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Meet the Clinicians

Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D., Founder and Director

Dr. Michael Oberschneider is a highly accredited psychologist and the founder of APS. He received his Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology from George Washington University and his B.S. in Psychological Services from Northwestern University. Upon completion of his Doctorate, he completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems. This advanced training involved in-patient and out-patient consultation, treatment and evaluation rotations. Dr. Oberschneider has spent the past 10 years working as a psychologist in a variety of capacities with children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Oberschneider has practiced as a staff psychologist at an in-patient hospital unit, the United States Justice Department, the City of Alexandria (Youth and Family Services) and in private practice.

Dr. Oberschneider has published several articles in prestigious academic journals including: Clinical Child Psychiatry and Psychology, the Archives of Sexual Behavior, and the Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic. Dr. Oberschneider has also written numerous articles as a mental health expert for several newspapers, and his work has been syndicated worldwide for the Washington Post. Dr. Oberschneider has been featured on Good Morning America, NPR, News Channel 8, as well as other media spots, as a mental health expert. He has presented at national conventions, such as the American Psychological Association, Division 39, Annual Meeting, and he has received honorary awards for his published work. Dr. Oberschneider is frequently invited to present on various mental health topics by local and national agencies and organizations.

Dr. Oberschneider has had additional psychotherapy and assessment training at the following: Children's National Medical Center, The DC Superior Courts, Howard University Counseling Center, the Speech and Language Center of Northern Virginia, the Center Clinic of the George Washington University, the N Street Village Residential Facility, the Baltimore Washington Center of Psychoanalysis and the Pennsylvania Center of Psychoanalysis.

Dr. Oberschneider is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Virginia Psychological Association, the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists, the Northern Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists and WISER (Washington Independent Services for Educational Resources). He is also the Chief Mental Health Advisor for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Northern Virginia and the Classical Ballet Academy of Herndon. In 2009, Dr. Oberschneider was awarded the esteemed "Top Psychologist" ranking in the Washingtonian Magazine for his outstanding work with children and adolescents. Dr. Oberschneider is the only clinical psychologist in all of Loudoun County to receive this honor.

Psychiatrists

Imran Akram, M.D.

Dr. Akram is a trained Adult and Geriatric Psychiatrist. Furthermore, he specializes in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) which is still recognized as the most effective treatment for acute and chronic treatment refractory psychiatric disorders. He is also qualified to treat the opioid dependent population via Suboxone (Buprenorphine) Treatment. His work at Prince William Hospital and Ashburn Psychological Services is a nice blend of inpatient and outpatient psychiatry. This helps him to be proficient in dealing with acute crisis intervention on the inpatient and chronic or maintenance treatment on the outpatient basis.

Dr. Akram completed his Psychiatric residency and Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship at University of Virginia Health System. He did his ECT fellowship at Emory University. After finishing his fellowship, he served at a highly reputed hospital in the suburbs of Chicago, Alexian Brothers Health system. The high versatility of Alexian Brothers in treating addiction, adult, geriatric, eating disorders and ECT helped Dr. Akram further his clinical acumen in the above mentioned fields. He plans to provide comprehensive care for his patients at our office through collaboration with colleagues in the field of Medicine, Psychiatry and Psychology. Dr. Akram is a member of American Psychiatric Association and Psychiatric Society of Virginia.

Zafar Rasheed, M.D.

Dr. Rasheed provides child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. His areas of interest include childhood developmental disorders (ADHD, Autism and Asperger's Disorder), depression, anxiety, substance abuse and conduct and oppositional behaviors problems.

Dr. Rasheed values the importance of working as a team in the care and treatment of his clients at APS. He believes that the psychiatrist must work closely with the therapist, the school and the parents when treating a child or adolescent. The coordination of care for Dr. Rasheed is essential to eliciting symptom reduction and meaningful (and lasting) positive change in our clients.

Dr. Rasheed completed his Adult Psychiatry training at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. He completed his Child and Adolescent Fellowship at Drexel University College of Medicine. He plans to provide comprehensive care for his patients at APS through collaboration with colleagues of medicine, psychiatry, and psychology. Dr. Rasheed is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Joseph R. Novello, M.D.

Dr. Novello practices adult and child/adolescent psychiatry and is also a qualified expert in forensic psychiatry and has participated in a wide range of civil and criminal cases. Dr. Novello also practices and is a leading expert in the field of hypnosis. He received his M.D. from the University of Michigan and his B.A. from University of Notre Dame. He has served as the director of child and adolescent services at The Psychiatric Institute of Washington and was founder of the Gateway, a residential treatment program for alcohol and drug abuse.

Dr. Novello has authored two textbooks on psychiatry and has contributed several scientific papers to the medical literature. In addition, he has written three popular books for parents. His featured column, "You and Your Child", appeared each week in Woman's World magazine for many years. Dr. Novello's most recent book, The Myth of More, is about finding happiness in life by overcoming character flaws called "lifetraps" and discovering spiritual values.

