FACULTY BIOS

Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C, DAPA

Lisa is the President and Founder of The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training and Education, Inc. She has a B.A. in Theatre from SUNY Albany, and an M.S.W. from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and is a Diplomate of the American Psychotherapy Association. In 2009, she was given the "Social Worker of the Year" Award by the Maryland Society for Clinical Social Work.

She has been in solo private practice for twenty fiveyears. Working with children, adolescents, individual adults, couples and families, her areas of specialization include: adult children of alcoholics; survivors of emotional, sexual and physical abuse; co-dependency; substance abuse; eating disorders; self-injurious behavior; anxiety; depression; dissociation; multiplicity; professional burn-out; parenting skills; and stress management. Her work embraces a variety of creative paradigms and treatment modalities including Ericksonian Hypnosis and art therapy techniques.

For over ten years, Lisa was an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work where she taught first and second year graduate students. She was also a Core Faculty Member for their Continuing Professional Education Certificate Program entitled “Child and Adolescent Therapy”, and a frequent presenter at Continuing Education workshops. Additionally, she was a Core Faculty Member of the Maryland Society for Clinical Social Work where she created and taught continuing education workshops for advanced practitioners.

Five years ago, Lisa created and began training clinicians in a Certificate Program in Advanced Trauma Treatment. To date, over 195 clinicians have graduated from this strengths based, de-pathologized approach to treating trauma survivors.

Lisa serves as a Clinical Consultant for Social Workers and other mental health providers in private practices and agencies. She is also a faculty member of the Psychotherapy Networker Symposia. She is currently a Clinical Instructor at the University of Maryland Department of Family Medicine where she provides core lectures, teaches residents about the bio-psycho-social model, how to join with and interview patients, how to assess for abuse and trauma, and processes doctor/patient interactions.

Locally, nationally and internationally, Lisa frequently presents workshops, lectures, and key note addresses for clinical social workers, primary care physicians and other helping professionals, and is considered an expert in the field of trauma. She has written articles on self- injurious behavior for New York University’s Child Study Center, and the Psychotherapy Networker Journal. She participated in a documentary called “The Multiple Personality Puzzle” for the Learning Channel. She also participated in three educational videotapes on eating disorders available for clients and clinicians through Cavalcade Videos.

Lisa is able to offer her clinical expertise on issues related to addiction and trauma as an active member of the Shofar Coalition under the Associated and CHANA. For several years, she was also a Board member for Jewish Recovery Houses.

She continues to act and direct as a member of Country Drama, a community theater group in Baltimore. She also choreographs for local High School musical productions.

Kevin Scott Ferentz, MD

Kevin graduated magna cum laude from SUNY at Albany, where he majored in Biology and Theater. He received his M.D. from SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine. Kevin completed his Family Practice residency at the University of Maryland, along with a fellowship in Faculty Development with an emphasis in Obstetrics.

Since then, he has been on the faculty of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Maryland where he has served as the Director of Student and Employee Health, and the Medical Director of Family Medicine Specialists, the faculty practice for the Department. Dr. Ferentz then served as the Residency Director for the Department from 1993–2005. In July, 2005, Dr. Ferentz assumed the role of Director of Clinical Operations for the Department. He has a secondary appointment in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine.

An Associate Professor, Kevin has authored more than three dozen articles and book chapters concerning issues in Family Medicine. Dr. Ferentz has received more than a dozen teaching awards, including two national awards: the Exemplary Teaching Award from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Outstanding Program Director Award from the Association of Family Practice Residency Directors. He was named one of the Best Family Physicians by Baltimore Magazine in 1997, 2000, 2002, and 2007. The Ladies Home Journal named him one of the best Family Physicians in America in 2002. He was named to Best Doctors in America in 1998, 2002, and 2006. He appears in Who’s Who in America in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

One of his primary academic interests is on the recognition and treatment of Depression in the primary care setting. Kevin has participated in a number of clinical trials for anti-depressant medications and is recognized as a national thought leader regarding the care of mental illness in the primary care setting.

Kevin is a past-President of the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians and has served on several committees and commissions for the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is currently the Maryland Delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates. He is a member of Country Drama, a community theater group in Baltimore. For eight years he was the regular host of Sunday Rounds, the largest medical call-in show on public radio, heard nationwide, and around the world on the Armed Forces Radio Network and the Internet.

Joan Kristall, LCSW-C

Joan has been in private clinical practice for over 25 years. For 15 years she was the Director of the “Families of Separation, Divorce and Re-marriage” for Jewish Family Services of Central Maryland. Under her leadership, countless children and adults were connected to clinical services through individual and group therapies as well as concrete resources.

