Dr. Samantha Carella is a Board Certified Child and Adolescent (ABPP) Psychologist. She is licensed and has been practicing psychology since 1993. In 1997, she opened Samantha Carella, PsyD, ABPP and Associates. Her practice is concentrated in the area of children and families. Dr. Carella currently provides psychotherapy and family counseling for emotional, developmental and behavioral related issues. Dr. Carella conducts psychological evaluations for ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, giftedness, and emotional/psychological concerns. She works closely with public and private schools and has presented on a number of topics. She also provides diagnostic consultation and second opinions for difficult to diagnose cases, parenting skills and home behavioral interventions. Dr. Carella is on staff at Miami Children's Hospital and completed her doctoral internship there. At Miami Children's Hospital she supervised Interns in Psychiatry and provided consultation and intervention in Neurology, and Behavioral Medicine, in conjunction with many medical departments (i.e., cardiac, juvenile diabetes, pain management, and oncology). She also conducted Early Intervention (birth to 3) developmental evaluations at both Miami Children's and St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach. In addition, she is an Adjunct Faculty member at Florida Atlantic University in the Division of Psychology. She is a member of the Dade, Florida and American Psychological Associations and a Fellow in the American Academy of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Carella is the 2008 President of the Dade-Monroe chapter of the Florida Psychological Association.

Dr. Judith Migoya is a Licensed Psychologist with expertise in Neuropsychology. She is bilingual and conducts evaluations and therapy in English and Spanish. As a neuropsychologist, her primary focus involves assessment of brain functions associated with ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, traumatic brain injury, memory disorders, and other cognitive impairments. Dr. Migoya is also a skilled therapist and has specialized in treatment of behavioral problems, anxiety disorders, and adjustment difficulties (including those related to medical conditions) in children and adolescents. She is experienced in working with children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders, as well as their families and schools. Dr. Migoya graduated with a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University’s Clinical Psychology program. She completed her predoctoral internship training at UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, followed by a two year post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at Clinical Psychology Associates in Gainesville, Florida. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Migoya provides doctoral supervision as an adjunct faculty member at Nova Southeastern University’s Center for Psychological Studies. She is a member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the American Psychological Association, the Learning Disabilities Association of America, and the Florida Psychological Association. Dr. Migoya has published research and authored book chapters in the areas of neuropsychology and behavioral medicine.

Dr. Nicholas Maccarrone is a Licensed Psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of psychological disorders in children and adolescents, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and conduct problems. He also works with family issues, such as divorce, parenting and other related concerns. While his expertise involves working with the pediatric population, his education, training, and professional experience allow him to provide psychological services to a wide range of individuals, from children to older adults. He completed his predoctoral internship at Florida State University's Student Counseling Center and his post-doctoral residency at a private practice in Central Florida. Dr. Maccarrone is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Florida Psychological Association. He was formerly a faculty member at Barry University and remains active in a teaching role as a faculty member at Nova Southeastern University, where he provides intensive clinical supervision to doctoral students at the Center for Psychological Studies. He also provides support to local schools and runs Life Skills and Sexual Education classes for adolescent boys with learning disabilities. Dr. Maccarrone works out of the Aventura and Coral Springs offices.

Dr. Laura Grashow-Rywell is a licensed child clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment and assessment of children and adolescents, family therapy and parent guidance. Dr. Grashow-Rywell works on issues such as depression, anxiety, anger management and social skills. Additionally she works with children and their families on emotional issues stemming from divorce, difficult relationships, and learning difficulties. Dr. Grashow-Rywell takes a comprehensive approach by working closely with parents, family members and school staff. Before entering private practice, she completed her internship in Newark, New Jersey at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, trained at Bellevue Hospital, NYU's Pediatric Oncology Department and trained and worked in the Pediatric Department of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Grashow-Rywell's background also includes teaching early childhood and elementary school, and the position of guidance counselor for grades K-8. Dr. Grashow-Rywell is a member of the American Psychological Association. She joined the practice in November 2004 and works in the Aventura office..

