Our Team
Pac Psych’s team is made up of psychologists with expertise in the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and play therapy techniques to treat anxiety disorder, mood disorders, and behavioral problems. Each member of our team has unique interests and skills. We encourage you to call us to talk about which team member may be the best fit to work with your child or family. Additionally all members of the team have experience conducting psychological testing with children and adolescents.
Dr. Hayley Cooper
Founder/Owner
Dr. Cooper is a New York State Licensed Psychologists and native New Yorker. She earned her doctorate from the Combined School-Clinical Child PsyD program at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. Prior to earning her doctorate she completed a Masters in Education in School Psychology and received her certification in School Psychology from Fordham University. Dr. Cooper has a wide variety of experiences and has worked in specialized schools for children with learning disabilities, day treatment and outpatient settings. Dr. Cooper also completed American Psychological Association (APA) accredited clinical training at Astor Services for Children and Families. In addition to working with children with externalizing behaviors, Dr. Cooper has a specialized interest in treating children with anxiety disorders and has conducted research in the area of temperament and treatment of Selective Mutism. Dr. Cooper’s interest in anxiety and other internalizing disorders stems from her training at the Children’s Anxiety and Depression Clinic at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. In addition Dr. Cooper worked for the Education Records Bureau completing testing for entrance into New York City private schools. Dr. Cooper is a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)therapists as well as a PCIT trainer able to train other therapists on-site in the use of PCIT.
Dr. Rebecca Hutt
Psychologist
Dr. Hutt earned her doctorate from the combined School-Clinical Child Psy.D. program at Pace University. She also received a Masters of Education in School Psychology from Pace University and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from New York University. Dr. Hutt has experience providing evidence-based interventions to children and adolescents with anxiety and mood disorders, as well as externalizing behaviors, inattention, and impulsivity. She is a certified PCIT therapist, and has extensive experience providing this treatment to young children and their families. Dr. Hutt has a specialized interest in working with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, to help them to gain tools to more effectively manage day-to-day stressors. Currently, Dr. Hutt also works as a school psychologist at an independent private school in New York City. This provides her with a keen understanding of the stressors experienced by NYC children and their families on a daily basis.
Dr. Hallie Weiner
Psychologist
Dr. Weiner earned her doctorate in the combined School-Clinical Child Psychology program at Pace University, where she also received her Masters in Education in School Psychology. She has experience working in several treatment settings including, a residential treatment facility, inpatient and outpatient hospital units, and various school settings. Dr. Weiner has experience in providing evidence-based treatments for both internalizing and externalizing behaviors, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral problems at home and school. She has a specialized interest in working with adolescents. Dr. Weiner works from a systems perspective, believing that family and parent work is an integral part of treatment. In addition to therapy services, she also conducts psychological evaluations, assessing cognitive and personality functioning, as well as learning disabilities and ADHD. She volunteers at a grief camp for children and adolescents who have lost a family member.
Dr. Talya Kagedan
Director of Psychological Testing
Dr. Kagedan is a New York State Licensed Psychologist and certified school psychologist in New York and New Jersey. She earned her Masters and Doctorate from St. John’s University, and her Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University. As part of her graduate studies, Dr. Kagedan received specialized training in providing culturally sensitive treatment and assessment for children of all ages and from diverse backgrounds. Following her graduate work, Dr. Kagedan completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychological assessment, complementing her particular interest in the interplay of learning styles and social and emotional development with the school experience. She believes in a collaborative relationship among families, schools, and mental health professionals in order to help a student meet success. In addition to her assessment experience, Dr. Kagedan has training in clinical, crisis, and school-based interventions. Currently, Dr. Kagedan works as a school psychologist at an independent private school in New Jersey.
Dr. Dan Weiser
Psychologist
Dr. Weiser received his doctorate in School/Clinical – Child Psychology from Pace University. He also received a Masters of Education in School Psychology from Pace University. He has worked with a broad range of child, adolescent, and young adult populations in school, psychiatric, university and private practice settings. Dr. Weiser has specialized interest in providing therapy to children and adolescents with adjustment and anxiety disorders. For the past five years he has been a Psychologist at an independent therapeutic day school that uses DIRFloortime®, an evidence-based treatment, which is based on a relational psychology model, to work with children and adolescents that have difficulties with relating and communicating. In this setting he has experience providing individual and group psychotherapy, clinical supervision and didactic training for psychologists and psychology doctoral students.
Dr. Tara Hannon
Psychologist
Dr. Hannon graduated from Georgetown University in 2000 prior to earning her Psy,D. from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology (Combined School-Clinical Child Psychology Program) in 2010. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at JCCA, a foster care agency in Bronx, N.Y. and her post-doctoral hours at Cardinal McCloskey Services in Bronx, N.Y. Dr. Hannon has experience working in inpatient and outpatient settings. She is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as well as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and has experience working with children of all ages, as well as adults. Her clinical interests include working with children with high risk behaviors, emotional regulation, parent-child work, anxiety and family systems. She also has significant experience in the treatment of trauma & abuse and has an interest in forensic psychology.
