Faculty

Amy Coha, LCSW

Amy retired from the University of New England School of Social Work where she was employed for twenty-one years as a Clinical Professor and Director of the MSW Field Education.  Her social work experience includes working with individuals with mental illness and survivors of Intimate Partner Violence.  Coha was Associate Director of the Domestic Violence Project/SAFE House in Ann Arbor, Michigan for 15 years.  In that capacity she was responsible for the shelter program, developed a counseling program for survivors of battering, provided expert testimony on IPV/DV in criminal and civil court cases, and was a subject matter expert for the Michigan Law Enforcement Training Council (MLEOTC). She also provided trainings to law enforcement, judges, probation officers, and magistrates. She continues to provide Expert Witness testimony in criminal cases in Michigan. In Maine she has presented workshops and seminars on intimate partner violence at the Sweetser Training Institute and at a number of agencies throughout the state.  In 2008 Ellen Ridley of Family Crisis Services and Coha received a grant from the Bingham Foundation exploring the experiences of victims/survivors of abuse/battering when seeking mental health counseling. Coha’s work in the field of Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence has included micro, mezzo and macro practice.

Jeanne Croy, LCSW, CCS

Jeanne (she/her) has over 20 years of experience in mental health, working with children, adolescents and adults in the fields of mental health, substance abuse, child welfare, and forensic interviewing and evaluations. She was awarded two fellowships at the Yale School of Medicine as a Psychiatric Social Work Fellow and Zigler Fellow and is a former faculty member at the Yale Child Study Center. She has specialized training in a range of therapeutic modalities, including evidence-based treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and other concerns. She is currently in private practice in Springvale, Maine.

Shayne Croy, LCSW, LADC

Shayne (he/him) has over 20 years of experience in mental health, including extensive work with high-risk adolescents. He received his Master’s in Social Work from University of Connecticut, an internationally leading program in the field. He is trained and certified in a number of recognized, evidence-based modalities for substance use, trauma, anger and aggression, depression, issues of gender and sexuality, and other challenging life issues. He has received specialized training and supervision in Brief Strategic Family Therapy under Olga Hervis, one of the model’s developers, and the Duluth Model in domestic violence interventions.    He is currently in private practice in Springvale, Maine. 

Jessica Griffin, Psy.D.

Jessica is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), where she has been a faculty member since 2006. Dr. Griffin is a nationally recognized expert in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She has trained and provided consultation for thousands of clinicians across the United States. With funding from SAMHSA/NCTSN in 2012, as Principal Investigator and Executive Director, she developed the UMMS Child Trauma Training Center, with a focus on training, treatment, and resolving access issues for court-involved youth who have experienced trauma; UMMS CTTC was refunded in 2016.

Dr. Griffin is a clinical and forensic psychologist with a specialty in forensic assessment of children and families, particularly with regard to childhood trauma. She has extensive expertise in childhood maltreatment and trauma, relationships, psychological assessment, and divorce and custody matters. Dr. Griffin worked extensively in the UMASS Family Court Clinics, continues to serve as a Guardian ad Litem for the family courts, performing court-ordered evaluations and expert testimony in juvenile, family, and criminal courts. She presents regularly at local, national and international level on topics related to childhood trauma, relationships, TF-CBT, and forensic evaluation of children and families. Dr. Griffin has been featured on NPR, Fox News, the Insider, iHeartRadio, and other media outlets and is the psychological expert on a television docuseries about marriage and divorce, the Seven Year Switch on A&E’s Lifetime’s Television network as well as is a relationship expert on Lifetime Television’s Married at First Sight.

Rob Lagos

Rob has facilitated the Adults with Asperger’s group in Portland, Maine for over 10 years. He is a computer programmer, analyst, and statistician. He is collaborating with Wilma Wake and Eric Endlich, Ph.D., in researching and writing a book on older adults on the spectrum.

Shelby Levesque, LMFT

Shelby has been practicing therapy for 17 years. She was the President of the Maine Association of Marriage & Family Therapy from 2015-2016 and is the Founder of Connections Rising, LLC, who’s mission is teaching social/ emotional/ mental health to the public.

Christine Linnehan, LCPC, BC-DMT, FT

Christine is a licensed clinical professional counselor in private practice in Scarborough, ME. For over 20 years she has specialized in work with grieving children, adolescents, adults, and families. She has been a clinical consultant at the Center for Grieving Children since 2004. Previously, she worked in inpatient and partial hospitalization trauma treatment programs. Drawing from her training as a board-certified dance/movement therapist, she utilizes mind/body strategies in her clinical work designed to promote resilience and wellbeing.

Christine is certified as a Fellow of Thanatology from the Association of Death Education and Counseling and is trained in EMDR from the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). She has received training in Family Therapy at the Family Institute of Cambridge and in Couples Therapy at the Gottman Institute (Level 2). She completed the Suicide Bereavement Clinician Training sponsored by the American Association of Suicidology and the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP). She is active in AFSP Maine and is a facilitator for their annual International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Christine has a special interest in the impact of suicide loss on children and families.

Margaret Norbert, LCSW

Maggie holds a Master of Social Work Degree from Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She is an adjunct professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University and field instructor for master’s level social work students. She has worked within school systems and primary care offices most of her career supporting individuals, families, and children within nonprofit mental health agencies. Her background is in child (Play Therapy) and family work. Maggie is a certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist.

Ann Palozzi, Psy.D.

