Meet Our Staff
Clinical Staff
Our team is committed and dedicated to helping you or your child or teen overcome Selective Mutism.
President and Director
Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum (“Dr. E”) is the President and Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety & Related Disorders and Treatment Center (SMart Center) located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the founder of the intensive group treatment program, CommuniCamp™. She is President of the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI), which is a foundation started to study her theories and treatment methodologies on Selective Mutism. Dr. E is the Founder & Director Emeritus of the Selective Mutism Association (SMA).
Dr. Shipon-Blum has developed the evidenced-based therapy, Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® or (S-CAT)® from her years evaluating, treating & researching individuals with Selective Mutism.
Dr. Shipon-Blum has her own podcast, Unspoken Words, where she shares her 30+ years of experience.
In addition, Dr E has written numerous articles, books, webinars on Selective Mutism. Vist our resource page.
Dr. Shipon-Blum has treated countless children from around the world, lectures throughout the country on the topic of Selective Mutism, performs school evaluations and trainings for treating professionals, educators & parents and is considered one of the world’s leading experts in the treatment and understanding of Selective Mutism.
Dr. E has been a featured expert within the media. She has appeared in national television shows such as 20/20, CNN, Inside Edition, Good Morning America as well as other local/national and international TV and Radio broadcasts. She has been featured in TIME Magazine, People Magazine and has interviewed with newspapers such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, San Diego Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Palm Beach Post and other media publications throughout the world. Dr. Shipon-Blum prides herself on being “down to earth.” She resides with her family in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Socializing with friends and family
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 🥰
- Favorite Season: Spring because of the longer days, cooler weather, and opportunities to enjoy OUTSIDE
- Best career advice: “Go in the direction of your passion and interests. Success is not linear; it takes grit and determination. When you ‘fall’ get back up and keep going. Never ever think that you can’t…..because you CAN!”
- “I hope to help children, teens, and adults find their voices! To change a life for the positive!”
Lead Clinical Counselor & School Consultant
Jennifer Brittingham is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who completed her Masters degree in the Clinical Counseling Psychology Program at Arcadia University. Jennifer has been a team member of the Smart Center since 2005. She conducts S-CAT® Program evaluations and treatment to families, S-CAT® Parent coaching and training sessions to families across the country and abroad, and provides school consultation and training to school districts and other organizations both on-site and via web workshops. Jennifer graduated from Arcadia University with her M.A. in Clinical Counseling Psychology in 2008 and was a Pennsylvania Counseling Association Graduate Leader from 2007 to 2008. Prior to her work at the SMart Center, Jennifer has worked as a case manager for children with intellectual disabilities, elementary school special education resource assistant, and as both a college counselor, as well as a college drug and alcohol counselor and support group leader.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Being outdoors at the beach, riding bikes, & walking with her family and dog
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 🤩
- Favorite Season: Summer because of beach and pool weather!
- Best career advice: “Be intentional to find balance. This doesn’t mean balance will look the same all of the time. Sometimes you will work harder & longer at times in your life, but that is not sustainable in the long term. Be willing to pause and know when those times are necessary and be intentional to pull back when needed. There are many seasons of life. Be willing to be flexible in how you create balance within each season.”
- “My desire is to help families, individuals, and schools to feel hopeful and feel less ‘stuck’. Change can be overwhelming and I want to journey alongside others to help reduce that feeling and give them tangible strategies that bring about change!”
Director of Clinical Training
Dr. William La Valle earned an MA in Psychology from West Chester University, and an MS and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania.
Dr. La Valle works as the Director of Clinical Training at the SMart center and SMRI. He is also the Director or Clinical Training and Psychological Services at Intercommunity Action, Inc., a non-profit community mental health agency in Philadelphia. Dr. La Valle oversees the doctoral internship/externship and Master’s training programs. He also oversees the assessment/testing department to conduct Autism assessments (using the ADOS-2), ADHD evaluation, and full-battery psycho-educational assessments. He also supervises and conducts assessments for school-aged children and teenagers to help provide diagnostic clarity and determine medical necessarily of treatment services. His specialties include assessing and treating Autism Spectrum Disorder & ADHD, CBT for anxiety/depression, and trauma- focused interventions. He is formally trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Motivational interviewing.