Joan has also served as a lead Social Worker for Baltimore County schools. In addition to an active private practice, Joan is the Clinical Coordinator for the Shofar Coalition under the Associated and CHANA. One of her many roles in this capacity is to serve as a clinical supervisor for the male and female sexual abuse support groups that are offered in the community. She has worked extensively with adults, adolescents and children who have undergone the life transition of divorce and re-marriage. Joan has written several articles and lectures frequently on the subject of family trauma following a marital break-up.

Harriet Mandell, LCSW-C

Harriet graduated from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 1982 with an advanced Certificate in Gerontology, later earning a Certificate in Family Therapy from the Family Therapy Practice Center in Washington, D.C.

Her professional work involves all aspects of inpatient and outpatient mental health care for the elderly, including home visits and geriatric case management. Harriet has also maintained a part-time private practice where she works with clients and families struggling with the effects of addiction.

She is the Director of Practice Operations for the University of Maryland Department of Family Medicine where she oversees a staff of thirty-five physicians, a support staff of twenty-five and a practice that sees over 40,000 patient visits a year. She also teaches third year medical students.

Harriet has been a long-term, extremely active Board Member for Jewish Recovery Houses, where she has served as the Chairperson of their Clinical committee and interacts directly with many of the clients in recovery by facilitating 12-step meetings and informal support groups.

Sabrina N'Diaye, LCSW-C

Sabrina began her career as a Social Worker 20 years ago in New York City’s foster care system. Since that time, she has worked in residential psychiatric treatment, community mental health, addictions, and private practice.

She is currently the Maryland Community Relations Manager for Marworth Treatment Center, and has a private practice in Catonsville, where she specializes in her “calling” – healing work for women, couples, and recovering addicts.

She is an Adjunct Instructor at Howard County Community College, where she taught a course on Addictions Counseling. She is a highly-respected member of the treatment community, and frequently lectures on Incorporating Spirituality into Psychotherapy, Stress Management, Cultural Diversity, and Addictions.

Sabrina is the former Vice-President of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association's Chesapeake Chapter, and a former Board member for the Maryland Society for Clinical Social Work. Sabrina is also a Certified Imago Therapist.

Pamella Pressman, LCSW-C

Pam has extensive experience in a variety of clinical settings including the Johns Hopkins AIDS Service, The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland and the Veteran’s Administration Medical System. She has been in full time private practice for twelve years working with adolescents and adults. Before social work was a passion, Pam was a college educator teaching and advising in the University setting.

Lisa K. Schkloven, LCSW-C

Lisa has been a practicing clinical social worker for 26 years. She received her master’s degree from the Tulane University School of Social Work then completed her post master’s certification in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Tulane University Medical School in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Lisa has served as an individual, group and family therapist at the Francis Scott Key Medical Center in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as a family therapist on two inpatient adolescent units of the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt and as a family therapist at the Forbush School. She has also worked extensively at Jewish Family Services developing and facilitating therapy groups for children and adolescents as well as adult psycho-educational seminars. She has served as a consultant to many local Jewish day schools and summer camps.

Ms. Schkloven is currently in private practice specializing in individual, child, family and group psychotherapy. She is the Clinical Director of A Clinical Eye Consulting, providing professional support to mental health and health care professionals as well as family support through parent education and consultation.

Ms. Schkloven has been a regular contributor to Baltimore’s Child magazine Family Matters column. Her expertise has been sought by such media as Infinity Broadcasting, WMAR TV, WBAL TV, WBFF TV, The Baltimore Jewish Times, The Baltimore Jewish Times Education Special Section, The Baltimore Jewish Times Insider Special Section, The Owings Mills Times, Maryland Family and The Baltimore Sun.

Victoria Eisner, M.A., ADTR, NCC

Victoria Eisner, M.A., ADTR, NCC is a clinical therapist and teacher with more than 20 years experience. She has held faculty or staff positions at the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, Commission on Mental Health Services at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Omega Institute, and the University of Montana. Victoria's early experiences as writer, actress, dancer, singer and choreographer as well as ongoing explorations of yoga, chi gong, dance, mindfulness meditation, drumming, conscious breath work, psychotherapy and other body-centered therapies continue to inform and deepen her understanding and appreciation of the power of movement, thought, imagery, art and breath.

Working individually and with groups, Victoria supports and guides her clients in the art of listening to and trusting their bodies as source and expression of mind, emotion and spirit. She is skilled and intuitive in her use of movement, dance, breath and mindfulness, bringing awareness to patterns of emotion, thought and behavior that prevent or inhibit authentic self-expression. In addition to her strong teaching and clinical skills, Victoria demonstrates exceptional leadership, organizational and teambuilding abilities which she deftly applies to her professional trainings and workshops. At the center of Victoria's practice is the vision to create the experience of wholeness and connection, collaboratively and in community with others.