Dr. Palozzi earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees in education from the University of Maine at Orono. As an educator, Dr. Palozzi worked with children and adolescents addressing a full spectrum of issues and disabilities. She returned to school in Honolulu, Hawaii in the early 1990’s to obtain her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. While in Hawaii, she was exposed to a muticulturally diverse population and worked as a neuropsychologist through 2017. With over 20 years of experience specializing in neuropsychology, Dr. Palozzi currently serves as a private practitioner in southern Maine working with a broad spectrum of clients.

Christie Petrenko, Ph.D.

Dr Christie Petrenko is a clinical psychologist, researcher and Research Associate Professor at Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester. In addition, she holds faculty appointments within the Departments of Psychology and Pediatrics and is the Director of Clinical Training of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program. Dr Petrenko leads a multidisciplinary program on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), specializing in improving treatment for people with FASD by utilizing recent technological advances. Her novel interventions include developing a mobile health application, the Families Moving Forward Connect app. The app aims to increase access to care for people with FASD and their families. Dr Petrenko has multiple clinical trials underway funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). She also runs an FASD Diagnostic and Evaluation Clinic, FASD Intervention Service, and Family Night Support Program in partnership with medical providers at Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr Petrenko provides professional training in FASD diagnosis worldwide through her involvement in multidisciplinary research collaborations with both the World Health Organization and Pan-American Health Organization. She holds leadership roles in the field of FASD, including serving as President of the FASD Study Group, Board member of FASD United (formerly the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), and field editor of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Dr Petrenko leads a multidisciplinary program on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), specializing in improving treatment for people with FASD by utilizing recent technological advances. Her novel interventions include developing a mobile health application, the Families Moving Forward Connect app. The app aims to increase access to care for people with FASD and their families. Dr Petrenko has multiple clinical trials underway funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). She also runs an FASD Diagnostic and Evaluation Clinic, FASD Intervention Service, and Family Night Support Program in partnership with medical providers at Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr Petrenko provides professional training in FASD diagnosis worldwide through her involvement in multidisciplinary research collaborations with both the World Health Organization and Pan-American Health Organization. She holds leadership roles in the field of FASD, including serving as President of the FASD Study Group, Board member of FASD United (formerly the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), and field editor of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Brandy Rogers, LCPC, LADC

Brandy has training primarily in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.  Her ongoing study has been focused on how our body and mind influence each other, the brain, exploring our relationships with substances, relationship with ourselves and others and violence in relationships.

Christine Rogerson, Ph.D.

Dr. Rogerson graduated from Simmons University in 2021 with a Ph.D. in Social Work and in 2007 with her MSW in Social Work from the University of New England. She has over 13 years of clinical experience working with children, young adults, and families with medical and mental health diagnoses as well as those connected to the child welfare system. Her research interest include child welfare, social work education, and social work practice. She is passionate about social inclusion, kindness, and social justice.

Christine Selby, Ph.D., CEDS

Dr. Selby earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Texas in 2000. Prior to that she earned her Master’s Degree in Athletic Counseling from Springfield College in 1994. In 2000, she completed intesive training in psychodynamic psychotherapy during her Pre-Doctoral Internship in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester. In 2001, she took on the role of stay-at-home mom for her sons prior to joining Selby Psychological Services in 2008.

Laura Slap-Shelton, Psy.D.

Laura is a licensed psychologist specializing in neuropsychology who has extensive experience in evaluating children and adults with autism, Asperger’s Disorder, and developmental disorders.

Andrew Sokoloff, LMSW

Andy is the Coordinator of Grief and Bereavement Services at CHANS Home Health & Hospice in Brunswick. He is a graduate of the University of New England School of Social Work and is on the Board of the Maine Hospice Council and Center for End of Life Care. Andy also has a Masters’ in Fine Arts in Theater from Indiana University and later worked at Portland’s Mad Horse Theater for many years before becoming a social worker. He found that the difference between theater and social work was a lot smaller than he initially thought.

Wilma Wake, LCSW

Wilma Wake is an Affiliate with Sweetser working with autistic children, adults, and families and co-author of an upcoming book on spectrum adults over 50.

Ashley Wilock, LICSW, LCSW, CCS

Ashley is an independently licensed Clinical Social Worker in several states and currently provides substance abuse and mental health counseling in outpatient, residential, and MAT program settings. She is a graduate of the State University of New York, University at Albany. Ashley has worked with all ages in a variety of settings in a clinical and supervisory capacity.

Jessica Wozniak, PsyD.

Jessica is a clinical psychologist and the Clinical Research and Development Manager at Baystate Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry in Springfield, MA, and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate (UMMS). In her role she oversees community-based projects, clinical research, and training including oversight of all projects funded by SAMHSA/NCTSN. She is the Director of the Child Advocacy Training and Support Center, a national training and consultation center for Children’s Advocacy Centers.  Additionally, Dr. Wozniak oversaw the development of the One Mission Project which provides coordinated services to child trafficking victims. She is also a leader of the Hampden County Coalition to Identify and Prevent the Sexual Exploitation of Children. Dr. Wozniak is a nationally recognized trainer in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, the most rigorously tested treatment for trauma in children. Additionally, she conducts trainings for community organizations as well as presenting at national and international conferences on topics related to trauma informed practices, vicarious trauma, trauma-informed multidisciplinary teams and sexual exploitation of children.

Nikki Yardy, LCPC, CCTP, EMDR trained

Nikki’s been working in the mental health field since 2009 serving women and high-risk youth in a variety of settings. She’s skilled in treating single incident, complex, and developmental trauma, focusing per private practice on treating women with complex trauma histories. She is the founder and owner of Virago Wellness, a women’s counseling center in Southern Maine and in recovery from complex trauma.