Lauren Zohler, D.O. -Medical Director of Mental Health
Dr. Zohler is a psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with mood, anxiety, and behavioral disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences in 2007. She then completed a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Biological Sciences (2008) at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she also attended medical school, completing her medical education in 2012. She completed her residency in Psychiatry at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2016, and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship in June of 2018 at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, where she served as the Chief Fellow. Dr. Zohler provides comprehensive psychiatric assessments, including psychopharmacological treatment when indicated, and a family-systems approach to care. She emphasizes the need for a team approach when working with children and families, including routine communication with therapists, schools, and other medical professionals in order to provide comprehensive care. Dr. Zohler enjoys reading, traveling, golfing, going to the theater, and watching sports. She currently resides in Washington, DC.

Brianna Garrold, LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC -Clinical Director of Mental Health
Brianna Garrold is a Board Certified and Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist, as well as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Brianna received her BA from Notre Dame of Maryland University and her MA in Art Therapy and Counseling from George Washington University. Using a unique blend of evidence-based art therapy and counseling techniques, Brianna incorporates cognitive-behavioral therapy with mindfulness and studio-based approaches to meet each patient’s individual goals and needs. Patients working with Brianna often work towards increasing effective daily coping, learning to identify and appropriately express difficult emotions, cope with and challenge body image distortions, and learn to manage anxiety and trauma symptoms. She specializes in treating trauma, disordered eating, identity development challenges, and grief & loss. Brianna has special interest in both the LGBTQ+ community and the military community. Brianna has worked with several organizations throughout her career, including Arundel Lodge, Inc., Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA-Baltimore), and Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt Health Systems. During her time with Center for Eating Disorders, Brianna also served as facilitator for the “Love Your Tree” healthy body image community outreach campaign. In addition to providing therapy services, Brianna is an adjunct professor at her alma mater in Baltimore. She currently teaches Art Psychotherapy and Trauma for the Art Therapy Graduate Program. In her free time, Brianna enjoys spending time with her dog, working in her art studio, hiking, traveling, and spending time near the water in Annapolis.

Fiorella Rosen, LCSW-C
Fiorella is a bilingual therapist, whose parents hail from Peru and Uruguay. She grew up multi-culturally traveling often between South America and the DMV, where she was raised. Fiorella attended Georgetown Visitation for high school before earning her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Toronto. She went on to obtain her Masters in Clinical Social Work from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Fiorella has spent her entire career working in school based settings within Montgomery County at both the elementary and middle school levels where she has worked with a diverse population and a wide range of presenting needs, including; mood, anxiety, and behavioral disorders, trauma, issues related to gender and sexual identity, as well as various life and family transitions (relocation, adoption, family reunification, divorce, death and loss, etc). Fiorella believes that the ability to form a genuine connection with the children, teens and families she works with coupled with her sincere belief in their capacity for growth and change are what make her such an effective clinician. She draws from a range of modalities to support her clients in achieving improved states of being, including client-centered, solution-focused, CBT, and strengths-based techniques, when appropriate delivered through the medium of play. Fiorella lives in Potomac, MD with her husband and two daughters and their dog, Lucy. In her free time she can be found reading, exercising, and enjoying music in all its forms, but especially live.

Julia Sylvain, LCSW-C
Julia is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with children and families. She utilizes mindfulness and various aspects of motivational interviewing within the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) modality. In tailoring therapy to cater to each client’s strengths and likes, she ensures that therapy is fun and effective. Past clients would describe her as silly and genuine. Julia believes in utilizing her rapport to motivate youth and children to invest in their therapeutic goals. Julia received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of South Carolina and her Master’s degree in Social Work with a clinical specialty in children and families from the University of Maryland Baltimore. For the past eight years, she has been working in therapeutic foster care providing therapy and advocacy within South Carolina, the District of Columbia, and Montgomery County. In turn, Julia has worked with children and youth in all settings with a vast array of backgrounds; she believes in providing solutions that are realistic and beneficial in all settings. While specializing in youth and families who have experienced trauma, behavioral disorders/concerns, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and attachment concerns, she also advocates making therapy enjoyable and applicable. Having been born in D.C. and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Julia has honed in on the savviness of the city while exuding warmth of southern hospitality. She currently enjoys living in D.C. and spending time with her family and friends, exercising, attending local concerts, and traveling.

