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Our Clinicians
Our Clinicians
Our Clinicians
Julie Baron and Associates takes appropriate precautions in response to the ebbs and flows of COVID-19, offering services both virtually and in person as appropriate and desired.
Contact: 301-339-8670
Julie Baron, LCSW-C
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Therapist, Practice Owner, Author, Speaker
Julie Baron graduated from Penn State University with a BA in Psychology and from Boston University with her Masters in Social Work. She has 30 years of experience working with adolescents, adults and families in community based mental health centers, residential treatment facilities, home based crisis stabilization programs, public and private schools, and private practice providing individual, group, and family therapy and advocacy services. She also has a special interest in shepherding young mental health professionals into the field, is a certified Social Work Supervisor in the state of MD, and supervises social workers in seeking full clinical licensure.
She practices evidence-based relational strategies and interventions to engage and empower her clients in reaching their goals. Julie has extensive training in DBT, CBT, crisis intervention and trauma care. In addition to behavioral approaches, she uses insight oriented and psychodynamic strategies to help clients find an authentic path to being and functioning as their best selves. She authors articles, blogs and a monthly newsletter on working with and parenting teens. Julie is a speaker and trainer for adolescents, parents, and professionals on various topics related to adolescent development, treating and educating adolescents while supporting families, and parenting teens and young adults. Her extensive list of speaking engagements can be found here. She is the co-author of What Works With Teens: A Professional’s Guide to Engaging Authentically with Adolescents to Achieve Lasting Change, New Harbinger, April 1, 2015.
Julie owns and manages Julie Baron and Associates and coordinates the practice's Comprehensive DBT Program.
Masha Levy, LCSW-C
Therapist
Masha Levy is a licensed clinical social worker. She obtained her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland. Prior to her social work clinical training, she spent fifteen years working with children, adolescents and adults as a massage therapist and a wellness consultant. Masha developed and taught massage classes and seminars for over a decade, working with trauma survivors and other special populations in group and individual settings.
Her holistic perspective, understanding of the mind-body connection and relational approach to engaging her clients empowers them toward reaching their goals. Masha is particularly skilled at connecting with reluctant teens and young adults, helping them overcome their social, academic and personal challenges and engage with their families in meaningful and positive ways. Additionally she enjoys working with adults at all stages of life.
She has experience in utilizing an eclectic combination of evidence based treatment approaches including CBT, Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing. In addition, Masha has completed extensive trainings in trauma recovery work, the mind-body connection, EMDR and DBT, and is a regular guest lecturer for the University of Maryland School of Social Work on these topics . Masha offers individual, group and family therapy.
Gale Greenstein, LCSW-C
Therapist/DBT Program Intake Coordinator
Gale Greenstein is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in the treatment of adolescents and adults. She graduated with her Masters in Social Work from Hunter College in Manhattan, and has worked extensively with individuals, families, couples and groups in mental health agencies, hospitals, public schools, university, and private practice settings for over 20 years. In 2007, she was awarded the prestigious “PASEsetter of the Year” Award for her outstanding services and leadership to youth as the Social Work Director of a teen counseling program in New York City .
She practices with an eclectic approach and has extensive training in using evidence-based treatments such as CBT and DBT as well as other treatment modalities. Gale is our DBT program intake coordinator and skills group leader. She infuses art, drama, narrative work and other creative expression into her treatment approach to engage her clients, enhance their commitment to reaching goals, and enrich feelings of self-worth and confidence. Gale completed Behavioral Tech’s Intensive DBT training in 2015 and and was trained in DBT by Shari Manning, Ph.D., one of Marsha Linehan’s original trainees. In addition, she has been trained in DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE), an empirically-validated treatment for trauma. She also has specialized training and experience in working compassionately with LGBTQ youth and their families and is currently pursuing certification as a World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) recognized provider.
Gale is particularly skilled at engaging hard to reach adolescents and young adults by fostering genuine connections and effecting lasting change with her clients. Gale is committed to providing compassionate, warm, and emotionally safe care and is often assisted in sessions by her hypoallergenic therapy dog, Tovie.
Jennifer Merrill, Psy. D
Therapist
Jennifer Merrill, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of children, teens, and adults. She earned her doctoral degree from the George Washington University and completed a postdoctoral specialization in child, adolescent and family therapy. She has over 20 years of psychological experience across varied settings including adolescent residential treatment centers, private practice, community mental health centers, University clinics, and schools.
She integrates diagnostic expertise and evidence-based treatment modalities and strategies in her provision of individual, group and family therapy. Dr. Merrill utilizes a supportive and collaborative approach when understanding cognitive, emotional and behavioral distress in all stages of development. Through empathy and understanding, Dr. Merrill is easily able to form authentic connections, and support the acquisition of adaptive coping strategies, problem solving skills, empowerment and the building of healthy and supportive relationships.
Her specialties and areas of particular interest include anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive symptoms, affect regulation, identity development and life transitions. Dr. Merrill is practiced in the administration and interpretation of psychological assessments, particularly as the evaluations inform and enhance therapeutic goals.With seasoned advocacy skills, Dr. Merrill uses her professional and personal understanding of private and public educational systems to partner with schools and families ensuring social, emotional and academic needs are met.