For further information please refer to Dr. Grashow-Rywell's website: www.drgrashow.com

Susanne Wardy, MS is an Educational Consultant who has worked with the Miami-Dade County Public School system for the past 20 years. She joined the practice in 2002. Ms. Wardy provides consultations and educational therapy to children, adolescents and their families. She also does school consultations to assess learning and social environments to make appropriate recommendations. Ms. Wardy primarily works with autism spectrum (i.e., autism, aspergers and pervasive developmental disorders), nonverbal learning disabilities and related social, learning and attention disorders. Her work focuses on social understanding, theory of mind and social skills training. This is offered in an individual and small group format. She also provides coordination and follow-up of interventions that the child is receiving. Ms. Wardy is a member of the National Autism Society and the Autism Society of South Florida. She works out of the Coral Gables office.

Dr. Danielle Stier is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment and assessment of children, adolescents, and their families. While the focus of her clinical work is primarily on children and families, Dr. Stier also specializes in cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders (such as phobias, school refusal, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) in both children and adults. Dr. Stier works with a variety of childhood difficulties including behavioral problems (such as ADHD, anger management, and oppositional behavior), social skills deficits, and mood disorders, as well as family issues related to parenting and family conflict. In addition, Dr. Stier has specialized training and experience in the areas of bereavement and childhood abuse. She completed her predoctoral internship at the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Mailman Center for Child Development and a postdoctoral fellowship with UM’s Child Protection Team. In addition to her work in private practice and pediatric hospital settings, Dr. Stier has worked in South Florida's private and public schools. A member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, Dr. Stier joined this practice in 2006 and works in the Aventura office.

Deborah Lehman, Ed.S., NCSP, is a Licensed, Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Ms. Lehman conducts evaluations for giftedness and learning, emotional, and behavioral issues to identify strengths and deficits for comprehensive interventions. She provides counseling to assist children, adolescents and their families with a range of issues (ADHD, anger management, anxiety, oppositional behavior, and social skills deficits). She has had more than 20 years of experience working with children and their families to provide assessment and support for learning, emotional, and behavioral issues in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Ms. Lehman holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Diagnostic Teaching and an Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology. She is a Past President of the Dade Association of School Psychologists, a member of the Florida Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Psychologists. Ms. Lehman works in the Coral Gables office.

Nichole Eckert, MS, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and provides psychological treatment for adolescents/teenagers, college students, and adults. An area of specialty is mother/daughter relationship issues, improving self-esteem/confidence, teaching appropriate and effective coping skills related to academic/college related stressors, as well as peer pressure, eating disorders, drugs/alcohol, and relationships. Ms. Eckert works with individuals and families with underlying issues contributing to Depression, Anxiety (such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-traumatic stress, Phobias), Bipolar Disorder, Chemical Dependence, Relationship and Familial issues. Ms. Eckert holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Mental Health Counseling. Up until 2007, Ms. Eckert also worked on behalf of children and families as a counselor within both residential and outpatient care facilities. Ms. Eckert works in the Aventura office.

Dr. Heather Hernandez is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment and assessment of children, adolescents, and families. She has extensive experience treating severe behavior disordered children (conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder), experience in parent-training, and in PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy), a specialized treatment for severe oppositional and defiant behavior in young children. Dr. Hernandez also has training and experience in the treatment of ADHD, childhood trauma and abuse, autism spectrum, social skills training, mood disorders (anxiety, PTSD, depression), and family issues, such as parental conflict and divorce. Treatment of a variety of adult issues, including anxiety, depression, and interpersonal difficulties are also a specialization of Dr. Hernandez. She has also conducted evaluations and treatment for children and families involved in Dependency and Family Court proceedings. She completed her pre-doctoral internship training at the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Mailman Center for Child Development where she provided treatment and consultation to a variety of pediatric inpatient and outpatient medical clinics followed by her post-doctoral residency in a private practice. Dr. Hernandez works in the Coral Gables office.

