Board Members
President - Steve Bisgaier, PsyD, BCB
Steve Bisgaier, PsyD, BCB, is a licensed psychologist, adjunct professor, professional trainer, and clinical supervisor. He is the founder and owner of a full-time private practice that specializes in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, chronic health issues, and substance use. He is President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, the umbrella organization that houses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and is an adjunct professor at Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. Steve has led professional trainings on numerous topics, including ACT, the treatment of anxiety, depression, OCD, suicidality, and perfectionism and has developed a mindfulness program for anxiety and a clinical self-compassion program.
Vice President - Kate Deatrich, PsyD
Kate Deatrich, PsyD, earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Widener University in 2015, writing her dissertation on music therapy in the inpatient setting. She is Vice President of the Pennsylvania ACBS, and is in full time private practice. Kate primarily uses ACT methods in addition to EMDR in her work with clients, and specializes in working with clients with chronic and severe health conditions, the trans community, and those who have experienced trauma and/or abuse.
Member at Large - Frank Masterpasqua, PsyD
Frank is Professor at Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Psychology. He’s been teaching, practicing and supervising ACT for about 15 years.
Early Career Professionals
Kathleen Taylor, MA
Kathleen is a recent graduate of La Salle University’s Professional Clinical Counseling program, and practices as a therapist at High Point Wellness group practice in Blue Bell, PA. She became interested in ACT during graduate school and has since attended multiple ACT and ACT-based trainings, joined an ACT peer consultation group, and begun receiving ACT-based supervision to build her skills in practicing ACT therapy. Thus far in her career, she primarily works with young adults who are struggling with anxiety or exploring questions of identity and meaning.
Catherine Schuler, PsyD
Catherine is a licensed clinical psychologist in PA, currently practicing at the Center for Anxiety & Behavior Therapy (CABT) in Bryn Mawr. She specializes in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders for individuals ages 15 and up. Her primary treatment modalities are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, and she typically weaves ACT principles into the ERP treatment she provides. Catherine has developed and currently leads an Intro to ACT for OCD and Anxiety group through CABT, for individuals concurrently in exposure-based treatment. Catherine earned her doctorate from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH, and completed her bachelor's degree at Washington University in St. Louis.
Student Representatives
Jenna Damico, MS
Jenna is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate at Drexel University working under the mentorship of Dr. Arthur M. Nezu and Dr. Christine Maguth Nezu. Jenna's research interests involve populations who are at risk for suicide and non-suicidal self-injury, including the LGBTQIA2S+ population, Veterans, and college students. Jenna's doctoral dissertation is examining the prevalence of gender-based minority stressors among transgender and gender diverse individuals in response to the reversal of Roe v. Wade (1973). Jenna currently works as a Master’s Level Clinician at the CBT Center for Anxiety & OCD where she has developed a strong interest in incorporating ACT and other evidence-based therapies into exposure interventions.
Alexis Luscutoff, MA, MS.Ed
Alexis is earning her Master’s in Professional Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. A graduate of Stanford University, Alexis spent 9 years building software communities in the tech industry before returning to graduate school to become a therapist and coach. She is currently an intern in the Counseling Center at the University of the Arts, where she uses a strengths-based and emotion-focused approach to help clients work through transitions and questions of identity. Alexis is also passionate about supporting women, career changers, and business teams.
David Chayka
David is a second-year graduate student in the PsyD/MBA program at Widener University's Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. He is currently a practicum student at the Widener-Chester Community Clinic. He provides outpatient psychotherapy services, as well as brief interventions, and consultation to the clinic's physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and nursing students. David utilizes ACT principles in his work with clients and is extremely excited to join the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences as a student representative. David's academic interests include health psychology, ACT, existential psychotherapy, Type 1 Diabetes, systems, and leadership consulting.
Arman Karimi
Arman is a clinical psychology graduate student in his third year of training at Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology (IGCP). Arman is intrigued by the philosophical roots of the contextual behavioral science (CBS) tradition. He has used ACT techniques in conjunction with recovery techniques to bring a values-based approach to clients in inpatient extended acute care. He is currently receiving training at a university counseling center where he has had the opportunity to continue to refine his ACT approach.
Member at Large - Jason Janosov, LPC
Jason is a licensed professional counselor currently employed at Espenshade Counseling as Director of Clinical Services. Jason graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in 2017 and worked in community-based mental health for several years at the outpatient level. In addition to using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in his clinical work, Jason also co-teaches ACT in the Masters in Counseling Program with PCOM. Jason’s clinical training includes Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Emotion Efficacy Therapy (EET), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), and the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS).
