I have a deep love for the Academy. It is my professional home. This is the best place for therapists from the broad range of cognitive and behavioral therapies to connect with each other.

The advancement of culturally responsive CBT is a primary goal in my work as a CBT therapist and scholar. Being on A-CBT’s Board of Directors connects me to other likeminded professionals who have also made commitments to ensuring cultural sensitivity in the application of CBT among diverse populations.

I have been a Fellow with the Academy since 2003, and an active Trainer-Consultant since 2014. As part of the Board of Directors, I seek to enhance the Academy’s goals of training with a focus on diversity and inclusion, increasing international members, and fostering a culturally and developmentally sensitive approach to CBT.   

I am honored to join the Academy’s Board and aid in its mission! As Chief of Psychology at Montefiore-Einstein, I believe certification in CBT is critical, as it indicates a level of expertise and competency that goes well beyond the standard required for licensure, thus providing an impartial indicator of specialized knowledge and skills to both the public and potential employers.

I am a huge fan of testing to determine which treatments actually work and of certifying therapists who can implement those treatment that earn empirical support and A-CBT is a leader in the field

As co-founder of the Center for Hope and Health, my focus is on evidence-based treatments for disorders like eating disorders OCD, and anxiety disorders. Over the years, ACBT has become central to my work as a clinician and supervisor. It's an honor to be part of the ACBT board and I look forward to connecting with more people as we grow as an organization.

Through my work both as a faculty member at UT-Austin and an an owner of a private group CBT practice, I am deeply committed to evidence-based practice, research, teaching and supervision. I am honored to serve the community through the efforts that the Academy of CBT facilitates. 

After obtaining my doctorate in 1977 from the University of Georgia, I trained at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center with pioneers like Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis, and later established Cognitive Behavior Associates and the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Institute in Los Angeles. As a current Clinical Professor at UCLA,  I believe in the academy's role in credentialing CBT clinicians and promoting diversity in empirically-validated approaches.