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Clinical Staff
Medical Staff
Benjamin Silverman, MD
Benjamin Silverman, M.D., is a practicing psychiatrist and serves as a Chair of the Partners Human Research Committee, building up on his previous position as Chair of the McLean Hospital Institutional Review Board. He is an Instructor in Psychiatry, part-time, at Harvard Medical School and is board-certified in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry.
Dr. Silverman graduated from college and medical school at the Johns Hopkins University and subsequently completed his psychiatry residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital Adult Psychiatry Residency Training program. Dr. Silverman completed sub-specialty fellowship training in addiction psychiatry through the Partners HealthCare System (McLean Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital). He additionally completed fellowship training with the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School, where he remains on the faculty and teaches ethics to first year medical students.
Dr. Silverman’s clinical interests include implementing innovative, evidence-based techniques to help people make behavioral changes, especially in the areas of compulsive behaviors, such as pathological Internet and computer use, as well as co-occurring psychiatric and addictive disorders. Dr. Silverman’s interests in medical ethics center on the ethical dilemmas that emerging information technologies, such as the Internet and social media, present to clinicians.
Shanthi Mogali, MD
Additionally, she is an Instructor of Clinical Psychiatry in the Division on Substance Abuse at Columbia University/NYSPI. Dr. Mogali continues to serve as an Instructor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in NYC where she is a research psychiatrist, primary study physician, and co-investigator on a number of research grants. Her interests include studies that involve medication development and developing methods for harm reduction in opioid and combination drug overdose. Dr. Mogali enjoys mentoring third and fourth year general psychiatry residents at Columbia on psychopharmacology and anti-craving drugs in their substance abuse cases. She is actively involved in the Opioid STR grant where she helps develop training materials and conduct video conferencing nationwide to best serve communities provide treatment of opioid use disorders.
In addition to Dr. Mogali’s research interests, her primary focus remains in patient care. At CMC:Berkshires she oversees the psychiatric care and medical safety of all clients. She is responsible for establishing diagnoses, educating clients on option for medication assisted treatment, as well as providing psychopharmacology. She enjoys the challenge of assessing and working with the wide array of struggles clients at CMC:Berkshires come to us with, including substance use issues as well as mood, anxiety and trauma/PTSD issues.
Shanthi Mogali, MD
Alan Inglis, MD
Jeffrey Foote, PhD
Jeff Foote, a clinical psychologist, is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of both the Center for Motivation and Change in NYC, our outpatient center established in 2003, as well as CMC:Berkshires, our residential center established in 2014. He is co-author of the award-winning book Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change, a practical guide for families dealing with addiction and substance problems in a loved one, based on principles of Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). He is also a contributor to two workbooks combining strategies from CRAFT and Motivational Interviewing: The Parent’s 20 Minute Guide and The Partner’s 20 Minute Guide, which offer specific tools and practice in evidence-based strategies for helping a loved one change.
Dr. Foote is a nationally recognized clinical research scientist whose work has focused on motivational approaches and the implementation of evidence-based treatments. Dr. Foote was also Team Psychologist for the NY Mets for 11 years, and continues in sports psychology as an independent performance consultant to professional athletes. Before co-founding CMC in 2003, Dr. Foote was the Deputy Director of the Division of Alcohol Treatment and Research at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in NYC, as well as Senior Research Associate at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) in NYC. Dr. Foote also served as Chief of the Smithers Addiction Treatment and Research Center in NYC.
Most recently, Dr. Foote has co-founded a not-for-profit foundation, CMC: Foundation For Change (CMC:FFC), to provide avenues and tools for change to families of those struggling with substance use. This has included developing a model, the Invitation To Change Approach (ITC) to help families develop understanding, strategies and compassion for their loved one and themselves in moving forward. ITC includes elements of CRAFT, Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and provides families real hope and tools to work with. CMC:FFC has been part of a collaborative effort to develop a national parent coaching network built around the ITC model.
Ed Bevan, PsyD
Ed Bevan is a clinical psychologist specializing in treating individuals struggling with substance use and compulsive behaviors, as well as with complex, co-occurring emotional and psychiatric issues. He completed his doctoral training at the Caron Treatment Centers and has continued to work with substance use problems in residential and outpatient settings since 2007. Dr. Bevan has worked with a variety of co-occurring issues including depression, mania, anxiety, grief, trauma and stress reactions, eating behavior issues, and sexual behavior issues. He has been particularly focused on developing integrated treatment approaches for co-occurring issues using mindfulness and acceptance-based behavioral therapies and has received training from leading clinical researchers involved in developing these evidence-based treatments. Dr. Bevan has been trained and supervised in providing specialized cognitive behavioral treatment (called exposure with response prevention) for treatment of obsessive-compulsive issues.