Rosalie Baldwin Amy
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Rosalie Amy, LCSW-R is a bilingual (English/Spanish) licensed clinical social worker who is trained in evidenced-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.
Rosalie received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Fordham University in 2008 and her Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut in 2011. After graduate school, she worked as therapist at Astor Services for Children and Families where she initiated her training in evidenced-based treatments. From 2013-2021, Rosalie worked at the Montefiore Medical Group School Health Program where she provided individual and family therapy and facilitated mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness therapy groups. Rosalie also collaborated closely with school staff to create behavior management programs to support her clients’ academic success.
Rosalie collaborates with families to establish their therapy goals, and she tailors treatment to meet each client’s unique needs. She is passionate about involving caregivers in the therapeutic process and facilitating change by helping all participants feel validated and understood.
Angela Chen
Psychologist
Dr. Chen is a New York State Licensed Psychologist and a nationally certified school psychologist. She earned her doctorate in School Psychology from Michigan State University after receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College and a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of California in Berkeley. She completed her APA internship at the Florida State University Multidisciplinary Center, where she provided school-based therapy to treat anxiety, depression, learning and executive functioning difficulties, and behavior and anger concerns in middle school students. Dr. Chen completed her APPIC postdoctoral training at the Westchester Institute for Human Development, where she worked with primary caregivers to provide applied behavior analysis and cognitive and behavior therapies to treat intellectual and developmental disabilities (e.g., Autism, Intellectual Disability, Global Developmental Delay) and co-occurring psychiatric conditions (anxiety, depression) across the lifespan. A former elementary school teacher, Dr. Chen has experience working in schools and clinical and outpatient settings providing teachers and families with behavior management training utilizing data-based decision making and a strength-based approach. She integrates this approach with a biopsychosocial lens in her work with families to individualize treatment. Her clinical interests include working with elementary school-aged children, adolescents and families with concerns related to anxiety, behavioral challenges, and learning and executive functioning difficulties.
Bethanie Silversmith
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Bethanie is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan. Bethanie completed the post-graduate training program at the Ackerman Institute for the Family where she specialized in Family and Couples therapy. Bethanie is a relational therapist who utilizes an eclectic approach, with a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic theory, family systems and play therapy models. She has extensive experience treating anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, peer-related concerns and family conflict. Bethanie’s practice is informed by her many years working in a school setting, as well as various clinical and community-based settings, focused on crisis intervention, trauma and suicide prevention.
Bethanie’s style is warm, non-judgmental and individualized. She believes people are most motivated to change when they feel seen, understood, and empowered. Bethanie begins therapy by understanding what brings each client in and what growth means for them. She then works collaboratively to set goals and create meaningful change. Bethanie is passionate about work with young children and believes in the power of play. Bethanie is an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist whose practice is grounded in anti-racist/anti-oppressive philosophy. She is also a volunteer crisis hotline worker for LGBTQIA+ and HIV-affected survivors of violence.
Maura Dansker
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Maura Dansker is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan and her Bachelors in Science from Eastern Michigan University. Maura is currently training with the Ackerman Institute for the Family.
Maura’s training involves a variety of evidence-based treatment models including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Family Functional Therapy. Her experience involves treating individuals and groups coping with anxiety, depression, as well as mood and behavioral disorders. Maura’s practice is informed by her years in community mental health and school settings. Maura’s work is anchored by the belief that family ruptures, peer relationship difficulties, and social isolation can have profound impacts on the developing person. The goal of her work with families is to improve wellness by providing behavioral skill building, increasing relational attunement, and enhancing coping skills.
Maura’s approach is warm, collaborative and engaging. Her interests involve working with children, adolescents, and caregivers in creating meaningful connections and sustaining positive changes in response to life’s stressors. Her work is driven by the belief in the power of human relationships.
Dr. Michelle Kaplow
Post Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Kaplow earned her doctorate degree in School and Clinical Child Psychology, as well as her Masters in Education in School Psychology, from Pace University. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at JCCA, a foster care agency in the Bronx. Over the course of her training, Dr. Kaplow has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, including schools, foster care, adolescent hospital units, and a community mental health center, where she provided psychotherapeutic and evidence-based treatment services to children, adolescents, and adults, as well conducted neuropsychological assessments. Dr. Kaplow has worked with individuals presenting with an array of mood, anxiety, personality, and behavioral disorders, as well as those with significant histories of trauma and abuse. Her clinical interests include working with children and adolescents with anxiety, high-risk behaviors, posttraumatic stress disorder, grief and loss, and family and relationship dynamics. Recently, Dr. Kaplow has completed intensive trainings in CBT for Children and Adolescents, Therapy for Custody Disputing Families, DBT for PTSD, and Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy (PGDT).
Dr. Sophie Strauss
Post Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Strauss earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn. Over the course of her training, Dr. Strauss has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings with children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked with diverse populations including individuals with a broad range of mood, personality, and behavior disorders. In addition, she has conducted diagnostic, psychosocial, and neuropsychological assessments using a variety of assessment tools. Her clinical interests include working with children and adolescents with anxiety, depression, and disruptive behaviors, and working closely with parents to help them manage their children’s symptoms.