Dr. La Valle also teaches in the clinical psychology doctoral program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine as well as in the Master’ s psychology program at Southern New Hampshire University. Dr. La Valle serves on multiple mental health boards in the tri-state area and regularly conducts presentations, advocating for the psychology profession. He has been the receipt of PCOM’s Provost Award and APA’s Honorable Mention for Early Career Psychologist.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Coaching youth travel soccer
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 😂
- Favorite Season: Summer because his family LOVES the beach
- Best Career Advice: “Embrace every opportunity and experience. You will get out what you put in. Most importantly, make sure you are doing what you love!”
- “I hope to continue teaching and supervising students so that they can practice independently and autonomously.”
Lead Clinician / CommuniCamp Counselor Director
Dr. Jenna Blum received her Doctor of Psychology from Chestnut Hill College’s Psy.D. Program. She also received her Master of Science from Chestnut Hill College in August 2020. Prior to graduate school, she received a B.A. at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA in 2018 where she majored in Psychology and minored in Creative Writing.
Dr. Jenna holds many titles at the SMart Center. Not only is she a Lead Clinician, but she is also the Supervisor and Director of CommuniCamp Counselors.
Dr. Jenna has experience working with children, teens and adults with a wide array of acute and chronic mental illness, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, autism and learning challenges. She also co-facilitated anxiety and depression groups for children and adolescent groups and has administered full-battery psychological assessments including autism spectrum disorder (ADOS). She also co-created virtual CommuniCamp which is modeled after SMart Center’s popular in-person intensive group treatment and parent education program, CommuniCamp.
Dr. Jenna is certified in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Second Edition (ADOS-2), the Trauma Recovery Empowerment Model (TREM) – a weekly intervention for women with trauma – Jenna is trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) – an intervention to treat children between ages 2 and 7 with disruptive behavior problems. Overall, Dr. Jenna’s academic training has been grounded in the use of Psychodynamic Therapy and Family Systems practice but also implements Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Hanging out with friends and family, reading, and working out
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: ❤️
- Favorite Season: Fall because it is a very festive time of the year and she loves being cozy
- Best Career Advice: “Reach for the stars and keep going until you are at the highest pinnacle. You should be a horse with blinders and ignore all the negative commentary along the way.”
- “I hope to help individuals and families reach their full potential and to supervise doctoral and master level clinicians so that they positively impact the individuals and families they work with.”
Learn more about Dr. Jenna now with our Unspoken Words episode “Introducing Jenna Blum, PsyD!”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Jaspriya Malhotra, is a doctoral student at Immaculata University studying Clinical Psychology. She has completed her Bachelor’s in Psychological and Social Sciences as well as her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Throughout her educational career, Jaspriya has taken part in many psychological research studies. She is best known for her research; the relationship between self-esteem and social media. Jaspriya received the honor to present her research findings at the 2018 MPA Conference in Chicago, IL. Jaspriya’s passion for psychology has led her to travel to Scotland, UK where she worked alongside local students to learn about the psychology of video gaming. One of Jaspriya’s future goals is to become an expert in the field of infant and child psychology. For fun, she likes to travel, run half-marathons, and spend time with family.
At the SMart Center, Jaspriya consults with families and treats individuals with Selective Mutism and an array of mental health disorders. In addition, Jaspriya facilitates virtual group sessions and is a lead CommuniCamp counselor.
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Francisco Muñoz is currently a Clinical Psychology doctoral student at La Salle University’s Psy.D. program. He earned his B.S. in Psychology at William Paterson University and M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University. Francisco has worked with children, adolescents, and young adults with autism throughout his academic career in both school and home-based settings, with treatment often via Play Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis. Francisco has also been fortunate enough to work with children with Selective Mutism by participating as a counselor in summer camps at the Child Mind Institute and Kurtz Psychology. In terms of research interests, Francisco is interested in the potential impact bilingualism can have on those diagnosed with selective mutism.