Megan Czaja, MSW, LICSW
Megan Czaja is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with experience working with families, individuals and groups.She received her Master of Social Work degree from Smith College School for Social Work. Prior to joining CMC:Berkshires, Megan was a clinician at the Institute of Living, Schizophrenia Services and Child and Adolescent Day Treatment Program. She established a clinical day program for adolescents with emerging and treatment resistant psychosis and provided specialized psychotherapy, case management, family therapy, substance abuse treatment and psychoeducation. Megan then went on to develop her career in residential treatment, working as a clinical social work at The Austen Riggs Center. There she conducted family assessments and provided intensive family therapy for individuals struggling with complex psychiatric challenges, often rooted in individual and intergenerational trauma. She has also taught bachelor’s level social workers and been involved in local mental health advocacy and education.
Laura Adams, PhD
Laura Adams is a clinical psychologist specializing in the evidence-based care of patients struggling with chronic and complex pain, trauma, disordered eating, and compulsive behavior. Dr. Adams completed a fellowship in clinical health psychology at Geisinger Medical Center, where she assisted in the development of a single session protocol to reduce patient pain catastrophizing, and with the development and implementation of an interdisciplinary clinic for patients with chronic pain. She also assisted with the implementation of a new behavioral medicine intervention for recent bariatric surgery patients struggling to maintain positive changes in their lives. Dr. Adams has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with a wide variety of presenting problems, and particularly enjoys working with patients to better control panic and anxiety, and to change sleeping habits using evidence-based interventions.
Lori Reamer
Lori Reamer is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of nutrition in a variety of settings ranging from public health to spas. She was the Director of Nutrition at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts and currently provides nutritional expertise at CMC Berkshires in addition to counseling in public health and consulting for corporate wellness. Lori has worked extensively with counseling individuals and lecturing to groups across the nation. Her work blends science and sensitivity with a goal of providing personalized and compassionate care.
Andrea Lein, PhD
Andrea Lein, Ph.D., earned a dual degree in Clinical and School Psychology from the University of Virginia. She completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship in a community mental health center where she gained certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Since 2007, Dr. Lein has worked in residential treatment focused on helping adolescents, young adults, and their families overcome a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues, including substance abuse.
Carrie Wilkens, PhD
Carrie Wilkens, a clinical psychologist, is the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of both the Center for Motivation and Change in NYC, our outpatient center established in 2003, as well as CMC:Berkshires, our residential center established in 2014. She is co-author of the award-winning book Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change, a practical guide for families dealing with addiction and substance problems in a loved one, based on principles of Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). She is also a contributor to two workbooks combining strategies from CRAFT and Motivational Interviewing: The Parent’s 20 Minute Guide and The Partner’s 20 Minute Guide, which offer specific tools and practice in evidence-based strategies for helping a loved one change.
She is regularly sought out by the media to discuss issues related to substance use disorders and has been on the CBS Morning Show, Katie Couric Show, and Fox News as well as a variety of radio shows including frequent NPR segments such as the People’s Pharmacy and The Diane Rehm Show. Dr. Wilkens sits on the Advisory Council for the Peter G. Dodge Foundation, a forward-thinking non-profit organization that works with world-class partners to achieve lasting change in the field of alcohol use disorders. Prior to these ventures, Dr. Wilkens was the Project Director on a large federally-funded Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant implementing motivational interventions with binge drinking college students.
Most recently, Dr. Wilkens co-founded a not-for-profit foundation, CMC: Foundation For Change (CMC:FFC), to provide strategies, understanding and hope for families of those struggling with substance use. Dr. Wilkens serves as President of CMC:FFC.
Emily DeBruicker, MSW, LICSW
Emily DeBruicker is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, with specialized training in intensive family therapy. Prior to joining the CMC:Berkshires staff, Emily worked at the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, MA, where she provided intensive psychodynamic family therapy to adults struggling with a wide range of complex psychiatric challenges. She became a licensed clinician in 2004 after earning her MSW from the University of Southern Maine in Portland. Since then, she has worked in a variety of roles with children, adolescents, adults and families in inpatient, outpatient and home based settings.
David Lane, PsyD
David Lane is a clinical psychologist, and has worked with Drs. Foote and Wilkens providing compassionate addiction treatment since 2006. Dr. Lane has played many roles, treating adults of all ages, working with family and friends of substance misusing loved ones, and providing specialized evidence-based treatments (the Unified Protocol) to those struggling with anxiety disorders as well as substance use. Dr. Lane has been the Program Director of CMC:Berkshires since its inception and was previously CMC’s Director of outpatient services in White Plains, NY.
Dr. Lane is a past president of the NYS Psychological Association Division on Addictions and served as a member of the division’s executive committee for several years. Previously, Dr. Lane completed a fellowship in college mental health at the NYU Counseling Center and subsequently helped develop and implement age-appropriate interventions for college and graduate students struggling with substance use. Dr. Lane is certified in the application of the Unified Protocol in the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders, an evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatment for a variety of anxiety and mood disorders. He also has specialized training in motivational treatment interventions and has written about the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy.
