Our Staff

Dr. Jill Rathus 

Jill

Dr. Rathus, co-founder and co-director of Cognitive Behavioral Associates, is an internationally recognized DBT & CBT expert working with both youth & adults. Dr. Rathus and colleagues developed the adolescent/family adaptation of DBT. Her books DBT with Suicidal Adolescents and DBT Skills for Suicidal Adolescents are the primary texts for Dialectical Behavior Therapy with teens and families. As a tenured faculty member at Long Island University-Post Campus, her areas of specialty include assessment evaluations, relationship distress, depression, anxiety disorders, writing coaching & writing anxiety, PTSD, suicidality, and borderline personality disorder, and she publishes widely in these areas in books & peer-reviewed journals. She has also authored books on topics including couples therapy, assessment of family violence, and adapting DBT for school settings. In 2016 she was honored to receive the Cindy Sanderson Outstanding Educator Award from the International Society of Education and Training in DBT (ISITDBT).  Dr. Rathus graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in English, received her Ph.D. in psychology from Stony Brook University, and completed her clinical internship at Montefiore Medical Center/Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Rathus has trained thousands of mental health professionals in both the US and abroad.

Dr. Ruth DeRosa

ruth

Dr. DeRosa is co-founder and co-director of Cognitive Behavioral Associates. She is an expert in the fields of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, anxiety, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and adult & child traumatic stress. Intensively trained in DBT, she and colleagues have also developed DBT-informed treatments for teens experiencing chronic extreme stress as part of a federal grant supporting a national network of trauma specialists. She is currently on the editorial board for the Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma and The Journal of Family Violence. Dr. DeRosa graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from George Washington University and received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Duke University. In addition to publishing in the areas of CBT & DBT, she also consults with agencies working to integrate evidence-based practice and treatment programs in their organizations.  Dr. DeRosa trains and consults with therapists across the country regarding building clinical teams, as well as individual & group therapy, to help clients experiencing stress, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder features and emotional dysregulation.

Dr. Gus Cutz

GusDr. Cutz is a CBA psychologist experienced in providing evidence-based treatments for individuals with mood, anxiety, trauma, adjustment, ADHD, and personality disorders. He is dedicated to CBT and DBT approaches, and his work has spanned a variety of settings including outpatient centers, inpatient, day treatment, and crisis consultations in emergency rooms. In addition to being intensively trained in DBT, Dr. Cutz also has specialized training in prolonged exposure, an evidence-based type of trauma-focused work. He has also worked intensively with persons coping with bipolar disorder and severe depression. In addition, Dr. Cutz provides consultation to mental health agencies regarding DBT practices.  Dr. Cutz is an expert in the study and practice of mindfulness, including training in Nepal. Dr. Cutz has been coordinator of Long Island University SafeZone program, providing sensitivity training to clinicians regarding issues faced by LGBTQ individuals. While working at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care in New Jersey, Dr. Cutz provided training in DBT principles and skills to clinical staff.

Dr. Mekha Thomas

Dr. Mekha Thomas is a psychologist experienced in providing evidenced-based treatment to adolescents, young adults and adults struggling with mood, anxiety, trauma, substance use, and adjustment disorders as well as relational stressors. Prior to joining CBA, Dr. Thomas collaborated with a multidisciplinary school-based mental health team at Montefiore Medical Center. She also worked at Pace University and SUNY Purchase college counseling centers.  She is passionate about working with individuals suffering from trauma and has received specialized training in Trauma-Focused CBT. Dr. Thomas has also received specialized training in Teen Intervene, a substance-abuse treatment model targeting adolescents and young adults with mild to moderate substance use problems. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Thomas serves as an adjunct faculty member at Iona College. Dr. Thomas graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hofstra University and received her Psy.D. from the Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology at the University of Hartford, CT.

Dr. Jackie Krychiw

Dr. Krychiw is a CBT psychologist with experience working with adolescents and adults struggling with a variety of disorders including depression, anxiety, severe emotional dysregulation and young adults on the spectrum.  She is intensively trained in DBT and DBT-PE, a trauma focused treatment. She completed her accredited internship at the Northport VA Medical Center, where she gained experience in treating PTSD and other disorders as well as in providing psychological treatments to people struggling with chronic medical and health conditions.  She graduated from Hofstra University, where she received extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for a variety of disorders, as well as parent training (PCIT) and family and marital therapy training. She completed 2 years of training at Northwell Health, in their DBT young adult and general adult inpatient units and their outpatient Behavioral Health College Partnership Program with young adults. At Northwell, she co-led multiple DBT skills training groups and treated clients with DBT individual therapy, as well as conducting CBT. She treated a wide range of problems including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and suicidal behaviors. Dr. Krychiw’s research interests include expanding the use of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to treat suicidal behaviors. 

Dr. Olivia Peros

Dr. Peros is CBA psychologist who completed her accredited internship at Northwell Health, where she gained experience in providing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of suicidal thoughts/behaviors, nonsuicidal self-injury, a range of anxiety-related disorders, trauma and eating disorders. She graduated from Hofstra University, where she also received extensive training in DBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She also completed 1 year of training at Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders, where she gained training in CBT for a variety of disorders including depression, anxiety and OCD. She is passionate about providing evidenced-based treatments to a wide range of individuals, and enjoys working with adolescents, adults emerging adults and families. Dr. Peros’s research interests include adapting evidence-based treatments in innovative ways (e.g., internet-based interventions) to increase access and dissemination.  

Dr. Ali Kresch Levine 

Dr. Kresch Levine is a postdoctoral psychology fellow committed to using evidence-based practices to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use, personality disorders, relational struggles, parenting stressors, and adjustment issues. Dr. KL has experience working with adults, adolescents, and children in various inpatient and outpatient settings including Zucker Hillside Hospital, Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center, and Nassau University Medical Center. Her work with individuals, families, couples, and groups is grounded in CBT with emphases and extensive trainings in Mindfulness, DBT, and ACT. She earned her Psy.D. from Long Island University, C.W. Post, where she presently serves as an adjunct faculty member. Her undergraduate degrees in Theatre and English are from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!). Dr. KL’s research is focused on maternal mental health.

Dr. Nira Nafisi and Dr. Hilary Vidair, who maintain their own therapy practices, are also members of our DBT Consultation Team. We highly value their contribution to our team!