Founding Partner & Co-Directors
Sally Winston, PsyD
Founder, Executive Director
Dr. Winston has been recognized regionally and nationally for over 40-years for her expertise in the treatment of OCD and anxiety disorders. After working at Sheppard Pratt Hospital for 17 years, she co-founded The Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland in 1992. She has served multiple roles including Chair of the Clinical Advisory Board of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and was honored with the first Jerilyn Ross Clinician Advocate Award in 2011. She is co-author of three books, What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Anxiety Disorders: Key Concepts, Insights and Interventions (Routledge, 2014), Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts (New Harbinger, 2017), and Needing to Know for Sure: A CBT-Based Guide to Overcoming Compulsive Checking & Reassurance Seeking (New Harbinger, 2019).
Sarah Crawley, Ph.D. Co-Director
Dr. Crawley earned her Ph.D. at Temple University, followed by a fellowship at Kennedy Krieger and work experience at The Forbush School. She provides individual and family therapy to children, adolescents and young adults. She has experience working with anxiety disorders, PANS/PANDAS, OCD, mood disorders, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, school refusal, and behavioral difficulties. She specializes in cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders.
Michael Heady, MA, LCPC
Co-Director
Mr. Heady has over a decade of experience specializing in evidence informed treatments for OCD, OC-related issues, panic, agoraphobia, social anxiety and generalized anxiety. He utilizes acceptance-based behavior therapies including CBT, ERP, and ACT. Mr. Heady serves as Faculty for the International OCD Foundation's Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) where he offers small group consultation to licensed clinicians, professional training webinars, and in-depth training in the treatment of OCD through BTTI intensive workshops. He is also a Clinical Fellow with the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and a board-approved supervisor. He provides professional consultation for therapists, and is a frequent presenter at national conferences, on professional webinars, and podcasts.
Director of Training
Carl Robbins, MSEd, MS, LCPC
Mr. Robbins has over 30 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.
ASDI Associates
ASDI's associates all have special expertise in treating anxiety disorders and OCD.
Lisa Beauvois,CRNP
Lisa Beauvois is a Board Certified Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who provides medication management to ASDI patients of all ages. Lisa has been a nurse practitioner for over 20 years and values forming close relationships with patients. She works closely with the clinicians at ASDI to provide a collaborative approach, tailoring each patient’s medication regimen to their unique needs. Lisa provides psychiatric services in English, Spanish, and French. She lives in Baltimore city with her three children and enjoys sleeping, traveling, and learning new things - and her young son would like you to know that she enjoys playing soccer with him (at every available opportunity!)
Cynthia Browne, LCSW-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.
Joanna Chango-James, PhD
Dr. Chango-James is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and Virginia and her practice is 100% teletherapy. She utilizes evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders and OCD.
Michael Checknoff, LCSW-C
Mr. Checknoff was educated at the University of Virginia and Smith College School for Social Work. He sees teens and adults for OCD and the various anxiety disorders. He has a special interest in working with musicians with performance anxiety.
Kathryn DeLonga, Psy.D
Dr. DeLonga specializes in CBT and evidence-based treatments for depression, OCD, and stress and anxiety disorders, and provides parent coaching. She completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium, postdoctoral fellowship at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, and worked as Director of Psychological Treatment with the Mood, Brain & Development Unit at the National Institute of Mental Health.
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.
Carol Halpin, LCSW-C
Carol provides treatment for individuals and couples struggling with anxiety disorders, life-transitions, and relationship issues.
Lisa Jordan, PhD
Dr. Jordan is a Clinical Psychologist with 15+ years of experience treating adults with anxiety, mood disorders, and psychological trauma. She has a special interest in working with substance abuse and co-occurring conditions. She provides individual psychotherapy using an integrative approach including Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral, and Motivational approaches.
Jonathan Mattanah, PhD
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.
Teri Rich, JD, MSW, LCSW-C
Ms. Rich specializes in treating adults with mood and anxiety disorders, grief, and post-traumatic stress, with an emphasis on survivors of sexual abuse and assault. She integrates a variety of treatment perspectives, including psychodynamic, humanistic existential, cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies to create distinctive therapeutic interventions rooted in personal connection. Ms. Rich holds degrees in social work and law from University of Maryland Baltimore.
Elise Rittler, MS, LCPC
Ms. Rittler provides individual therapy for adults with anxiety. She is a 2012 graduate from Loyola University of Maryland with a masters in Pastoral Counseling. Ms. Rittler works with anxiety and stress related disorders using in-vivo exposure and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Julie Samuelson, LGSW
Ms. Samuelson provides therapy for adults. She has a clinical social work degree and treats anxiety/OCD, trauma, and mood disorders. She employs a strengths-based approach that is primarily cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based, with an emphasis on exposure therapy when indicated. She has years of experience counseling people with chronic physical illness, addressing the broad range of challenges that can develop.
Beth Surbeck, PhD
Dr. Surbeck works with adults and has considerable experience working with undergraduate and graduate students, most recently at University Mental Health Services at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She particularly enjoys working with people with OCD, GAD, perfectionism and social anxiety. She employs evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapies, including exposure therapy, ERP for OCD, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She has advanced training in the behavioral treatment of OCD.
