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. DeBoard-Lucas
Dr. Renee DeBoard-Lucas is a licensed psychologist who earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Marquette University. She completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship and then served as a staff psychologist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. DeBoard-Lucas’ clinical interests include treatment of children, adolescents, and adults who are experiencing anxiety and depression. A particular area of interest is the treatment of adjustment difficulties in the context of traumatic events; she provides Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other CBT oriented models to promote adaptive coping and adjustment. Dr. DeBoard-Lucas also provides Exposure and Response Prevention and Habit Reversal Training for OCD and Tic Disorders. Dr. DeBoard-Lucas’ research interests include children’s perceptions of intimate partner violence and family conflict, as well as resilience in the context of these stressors. Dr. DeBoard-Lucas can be reached at 301-610-7850 ext. 3 or drdeboard-lucas@changeanxiety.com.
About Dr. Scharfstein
Dr. Lindsay Scharfstein earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida and completed her pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships at the Yale University, Child Study Center. Dr. Scharfstein specializes in the assessment, treatment, and continuing care of pre-schoolers, school-age children, adolescents, and adults whose lives are affected by anxiety and related conditions. Dr. Scharfstein is the director of the Selective Mutism program and Confident Kids Camp- DC Metro for Selective Mutism.
She conducts specialized psychological assessments for individuals with anxiety disorders, to help obtain accurate diagnoses and develop personalized treatment plans. She is extensively trained in evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD, Habit Reversal Training, Family Therapy, Parent Training/Support Sessions, and Social Skills Training. She has particular expertise in the treatment of selective mutism and social phobia (social anxiety disorder), and treatments aimed to enhance social and emotional functioning.
Dr. Scharfstein provides treatment in individual, couples, family, group, and intensive therapy formats. She engages in ongoing communication with family, school, and community systems to foster collaborative relationships and optimize treatment success and quality of life. Dr. Scharfstein additionally offers educational workshops within the community. Dr. Scharfstein can be reached at 301-610-7850 ext. 5 or drscharfstein@changeanxiety.com.
About Dr. Singer
Dr. Rachel Singer is a licensed psychologist who completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. Dr. Singer completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Singer specializes in child, family, and group therapy to address concerns regarding anxiety, behavioral issues, familial discord, depression, emotional dysregulation, social skills deficits, and academic difficulties. She has extensive training working directly with schools in order to provide comprehensive care for children experiencing anxiety and related disorders. Dr. Singer frequently presents at national conferences and has published in academic peer-reviewed journals. Specific areas of clinical interest include generalized anxiety, specific phobias, social phobia, trauma, and family communication. Dr. Singer can be reached at 301-610-7850 ext. 4 or drsinger@changeanxiety.com.
About Dr. Brooks
Dr. Christina Brooks is a licensed psychologist who earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from American School for Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She completed a practicum in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders at the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Clinic at Children’s National Medical Center. She completed her predoctoral internship and two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Brooks has clinical experience in providing evidence-based treatments (individual, family, and group therapies) to children and adolescents with a wide range of emotional and behavioral difficulties including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and oppositional defiant disorder. Dr. Brooks has strong interests in treatment of childhood anxiety disorders including social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and OCD. Dr. Brooks can be reached at (301) 610-7850 ext. 6 or drbrooks@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 at Argosy University, Washington D.C.
Dr. Hayes’s pre-doctoral training experiences involved providing individual, family, couples, and group psychotherapy and crisis intervention to a diverse client population of varying psychopathology. During internship, Dr. Hayes developed a parenting group focused on realigning the organization of family systems and implementing behavioral interventions specified for oppositional behaviors, and primarily treated diagnoses related to experiences with complex, acute, and/or chronic traumatic experiences.
Dr. Hayes’s clinical interests include the impact of attachment disruptions on social-emotional development, the treatment of adjustment difficulties in the context of traumatic experiences, and working with couples and families to overcome behavioral, cognitive and relational difficulties. Dr. Hayes can be reached at: (301) 610-7850, ext. 8, or drhayes@changeanxiety.com.
About Bridget Camardi
Bridget Camardi went to school at Montgomery College in Rockville where she got an AA in Early Childhood Education and continued on to the University of Colorado, in Colorado Springs to obtain a BA in Psychology. She was a kindergarten enrichment teacher and a substitute teacher for Montgomery County Publics school for many years. She eventually left to teach English, Literature and History to middle school students at a private school in Gaithersburg, Md. Approximately seven years ago, she shifted gears and joined Children’s National Medical Center on the administrative side, working in the Behavioral Health Department. She is now excited to be part of the dynamic team working here at CABC as the new Clinic Coordinator.
About Caroline Cole
Caroline Cole graduated magna cum laude from James Madison University with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She is currently a second-year graduate student working towards her master’s degree in Psychology at American University. She is involved in the Child Anxiety Laboratory and the Stress and Emotion Laboratory on campus, with a specific interest in childhood anxiety disorders and parenting approaches. Caroline will also be working as a counselor for the Confident Kids Camp- DC Metro for Selective Mutism this summer. She will be pursuing a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology to continue her education in psychotherapeutic treatment and research. Caroline is excited to work as the Intake Coordinator and can be reaches at (301) 610-7850, ext. 10, or intake-coordinator@