Dr. Summer Sullivan is a licensed psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of psychological disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults in the context of family, individual and group psychotherapy. Dr. Sullivan works with a variety of difficulties including behavioral problems, social skills deficits, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, autism spectrum disorders and issues related to childhood sexual abuse and trauma. In addition, Dr. Sullivan has had extensive training in the treatment of issues related to family functioning, attachment issues, parenting issues, divorce and adoption. She also works closely with the family in developing behavior management plans to decrease behavior problems and remediate symptoms related to ADHD in the school, home, and social arena. Her passion for family therapy was cultivated while achieving her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Doctorate Degree in Counseling Psychology with a focus on Family Systems Theory, both from the University of Miami. Dr. Sullivan’s predoctoral internship involved two separate rotations; a rotation at the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the second rotation at the Center for Family Studies with specific training in Brief Strategic Family Therapy. Dr. Sullivan has conducted extensive research and has published several research articles in the area of prevention of HIV, risky sexual behavior, and drug abuse related to immigration and the cultural context of the family. She has also taught several classes at the University of Miami related to family studies. Dr. Sullivan works in the Aventura office.

Dr. Moran Amrani is a post-doctoral psychology resident under the supervision of both Nick Maccarrone, Psy. D., and Judith Migoya, Psy.D., licensed psychologists. Dr. Amrani has a wealth of experience providing child/adolescent and family psychotherapy in a variety of settings. She has specialized training in the assessment and treatment of depression, anxiety, adjustment difficulties to life stressors, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Furthermore, she is experienced in working with children and adolescents with conduct problems, developmental delays, bereavement, and histories of physical and sexual trauma, as well as with children/adolescents in foster care. Her treatment encompasses both play therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Dr. Amrani is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. She completed her predoctoral internship at The Chrysalis Center, and continues to provide school-based psychotherapeutic services to children/adolescents and their families through that agency.

Dr. Jessica Garcia is a licensed psychologist specializing in the assessment of learning and attentional difficulties, autism spectrum disorders, and emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. She is experienced in conducting neuropsychological, developmental and gifted evaluations in pre-school to college-age populations. Dr. Garcia also specializes in working collaboratively with parents and teachers to treat attention and behavioral disorders. She completed her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University with a specialization in Neuropsychology. Her predoctoral internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital focused on assessment of children and adolescents with a variety of neurological disorders. Dr. Garcia completed a post-doctoral residency with Nova Southeastern University’s School Psychology Assessment and Consultation Center. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at Nova Southeastern University’s Center for Psychological Studies and a member of the Florida Psychological Association, the National Academy of Neuropsychology and the Florida and National Association of School Psychologists. Dr. Garcia works in the Aventura office.

Dr. Susan Acosta is a post-doctoral clinical psychology resident. She is bilingual and conducts evaluations and therapy in English and Spanish. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of psychological disorders in children and adolescents, including learning disabilities, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, depression, and anxiety. She also conducts family therapy, addressing parenting and behavioral issues, divorce, and family conflict. She has extensive experience in the area of early development, primarily working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, as well as their families. She completed her graduate work at University of Miami, Child and Family track, and her pre-doctoral internship training at Miami Children's Hospital in the Behavioral Medicine track. She has experience providing consultation and intervention on an outpatient basis as well as with children and adolescents hospitalized with acute or chronic illnesses. Her experience involves working as part of a multi-disciplinary team together with many medical departments (e.g., pain management, oncology, neonatal intensive care unit, and juvenile diabetes). She also conducted Early Intervention (birth to 3) developmental evaluations at Miami Children's Hospital and together with Neurology created a screening clinic for social-communication disorders. Dr. Acosta conducts social skills training and works out of both the Coral Gables and Aventura offices.

Dr. Raphael Wald is a postdoctoral resident at Pediatric Psychology Associates. He has a range of experiences including individual therapy, group therapy, and neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Wald has worked with individuals of all ages, from young children all the way through older populations, typically addressing concerns related to adjustment, medical, and neurobehavioral issues. While studying for his Doctor of Psychology degree, he worked as a clinician at: Harvard - Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center in Boston, MA; The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, CT; and the Veteran's Affairs hospital in Newington, CT. He completed his predoctoral internship at the Neurological Institute at North Broward Medical Center. Dr. Wald has also conducted research for a number of years at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He has been published as a first author in the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. Dr. Wald is a member of the American Psychological Association. He joined this practice in September 2009 and works in the Coral Springs office.