- Kristene A. Doyle, Ph.D., Sc.D. is the Director of the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). Dr. Doyle is also Director of Clinical Services and a licensed Staff Psychologist at AEI. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from McGill University and went on to obtain her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical and school psychology from Hofstra University. During her 14-year tenure at AEI, Dr. Doyle has held various leadership roles including Associate Executive Director, Training and Development Coordinator, and Director of Child and Family Services. She is also a Diplomate in Rational Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (RE & CBT) and serves on the Diplomate Board. > Full bio
- Raymond DiGiuseppe, Ph.D., Sc.D. is Director of Professional Education and licensed Staff Psychologist at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). After earning a B.S. degree from Villanova University, Dr. DiGiuseppe received his Ph.D. from Hofstra University in 1975. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at AEI in 1977. In 1980 he became the Institute's Director of Professional Education, a position he has held since then. He has trained hundreds of therapists in Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (RE&CBT) throughout the world. He received the Jack Krasner Early Career Contribution award from APA's Division of Psychotherapy (29) > Full bio
- Michael Hickey, Ph.D. is Director of the Center for Psychological Evaluation and a licensed Staff Psychologist at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). A graduate of Western New England University, Dr. Hickey earned his B.A. in psychology and received the University's prestigious Alumni Association Award for graduating with the highest cumulative GPA in his class. He went on to earn his M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical and school psychology at Hofstra University and completed a pre-doctoral internship and fellowship at AEI. Dr. Hickey is a certified supervisor for AEI and has trained numerous students and mental health professionals in the method and application of Rational Emotive & Cognitive Behavior Therapy (RE&CBT). > Full bio
- F. Michler Bishop, Ph.D. is the Director of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI), where he worked closely with Dr. Ellis, running groups and workshops. He is the author of Managing Addictions: Cognitive, Emotive and Behavioral Techniques and, more recently, a chapter on alcohol abuse in the Handbook of Assessment, Conceptualization, and Treatment. In both, he advocates for an integrative, goal-focused approach, incorporating a variety of research-based treatment options. Dr. Bishop is past president of the Division of Addictions of the New York State Psychological Association and the Addictive Behaviors Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies. > Full bio
- Daniel David, Ph.D. Daniel David, Ph.D., is Director of Research and and a Diplomate/Supervisor at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). He holds the Aaron T. Beck Professorship at Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Dr. David is the President/Director of the International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, as well as an adjunct professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Oncological Sciences, in New York . Dr. David is the founding editor of the Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapies , and the founding director of the “Babe*-Bolyai*PsyTech” Psychological Clinic. > Full bio
- Richard Pecoroni, MA, has over 40 years experience as a licensed professional counselor and licensed mental health counselor in the states of Connecticut and New York. He received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Connecticut. He also studied at the Albert Ellis Institute, where as a fellow, he studied with and was supervised by Albert Ellis, PhD. Currently he is on staff at the Albert Ellis Institute where he uses REBT/CBT psychotherapeutic interventions with his clients and has supervised counselors and therapists from around the US and from numerous foreign countries. Additionally he owns Pathways to Potential, LLC where he also employs REBT/CBT with his clients in private practice located in Stratford, Connecticut. > Full bio
- Christopher Smith, Ph.D. is currently a Staff Psychologist at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). Dr. Smith received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yeshiva University. His area of study focused on health psychology, where his main area of research and interest was in stress reduction and anxiety. He received his M.S. in counseling psychology from Loyola University. Additionally, Dr. Smith received his B.S. in military history and a B.S. in psychology from Radford University. He has 9 years of psychotherapy experience and recently completed the REBT fellowship program at AEI. Dr. Smith has been trained in cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness meditation, and empirically-supported therapies. He maintains several organizational memberships including the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). > Full bio
- Rachel Waxman, Ph.D., is a Staff Therapist at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). Dr. Waxman holds a B.A. in psychology and English from Columbia University and an M.A. in clinical psychology from St. John’s University. Her doctoral dissertation discussed negative self-image as an underlying factor in personality and emotional disturbance. Dr. Waxman has conducted therapy and testing with adults, children, and families in Queens and the Bronx, and has worked in outpatient, inpatient, and research settings. She has clinical and research interests in self-concept, personality disorders, childhood emotional development, and prediction and prevention of psychopathology. > Full bio
- Candice Woo, Ph.D., is a staff therapist at the Albert Ellis Institute. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from St. John’s University and her M.A. in psychology from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Dr Woo obtained her B.Sc. in psychology from University College London, UK. She has been trained in REBT, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and empirically supported therapies. Her research interests are in the area of trauma and child maltreatment. She examined the role of meaning-making in young adults’ psychological adjustment to trauma in her dissertation, as well as children’s perceptions of child maltreatment in her master’s thesis. > Full bio
- Leonard Citron, M.A. is currently a Fellow at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). After earning a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on Middle Eastern Politics from Westminster University London, Mr. Citron returned to education to retrain in the field of psychology and mental health, gaining a certificate in Humanistic Counseling from CPPD Counseling School, one of London's foremost psychotherapy institutes. Mr. Citron then moved to New York for post graduate studies where he was awarded a Master of Arts from New York University (NYU) in Applied Psychology Counseling for Mental Health (M.A. LMHC). Leonard spent two years undertaking training in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) at New York Behavioral Health. His areas of specialty include depression, anger management, anxiety, addiction, obsessive compulsive disorders, LGBT issues, and self-acceptance. > Full bio
