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
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 assessment and 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. Upon obtaining licensure, Dr. Diaz also became a certified provider of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Dr. Diaz has worked with individuals across the lifespan and places great emphasis on a culturally humble, collaborative, and strengths-based approach to treatment. She has expertise in treating anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, disruptive behavior disorders, school refusal, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). Dr. Diaz can be reached at 301-610-7850 ext. 12 or drdiaz@changeanxiety.com.
About Kathleen King, LCSW
Ms. King received her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at George Mason University. She has worked in a variety of settings with children, adolescents, and adults. She enjoys treating individuals living with, anxiety, OCD, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, adjustment disorders, ADHD, and other mood and behavioral disorders. Her goal is to provide a welcoming and non-judgmental space filled with compassion and support to help individuals overcome obstacles and life stressors and develop healthy and positive coping mechanisms to better care for their mental health while highlighting their strengths. She aims to connect with individuals in a way that would leave them feeling understood.
Ms. King practices from a person-centered and trauma-informed lens and utilizes evidenced-based interventions including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Person Centered/Strength Based, and Solution-Focused Therapy. She integrate toys, art, and creativity to help engage the younger clients into therapy. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors with her dogs.
About Gaby Grebski, LCSW
Gaby Grebski is a licensed social worker who earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Yale University and her masters degree in social work from Columbia University with a focus on health, mental health, and disabilities. She completed an internship at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, specializing in mood and eating disorders. With 20 years of experience as a counselor and health educator, working in schools across the Washington DC area as well as at the collegiate level, Gaby uses a supportive and collaborative, strengths-based approach in her work with adolescents and parents, focusing mainly on mood and anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, life transitions, relationships, and self-injurious behaviors. Gaby uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based techniques in her work.
With more than 20 years of coaching experience, including dozens of high school All-American athletes, and having competed at the Division I and masters levels, Gaby also works with athletes to manage the psychological factors impacting athletic performance, motivation, and achievement.
About Kimberley Montgomery, LMSW
Kimberley Montgomery, LMSW earned her Master’s degree in Social work from The Catholic University of America and her Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia in Canada. She spent two years interning at the Jewish Social Services Agency where she focused on evidence-based treatments for adolescents and adults. Kimberley enjoys working with a range of anxiety and mood disorders, emotional dysregulation, school refusal, and life transitions.
Kimberley has been trained on Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and incorporates complementary techniques from Mindfulness, Solution Focused Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT) into her practice. Kimberley focuses on collaborative, empathic, strengths-based therapy.
About Salman Alkhalifa, MA
Salman Alkhalifa is currently in the Clinical Psychology PhD. program at the American University. Salman completed three years of in-house practicum work at the American University Counseling Center and the Gray Psychotherapy Training Clinic. Salman has been trained in using evidence-based treatment interventions including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Person-centered therapy. He has experience treating anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and borderline personality disorder. Additionally, Salman has conducted numerous neuropsychological assessments to diagnose a variety of neurological conditions including ADHD and traumatic brain injury.
Salman’s therapy approach is empathetic and culturally sensitive, aiming to meet the needs of the individual. He aims to foster engagement and collaboration to help clients reach their goals by providing a variety of tailored tools and techniques. He finds fulfillment in being part of a client’s therapeutic journey. Salman’s pastimes include playing videogames, hiking, and playing music.
About Michelle Berry
Michelle Berry is currently in the Master of Professional Studies in Clinical Psychological Science program at the University of Maryland. Prior to joining the CABC team, Michelle worked at the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC), a nonprofit focused on serving women experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, for five years. She worked as a case manager with women and families before transitioning to the role of DWC’s community research coordinator. In 2022, Michelle coordinated the participant, volunteer, and survey site recruitment for the 2022 Los Angeles County Women’s Needs Assessment, the largest study on women’s homelessness in the nation. Outside of work, Michelle volunteered for three years as a crisis counselor at the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center where she took calls for 988 and other helplines. Michelle is excited to be a part of the CABC team and the opportunity to support families and individuals as they connect to treatment.