David H. Rosmarin, PhD
Founder & Director

 David H. Rosmarin CV
David H. Rosmarin, Ph.D. is an Instructor at Harvard Medical School and Assistant Psychologist at McLean Hospital. Dr. Rosmarin received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University and the Anxiety Treatment & Research Center in Hamilton, Ontario (Canada’s top anxiety treatment facility). At McLean Hospital he was a clinical supervisor at the Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Institute (OCDI). He has authored 30 peer-reviewed publications, delivered over 50 scientific presentations, and is an active member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). Dr. Rosmarin's research and innovative clinical approaches have received media attention from ABC, NPR, US News and World Report, the Boston Globe, and the India Times.

Debra Alper, PhD
Staff Psychologist

 Debra alper cv

Debra Alper, PhD received her masters and doctoral degrees in clinical
and school psychology from Hofstra University. Her doctoral dissertation involved an analysis of thought-action fusion and rumination as key components of the experience of obsessive compulsive symptoms. Dr. Alper completed her clinical internship at St. John's hospital in Far Rockaway, NY, where she conducted individual and group treatment with a culturally diverse population, and lectured on topics in psychology and psychotherapy to the hospital's medical students. Dr. Alper specializes in cognitive behavior therapy of anxiety and mood disorders in adolescents and young adults, with a focus on obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders.

Molly Swanberg
Clinical Fellow

 Molly Swanberg CV
Molly Swanberg is a graduate student at Yeshiva University’s Mental Health Counseling program. Her previous experience lies in assisting adults with serious mental illness in various aspects of their lives. Molly was assistant manager of a day rehabilitation facility that focused on obtaining employment and fostering the independence of the members. Additionally, Molly received training in risk assessment, intakes, crisis intervention, and person-centered treatment. Her work as an employment specialist required creating community partnerships with local businesses and other mental health agencies in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Molly facilitated and agency training titled “Overview of Psychiatric Rehabilitation” to new employees.  This training provided learners a brief history of clinical psychological treatment as well as a full lesson on Person Centered Treatment (PCT) and Person Centered Planning (PCP). Molly graduated from the University of Vermont in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology where she worked as both a teaching assistant and a research assistant. She assisted with a pilot study for an NIMH funded grant proposal investigating the effects of regular physical activity on children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Molly completed a graduate course in Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy and developed a strong interest in this approach to treatment for anxiety. She has a passion for working with people and hopes to have a positive influence on many lives.

Aliza Sklar
Office Manager

 Aliza sklar cv
Aliza G. Sklar is a graduate of Brooklyn College and the Macaulay Honors College. Aliza has served in New York as well as abroad as a peer leader and tutor. She has dual degrees in English and Psychology, and launched several research studies conducted on the Brooklyn College campus. In addition, Aliza has worked with a sleep-away camp psychologist and assisted with therapeutic recreation in elderly care facilities. In summer 2011, Aliza went to Denmark to study Positive Psychology and wrote her final course paper on the theoretical interscetion of positive psychology and Judaism. Aliza hopes to continue her psychology education and she would like to teach about how the combination of psychology and spirituality can be used to inform and improve our world.

Steven Pirutinsky
Director of Research

 SteveN Pirutinsky CV
Steven Pirutinsky is a doctoral student of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University. Steven has developed a rigorous protocol to examine treatment-outcomes and their predictors within The Center for Anxiety. Steven's own program of study focuses on the relationship between religiosity, well-being, and attitudes towards mental illness and treatment, predominantly in the Orthodox Jewish community, and he has published 13 peer-reviewed publications on this subject matter. Steven’s expertise includes data management, coding and analysis, and use of statistical and other software to facilitate basic (e.g., ANOVA, multiple/hierarchical/logistic regression) and complex statistical procedures (e.g., factor/cluster analyses, structural equation modeling). Steven is committed to the dissemination of evidence-based treatments, and to evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy within underserviced communities.

Peryl Agishtein
Research Fellow

 Peryl agishtein
Peryl Agishtein is a doctoral student at the Graduate Center, CUNY in a clinical psychology program with an emphasis in neuropsychology. She is currently training as an extern at New York Presbyterian – Columbia University Medical Center, where she performs neuropsychological assessments on geriatric patients and children in addition to providing psychotherapy. Her past clinical experiences include working as a psychology extern in a community mental health clinic and working as a residential counselor in home residences for individuals with severe mental illness. In addition, she trained in a mental health hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. Peryl’s research interests involve several social psychology issues that impact clinical problems, including the development of attachment security, cultural factors, and emotional skills. She has presented her research findings at conferences across the United States. She is currently investigating how attachment to God interacts with everyday stress and anxiety. Peryl’s training and research background fuses clinical psychology, neuropsychology, and social psychology, which enables her to understand mental health in a holistic and comprehensive way. She is committed to treating patients using evidence-based and humanistic approaches.

Avi J. Gordon

Research Assistant

 Avi j. Gordon cv

Avi J. Gordon is currently a M.A. student at the Clinical Psychology program of Teachers College, Columbia University and is also coordinating research as a member of a laboratory there. Before graduating from Yeshiva University in 2011, Avi worked as a research assistant and as an undergraduate intern for a school psychologist. He has provided psychotherapy to teens and adults at an array of locations including a psychiatric hospital, an overseas leadership program, and center for people with mental and physical disabilities. Avi is passionate about mental health and spirituality both individually and as a synthesis to facilitate better living. In August 2013, Avi will begin a doctoral program in clinical psychology at Loyola University of Maryland.

Rachael B. Goldberg
Media Relations/Research Assistant

 Rachael B. Goldberg cv
Rachael B. Goldberg graduated from Stern College for Women in 2010 where she studied psychology and print journalism and held leadership positions in several campus mental health organizations. She has worked with children and adults suffering from schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, PTSD and other mental disorders at Sheppard Pratt Mental Health System in Maryland and the Psychiatry Department at Herzog Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. There, she combined her passion for music and writing in order to design and implement therapeutic programs for psychological and behavioral improvement for children and adults. Rachael has also served as a research assistant for several psychology laboratories in Maryland and New York including the Domestic Violence Center, Towson University and Yeshiva University, and has served as a writer, editor and public relations assistant for various publications. She currently serves as a psychology research assistant in the Sexuality, Family & Religion Lab at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center. In August 2013, Rachael will begin a doctorate in clinical psychology at La Salle University in Philadelphia.

Past Trainees

Regina Akhenblit

Minna Fischer

Yardana Galler