- Mary Russell, M.S. is a Fellow at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). She received her B.A. in Psychology from Franklin and Marshall College in 2005 and went on to earn her M.S. degree in School Psychology in 2010 from St. John's University. Currently, Ms. Russell is a doctoral candidate in St. John's University's School Psychology Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program. Her research and clinical interests focus on the application of evidence-based therapies in school settings, stress and resilience, therapeutic alliance, and the assessment, diagnosis, and remediation of learning disabilities. She has presented her research at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and co-authored a chapter detailing the application of REBT and CBT with couples experiencing stress. > Full bio
- Eric Sudler, M.S. is a Fellow at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). After earning a B.A. in psychology from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Mr. Sudler entered the St. John's University's School Psychology Program where he earned an M.S. in school psychology. He is currently working on completing his Psy.D. in school psychology at St. John's. Mr. Sudler has presented research at the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) national conferences. In addition to his work at AEI, Mr. Sudler holds a Student Wellness Graduate Assistantship at St. John's University where he facilitates drug and alcohol workshops that focus on intervention, prevention, and education. During this Assistantship, he has most recently chaired St. John's University's first ever Men's Ally Group which seeks to raise awareness about and eliminate physical and sexual violence towards women. > Full bio
- Malek Mneimne, M.A. is an Intern at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). Mr. Mneimne earned a B.A. in Creative Writing/English Literature and Psychology from Hofstra University, an M.A. in General-Experimental Psychology from St. John’s University, and is currently finishing his last year in the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at St. John’s University. His research and clinical interests are in the biopsychosocial correlates of emotion and psychopathology. Mr. Mneimne’s research has been published in several journals, including Emotion and Brain and Cognition, and has been presented at national and international psychology conferences, including the American Psychological Association and the International Neuropsychological Society. He has taught and teaches undergraduate courses in learning processes, cognitive psychology, physiological psychology, psychopathology, and sensation and perception. > Full bio
- Kristina Wilder, M.A. is an Intern at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). Ms. Wilder received her B.A. in Psychology from the College of St. Benedict (St. Joseph, Minnesota) in May 2007. Ms. Wilder received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University (Queens, New York) in May 2011. She is currently enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at St. John’s University. In addition to her training at St. John’s and AEI, Ms. Wilder has received externship training with Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Zucker Hillside Hospital and Nassau University Medical Center. She has experience working in inpatient and outpatient settings, with children and adults of a variety of ages. Her research and clinical interests include outcome assessment, health psychology, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, and women’s health. > Full bio
- Alina Agiurgioaei Boie, M.S. is an Extern at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). She is a doctoral student in the Psy.D. Program in School Psychology at St. John’s University and received her M.S. degree in 2012. Ms. Agiurgioaei Boie is extensively trained in REBT, and has accumulated counseling and behavior intervention experience while working for several years in the public school system. Supported by her bilingual background, her research aims to increase the cultural sensitivity of the REBT approach, while developing applied strategies to assist teachers and students both academically and emotionally. Ms. Agiurgioaei Boie’s research and clinical interests are to expand the application of REBT interventions to young children and their families. Her clinical work is focused on the application of empirically validated treatments for anxiety, aggression, substance abuse, ADHD and depression. > Full bio
- Fabian Agiurgioaei Boie, M.S. is an Extern at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). He is currently a doctoral student in the Psy.D. Program in School Psychology at St. John’s University. Mr. Agiurgioaei Boie has extensive experience in working with young people struggling with substance abuse, social skills and academic problems. He is actively involved in implementing prevention and intervention strategies for college students who struggle with alcohol abuse. Mr. Agiurgioaei Boie also coordinates several cross-cultural research projects and presented at numerous professional conventions. His extensive training in REBT covers areas such as anxiety, substance abuse, work and performance difficulties, and child and family related issues. > Full bio
- Rebecca Eliason, M.S. is an Extern at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). After earning a B.A. at Yeshiva University she conducted research at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in their Oncological Sciences department. Ms. Eliason has also received training from NYU’s Child Study Center in working with children who have ADHD and other co-morbid disorders and Asperger’s Syndrome. She received her M.S. at St. John’s University where she is a doctoral candidate in St. John’s University’s School Psychology Psy.D. Program. Ms. Eliason has spent her graduate school career as a doctoral fellow at St. John’s University and will continue her research in that capacity while working at AEI. Ms. Eliason’s primary research and clinical interests are in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, learning disabilities and anxiety both in and out of school settings, as well as marriage and family therapy and disease prevention. > Full bio
- Merav Harris, M.S. is an Extern at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). After earning a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ms. Harris worked as an assistant behavior specialist in a group home for young adults with developmental disabilities. She then entered the St. John’s University’s School Psychology Psy.D. Program. Ms. Harris earned her M.S. degree in School Psychology in May of 2012 and continues working on completing her Psy.D. Her research interests currently focus on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of learning disabilities and the identification of anger disorders in youth. Ms. Harris’ clinical interests include the application of evidence-based psychotherapies towards a wide variety of disorders. > Full bio
Department Directors
Staff Therapists
Fellows
Interns
Externs
