She received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology and her Psy.D. from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Resident in Counseling

Alyson Nuno is a Master’s level clinician who has specialized in the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, self-injury, and chronic suicidality. She has provided treatment to adolescents and adults in both individual and group settings. Alyson has specific training and experience utilizing evidence-based therapeutic strategies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She has received additional intensive training in DBT by Behavioral Tech/Linehan Institute.

Alyson completed her Master’s degree in School and Mental Health Counseling at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a candidate for licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alyson completed her practicum hours at Catholic Charities of Hampton Roads, providing evidence-based treatment to adolescents and adults. She believes helping clients to find a balance of acceptance and change in order to create a life worth living.

Medical Director
Psychiatrist

Dr Kim's is a Board Certified Psychiatrist. She specializes in anxiety, eating disorders, depression, ADHD, borderline personality disorder, pregnancy and birth experiences including postpartum depression, relationships, family problems and cultural identity issues. Dr. Kim has extensive experience in the area of medication management for individuals engaging in self-injurious and life-threatening behaviors.

Dr. Kim graduated from the University of Illinois with her medical degree in psychiatry and completed her Residency at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. She is Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry. She is a former Lieutenant Commander in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy, and has extensive experience helping people with problems related to military service.

Co-Director of Research
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Fischer completed her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Kentucky, and her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago Medical Center with a specialization in the treatment of eating disorders. Dr. Fischer is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Maudsley Family Based Treatment of eating disorders in adolescents. Her clinical interest including eating disorders, anxiety, substance abuse and self-injury.

Dr. Fischer was a faculty member at the University of Georgia, where she directed a Dialectical Behavior Therapy program for adults and adolescents. She is a faculty member at George Mason University’s Department of Psychology. Her research focuses primarily on impulsivity and behavior patterns such as binge eating, purging, and alcohol abuse. Her work investigates how personality traits and environmental contexts, such as stressors, mood, and learning, interact to influence behaviors such as binge eating.

Licensed Professional Counselor

Craig is a Licensed Professional Counselor and specializes in evidence-based treatment for trauma and stress-related disorders, anxiety and mood disorders, self-injury, and personality disorders. His training includes Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Existential Therapy. He has intensive training in CBT by Dr. John Ludgate and in Couples Therapy through the Gottman Method. He conducts neuropsychological assessments and diagnostic services for behavioral, cognitive and functional deficits. He has extensive experience helping military service members and their families.

He has Master’s degrees in Educational Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado and a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from East Carolina University. He completed his CACREP accredited internship as a school-based mental health therapist through Jewish Family Services International KidSuccess Program where he worked with Refugee and Immigrant Youth in a public school setting dealing with trauma and anxiety issues. He is pursuing his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Licensed Professional Counselor
Marriage and Family Therapist

Dawn is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist. She specializes in treating individuals ages 13 and up who suffer from mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder using the evidenced-based treatment Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She helps couples and families achieve a deeper sense of understanding, awareness, empathy, and connection, to target destructive behaviors before they escalate.

As a military spouse, she is well versed in helping families manage the stress of PTSD, deployments, and military life adjustment. As a mother of a special needs child, she works with the unique struggles facing families with special needs children. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese and understands multicultural family dynamics within the Latino population. Dawn holds her B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry & Theology from Life Pacific University and her Masters degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Marriage and Family Therapy from Regent University. She is trained in DBT through Behavioral Tech (Linehan Training Institute) and DBT Adolescent and Family training with Dr. Alan Fruzetti.

Licensed Professional Counselor

Gillian is a Master's level licensed professional counselor who has specialized in the treatment of mood disorders, personality disorders, self-injury, anxiety disorders and chronic suicidality. She has provided treatment to children, adolescents and their families in varying levels of care such as emergency services and school counseling settings. Gillian has specific training and experience utilizing evidence based therapeutic strategies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as well as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) while maintaining a focus on strength-based approaches.

Gillian graduated from Marymount University with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and completed her practicum and internship experience at The Kellar School (therapeutic day school in Fairfax, VA) where she provided individual and group counseling to adolescents. She offers a supportive and encouraging environment in which treatment can effectively take place.

Licensed Professional Counselor

Cheryl has achieved credentialing as a Licensed Professional Counselor. She seeks to help her clients develop their definition of success and begin working toward it. Cheryl brings enthusiasm, professionalism, and unconditional positive regard to the treatment setting so she can help her clients build confidence in exploring their feelings and fearlessly divorce behaviors that compromise a healthy lifestyle. Her intention is to empower them to examine their truths from different perspectives and to challenge their own perceptions. She just wants to be part of the solution. Cheryl has worked with adolescents and adults in residential, inpatient, and outpatient settings. She entered into this helping profession in 2007. Since then, Cheryl has earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Social Work from Slippery Rock University(2011) and a Master's of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University (2016).

Victoria "Tori" van Leeuwen is a Supervisee in Clinical Social Work who obtained her undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and her graduate degree from George Mason University. She knew from the time she stepped foot into a psychology course her freshman year of college that serving the children and adolescent mental health community was meant to be.

Victoria has provided clinical care to children and adolescents with a variety of mental health diagnosis including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, disordered eating, developmental and intellectual delays, stress-related disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders. Victoria services children and adolescents, as well as their families, through a focus on strengths-based, trauma-informed, and person-in-environment perspectives to ensure each individual's needs are met.

Denise is a Master's level clinician working towards licensure who has specialized in Marriage and Family Counseling. Denise has experience treating chronic suicidality, depression and anxiety disorders, self-injury, eating disorders, treatment of mood disorders, and personality disorders. She has provided services to children, adolescents, and their families in varying levels of care and settings (i.e., office, home, schools, and community).

Denise has specific training and experience utilizing evidence-based therapeutic Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and DBT-C (DBT for children), while maintaining a focus on strength-based approaches. Denise offers an encouraging, supportive, and safe environment in which treatment can effectively take place and healing can begin.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Crystal City Office)

DBT Adult, DBT Adolescent/Family, Trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, life transition concerns

Mary Dolby McDonald is a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience working with adolescents, adults, couples and families. Her areas of expertise include affective disorders, anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, borderline and other personality disorders as well as life transition concerns.

Ms. Dolby McDonald received her master’s degree in social work from Boston University and attended a post graduate program in clinical psychotherapy practice at The Washington School of Psychiatry. She was intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy by Behavioral Tech/Linehan Institute in 2016 and has been consistently delivering DBT services since that time to include skills classes, individual and family modalities. In 2019, she was intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure therapy by Melanie Harned, Ph.D, and has been providing treatment for persons wishing to address trauma symptoms following completion of DBT.

Additionally, Ms. Dolby McDonald has been an adjunct faculty member at the Catholic University of America where she has taught and supervised advanced clinical students in their internships since 2014.

Cara is a Supervisee in Clinical Social Work. Since earning a Master of Social Work degree at Howard University, Cara has been devoted to the well-being of children and families. Throughout her career, she’s served clients in a variety of settings including schools, courtroom, foster care, adoption and emergency psychiatric services.

Cara values her relationship with her clients. She takes a collaborative and supportive approach in helping individuals develop skills to increase their coping, happiness, and overall quality of life. Cara works with children and families impacted by anxiety, depression, mood disorders, personality disorders and family conflict.