Founding Partners
& Co-Directors
ASDI's founding partners each has more than
30 years of experience in treating anxiety
disorders.
Sally Winston, Psy.D., Co-Director
ASDI's Associates
Ms. Alfin provides individual and couple therapy for the treatment of mood disorders, panic and generalized anxiety disorders, and adjustment to difficult life transitions, using cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-based perspectives.
Victoria Baxter, Psy.D.
Dr. Baxter provides individual assessment and therapy for all ages. Her special interests include: survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, trauma, anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, ADHD, and impulse control problems.
Eve Berkow, A.P.R.N., M.S.W.
Ms. Berkow provides therapy for individuals and couples. She specializes in panic disorder, stress management, work-related stress, depression, OCD, trichotillomania, generalized anxiety, psychological aspects of medical disorders and longer term therapies.
Cynthia Browne, L.C.S.W.-C.
Ms. Browne has provided therapy for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families for 25 years. She is a graduate of Smith College School for Social Work and has taught at Towson University. She specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders and mood disorders particularly in children and adolescents. She also practices ERP for OCD and DBT as indicated.
Michael Checknoff, L.C.S.W.-C.
Mr. Checknoff provides psychotherapy for people who have anxiety disorders and other problems. He has special interests in the treatment of OCD and of school anxiety. While he focuses on working with children, teens, young adults and families, he also works with adults of all ages. He holds two degrees from the University of Virginia and an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work.
Michelle Coombs,
M.S.
Ms. Coombs is a clinical intern who is currently a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at Fielding Graduate University. Her previous work includes dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder, drug and alcohol counseling, and psycho-educational evaluations for adolescents. She also provides group and individual therapy using both cognitive-behavioral and integrated approaches.
David Epstein, Ph.D.
Dr. Epstein provides psychotherapy to older children, adolescents, adults and couples. His areas of specialty include mood and anxiety disorders with particular focus on the behavioral problems often manifested in children and adolescents struggling with these conditions. Treatment is drawn from a variety of perspectives including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and systemic.
Lee Goldberg, L.C.S.W.-C.
Ms.Goldberg provides individual and family therapy for adults and children. Her special interests include geriatrics and in vivo exposure for anxiety disorders.
Carol Halpin, R.N., L.C.S.W.-C.
Ms. Halpin provides individual therapy for adults. She specializes in life-stage transition issues such as divorce, grief, medical illness, and infertility. She is a Gottman certified couples therapist and provides cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness and psychodynamic approaches to treatment.
Michael Heady, M.A., L.C.P.C.
Mr. Heady utilizes in vivo exposure and exposure plus response prevention for anxiety spectrum disorders. He also provides individual therapy utilizing cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness approaches for anxiety and stress related concerns. Mr. Heady splits his time between ASDI and lecturing at McDaniel College.
Heather Major, Psy.D.
Dr. Major has a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University in Maryland. She provides individual therapy for adolescents and adults, integrating the approaches of mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and stress-related conditions.
Jonathan Mattanah, Ph.D.
Dr. Mattanah specializes in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders using a combination of cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic techniques. He also works with adolescents and adults experiencing challenging or significant life transitions. Dr. Mattanah is Professor of Psychology at Towson University.
Zelda Milstein
Ms.Milstein was the first in vivo therapist in Maryland and a co-founder of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Sheppard-Pratt Hospital in 1978. Although semi-retired, she still specializes in in vivo exposure and coaching about cognitive coping skills for panic disorder, agoraphobia, OCD and fear of flying.
Andre Papantonio, M.A., L.C.P.C.
Mr. Papantonio provides individual and group therapy for adults. He specializes in the use of mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders and stress-related conditions.
Janice McWilliams, M.S., L.C.P.C., M.Div.
Ms. McWilliams provides treatment for individuals and couples with a wide range of anxiety and mood disorders using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and integrated approaches. Her work includes in vivo exposure and response prevention therapy for anxiety disorders. She splits her time between ASDI and doing spiritual formation, training, and speaking for a non-profit organization.
Joan Pfeiffer, L.C.S.W.-C.
Ms. Pfeiffer provides individual psychotherapy for adults. She specializes in treating panic disorder, chronic worry, PTSD, OCD and depression using cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic and mindfulness-based approaches.
Amy Rabinove, Ph.D., J.D.
Dr. Rabinove provides individual therapy to adolescents and adults. She specializes in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and chronic pain. Dr. Rabinove holds degrees in clinical health psychology and law.
Elise Rittler, M.S., L.G.P.C.
Ms. Rittler is a clinical intern providing individual therapy for adults with anxiety. She is a 2012 graduate from Loyola University of Maryland with a masters in Pastoral Counseling. Elise works with anxiety and stress related disorders using in vivo exposure and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Carl Robbins, M.S.Ed., M.S., L.C.P.C.
Director of Training
Mr. Robbins has over 20 years of experience in treating anxiety disorders and co-occurring mood and substance abuse disorders. His primary approach is cognitive-behavioral with extensive use of "Third Wave" approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Subspecialties include health anxiety, paruresis, and performance anxiety, including public-speaking and sports-related difficulties.
Randi Schwartz, Ph.D.
Dr. Schwartz employs an integrative approach to the treatment of adults with anxiety disorders, including cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and humanistic approaches. She holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from NYU and an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University, with special expertise in the psychological effects of catastrophic injuries and disabling conditions. In addition, she has completed advanced training in the treatment of OCD, trichotillomania, skin picking, and PTSD.
Stephnie Thomas, M.S., L.P.C.
Mrs. Thomas provides psychotherapy to older children, adolescents and adults, utilizing mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy. She specializes in utilizing exposure therapy for anxiety spectrum disorders. She offers group and individual therapy for fear of flying. She is a graduate of Loyola College in Maryland's Pastoral Counseling Program.
Shawn Costello Whooley, Psy.D.
Dr. Whooley provides psychotherapy to older adolescents and adults. She specializes in cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based approaches for trauma and anxiety disorders, mood disorders, stress-related conditions and grief and loss.
Unlicensed Exposure Therapy and Warm Fuzzies Specialist
ASDI: Serving the Baltimore Area & Central Maryland
Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of
Maryland:
Treating anxiety disorders and stress-related disorders in Towson,
Maryland, since 1978.