She has served on the clinical faculty of universities, as well as provided advanced supervision to predoctoral and postdoctoral psychology students. Additionally, she provides training and consultation to parents, organizations, and in mental health policy.
Dr. Jeffrey Kranzler, Ph.D., LCSW-C
Therapist
Dr. Jeffrey Kranzler, Ph.D., LCSW-C serves as the Parent Coach and Parent Skills Group Leader in the DBT program at Julie Baron and Associates.
Dr. Kranzler has post-graduate training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. He served as the Social Work Supervisor of a child and adolescent unit of an Albert Einstein College of Medicine clinic and as Director of Social Services in a large K-12 school. He is also the founder of Leaf Mentoring, a consulting company that implements school-based mentoring programs. Dr. Kranzler is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and has treated clients with compassion and expert care in multiple practice settings for over 10 years.
Dr. Kranzler's expertise and passion lies in treating individuals on the Autism Spectrum. He recently launched Kranzler Autism Programs and Services (KAPS) where he currently provides individual and group treatment services (www.drjeffkranzler.com). He is also the author of The Crimson Protector (www.thecrimsonprotector.com), a superhero adventure that teaches middle schoolers how to build confidence, overcome social anxiety and handle bullying.
Lee Lovett, LCSW-C
Therapist
Lee Lovett graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in Psychology and his Masters in Social Work. He has experience treating adults coping with severe psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse, as well as kids, adolescents, young adults/adults and families with a variety of mental health needs. He is interested and skilled in addressing issues including relationship struggles, stress, difficulty paying attention and functioning in school or relating to peers, and mood difficulties such as anxiety and depression. He welcomes the opportunity to work with clients of various ages and backgrounds, helping them find and utilize their own unique strengths and abilities to meet their treatment goals.
Lee utilizes a humanistic approach to engage with his clients, believing that the client is the expert in their own life. He is collaborative in determining the best approaches and interventions to meet clients’ needs and equip them with a host of skills and strategies to reach treatment targets and improve quality of life. While he guides clients on a clear treatment path to committed goals, he tailors therapeutic interventions to each session meeting clients where they are in the moment. He has post-graduate training in a wide array of techniques from evidence-based interventions such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Hypnosis, and Eye-Movement-Desensitization and Reprocessing.
In his free time, he enjoys creative writing, hiking, and running outdoors, as well as hanging out with his family and their German Shepherds. As much as possible, he employs creativity into sessions with clients and is passionate about helping clients tap into their own creativity. Lee looks forward to learning about his clients and helping them become the best version of themselves!
Leslie Ashman, LCSW-C
Therapist
Leslie Ashman, LCSW-C is a licensed clinical social worker who earned her undergraduate degree in Family Studies and her Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland. Leslie brings 25 years of social work practice experience in a variety of both clinical and school settings. She comes to Julie Baron and Associates from her position as a lower school guidance counselor at a local independent school, where she supported the social emotional and educational growth of 4th and 5th grade students and provided valued support to both parents and educators. She is excited to return to her outpatient clinical work providing individual, group and family therapy to children, teens, young adults and their families.
Drawing upon her experiences in both school and clinical settings, she understands the challenges parents face in navigating their children’s educational, emotional, and mental health needs. Leslie creates a warm and non-judgmental space where her clients can feel safe and express their thoughts and feelings openly in order to improve their coping and functioning. She practices an eclectic approach to therapy, drawing from various therapeutic models and evidence-based interventions to meet the unique needs of her clients. She firmly believes in the importance of tailoring her approach to each client's therapeutic goals.
In addition to her work with children, teens, and young adults, Leslie has a particular interest in collaborating and working separately with parents. She recognizes a child’s or teen’s well-being is greatly influenced by their family dynamics and strives to shape a supportive environment within the family unit. By working closely with parents, she empowers them to create a positive impact on their child’s overall development by helping them practice effective parenting strategies, communication skills and a deeper understanding of their child’s needs in order to build healthy family relationships.
Austin Tucker, LCSW-C
Therapist
Austin Tucker is a licensed clinical social worker who received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology, followed by a Master’s in Social Work at the University of Maryland. He has experience working with children, adolescents, and families. In addition, he has worked a as part of an interdisciplinary care team treating adults with substance use disorders. Austin has been able to deepen his understanding and effectiveness in working with young people and their families through his work in various settings including as a middle school counselor at an independent school, a school-based therapist in the public school system, and providing individual and family work in clinical settings. Utilizing his understanding of clients in their various environments, he creates change by focusing on the whole client and the different variables that impact functioning.
To meet client needs, Austin believes in a collaborative approach that allows clients to take an active role in determining treatment goals and planning. The therapeutic relationship and creating a space where client feels safe, supported, and comfortable is a priority in treatment, leading to increased engagement and buy-in even from clients who may be reluctant about therapy. With the skills and knowledge obtained through specific training in evidence-based practices including Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, among others, he is able to tailor therapeutic interventions specific to each client in order to target goals for change.
Austin values diversity, the rich history which defines a person’s experiences, and has worked with clients of varied backgrounds and identities. He has experience working with clients struggling with grief, depression, trauma, anxiety, other mood disorders, learning disabilities, and ADHD. Austin is particularly skilled at developing strong working relationships with his clients and with parents. His natural ability to connect with others has been a value and an asset throughout his life and career.
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