At the SMart Center, Francisco consults with families and treats individuals with Selective Mutism and an array of mental health disorders. In addition, Francisco performs testing/assessments, including Autism Spectrum Disorder testing, and leads support and treatment groups, such as, CommuniCamp.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Traveling and going out to eat
- Favorite Pet: Cat
- Favorite Emoji: 🙄
- Favorite Season: Fall
- “I hope to continue to work with the SM population via S-CAT and PCIT-SM.”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Alexis Trakhtorchuk is a master’s level clinician who graduated from New York University, earning a B.A. in Psychology. She is currently pursuing her Psy.D. degree in Clinical Psychology at La Salle University, and plans to concentrate in Child Clinical Psychology. Prior to beginning her doctoral program, she worked as a head clinical coordinator at the NYU Child Study Center, where she worked on psychological assessments and treatment group facilitation. Her research interests involve emotional regulation difficulties of children with a variety of anxiety disorders, as well as emotion regulation in children with eating disorders which she currently studies in the Timko Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Alexis’s clinical interests include children and adolescents with anxiety disorders, depression, and ADHD. She is particularly passionate about early intervention and pediatric primary care. Alexis is a lead support clinician and consults with families and treats individuals with Selective Mutism and an array of mental health disorders. In addition, Alexis facilitates groups, both in person and virtually at the SMart Center. She is also a CommuniCamp counselor for the 4 day and 1 day for in-person and virtual programs.
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Ashley Grant is a master’s level clinician and doctoral student in Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Chestnut Hill College and her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Her clinical experience includes working with children, adolescents, adults, and families in outpatient, state-funded trauma centers. She has worked in victim’s rights, providing TF-CBT, an evidence-based treatment for children who experienced trauma, to survivors of physical and sexual crimes. She has also run group therapy programs for child perpetrators of sexual crimes and their families, working to reduce recidivism rates and prevent reoffending. Her advocacy work includes increasing access to mental health care for LGBTQ+ individuals and modernizing grief work in therapeutic settings. She is particularly passionate about pediatric mental health and early intervention services for those with various psychological concerns. For fun, she enjoys reading, playing with her dog, and exploring all of the sites and sounds of Philadelphia.
At the SMart Center, Ashley consults with families and treats individuals with Selective Mutism and various mental health disorders. In addition, Ashley performs testing/assessments, including Autism Spectrum Disorder testing, and leads support and treatment groups, such as, CommuniCamp.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Traveling to other parts of the country/world and seeing all that Earth has to offer (and trying all the food along the way)
- Favorite Pet: Dogs and cats
- Favorite Emoji: 🫠
- Favorite Season: Summer because she loves going to the beach or sitting by a pool
- Best Career Advice: “When you find something you’re passionate about, whether big or small, take it and run with it. If it sticks out to you, odds are it sticks out to others, and your passion will resonate with other people too. Don’t give up on opportunities or dreams just because they’re hard, but rather use that to motivate you toward something BIG.”
- “In working with my kids and teens with Selective Mutism, I aim to provide space to not only work on their social communication challenges but also work with my patients to create a life that fulfills them in all domains. I hope to be able to provide a safe and inclusive space for people of all origins and identities. I pride myself on providing a safe therapeutic space for LGBTQIA+ identifying folks, and want to continue to work on advocating for those communities in the future. My ultimate goal is to one day create a dedicated space focusing on grief and bereavement, giving kids, teens, and adults who have experienced a death a space to process their loss and find ways to honor, acknowledge, and remember their person.”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Claudia Hyman is currently a doctoral student in La Salle University’s Clinical Psychology Psy.D program with a Masters in Child Study and Human Development from Tufts University. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Miami in 2020. Claudia’s interdisciplinary background has given her experience working with children and adolescents in a range of clinical and educational settings with varying needs and diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and social phobia. During her time at Tufts University, Claudia worked in Boston Medical Center’s Autism Program where she worked as a coordinator for their adolescent peer mentorship program and wrote her capstone paper on the need for resources that provide support for adolescents on the spectrum wanting to navigate romantic relationships. Claudia is interested in the treatment and assessment of anxiety disorders and autism spectrum disorder, as well as applying a holistic and developmentally sensitive approach to therapy.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Trying new restaurants in Philly!
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 🙂
- Favorite Season: Fall so she can wear all her favorite sweaters and drink apple cider
- Best career advice: “If you don’t ask, you don’t get!”
