Our Team

Dr. Gonzalez (he/him/his) is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Founding Director of the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Vermont, and he completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He is an expert in cognitive behavioral treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, dialectical behavior therapy, relaxation/mindfulness-based treatments and behavioral medicine. His program of research focuses on understanding the interplay of cognitive, emotional and behavioral health factors that may affect physical and mental health, as well as disease management among chronically ill populations. In addition to his responsibilities with the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center, Dr. Gonzalez is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Dr. Gonzalez' research is funded currently by grants from NASA and NIOSH. He is also a recipient of an award from the NIH Loan Repayment Program (2014-2019).

Dr. Mahaffey (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and completed a clinical internship at the Northport VA Medical Center. She serves as the Center's Operations Manager and directs several of the clinical research studies. She has extensive training in cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness and behavioral medicine. Dr. Mahaffey's research interests are focused on understanding and treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-morbid physical health problems. She also specializes in women's health and the treatment of mood and anxiety problems during and after pregnancy. She was recently awarded a K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (2018-2023) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. She is also a recipient of an award from the NIH Loan Repayment Program (2017-2019).

Dr. Hymowitz (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She has extensive training and experience in behavioral medicine, cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders, acceptance and commitment therapy, and relaxation/mindfulness-based treatments. Her research focuses on investigating biopsychosocial factors related to chronic medical conditions including obesity and gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders. In addition to her work at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center, she is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Surgery at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, and in the Department of Psychology of Stony Brook University. Dr. Hymowitz completed her doctoral training and a post-doctoral fellowship at Stony Brook University and completed a clinical internship at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Cervoni (she/her/hers) is a Psychologist at the Stony Brook University KPC-MBCRC Consortium Program. She graduated from the Clinical Psychology, Health Emphasis program at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. Her clinical training focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders and behavioral medicine. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the MBCRC in consultation liaison psychology. Her research interests include health behavior decision-making, the impact of overweight and obesity on quality of life, and biopsychosocial factors related to obesity and other chronic illnesses.

Dr. Calabrese (he/him/his) received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University at Buffalo, SUNY and completed his pre-doctoral clinical internship at Pacific University in Oregon. He completed post-doctoral training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai in the Mood and Personality Disorder Research Program and practiced as a Licensed Psychologist for Therapists of NY. His research interests primarily focus on improving models and measures of personality disorder and psychosocial functioning. Clinically, Dr. Calabrese works with adults and couples with a variety of internalizing and externalizing problems, including maladaptive personality patterns, anger, substance use, anxiety, and depression. He is also passionate about extending care to underserved populations, and LGBTQ+ individuals and those with non-conforming identities. He integrates across various evidence-based practices, including cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies like CBT, DBT, ACT, Schema Therapy, and Behavioral Activation. He also has experience with integrating spiritual practices, as well as, transpersonal and internal family systems approaches into psychotherapy. Personally, he is passionate about music, playing his djembe and cajon drums, and fostering dogs and neo-natal kittens.

Dr. Levinson (she/her/hers) CV is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center and a clinical assistant professor in the Stony Brook Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. In her clinical work, Dr. Levinson employs cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness/relaxation strategies, and attachment-based parenting therapy. Her research focuses on investigating biopsychosocial factors related to mood and anxiety disorder and parenting behavior, particularly in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Dr. Levinson completed her doctoral training and a post-doctoral fellowship at Stony Brook University.

Dr. Oliva (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist who graduated with her PsyD from Long Island University – Post. She received dual orientation training in both CBT and psychodynamic therapy, with clinical concentrations in DBT and serious mental illness. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship through Stony Brook's Consortium program, splitting her time between the DBT program and the adult psychiatric inpatient unit (10N). She also completed pre-doctoral training at Stony Brook and at Zucker Hillside's OCD and Bipolar Disorder specialty clinics. Clinically, Dr. Oliva works with adults presenting with chronic suicidality, emotion dysregulation, anxiety, complex trauma, perfectionism and neurodiversity. Dr. Oliva provides evidence-based therapy, integrating elements of behavioral treatments (DBT, CBT) and relational styles of therapy (narrative and attachment-focused). Her research focuses on existential themes of grief and mortality. Additionally, she seeks to increase access to quality outpatient care for low-income individuals, minority groups and patients in acute care settings to reduce hospital readmission rates. Personally, she enjoys writing, tie dying, and the ocean.

Dr. Luke Waters has joined the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Outpatient Services. They will be seeing patients in the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center (MB-CRC) Outpatient Department and providing supervision to doctoral-level psychology trainees within the Krasner Psychological Center (KPC). Dr. Waters received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hofstra University and obtained his doctoral degree at Hofstra University's School-Community Psychology program. Dr. Waters comes from Hofstra University Student Counseling Services where they served as Assistant Director of Training and Education, Assistant Director of Outreach & Programming, and served as a clinician to a diverse undergraduate and graduate student body. Dr. Waters has received intensive training in DBT and integration of Prolonged Exposure for PTSD into DBT from Behavior Tech Institute. Dr. Waters' areas of clinical interest include providing tailored, comprehensive care to sexual and gender minorities/LGBTQIA+ individuals and increasing LGBTQIA+ access to quality mental health support. Other areas of expertise include treatment of PTSD with evidence-based modalities, emotion dysregulation, and managing high-risk self-harm and suicidal behaviors.

