Who We Are
CBT/DBT Associates is a group of behaviorally trained psychologists who specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Each member of our team is dedicated to providing you with the highest quality, research-based treatments to fit your needs. Many of our staff psychologists have specialties in specific fields including trauma, OCD, sports and performance anxiety, child and adolescent services, and more.
Clinical Team
Dr. Lisa Napolitano is a licensed psychologist in New York and Florida, and the Founder and Executive Director of CBT/DBT Associates.
When she founded the practice in 2009, Dr. Napolitano envisioned a group of like-minded, behaviorally trained psychologists bringing the highest quality, evidence-based treatments to clients of all ages. Eight years later, that vision has been realized. At CBT/DBT Associates she has assembled a team of practitioners across specialties, offering cognitive behavioral therapy and comprehensive dialectical behavior therapy for children, adolescents, and adults.
Early in her career, Dr. Napolitano gravitated towards dialectical behavior therapy and other newer mindfulness-based treatments. These approaches squared nicely with her own mindfulness practice and study of Buddhism. For this reason, an important part of her vision for the practice was the creation of a DBT program for high-functioning people. This program reflects her belief that high functioning individuals can benefit from DBT and shouldn’t have to surrender their jobs or academic pursuits to obtain treatment.
Kristen Roman earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. Prior to attending Rutgers, Dr. Roman graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in Psychology. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at CBT/DBT Associates. Dr. Roman completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services, where she delivered individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students and co-led CBT groups for eating disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and ADHD. During her internship, she also gave presentations on suicide prevention and sexual assault which furthered her skills in crisis intervention.
Haley Rottenberg earned her M.A. and Psy.D. from LaSalle University. She earned her B.A. in psychology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Rottenberg completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she conducted CBT with children, teens, and families. Her predoctoral internship was at Ohio Guidestone in Cleveland, Ohio, where she conducted therapy and psychoeducational evaluations with children and teens.
William Benson earned his Psy.D. at Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. He graduated from Tulane University with a B.S. in psychology summa cum laude with departmental honors. Dr. Benson completed his pre-doctoral internship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he specialized in providing evidence-based cognitive-behavioral interventions for children, adolescents, and young adults with a variety of clinical concerns in outpatient, emergency department, and inpatient settings. During this internship, he also served as Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics for The Ohio State University. Dr. Benson completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the Child Study Center at NYU Langone Health, where he also served as Clinical Instructor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Kyle Haney earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology with Honors from Hofstra University. Prior to attending Hofstra she graduated from Villanova University summa cum laude with a B.A. and M.S. in psychology. Dr. Haney treats adolescents, young adults, and adults using CBT and DBT evidenced-based treatments for emotion dysregulation, suicidality, anxiety disorders, trauma, and eating disorders. She has received specialized training in the treatment of suicidality, self-harm, anxiety, and trauma through years of clinical practica and supervision.Dr. Haney completed her postdoctoral fellowship, here, at CBT/DBT Associates and completed her pre-doctoral, APA-accredited, clinical internship at Princeton House Behavioral Health, where she participated in rotations at both the Intensive Outpatient Women’s program and Intensive Outpatient General Adult program. During her internship year, she gained more training utilizing DBT for adult women who struggled with trauma, suicidality, and eating disordered behavior. Additionally, she gained extensive training delivering CBT-based approaches, such as Prolonged Exposure, to both men and women suffering from PTSD.
Michelle Litwer earned her Psy.D in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Litwer completed her pre-doctoral, APA-accredited, clinical internship at the Faulk Center for Counseling.
During her internship year she conducted individual and family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults for individuals presenting with mood and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, trauma and stressor-related disorders, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. Dr. Litwer also conducted school psychotherapy groups implementing cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) lessons focused on decreasing problem behaviors, improving social skills, problem-solving skills, conflict resolution skills, autonomy, and self-esteem in children.
Shimon Littman earned his Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Long Island University Post Campus (LIU-Post). Prior to attending LIU-Post, he graduated from Yeshiva University magna cum laude with a B.A. in psychology.
Dr. Littman treats adolescents, young adults, and adults using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). He has particular experience in the evidence-based treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), emotion dysregulation, suicidality, depression, anxiety disorders, specific phobias, trichotillomania/excoriation, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). He has received specialized training in the treatment of suicidality, self-harm, anxiety, and trauma through years of clinical practice and supervision
Avital Hoschander Soep received her Psy.D. in School-Clinical Child Psychology from Yeshiva University, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Prior to attending Ferkauf, she graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in psychology from Yeshiva University, Stern College for Women. Dr. Soep recently completed her pre-doctoral internship at Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center.
Throughout her graduate training, Dr. Soep has been committed to providing evidence-based intervention across the lifespan. She completed an externship at the Behavioral Health College Partnership of Northwell Health where she served as a member of a DBT consultation team treating acutely suicidal young adults with borderline personality disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and depression.
Katherine Tezanos is a clinical extern at CBT/DBT Associates. Ms. Tezanos is currently a fifth-year doctoral student at Teachers College, Columbia University, and earned her MS in spring 2020. Ms. Tezanos graduated cum laude from Amherst College where she received a BA in Psychology. Before beginning her doctoral degree, Ms. Tezanos worked for four years as a clinical research assistant at Brown University and Columbia University in emergency department, psychiatric inpatient, and laboratory-based settings with teens and adults at risk for suicide. Ms. Tezanos recently completed a pre-doctoral externship at the New York University Child Study Center, where she received in-depth training in cognitive behavioral therapy. Ms. Tezanos has treated both youth and adults with anxiety, depression, OCD, trichotillomania, anger, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, behavioral challenges, executive functioning deficits, and social difficulties. Her research and clinical interests include assessment and intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Ariella is currently a first-year MSW candidate at Columbia University, where she is on the advanced clinical practice track with a specialization in health and mental health. Previously, Ariella worked at CBT/DBT as the clinical intake coordinator, where she served as the first point of contact for all incoming patients. She conducted preliminary clinical screenings for all incoming patients, inquiring about previous treatment history, psychiatric hospitalizations, psychotropic medication, suicidality, and behaviors they seek to treat.Ariella completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Georgetown University, where she served as president of the Georgetown chapter of the International Psychology Honors Society, Psi Chi. While there she was heavily engaged in both clinical work and research.
Support Staff
Caroline completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Georgetown University, where she was an active member of the Georgetown chapter of the International Psychology Honors Society, Psi Chi. While there Caroline became a vital member at two of Georgetown’s psychology labs. Under the guidance of a professor, Caroline collected data on the aspects of human development and behavior across cultures and applied her findings to the functional and dysfunctional facets of emotions, particularly, envy, shame, guilt, and embarrassment. Caroline used this data to investigate the social implications of these emotions. At Georgetown, Caroline also helped initiate the Family Wellbeing Program, a program that aims to address the mental health needs of parents and preschool children in Washington, D.C.. Clinical researchers, such as Caroline, are evaluating the impact of parental mental health on their child’s academic performance.
Courtney completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Miami with a double major in Broadcast Journalism and Marketing. Courtney has since worked in marketing in a variety of industries including investor relations, investment banking, recruiting and healthcare. Courtney now has her own startup boutique marketing agency. Courtney has been a part of our marketing team at CBT/DBT since September of 2018. She has helped craft our social media strategy and is in charge of running CBT/DBT’s Instagram. Courtney is now taking on the role of Director of Marketing and Community Outreach. Courtney is also the founder of Suz and Patrish, a mother-daughter online boutique. She combined her love for fashion and her marketing expertise to create an enjoyable, at-home shopping experience.