Jeffrey Taulbee, MA, LCPC
Mr. Taulbee provides treatment for clients suffering from anxiety and mood disorders, with an emphasis on helping those with social anxiety and OCD. He works with adults and adolescents using a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, as well as mindfulness-based approaches. Mr. Taulbee graduated from Towson University with an MA in Clinical Psychology.
Stephnie Thomas, MS, LCPC
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.
Veronica Tilden, PsyD
Dr. Tilden provides individual and family therapy services to children, adolescents, and young adults, and has experience with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, ADHD, disruptive behaviors/noncompliance, parent training, and family conflict. She utilizes a combination of cognitive-behavioral and family systems interventions, with a focus on acceptance and mindfulness-based techniques. Dr. Tilden is a graduate from Nova Southeastern University and previously worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Beth K. Vincent, MHS, MS, LCPC
Beth is a licensed clinical professional counselor who provides general psychotherapy services to adults. Her specialty areas include anxiety, life transition/adjustment, and relationship issues. She helps individuals understand the challenges they face and make changes that improve their quality of life. This process aims to help clients feel better, improve communication skills and gain a sense of hope.
Her approach combines psychodynamic theory and evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapies. This means her work is rooted in the belief that individuals think and act for understandable reasons that may be problematic in their daily lives. She helps people uncover these reasons and move forward in a way that reduces psychological suffering and promotes wellness. The aim is to help each client to better understand his or her emotions, thoughts and behaviors, and learn new ways of processing challenges. Beth is a graduate of Kenyon College and Johns Hopkins University.
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Kimberly Welch, MEd, PhD
Dr. Welch helps young people and families navigate anxiety, OCD, depression, stress, emotional dysregulation, and social challenges. She customizes treatment using CBT, ERP, interpersonal, trauma-informed, DBT-informed, and Social Thinking interventions, and is experienced in adapting these for preschoolers and those with special education needs. Dr. Welch has degrees in Educational (M.Ed.) and Clinical (Ph.D.) psychology from UVA, completed postdoctoral fellowships at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Sheppard Pratt, and worked for many years as the supervising psychologist at a K-8 special education program (Forbush School at Glyndon/Sheppard Pratt.)
BJ Wendland, LCSW-C
Ms. Wendland brings a strength-based and person-centered approach to her work with families, children and adolescents. She uses informed interventions such as play therapy, CBT, ACT, trauma informed, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, psychoeducation, emotional regulation and social skills to treat those experiencing symptoms related to OCD, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attachment Disorders and Trauma. Ms. Wendland graduated from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and has over 17 years of clinical experience at the Sheppard Pratt School @ Glyndon working with children and families with special needs. Several of those years she was the Senior Social Worker responsible for the supervision of the delivery of clinical social work services. Ms. Wendland is a Maryland Board of Social Work Board certified supervisor.
Shawn Costello Whooley, PsyD
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.
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Megan English, MA, LCPC
Ms. English has a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Towson University. She works with adults suffering from anxiety and mood disorders, with a particular interest in working with those experiencing social anxiety and OCD. She tailors treatment to each client using a combination of exposure and cognitive-behavioral therapies, with acceptance and mindfulness-based techniques.
Yanhua Li, LCPC
Yanhua is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Maryland since 2003 and has worked in community mental health, university counseling and career services, and private practice. Yanhua graduated from 清华大学 (Tsinghua University) and Johns Hopkins University. At ASDI, Yanhua's focus is on treatment of OCD and anxiety disorders.
Affiliated Clinicians
Sanil Mathew Mayilkunnel, MS
Sanil is a Doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology program at Loyola University Maryland. He has an MA in Clinical Psychology from India and an MS in Clinical Psychology from Loyola. Sanil’s primary approach is cognitive-behavioral with adaptive use of "Third Wave" approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. He also utilizes Interpersonal Process approach with a multicultural lens in his therapeutic practice.
Gittel Rifkind, MA, LGPC
Ms. Rifkind provides individual therapy for children, adolescents and adults with anxiety, OCD and stress-related disorders. She attained a master’s in counseling from Johns Hopkins University after many years as a teacher. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (MBCT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP), all within the framework of a person-centered, strength-based approach which focuses on connection and appreciating the potential of her clients.
Doctoral Intern
Josh Bock, MS
Therapy is not simply the shared space in which our discussions take place, rather it is a decision to embark on a journey of healing, growth and self-discovery. Life often places us in situations that we feel we may not be able to handle alone and it is my belief that we do not have to handle these challenges alone. As your therapist it would be my distinct honor to help you navigate the hardships you face. I utilize an integrative therapeutic style that gives me access to numerous tools that I implement in order to address the unique challenges you may be facing.
Therapy with me is based on collaboration that allows us each to share our expertise; mine in psychology and your expertise on yourself! This philosophy also shapes our shared therapy space as we will collaborate on what type of environment, whether more structured or free-flowing, works best for you on your path of healing.
It is my firmest belief that each and every one of my clients is capable of change and growth and it is my duty to help you discover not only what that looks like for you but also what tools you may need in order to reach that destination. Together we can help you to live a happier and more fulfilled life.