Affiliated Therapists
The therapists at the Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy include psychologists, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical externs. Each of them has different areas of expertise and training backgrounds.
Lindsey Pappalardo, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Pappalardo specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including health anxiety, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety), depression, OCD, and trauma-related concerns. She also treats chronic insomnia, trichotillomania, dermatillomania and substance use issues. She has a particular interest in supporting clients through navigating career changes or retirement. She works with adults of all ages and tailors evidence-based treatment to each client’s unique needs through a collaborative approach. In addition to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) Dr. Pappalardo also has expertise in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Grace Anderson, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Anderson specializes in the treatment of adults and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, panic attacks, and health anxiety), body-focused repetitive behaviors, insomnia, mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder), and borderline personality disorder. She has particular expertise in working with individuals navigating concerns such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviors. She also frequently works with clients struggling with perfectionism and self-critical tendencies.
Rachel Chang, Psy.D.
Psychologist
Dr. Chang specializes in treating adults experiencing depression, insomnia, anxiety problems including social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, intrusive thoughts, health anxiety, procrastination, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She also treats trichotillomania, skin picking, emotion regulation difficulties, relationship problems, and eating disorders. Dr. Chang has extensive experience in providing evidence-based CBT treatments such as Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD. She regularly integrates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness-based interventions into her work. She has expertise working with individuals with relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and people-pleasing tendencies. Her clients appreciate her warm and genuine manner and her emphasis on their individual goals, values, and needs.
Anna Womack, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Dr. Womack has a strong foundation in applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) treatments to a variety of concerns, including insomnia, anxiety disorders (including social anxiety, health anxiety, OCD, and panic attacks) and mood disorders. Dr. Womack specializes in career counseling; she helps people who are considering or navigating career changes, coping with workplace stress, and seeking work-life balance.
Justin Arocho, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Dr. Arocho specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with anxiety disorders (including panic attacks/disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder/worry, phobias, and social anxiety disorder), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, insomnia, illness/health anxiety and body-focused repetitive behaviors (including trichotillomania and skin picking). He also has expertise working with individuals with a history of vasovagal syncope, perfectionism, and low self-esteem. His approach to therapy is encouraging and collaborative, and he employs a broad range of evidence-based treatments including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), and Habit Reversal Training (HRT), among others. He is fluent in Spanish and is highly experienced in working with LGBTQ and ethnic minority individuals.
Jenny Choi, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Dr. Choi specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks), depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related issues, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (including trichotillomania and skin picking). She also has expertise working with individuals who struggle with self-esteem, fear of failure, perfectionism, and procrastination. She works with teens and adults using a warm, collaborative approach. She provides culturally sensitive treatment. Dr. Choi has extensive experience providing integrative evidence-based interventions, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and mindfulness-based approaches.
Amoha Bajaj-Mahajan, Ph.D. (“Dr. Bajaj”)
Psychologist
Dr. Bajaj is an expert in the area of stress and health in adults, especially as it relates to depression, anxiety, and adjustment to medical illness. She specializes in the treatment and management of insomnia, depression, anxiety, OCD, chronic pain, smoking cessation, women’s health and intimacy, and adjustment to medical illnesses. In addition to these areas, Dr. Bajaj has experience helping those who struggle with perfectionism, rumination or negative thinking, low self-esteem, and other emotional difficulties. Dr. Bajaj has training and experience with Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and mindfulness-based interventions. Her clients have commented on her warm, genuine, and collaborative approach as she tailors treatment to each individual’s needs.
Austin Harrison, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Dr. Harrison specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with mood and anxiety disorders — namely, depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorder and agoraphobia, social anxiety, health anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He also has a particular interest in working with individuals pursuing creative endeavors who struggle with procrastination, productivity blocks, fear, and self-doubt. Dr. Harrison has training in a broad range of evidence-based interventions, including behavioral activation, exposure and response prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), CBT for insomnia, and mindfulness-based approaches.
Hannah Jerushalmy, Psy.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Jerushalmy specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks), depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, eating disorders and body-image concerns, and trauma-related issues. She utilizes a range of evidence-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients manage difficult emotions, break free from negative patterns, and identify and achieve their goals.
Michelle Pavony, Ph.D.
Psychologist
September 2025: Dr. Pavony is not currently accepting new patients.
Dr. Pavony specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of depression, OCD and other anxiety disorders, and is certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. She utilizes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to address eating disorders, social phobias, and interpersonal conflicts. She takes an individually-tailored and collaborative approach in her work with adolescents, adults, and couples, and has further clinical interests in life transitions and identity struggles.
Haley Ward
Extern
Ms. Ward holds a B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College. Her current research at Fordham focuses on the transdiagnostic factors underlying OCD and anxiety disorders, such as intolerance of uncertainty and perfectionism.
Maya Goldman
Extern
Ms. Goldman is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University. She works with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, significant life stressors (including illness and loss), interpersonal challenges, and related difficulties. She also helps people struggling with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), social anxiety, health anxiety, insomnia, and difficulties with emotion regulation.
Prior to joining MCCBT, Ms. Goldman trained at the Fordham Community Mental Health Clinic (FCMHC) where she received training in trauma-focused therapy. Before starting her doctoral work, Ms. Goldman worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, researching different psychotherapeutic interventions for cancer patients and family caregivers. Ms. Goldman holds a B.F.A. from New York University, where she double majored in Psychology and Drama. Her current research at Fordham focuses on helping emerging adults and family caregivers cope with illness-related distress.
Reed Morgan, M.A.
Extern
Mr. Morgan is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University. He works with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD, and related difficulties. Before joining MCCBT, Mr. Morgan trained at Fordham University’s Counseling and Psychological Services, where he provided individual therapy and walk-in crisis services to Fordham’s undergraduate and graduate students. Prior to that, he trained at the Fordham Community Mental Health Clinic, where he offered individual therapy to adults in the Bronx. Before beginning graduate school, Mr. Morgan worked as a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager at Loyola Marymount University in the HeadsUP! Lab. There, he conducted research on risky drinking among college students and sexual minority women and helped develop gamified tech-based interventions to reduce alcohol use.
Mr. Morgan holds a B.A. in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and will soon hold an M.A. in Psychology from Fordham University (expected August 2025). His current research at Fordham focuses on the role of emotional reactivity in generalized anxiety disorder and non-suicidal self-injury.
Paul B. Greene, Ph.D.
Director
Dr. Greene is an expert in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), OCD, depression, overeating, panic attacks, health anxiety, and the applications of mindfulness and meditation in the treatment of anxiety. He specializes in helping survivors of rape, assault, and accidents who develop posttraumatic anxiety. He has training in the use of exposure and response prevention, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia. He is also certified in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