Victoria holds credentials from the American Dance Therapy Association and the National Board of Certified Counselors. She is a former board member of the Maryland/D.C./Virginia Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association and a member of The Eating Disorder Consortuim of Baltimore. Victoria is the founding director of the Center for Body, Movement and Mindfulness-based Therapy in Baltimore, Maryland.

Peggy L. Kolodny, M.A., ATR-BC, CPC

Peggy is a Board Certified and registered Art Therapist who received her Masters Degree in Art Therapy from George Washington University in 1982. She has diverse clinical experience working as a primary art therapist with all ages and diagnostic populations. She was Executive Director of a nonprofit agency, The Family Connection, Inc., that specialized in trauma treatment and started a private practice 15 years ago in Owings Mills, Md. Recently, she began leading an art therapy group for Jewish sexual abuse survivors through the Shofar Coalition under the Associated and CHANA.

To enhance her effectiveness as a trauma therapist, Peggy joined the Central Md. Sexual Abuse Treatment Task Force in 1987 and became its chairperson from 1997-2002. While on the Task Force sub-committee, Peggy helped write guidelines for the treatment of sexual abuse. She also joined the American Professional Association on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) and APSAC-MD, co-chairing the local chapter from 1996-1998. Further, Peggy was President of the Maryland Art Therapy Association and has served on the board in various roles for over 25 years.

Peggy brings 27 years of experience working with trauma survivors, from toddlers through adulthood, to her lectures and extensive teaching. She has been a guest lecturer for many of Towson University's "Introduction to Art Therapy" courses. She was an Adjunct Faculty member at Maryland Institute, College of Art, and for Goucher College's Graduate Art Therapy Program. She has been a guest lecturer at various colleges in Maryland and surrounding states, and has also taught art therapy and trauma treatment workshops in various settings.

Currently, Peggy is in her fourth year as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Maryland's School of Social Work, teaching "Art Therapy in Clinical Social Work", an advanced graduate course. She is in her 11th year on the faculty of the Chesapeake Beach Professional Seminars, an institute for the registration of play therapists (RPT), teaching "Art & Play Therapy in Sexual Abuse Treatment", among other workshops. Peggy trains foster parents through the Child Welfare Academy, co-sponsored by SSW/Md. Dept. of Human Resources with her workshops, "Foster Parenting Sexually Abused Children and Adolescents."

Rev. Ray Chase

Rev. Ray Chase is an ordained Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. For 26 years, Father Ray was the director of Spiritual Development for residential programs for Child and Family Services of Catholic Charities of Baltimore. In that position he developed, implemented and supervised a number of specialized experiential programs designed to address the spiritual and moral deficits and damage of latency age children in residential care due to neglect/abuse and/or emotional or behavioral problems. In addition, he developed and implemented a comprehensive, multi-level experience-based spiritual development program appropriate for children and adults with a full range of developmental disabilities.

Since 1966 Father Ray has served as Program Development Consultant for Illuminations, a national art based training and awareness program on child victimization. He is presently the Chaplain for Catholic Charities where he is responsible for developing and implementing programs to address workplace spirituality for the diverse staff and programs of Catholic Charities.

Howard Reznick, LCSW-C

Howard Reznick, LCSW-C, majored in both sociology and social work at the University of Maryland and graduated with an MSW in 1977.

While developing his clinical practice for the last three decades, Howard has been delivering educational presentations to diverse audiences, from Hopkins' physicians to grade school students. His clinical specialties have addressed many life-changing conditions, which include: the fields of trauma; addiction recovery; cancer work; and end-of life-care. His practice has taken him from prison wards and hospital rooms to medical school lecture halls and corporate boardrooms.

Howard has developed community awareness and addiction recovery programs. While leading a consulting service at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he played a significant role in the training of Hopkins' doctors and other health care providers at the onset of the AIDS epidemic in Baltimore.

Howard has received grant support from the George Soros Foundation for his work in grief support training and from The Foundation for Spirituality and Medicine for his approach to cancer care. Most recently, Howard served as Senior Trainer at the Sidran Institute on Trauma. In addition to his private clinical practice, he manages the prevention education programs for Jewish Community Service.

His presentation style has been described as humorous, interactive and engaging, yet well grounded in theory and reflective of his 30 years in practice.

Guest Speaker Bio

Susan Osofsky, LCSW

Susan holds a BS in Education from Syracuse University and received her MSW from VCU School of Social Work in 1981. Since that time, she has worked in a variety of capacities including: Therapist in a court ordered residential drug treatment facility; Case Manager in community corrections;Therapist on a Community Mental Health Crisis Intervention team; and Private Practice.