Dr. Ola Mohamed Ali is a NYS-licensed Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center (MBCRC). Dr. Mohamed Ali provides psychotherapy services across the lifespan, with particular interest in adolescent and young adult mental health. Dr. Mohamed Ali earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Science and Psychopathology from Western University (Canada) with focused research in developmental psychopathology. She completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (Canada) specializing in emerging mental illness in adolescents and young adults and cognitive behavioral approaches for the treatment of psychosis. She pursued postdoctoral training at the Stony Brook University Consortium Postdoctoral Fellowship Program where she received extensive training in Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT) for the treatment of emotion dysregulation and associated high-risk behaviors across the lifespan. Dr. Mohamed Ali is especially passionate about reducing barriers to accessing high-quality mental care and works to empower families as active partners in supporting adolescents' and young adults' well-being.

Caitlyn Strauss (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker who earned her Master's in Social Work from Stony Brook University in 2019. She specializes in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for adolescents and adults and has completed the foundational DBT training through Behavioral Tech, as well as advanced training as a social work resident with the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. Caitlyn provides evidence-based treatment for individuals with severe emotion dysregulation, chronic suicidality, borderline personality disorder, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Her clinical approach is strengths-based and collaborative, emphasizing skill development, problem-solving, and supporting individuals in shaping their environments to promote meaningful and sustainable change. In addition to her clinical work, Caitlyn supervises social work interns, supporting their growth and development in evidence-based clinical practice. Outside of her professional role, she enjoys reading, traveling, and engaging in physically challenging outdoor activities.

Olivia McLeron is the Lab Research Coordinator at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Behavior from Vassar College and her master’s degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University. Her research interests include the development and refinement of mental health interventions, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), ADHD, women’s health, and improving access to care by reducing barriers to treatment. Olivia supports the coordination and implementation of clinical research across all MBCRC projects. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with her cat, playing video games, and antiquing.

Dr. Hotary (he/him) earned his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University - Post Campus in Brookville, New York. He completed his predoctoral internship at the Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, New York. His research interests focus on mechanisms of behavior change and applying learning-based principles across diverse clinical populations. Dr. Hotary has experience working with children and adults in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. He specializes in patient-centered, evidence-based care, drawing from approaches including CBT, DBT, and ACT. Dr. Hotary currently works with adults in inpatient and outpatient settings within Stony Brook University Hospital. He is passionate about helping patients navigate complex psychological and health-related challenges while building meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Dr. Sally Cole (she/her) earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University and completed her predoctoral internship at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Her clinical interests include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mood and anxiety disorders, PTSD, and comorbid medical conditions. Her research has focused on how psychophysiological measures of performance monitoring relate to the development of anxiety disorders and depression. She currently provides individual and group therapy using evidence-based treatments, including DBT and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Dr. Singh (she/her) earned her PsyD from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed her predoctoral internship in community mental health at CARES in Manhattan, New York.

Dr. Singh’s clinical interests include youth internalizing disorders, health psychology and chronic illness, school psychology, and consultation. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults across a variety of clinical settings. Dr. Singh prioritizes patient-centered and holistic care and provides interventions informed by various evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the biopsychosocial framework, mindfulness-based interventions, applied behavior analysis (ABA), and motivational interviewing.

Dr. Singh currently works with patients across the lifespan in both outpatient and inpatient settings within Stony Brook University Hospital. Her work includes providing brief interventions, consultation-liaison psychiatry, as well as conducting diagnostic assessments for children and adolescents. She is passionate about supporting individuals as they work toward their emotional and behavioral goals, helping them understand themselves through psychoeducation and coping with the emotional and psychological impacts of various conditions, including chronic illness. Dr. Singh takes a compassionate, holistic approach that considers each person’s unique experiences and needs.

Carey (she/her) is a Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Mississippi. She is an Intern on the Child Track within the SBU-CIP. Carey's clinical and research interests center on emotion regulation, and health risk behaviors. Within her clinical work she focused on evidence-based approaches including DBT and CBT for a wide range of presenting concerns.

Alison (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology at Stony Brook University. She works with adults experiencing emotion dysregulation, depression, and anxiety, and has a particular interest in supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community. In her research, Alison uses longitudinal data to study how depression emerges and unfolds over time, and how life stress and underlying vulnerabilities contribute to the development and chronicity of depression.

Irene (she/her) is a Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology at Pennsylvania State University. Her clinical interests include CBT and related evidence-based approaches, with particular interests in anxiety and mood disorders and emotion regulation. Her research focuses on mechanisms underlying anxiety and depression and on leveraging digital technologies to better understand these processes and improve mental health care access and outcomes.

Victoria (she/her) is interested in working with adolescents and adults with eating disorders, emotion dysregulation, self-injurious behaviors, suicidality, personality and mood disorders. Her research interests involve personalizing eating disorder treatments to enhance their efficacy given the high heterogeneity of symptoms among individuals.

I am a fourth year clinical psychology Ph.D. candidate at Stony Brook University working in Brady Nelson's lab. My research and clinical interests are in SMI populations, particularly psychotic disorders.

Navy (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology at Stony Brook University. She works with adults experiencing emotion dysregulation, anxiety, and trauma, and has a particular interest in working with members of the LGBTQ community. Her research centers around barriers (e.g., biphobia, identity invisibility) to group belonging, romantic relationship satisfaction, and mental health in bi+ (e.g., bisexual, pansexual, queer) populations.

Victoria (she/her/hers) is interested in working with adolescents and adults with eating disorders, emotion dysregulation, self-injurious behaviors, suicidality, personality and mood disorders. Her research interests involve personalizing eating disorder treatments to enhance their efficacy given the high heterogeneity of symptoms among individuals.

Grayson (they/she) is a Psychology and Anthropology student, graduating in December. They are passionate about increasing access to mental health care for high-risk populations and aims to earn their PhD in Clinical/Counseling Psychology in the future. In addition to being a Research Assistant at MB-CRC, Grayson is the Operations Manager at a NYC-based private practice and a Volunteer Crisis Counselor.