Dr. Novello has received numerous awards, including election to the American College of Psychiatrists and Fellowship in the American Psychiatric Association. He has also received a Best Doctors in America Award and the Medallion of the US Surgeon General. Georgetown University, where he is a member of the clinical faculty, has honored him with its Vicennial Award.

Dr. Novello has been a consultant to the National Naval Medical Center and the Inter-American Development Bank and has served as health issues advisor to US Senator John Warner of Virginia.

Dr. Novello is well-known to the general public through his media activities. In Washington, he has hosted his own daily radio call-in program on WMAL and his regular feature "The Family Doctor" has appeared on WJLA-TV News. Dr. Novello has also been active in the media on the national level. His syndicated radio program Healthtime has been heard daily in over 300 cities and he has often appeared on network and cable TV news programs and talk shows as well as programs such as Nightline, Good Morning America and The Today Show. In 2010, Dr. Novello was awarded the esteemed "Top Doc" ranking in the Washingtonian Magazine for his outstanding work as a child, adult and forensic psychiatrist. Dr. Novello is the only psychiatrist in all of Loudoun County to receive this honor.

Neuropsychologists

Amy Gordon, Ph.D.

Dr. Gordon earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Drexel University in Philadelphia. Her predoctoral and postdoctoral training was conducted at Tulane University in New Orleans, during which time she further specialized in clinical and forensic neuropsychology. She provided clinical services to children and adults and conducted research in the areas of surgical treatment of epilepsy, malingering, memory, toxic exposure and forensic evaluations.

Dr. Gordon has been in private practice since 1999. Her clinical experience has included working with individuals with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism and other spectrum disorders, head injury, and internationally adopted children. She has assisted parents with the IEP process in Fairfax and Loudoun County school systems in order to assure appropriate educational placements and/or accommodations for their children. Dr. Gordon is licensed in Virginia and is a member of the American Psychological Association and National Academy of Neuropsychology. She provides full diagnostic assessments for children, adolescents and adults.

Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists

Margarita Avedisian, Ph.D.

Dr. Avedisian received her Doctoral Degree in Developmental Psychology from The Catholic University of America and her Post-Doctoral Respecialization in Clinical Child Psychology from George Washington University.

Dr. Avedisian has been in private practice since 2003, specializing in child, adolescent and family therapy using a behavior therapy approach. She has experience working with clients presenting with a variety of concerns, including depression and anxiety, aggression and noncompliance issues, and intellectual and educational disabilities. Dr. Avedisian is trained to integrate Christian spirituality with therapy for those who are interested.

Dr. Avedisian has been published in numerous academic journals, including The International Journal of Infant Behavioral Development and Adolescence. She has also presented at conferences throughout the country on the subject of child development.

Alia Creason, Ph.D.

Dr. Creason provides diagnostic testing services at APS and specializes in psychological and psycho-educational evaluations for children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Creason completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Children's National Medical Center where she specialized in evaluations of children from age's birth to five. In addition to her work at APS, Dr. Creason is a School Psychologist for Loudoun County Public Schools.

Dr. Creason holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology from The Florida State University, a Masters of Public Health degree from The George Washington University and a B.S. in Biological Psychology from The College of William and Mary.

Albert Jerome, Ph.D.

Dr. Jerome is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Ohio University after completing internship training in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. Further post-doctoral training was completed at NeuroScience, Inc. in Herndon, VA.

Dr. Jerome's clinical practice focuses on anxiety disorders, health psychology, problem behaviors among children and teens, and couples therapy. In the area of anxiety disorders, Dr. Jerome specializes in treating panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, specific fears, (such as fear of flying), and childhood anxiety disorders. His work in Health Psychology includes treatment of headache and chronic pain, health anxiety, and tobacco and drug use. A wide range of problem behaviors among children and teens are addressed through a combination of individual therapy, behavioral reward systems, and parent training.

Dr. Jerome's work with couples focuses on patterns of conflict and communication styles, and he employs a broad range of effective evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as Integrated Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT) that incorporate an ongoing dialectic between change and acceptance.

In all of his clinical work, Dr. Jerome employs the latest in evidence-based therapeutic interventions, blending Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with mindfulness training, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and solution-focused therapy. A tailored, individualized treatment approach is developed through an active collaboration with each client or family who seeks his services.

Dr. Jerome has been the recipient of more than 20 research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) for the design, development, and evaluation of self-help and minimal contact behavior change programs, and he is a recognized expert in the area of gradual reduction techniques for tobacco cessation.

Rachel L. Martell, Psy.D.

Dr. Rachel Martell received her Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch New England Graduate School and her MA in Psychology from Saint Michael's College. Upon completion of her degree, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital. This advanced training took place in the forensic unit at the Hospital. At Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Dr. Martell conducted psychosexual, violence risk, neuropsychological and psychological evaluations with adults. She co-facilitated mental health, substance abuse, sex offender, and competency restoration groups. Dr. Martell also provided clients with psychotherapy.