- “I hope to provide a safe space for children and teens to learn more about themselves through therapy. I want to empower my clients to feel comfortable discussing challenging topics while also recognizing their strengths.”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Agata Kopacz, M.A. M.S. is a doctoral trainee enrolled in the Psy.D. program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). She earned her master’s degree in counseling for mental health and wellness from New York University and master’s degree in clinical psychology from PCOM. She has experience in providing individual, couples, family, and group therapy services to address a wide range of mental health issues. Agata has experience in conducting psychological assessments and providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. Agata believes that building a strong and healthy therapeutic alliance is one of the most important aspects of therapy. She offers a warm and safe space to allow her clients to freely explore their concerns. She works with her clients using evidence-based treatments to help them achieve their therapeutic goals.
At the SMart Center, Agata works with both families and individuals presenting with Selective Mutism and other various mental health disorders and has participated in many CommuniCamps™ as a counselor.
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Emily Israel M.S. is a third-year doctoral student in Chestnut Hill College’s Psy.D. Program. Prior to graduate school, she received a B.A. at University of Maryland in 2020 where she majored in Psychology.
Emily has worked as a co-lead counselor at several CommuniCamp™ programs at the SMart Center over the years. Emily has experience working with children, teens, and adults with a wide array of acute and chronic mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, autism, schizophrenia, trauma, ADHD, and learning challenges. She also has administered full-battery psychological assessments including Autism Evaluations utilizing the ADOS-2.
Emily has worked with young children and adolescents in a school, private practice, inpatient hospital and in-home settings. She has provided behavioral services such as ABA within a specialized school, as well as other behavioral forms of treatment in various settings. She bases her treatment approaches off the needs of the individual, their goals, parent goals (when working with a child), and focuses on a holistic approach of integrating parents or people within one’s support system. She works collaboratively with the individual and their support system to ensure optimal support by all care providers.
Overall, Emily’s academic training has been grounded in the use of Psychodynamic Therapy and Family Systems practice, but Emily utilizes an integrated approach that often pulls from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as her main priority is to meet the needs of individual she treats.
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Natalie Weaver, M.S., is a fourth-year doctoral student at Chestnut Hill College in the clinical Psy.D. program. She earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia and her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Leadership Studies at Widener University. Natalie has worked as a co-lead counselor at multiple CommuniCamp programs at the SMart Center over the past two years.
Natalie has experience working in a variety of clinical settings. She has worked in various clinical outpatient and community mental health settings. She has worked with diverse populations with a range of presenting problems and diagnoses, such as trauma, mood disorders, addiction, personality disorders, and more. She believes that the first step in therapy involves fostering a nonjudgmental, safe space for individuals to share and process their thoughts and feelings, to help foster the perfect environment for growth. She believes in meeting each person where they are at and working at a pace that is unique to each individual. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her multiple pets, rescuing animals, boxing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
At the SMart Center, Natalie works with both families and individuals presenting with Selective Mutism and other various mental health disorders. Natalie also conducts assessments for an array of presenting problems, such as Selective Mutism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and more.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Traveling and spending time with her family and 13 pets
- Favorite Pet: Loves all animals
- Favorite Emoji: 🥺
- Favorite Season: Fall and winter because of the leaves changing and the weather
- Best career advice: “Surround yourself with people who support you and believe in you, but also believe in yourself.”
- “I hope to grow as a clinician, while also helping my clients grow. I hope to expand my skills while utilizing the skills to then help my clients. My ultimate goal is to help people. I am interested in therapy services, assessment services, and also the research side of everything. I hope to be able to help increase my clients comfort in the room to then help further increase their comfort in communication.”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Victoria Stavropoulos is currently a doctoral student at La Salle University’s Psy.D. Program with a concentration in Clinical Child Psychology. Prior to graduate school, she received a B.S. at Drexel University in 2022, where she majored in Psychological and Brain Sciences and minored in Fine Arts.
Victoria has experience working with children, adolescents, and their families in both research and clinical settings. She participated in the Incredible Years Program, where she fostered children’s emotional, behavioral, and social skills development at an elementary school through classroom activities and fun puppet skits. Victoria also has experience working with children, adults, and families as a clinic coordinator at Drexel Psychological Services Center and the Drexel University Individual, Couple, and Family Therapy (DUCFT) Clinic.
