Board Members
President - Kate Deatrich, PsyD (She/Her)
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.
Vice President - Brittany Hudspeth, LPC, CCTP (She/Her)
Brittany is an LPC in PA and LCPC in MD. She is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. She has been practicing for over ten years. She’s completed an 18 month intensive ACT training program with people all over the world that included training for ACT with OCD and Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She’s a Queer identifying therapist that works with the Queer Community/Kink & BDSM Community/Consensual Non Monogamy Community/Furry Community. She is passionate about bringing ACT informed Sex Trainings to clinicians because she believes that it can help reduce the stigma associated with sexual marginalized communities and anyone who struggles with their own sexual health.
Meet Me In The Middle Counseling P.C. | Therapy Services | Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Secretary & Treasurer - 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.
Past 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.
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.
Member at Large - Rachel Steen, MS, LPC
Rachel Steen graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2017 with her MS in mental health counseling. She started her training in and practice of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in her masters program and since then ACT has become her primary therapeutic approach. Rachel was supervised in ACT while working on hours for licensure and has attended many workshops and trainings to build skills in ACT. As part of this group, Rachel has facilitated and organized trainings for the wider ACT community, and has engaged in peer supervision with other ACT specialists. Rachel has enjoyed putting on numerous workshops introducing other therapists to ACT and started a supervision course to support therapists integrating ACT into their practice. Rachel started her career in community mental health, has worked at a group practice, based in Philadelphia, and now is a therapist at NOCD.
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).
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.
Jenny Sneeden, PsyD
Jenny is a licensed clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania and the Clinical Director of Philadelphia Couples Therapy, located in Center City, Philadelphia. She specializes in supporting individuals and couples through the perinatal period—including pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition to parenthood. In addition to her expertise in perinatal mental health, Jenny also works extensively with anxiety and trauma. Her therapeutic approach is eclectic, integrating ACT with relational psychodynamic principles to meet the unique needs of each client.
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.
Student Representatives
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.
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 third-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.
René Salyer, Ed.S.
René is a current doctoral student in Special Education: Applied Behavior Analysis at Pennsylvania State University. She specializes in the intersection of education, behavior science, and mental health, with a particular research interest on integrating Relational Frame Theory and components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into classroom settings. Her work aims to equip school professionals with evidence-based strategies to support students experiencing mental health needs while maintaining adherence to their ethical standards.
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.