Sarah Feldman, PhD
Dr. Feldman is a clinical psychologist with specialized training in relational psychodynamic therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy with a focus on treating trauma, personality disorders, sleep disorders, and substance abuse. She is also certified in Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) for use with trauma. Dr. Feldman completed her pre-doctoral internship at CMC before becoming a staff member. Prior to CMC, she trained at Bellevue Hospital and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
- “DBT: Treating Clients with Borderline Personality Disorder and Substance Abuse”, Linda Dimeff, Ph.D., sponsored by Behavioral Tech., LLC, December 8-9th, 2010
- “Beyond the Basics: DBT Skills Essentials in Action,” Charles Swenson, M.D. and Elizabeth Dexter-Mazza, Psy.D., Sponsored by Behavioral Tech, LLC, September 20th-21, 2009
- “Authority, Leadership, and Participation in Groups and Organizational Systems,” Barbara B. Winderman, RN, JD, Sponsored by Teachers College, Columbia University, November 13-15th 2009
- “Treating Addictive Behaviors: Chemical and Non-Chemical,” Daniel Araoz, Ed.D., David A. Lane, Pys.D., Karen S. Frieder, Ph.D., Sponsored by the New York State Psychological Association, October 18th 2009
- “Updating to the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 4th Edition (WAIS-IV),” Jordan Wright, Ph.D., Sponsored by Teachers College, Columbia University, September 19th 2008
- “Treating Anger: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach,” Linda Sapadin, Ph.D., Sponsored by Saint John’s University, February 4th 200
- “Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: The Essentials,” Shelley McMain, Ph.D., Sponsored by Teachers College, Columbia University, October 26-27th 2007
Elisabeth Fonseca, PhD
Elisabeth Fonseca is a multilingual clinical psychologist with a specialty in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (both group and individual modalities) and trauma, having been certified in Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as DBT-PE, an approach to PTSD where clients learn an array of DBT skills before engaging in PE. Dr. Fonseca is also trained in an additional trauma treatment approach, Skills Training in Affect and Interpersonal Regulation, or STAIR. She has worked extensively and successfully with individuals with PTSD, typically as a result of sexual and interpersonal violence. She has also worked for many years with adults and couples struggling with substance use issues, both at the Smithers Alcohol Treatment and Training Center, as well as the CMC outpatient and residential programs. Dr. Fonseca worked for a number of years with HIV positive clients and their extended families, in particular a network of Latina grandmothers caretaking their grandchildren.
Melanie Podsiadlo, PhD
Melanie Podsiadlo moved from Montreal, Canada to obtain her doctorate in organizational psychology from Rutgers University. Initially she worked as a consultant to senior leaders in Fortune 100 companies providing a range of services including selection, executive coaching, and team development. During her time as a consultant she also served on the Executive Board of Directors at a large Community Mental Health organization. Melanie returned to school at Adelphi University to obtain a second specialization in clinical psychology. She has worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings throughout New York and New Jersey with a focus on group, and short-term individual therapy. During her time at CMC:Berkshires she has worked with families and individual clients and has obtained additional training in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples and Complicated Grief Treatment for individuals.
Tanya Beecher
Tanya Beecher is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with almost 20 years of experience working with adolescents, adults and families affected by substance use disorders. She has worked as a primary and family therapist in a variety of settings including inpatient and residential programs, school and college counseling offices, and in an outpatient private practice with adults and couples. Following her training at Smith College School for Social Work in 2000, she completed a post-graduate fellowship at Harvard University in young adult development and college mental health. She specializes in treating substance abuse disorders, trauma, and eating disorders, and she has been a clinical supervisor in the field of addictions since 2005. Tanya’s work with family members is guided by the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) model as she works with families educating and coaching them in the areas of communication, determining healthy boundaries, self-care and how to best influence their loved one’s behavior and motivation. Additionally, Ms. Beecher has an extensive professional background in working with clients with trauma and PTSD. She is fully Certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy for use with trauma, and is currently a Consultant in Training to provide consultation, training and supervision to other EMDR practitioners.
Lillian Lennox, LMHC
Lillian Lennox has MA Counseling Psychology with specialized training in CBT and mind/body approaches. She is a certified Level II EMDR practitioner and Level II Integrative Restoration (iRest) Teacher-in-Training. Lillian worked extensively in Community Mental Health as Brien Center Program Coordinator for the Seeking Safety Trauma & Substance Abuse Program and a clinician on the Acute/Urgent Care Team, She is and currently a member of the Berkshire County First Responder Team. A Graduate of the International Trauma Studies Program (ISTP) Columbia University, she is trained in intervention and preventions that promote the resilience, mental health and social integration of individuals, families and communities who have endured catastrophic psychosocial trauma. Lillian has a research interest in the philosophical and spiritual implications of recent developments in neurobiology, and is deeply committed to an integrative, collaborative and interdisciplinary practice.
Karolina Kowarz, PsyD
Karolina Kowarz is a clinical psychologist with specialized training and commitment to using evidence-based treatment modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based approaches. She is also trained in DBT-PE for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as the Unified Protocol (a form of cognitive behavioral therapy) for anxiety and mood disorders. Dr. Kowarz incorporates research-based self-compassion strategies in her work with clients. She is compassionate and collaborative in her approach to providing therapy for adults struggling with emotional disorders and substance abuse.