Our Staff: Rockville Office

About Dr. Dalton

Dr. Dalton is a licensed psychologist who is the founder and director of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change (CABC) in Rockville, MD.  He received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Villanova University, a master’s degree in psychology from The Catholic University of America, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Fordham University with a specialization in child and family psychology. He completed two years of pre-doctoral training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine – Kennedy Krieger Institute, and advanced postdoctoral training at the Maryland Center for Anxiety Disorders at the University of Maryland. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and teens, with a focus on anxiety-based school refusal. He believes strongly in the importance of public outreach and frequently presents to student bodies, educators, mental health professionals, and community groups on the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Dr. Dalton can be reached at 301-610-7850 ext. 2 or drdalton@changeanxiety.com.

About Dr. Bianchi

Dr. Kristin Bianchi is a licensed psychologist who earned a master’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from American University. She completed a one-year pre-doctoral internship at the American University Counseling Center and a one-year post-doctoral fellowship at the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington (BTC). Upon completion of her fellowship, Dr. Bianchi continued her work at BTC for an additional 4 1/2 years. During that time, she worked in the Social Anxiety, School Refusal, and Hoarding Disorder programs. Dr. Bianchi provides clinical services to adults, adolescents, and children, and specializes in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders such as OCD, Trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling), and Excoriation Disorder (compulsive skin-picking). She also sub-specializes in the treatment of PTSD in the adult population. In addition to her areas of of specialty, Dr. Bianchi has extensive experience treating Social Phobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias, and Separation Anxiety Disorder. She has a strong clinical interest in the intersection of fear, disgust, and contamination concerns in Anxiety Disorders. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys working with members of Spanish-speaking communities in the United States and abroad. Dr. Bianchi can be reached at: (301) 610-7850, ext. 7, or drbianchi@changeanxiety.com.

About Dr. Hayes

Dr. Caitríona Hayes is a licensed psychologist. She earned bachelors in Studio Art from the College of Charleston and Psychology from University of Maryland. Dr. Hayes earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Child and Family Systems at the American School for Professional Psychology, Washington D.C. Dr. Hayes’s training experiences involved providing individual, family, couples, and group psychotherapy and crisis intervention to a diverse client population of varying psychopathology. She has completed post-doctoral, advanced training in treating couples and is a Level 3 Gottman Method Couples Therapist.

Dr. Hayes’s provides an integrative approach to treatment, grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Systems Theory. She is certified in mindfulness training and incorporates mindfulness strategies and breathing biofeedback as complementary techniques for improving dysregulation. Areas of expertise include the treatment of couples, families, individual adult and children, struggling with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, emotion dysregulation, trauma, school refusal. Dr. Hayes also provides research-informed didactic training for parents of children and adolescents struggling with mental health disorders.

Dr. Hayes’s approaches therapy through an accepting, warm, and non-judgmental lens. She values a collaborative therapeutic relationship and strives to deliver culturally informed therapy to meet the needs of all individuals, couples, or families presenting for treatment.  Dr. Hayes can be reached at: (301) 610-7850, ext. 8, or drhayes@changeanxiety.com.

About Dr. Gifford

Dr. Katie Gifford is a licensed psychologist who earned her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Maryland.  She has worked in Anne Arundel County Public Schools since 2011 as a School Psychologist specializing in counseling, assessment, consultation, crisis intervention, behavioral interventions, and Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation.  Dr. Gifford has presented at a variety of national conferences, published book chapters, and written articles in peer reviewed journals.  Dr. Gifford also taught as a visiting professor in the University of Maryland School Psychology doctoral program.  Dr. Gifford is trained in a variety of counseling modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Positive Psychology, and Social Skills Training.  She has extensive experience working with children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety, Depression, Mood Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Autism.  She has specialized knowledge of the school setting, and how to support academic and social-emotional success for children in Pre-Kindergarten through High School.  Dr. Gifford uses a collaborative approach in working with families, schools, and community agencies to help children realize their potential.  Dr. Gifford’s clinical interests include emotion regulation, generalized anxiety, specific phobias, depression, attention concerns, and academic success. Dr. Gifford can be reached at 301-610-7850 ext. 3 or drgifford@changeanxiety.com.

About Dr. Bienstock

Dr. Bienstock is a licensed psychologist who received her doctorate degree in clinical psychology from The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP) with a concentration in health psychology.  She completed her pre-doctoral training at Boston Behavioral Medicine in Brookline, MA and the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Memorial Hospital in Bedford, MA.  She completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington (BTC) in Silver Spring, MD.  Dr. Bienstock works with individuals across the lifespan using evidence-based approaches.  Dr. Bienstock has clinical expertise treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, school refusal, emotion dysregulation and ADHD.  She also participated in the Trichotillomania Learning Center’s Professional Training Institute and works with individuals with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). Dr. Bienstock can be reached at 301-610-7850 ext. 6 or drbienstock@changeanxiety.com.

About Dr. Diaz

Dr. Christina Diaz is a licensed psychologist who earned her doctorate degree in school psychology from Rutgers University. She completed her doctoral internship at the UC Davis CAARE Center where she specialized in evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment of children and adolescents. Following her internship, Dr. Diaz completed a year-long postdoctoral fellowship at the Behavior Management Clinic of the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. During her postdoctoral fellowship, she gained further experience providing evidence-based treatments including behavioral parent training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics. Dr. Diaz has worked with individuals across the lifespan and places great emphasis on a culturally humble, collaborative, and strengths-based approach to treatment.

About Emilia Milheim

Emilia Milheim, BA, is the Intake Coordinator at CABC. She graduated from the University of Maryland with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and is currently a master’s student in the University of Maryland’s Master of Professional Studies in Clinical Psychology program. She is looking forward to continuing her academic and professional pursuits in psychotherapy treatment, with specific interest in the treatment of PTSD in young adults. Emilia has worked in and conducted research with the Maryland Child and Family Development Lab as well as the Maryland Psychotherapy Clinic and Research Lab at the University of Maryland. Emilia can be reached at (301) 337-0812, or intake-coordinator@changeanxiety.com.