While completing her Postdoctoral Fellowship, Dr. Martell was hired by the DC Superior Court Child Guidance Clinic as a Staff Psychologist. She works full-time at the DC Superior Court, supervising and conducting psychological, psychoeducational, violence risk, competency, and psychosexual evaluations for adjudicated children and adolescents. At times, Dr. Martell is also conducts parenting capacity and other evaluations with adults. She supervises/facilitates the Court's psychotherapy/cognitive-behavioral therapy groups. Dr. Martell was formerly involved with the Court's juvenile sex offender program.

Dr. Martell serves as an independent consultant for APS, conducting evaluations. Although predominately involved in forensic cases, she also tests children, utilizing her skills as a former licensed school psychologist for grades K through 12. Currently, Dr. Martell is licensed in Virginia and DC. She is also Certified as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider (CSOTP). She recently became an associate faculty member for Argosy University, teaching courses in assessment, ethics, and sex offender evaluation and treatment. Dr. Martell is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Personality Assessment.

Michelle Moody, Ed.S.

Ms. Moody received her Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology from Brigham Young University. Ms. Moody has worked as a school psychologist in a variety of capacities with preschoolers, children and adolescents. She has worked with various concerns including ADHD, Autism, Aspergers Disorder, Anxiety, Behavioral and Conduct problems, Depression, Developmental Delays, Learning Disorders, OCD, Grief, and Substance Abuse. In addition to working at APS, Ms. Moody practices as a school psychologist in Loudoun County, Virginia. She is also a member of the National Association of School Psychologists.

Additional counseling and assessment training include: School psychologist and school counselor in four Utah school districts, Brigham Young University Counseling and Psychology Center, Utah Division of Services for People with Disabilities, Family Support and Treatment Center of Utah, and Alternative Language Services Department of Jordan School District.

Shalini Wahi, Ph.D.

Dr. Wahi is an Oxford-educated Developmental Psychologist. She obtained her Post-Doctoral Respecialization Clinical Psychology training at the Mayo Clinic, MN and the Neuropsychiatric Institute, UCLA.

When working with children, Dr. Wahi uses both play therapy as well as evidenced-based therapies such as, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help children alter their maladaptive thought and behavior patterns. An essential component of her work includes parent coaching and instituting a behavioral reward system in the home.

In addition to working with children, Dr. Wahi also specializes in women's health issues. These include: mood and anxiety disorders, prenatal and postpartum adjustments, eating and weight disorders/body image issues, coping with cancer and issues related to cancer genetics, stage of life transitions, relational issues, adjustment to major change/work-life balance and grief/loss throughout the life cycle.

Dr. Wahi is also trained to provide psychological and psycho-educational evaluations for children, adolescents and adults.

Margaret Wong, Ph.D.

Dr. Wong received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from North CarolinaStateUniversity, Master's of Arts and Certificate of Advanced Studies in School Psychology from East Carolina University and her B.A. in Psychology from the George Washington University.

Dr. Wong specializes in working with children with autism spectrum disorders (e.g., Autism, Asperger's Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified), disruptive behavioral disorders (e.g., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder), anxiety disorder, mood disorders (e.g., Depression, Bipolar Disorder), Tourette's Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and learning issues in the schools through therapy and psychological evaluations. Experiences include working in private practice and outpatient, day treatment and inpatient psychiatric clinics at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, school districts in North Carolina and Iowa, presenting in state and national presentations. Other experiences include research, adjunct professor in the School Psychology program at the University of Iowa, Consulting Editor for the American Psychological Association's Clinicians Research Digest and doctoral level supervision in clinical settings.

Speech and Language and Auditory Processing Specialist

Jay R. Lucker, Ed.D., CCC-A/SLP, FAAA

Dr. Lucker is a certified/licensed audiologist and speech-language pathologist specializing in auditory information processing disorders (APD). Dr. Lucker is also an associate professor in the Dept. of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Howard University, Washington, DC.

Dr. Lucker has developed a unique approach to assessment and working with people who have APD that looks at the whole person and not merely the auditory system. APD is defined by him as those things that we do when we receive information through our auditory system and eventually obtain meaning from that information. His model of APD looks at eight distinct categories of the disorder and his assessment identifies the specific categories of APD not functioning normally in children, adolescents, and adults. He then provides concrete recommendations for educational and therapeutic treatment for the specific APD present.

Dr. Lucker has provided dozens of presentations on APD as well as published numerous articles and book chapters on the topic. In 2008, Dr. Lucker co-authored the book, "Don't You Get It? Living With Auditory Learning Disabilities: A Guide for Parents and Professionals." Dr. Lucker is involved in on-going research to help obtain a better understanding of what are APDs as well as how we assess and treat specific APDs. He is president, co-found, and chair of the board of the National Coalition on Auditory Processing Disorders (NCAPD, www.ncapd.org). He provides full diagnostic assessments for children, adolescents and adults for APD and language processing problems.