Greg Clements, LCPC
Greg is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, with a background in business and teaching. He enjoys working with children and families by using a mixture of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, Solution Focused and Person Centered Therapy. He grew up in Birmingham, Alabama but left after high school to obtain his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami. After a few years of working in the business realm and a two year stint with the Peace Corps, Greg knew that his calling was to become a therapist! He then moved to Nashville, TN to obtain his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lipscomb University. Greg has spent his career working with student as young as elementary age, through college; specializing in managing depression, anxiety, self-esteem, trauma, family dynamics, and life transitions. He believes that all children have a voice that deserves to be heard, and more importantly understood, from their own point of view. He strives to build authentic and intentional relationships with his students to help create an environment where they feel comfortable being themselves. He encourages his patients to feel empowered and to make the changes they want to see in their everyday lives! In his free time, Greg loves spending time with his wife and daughter, listening to music, and making/eating BBQ.

Jennifer Alfonso, MBA, MSW, LCSW-C, CEAP
Jennifer Alfonso is a nationally recognized expert and speaker on anger management and conflict resolution. She founded the longest running anger management program on the East Coast in 1997 and provides professional development training to Mental Health Professionals on how to identify, treat, and manage anger disorders. She holds both a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Behavior and Development and a Master of Social Work in Clinical Mental Health. Ms. Alfonso facilitated clinical groups for high school students for the National Center for Children and Families and served as the Clinical Director for Oakmont School, a therapeutic high school. She worked with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) teaching adult education in stress management, anger management, parenting and conflict resolution and she served as a part-time EAP Specialist for MCPS. She works with parents to: decrease parenting burnout, improve parent and child communication, decrease co-parenting conflicts and improve overall life satisfaction.
In her recreational time Ms. Alfonso enjoys traveling and has visited six continents. She is an animal advocate and participates in agility, flyball, and rally with her dogs. She currently lives in Montgomery County with her family and their two all American dogs–Hubble and Armstrong.

Catherine Sharkey, LCSW-C
Catherine is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked with children, adolescents and families in both residential and outpatient settings using a client-centered approach to therapy. Catherine approaches clients and families based on the unique needs they have and pulls from evidenced-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral therapies, solution-focused and motivational approaches while building the therapeutic relationship. Catherine has worked with children who deal with addiction, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ODD, ADD/ADHD and families who have experienced trauma, attachment issues and behavioral concerns. Catherine believes that empowering children and families in learning and believing they have the tools to change is the foundation for the quality of life they can envision. In Catherine’s spare time, she loves to travel and explore new places, volunteer at a local animal shelter, and spend time with friends.

Laura J. Schneider, LCPAT
Laura J. Schneider, LCPAT is a Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist with over 20 years’ experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, in various inpatient, outpatient, school, and community-based treatment settings. Laura earned her Master’s degree in Art Therapy from The George Washington University and is licensed by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. Throughout her career, Laura has worked for organizations in Montgomery County, MD, such as Adventist Behavioral Health, Suburban Hospital, The Treatment and Learning Centers, and Community Support Services, Inc. Additionally, Laura has worked as an educator in private schools, in the Pre-K thru 8th grade developmental range, and provides clinical supervision for interns in the Graduate Art Therapy program at The George Washington University. Laura has a deep understanding of the healing power of art and is committed to creating a safe and nonjudgmental space for clients to explore their emotions, develop coping skills, and enhance their self-awareness. Her approach to art therapy is grounded in a person-centered philosophy using a multi-model approach that draws from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), expressive art therapies, and sand tray/play therapies. Laura has special interest in treating Developmental, Depressive, Anxiety, Trauma-and Stressor-Related Disorders, and Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders. Laura is passionate about advocating for the importance of mental health and the use of art as a powerful tool to empower clients to tap into their innate creativity and access deeper levels of self-expression and insight. Laura seeks to understand the unique needs that clients present and aims to develop a trusting relationship to support her clients in achieving their therapeutic goals. Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, visiting art museums, and cheering on her daughter’s sporting events in soccer and gymnastics.