During her nine years in emergency services, she responded to emergency mental health situations, determined the need for involuntary hospitalization, provided crisis intervention counseling and facilitated Critical Incident Stress Debriefings to police, fire and rescue departments. She has been in Private Practice in Richmond, VA for 16 years, specializing in OCD, anxiety disorders, depression and trauma. Susan supervises clinicians on OCD treatment, has successfully treated over a hundered people with OCD, and describes herself as having been a "teenaged hand washer."

Maris H. Blechner, M Ed, LCSW

Maris is an adoptive parent, a birth parent, an educator, and a licensed clinical social worker. For the past twenty years she has been the Executive Director of FAMILY FOCUS ADOPTION SERVICES, a high energy level non-traditional multi-service New York State adoption agency that she helped found. Maris is an internationally recognized and respected speaker and trainer on contemporary adoption and child welfare issues, and states that she particularly enjoys talking with social workers and adoptive families about the realities of adoption today in a society that still has a lot to learn - by far her favorite training topic.

Denise Tordella, M.A. LPC

Denise is a Licensed Professional Counselor with an undergraduate degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a graduate degree in community counseling from George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development. She has taken post-graduate training in trauma treatment and completed a certificate program in trauma treatment from the University of Maryland’s School of Social Work. Denise was the director of a residential substance abuse treatment program before becoming a mental health therapist for Arlington County Behavioral Healthcare Division. For the past 10 years, she has provided clients with individual and group treatment and psychoeducation about mental health and substance abuse disorders from a trauma specific perspective.

Her current area of interest is the integration of trauma treatment and substance abuse treatment and she has provided training and consultation to several universities and various non-profit and municipal mental health treatment service providers. Most recently, Denise was recognized by her colleagues in the Washingtonian Magazine (July 2009) as one of the Top Therapists specializing in substance abuse treatment in the metropolitan DC area. She also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University and Northern Virginia Community College where she teaches substance abuse counseling. Denise maintains a private practice in Alexandria , Virginia where she lives with her husband David who is a computer scientist and is the proud mother of Brian and Marisa.

Angela Cerkevich, RYT

Angela is a full time yoga teacher and doctoral student in George Washington University's Department of Professional Psychology. She sees clients individually for yoga therapy, and offers workshops in yoga for anxiety, insomnia and trauma. Angela has spent the past six years studying the therapeutic application of yoga and is certified in Life-force yoga for mood management and restorative yoga. She has also trained extensively in yoga nidra/iRESt for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and in trauma-sensitive yoga under the direction of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk at the Trauma Center in Boston.

In an effort to utilize yoga to make a real-world impact in peace, reconciliation and healing from life's traumas, Angela created the non-governmental organization, "Anahata International," whose mission is to assist with the self-healing of high risk populations and communities affected by trauma, by teaching strategies for recovery using yoga and meditation. Anahata International has trained yoga teachers in Rwanda to use yoga as a tool for community healing. Angela regularly consults with clinicians eager to incorporate yoga practices into their private practices. She is part of the training faculty of Greenleaf Integrative Strategies, an organization that provides resilience training to governmental agencies whose personnel are deployed to countries in crises and conflict and are exposed to high-risk situations.

She has assisted in the facilitation of yoga nidra for PTSD diagnosed veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the DC Veterans Affairs Hospital. She has also led workshops at the National Institute of Health, Georgetown University's Psychiatric Dept., American University's Dept. of International Affairs, the Washington School of Psychiatry and local corporate venues. Prior to her graduate work she regularly taught yoga for recovery at a local women's shelter and at N street village. She currently offers yoga to the general public at Flow Yoga Center where she helped to establish the therapeutic yoga program.

Contact Information

Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C, DAPA
Email Lisa
410-486-0351
Office address: 3701 Old Court, Suite 5
Baltimore, MD 21208

Kevin Ferentz, MD
Email Kevin
office: 410-328-2686

Joan Kristall, LCSW-C
Email Joan
Office: 410-764-6564
Office address: 3701 Old Court, Suite 5
Baltimore, MD 21208

Harriet Mandell, LCSW-C
Email Harriet
29 South Paca Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Sabrina N’Diaye
Email Sabrina
Office: 410-277-8928
Office address: 4 West Rolling Crossroads
Suite 3
Catonsville, MD 21228

Pamella Pressman, LCSW-C
Email Pamella
Office: 410-321-7717
Office address: 408 Allegheny Ave.
Towson, MD 21204

Lisa Schkloven, LCSW-C
Office: 410-580-1109
Office address: Pikesville Prof. Bldg.
7 Church Lane, Suite 15A
Baltimore, MD 21208