Maria Elisa is currently a candidate in the Advanced Certificate Bilingual School Psychology program at Fordham University. She has had many worldly experiences throughout her training that contributes to her multicultural competence. She earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical and Community Psychology from the European University of Rome and she is a registered member of the Italian Council of Psychologists. Following her studies, she served as an intern at the Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome and at the University Hospital of Caracas. She also has experience in the educational setting in Panama for six years before arriving in New York.

Maria Elisa speaks Spanish, Italian, and English and is a passionate learner about other cultures. During her free time, she enjoys running and playing tennis.

Learn more about Maria here: Psychology Today

Jenna McCutchen is a licensed school psychologist. Jenna received her undergraduate training at Virginia Tech where she participated in research of prosocial behaviors and resiliency building among school-aged children. Her participation in this research led her to pursue a degree in school psychology at Radford University. As a school psychologist, Jenna has had the opportunity to train other clinicians and educators on crisis-prevention strategies, trauma-informed teaching, and threat-assessment awareness.

Jenna continues to develop and implement social-emotional curriculum and lessons within communities at all levels, creating a toolbox of practical and realistic strategies to support children with a diverse range of needs. The dynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach Jenna provides allows for children to learn effective means of navigating difficult situations, strengthening their own self-motivation and confidence, and learning healthy coping strategies.

Jenna is also available for Executive Functioning (EF) and ADHD coaching, and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) consultations for public as well as specialized private schools.

In Jenna’s free time she enjoys running with her run club, yoga to help strengthen and ground her mind, and reading light beach reads.

Victor is a social worker supporting children, adolescents, families, and young adults. Following his undergraduate studies in film production at New York University, Victor pursued artistic endeavors, discovering that creativity and mental health are interrelated through their emphasis on humanism and empathy.

While pursuing his Master of Social Work, Victor received valuable training as a social worker within schools as well as a nonprofit for low-income young adults utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and creative arts therapy.

Victor has specialized experience with LGBTQ+ adolescents, engaging them with tools to find acceptance for themselves and their families. He also works with clients experiencing grief and bereavement, trauma, learning differences, anxiety, and depression.

In his personal time, Victor enjoys reading novels, going to the movies, and spending time with his dog and his partner.

Learn more about Victor here: Psychology Today

Batsheva Schapira is a licensed Social Worker from Queens, NY. Originally planning to be a neonatal nurse, she realized that the aspects of the job that really piqued her passion were the empathy required and the emotional support a neonatal nurse can be for anxious parents. It is for these reasons that Batsheva chose to become a social worker, making it her life’s work to be as extensively involved in the emotionality and psyche of humankind as possible.

Batsheva is a graduate of Fordham University’s School of Social Service and has worked with clients in an elementary school setting, a substance abuse clinic, and the autism spectrum community. The underlying goal of all her client interactions is to hold space for clients and accompany them in the ever evolving process of development of self.

Outside the clinical work environment, Batsheva surrounds herself with meaningful relationships, always eager to learn from those around her. She has a deep appreciation of music and plays guitar in her spare time. She finds painting gratifying as well, and considers staying active and being outdoors a must. Taking time to simply notice and consciously experience any given moment throughout the day is a continuous practice of Batsheva's.

Learn more about Batsheva here: Psychology Today

Yifan is a Ph.D. candidate at Fordham University’s School Psychology Doctoral Program with an emphasis on Bilingual Psychology. During her Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, Yifan was a member of Spirituality Mind Body Institute, conducting research related to the education and mental health of children and adolescents from diverse backgrounds. After graduating from her Masters program, Yifan was selected to be the global mentor of Harvard CES and Teach for China. Providing mental health services in the underserved district presented a tremendous opportunity for her to increase access to quality evidence-based psychological services for children and families, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Additionally, Yifan has worked with diverse populations throughout the NYC public schools and within the Hagin School Consultation Center.

Yifan is also fluent in Mandarin. She loves nature and enjoys traveling, cooking, meditation, art, ballet, and spending time with her friends.

Dr. Sarah DeSoye is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York and Connecticut and a certified school psychologist. She provides psychoeducational evaluations and psychotherapy for children, adolescents and their families in private practice and in the school setting. She also supervises professionals and graduate students in testing and assessments. Dr. DeSoye has extensive experience providing consultation to teachers and families regarding various learning disabilities including ADHD.

Dr. DeSoye holds a doctorate degree in school-clinical psychology, a masters degree in special education and completed her studies at Boston College and Pace University. She has worked at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Lincoln Hospital and in schools in Westchester, NY. In her free time Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, playing tennis and skiing.

Kara, a Certified Elementary, Special Education Teacher and Dyslexia Practitioner has been working in the school setting for the past 8 years. She holds a Masters of Science in Education with a speciality in learning and behavior disorders from CUNY Hunter College. Kara is also certified in the Wilson Reading Program and other multi-sensory programs that specifically work to target language based learning disabilities like dyslexia.

Kara is currently a special education teacher in Westchester, NY working with students with learning disabilities, executive functioning difficulties, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Prior to working in Westchester, Kara taught 1-5th grade as well as served as the IEP compliance monitor in Fairfield, CT.

Kara also uses standardized assessments to help diagnose learning disabilities and evaluate students’ learning needs. Likewise, she helps families navigate the complexities of special education, including the IEP / 504 process, SRBI practices, current IEP’s, 504’s and overall compliance through parent consultation.

When not teaching, consulting or tutoring, Kara enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 year old daughter, Avery.