Past President - John Armando, LCSW
John received his Masters in Social Service (MSS) from the Bryn Mawr College School of Social Work, and has spent his career helping people with substance use problems, life transitions, relationship struggles, as well as chronic and terminal illnesses. Recognized for his expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), he has taught in the Masters in Counseling Program with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, co-founded the Delaware Valley ACT Learners, and served as president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) and the ACBS Social Work special interest group. Originally trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), John now draws from a variety of evidence-based approaches including ACT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Compassion Focused Therapy. More recently he’s explored trauma informed therapies including EMDR and Internal Family Systems. All of these approaches have common pathways and shared philosophies grounded in the belief that you are not broken, you don’t need to be fixed, and that the right processes at the right time can help to liberate you from your pain and struggles.
Secretary/Treasurer - Alisa Kamis-Brinda, LCSW, LCADC
Alisa Kamis-Brinda, LCSW, LCADC is the owner of Serenity Solutions, LLC, a group psychotherapy practice in Philadelphia, PA, specializing in anger management, anxiety, addictions, and postpartum anxiety disorders. She has over 20 years of experience helping overwhelmed, stressed-out professionals and parents learn how to slow down angry and anxious thoughts in healthy ways so they can be in the present moment, relax, and enjoy life again. She uses a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness to help clients catch themselves when they get caught up in unhelpful thoughts and feelings so that they can choose how to act instead of reacting in ways they later regret.
Shlomo Levy, PsyD, MBA
Shlomo is a postdoctoral fellow at The Center for Anxiety and Wellness and a graduate of Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. Previous experience includes internships at the Child Guidance Resource Centers (Philadelphia, PA) and the Widener Adult Psychotherapy Clinic and practicum at the Haverford College Counseling and Psychological Services Center. He was drawn to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) during his doctoral training, struck by its emphasis on moving beyond symptom reduction and toward helping clients cultivate lives of deep meaning and fulfillment. Since integrating ACT as part of his clinical approach, he has found it to be a transformative tool in helping clients across the lifespan deal with a range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, OCD, and impulsivity. Shlomo has also developed an expertise in the intersection of religion and psychology, and utilizes ACT in helping clients work through religious-spiritual struggles.
Cayetana Calderon-Smith, M.S.Ed., M.Phil.Ed
Cayetana, an LPC-Eligible Professional Counselor, explores the impact of technology on mental health. Additionally, she is passionate about ACT: it fosters genuine therapeutic connections, it's adaptable, and it supports autonomy and personal choice. Cayetana's private practice is geared towards problematic internet use, high-risk internet users, behavioral addictions and neurodiversity. She additionally speaks at conferences & counseling centers on digital rumination, digital meaning-making, play processes in therapy, and clinical interventions for Incel and Manosphere-aligned clients. She deeply enjoys committeeship service and has previously sat on committees for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and IPWC, a UPenn women's initiative.
Hailey Koenig
Hailey is a second-year student in Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She is currently in practicum at Crozer’s Center for Family Health and is enjoying the opportunity to collaborate with other healthcare professionals in an integrated care environment. Hailey has found the ACT framework to be a very intuitive approach to promote a rich, therapeutic space for growth within her clients, and she is looking forward to expanding this knowledge as she continues her professional growth. Her additional clinical interests include the treatment of eating disorders, anxiety, oncology patients, and the child/adolescent population.
Sarah Peritz
Sarah is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at La Salle University with a concentration in Child Psychology. She completed her undergraduate degree in 2021 from Temple University. Her research and clinical interests lie in understanding the presentations of trauma, anxiety, and depressive difficulties for marginalized identities in a holistic and osteopathic approach. She enjoys using ACT and mindfulness-based treatments for children and adolescents. She has previous clinical experience working at nonprofits and local elementary schools providing support on identity development along with academic and mental health difficulties. Sarah is currently an intern at the Center for CBT in Media, PA, a research assistant at CHOP's eating disorder treatment program, a group therapist at the SMart Center for children with Selective Mutism, and is a doctoral extern at Westtown School where she treats a variety of disorders in adolescents. In her free time, Sarah enjoys working on her Honda motorcycle and adding to her plant collection.
Sierra Dunn
Sierra is a second-year clinical psychology graduate student at Widener University in the PsyD program. As she is developing her therapeutic orientation, she is finding that her roots feel relational psychodynamic, while her branches often flourish with ACT. Sierra is interested in ways that these two can intermingle to benefit her clients. Somatic work is also a part of her nature that she is hoping to grow as she learns more. Sierra is currently in a placement at La Salle University’s College Counseling Center and has found ACT to be useful and approachable with clients, along with a focus on attachment in the therapeutic relationship.
Caroline Wojtas, MA
Caroline is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in La Salle University`s Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She is also an adjunct professor in La Salle`s undergraduate psychology program. Caroline has developed an integrative technique which incorporates aspects of ACT, CBT, and DBT in her clinical work which has primarily been in an academic-medical setting. She has special interests in death, dying and grief and currently works with and aspires to continue working with patients and family members of patients who are experiencing critical illness.