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 practices evidence-based relational strategies and interventions to engage and empower her clients in reaching their goals.  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, treatment with adolescents and families, and parenting teens and young adults.  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 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 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. She also has specialized training and experience in working compassionately with LGBTQ youth and their families and is currently pursuing  certification as a 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. 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 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.

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Dr. Kranzler's expertise and passion lies in treating individual 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 also teaches middle schoolers how to build confidence, overcome social anxiety and handle bullying

Lee Lovett graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in Psychology and his Masters in Social Work.  He has experience working with adults suffering from severe psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse, as well as kids, adolescents, 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 engaging 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!