Victoria believes that mental health services should be accessible to everyone. She is passionate about providing a safe space and holistic approach in therapy to promote healing and growth. At the SMart Center, Victora works with both families and individuals presenting with Selective Mutism and other various mental health disorders and participates in CommuniCamp™ as a counselor.
Her favorite hobbies outside of work include playing video games, reading, running, painting, watching tv, and snuggling with her cats! Victoria loves dogs and cats and prefers autumn because of Halloween and the leaves changing color. The best career advice she’s received is “Look out the other’s window. Try to see the world as your patient sees it.” She hopes to learn from her clients and help them grow!
- Current Favorite Hobby: Playing video games, reading, running, painting, watching tv, and snuggling with her cats
- Favorite Pet: Dogs & cats
- Favorite Emoji: 🦔
- Favorite Season: Fall because of Halloween and changing leaves
- Best career advice: “Look out the other’s window. Try to see the world as your patient sees it.”
- “I hope to learn from my clients and watch them grow :)”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Marie Wiliszewski, MA is a doctoral student at working towards her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at Immaculata University. She attended Rowan University where she earned her BA in Psychology and her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Marie has experience working with children, adolescents and their families who experience a range in symptoms. She creates a safe and positive space for her clients by incorporating empathy and genuineness into the sessions. Utilizing evidence based treatment, Marie allows for creative and expressive outlets for her clients harmonized with practical, useful, and effective skill-building interventions. Marie’s approach is client-centered, supportive, strength-based, and empowering. She works side by side with clients to find their voice.
At the SMart Center, Marie works with both families and individuals presenting with Selective Mutism and other various mental health disorders and participates in CommuniCamp™ as a counselor.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Spending time with her rescued beagles and family
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 🦋
- Favorite Season: Fall and winter because of the leaves changing and the weather
- Best career advice: “Always consult with a treatment team or consultation peers.”
- “I am hoping to be able to create a safe space with my clients so that they can make progress, as well as being able to gain the skills to make progress that they can apply to their daily lives.”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Maya Bauer is pursuing her doctoral degree in La Salle University’s Psy.D. program. She has a Bachelor of Science in developmental psychology with a minor in psychology and family therapy from the University of Minnesota. She holds a Master’s in social work from the University of Chicago. Maya has worked with children and adolescents of different ages, providing therapy to individuals, groups, and families in various settings, from inpatient to outpatient. She has worked with children and adolescents with diverse diagnoses, including anxiety, mood, and trauma disorders.
Maya’s research interests include peripartum mental health and well-being, parent-child interaction behaviors, and the impact of these interactions on the well-being and functioning of the child and their caregiver. Her clinical interests include working with children and adolescents diagnosed with selective mutism, anxiety, and trauma & stressor-related disorders. She is also passionate about working alongside parents and caregivers to support their children in the best way possible. At the SMart Center, Maya works with both families and individuals presenting with Selective Mutism and other various mental health disorders and has participated in many CommuniCamps™ as a counselor.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Spending time outside, journaling, and exploring new coffee shops in the city
- Favorite Pet: Dogs and cats
- Favorite Emoji: 😎
- Favorite Season: Fall because of the weather, wearing her favorite sweaters, going apple picking with friends, and enjoying pumpkin baked goods
- Best career advice: “Foster your curiosity and embrace lifelong learning! Each day can lead to new understandings and discoveries. Curiosity can lead you to your passions and help you continuously expand your knowledge and skills.”
- “I aim to empower individuals and families affected by selective mutism and other mental health conditions by providing them with the tools and strategies necessary to live to their fullest potential, enabling them to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives. I also hope to raise awareness in the community and advocate for a better understanding of selective mutism.”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Kathryn McPhillips is currently a doctoral student in the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University and her Masters in Experimental Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University. Her Master’s thesis focused on affective forecasting accuracy, emotion regulation, and anxiety and combined both of her research and clinical interests. Kathryn’s experimental background provides her with the critical thinking skills needed when evaluating the best evidence-based treatments and applying those evidence-based treatments in a clinical practice.
She has worked with children her whole life, with her most recent experience being in a school setting. She also has clinical experience as a mental health technician at a pediatric inpatient psychiatric hospital, where she worked with children and adolescents who presented with aggression, emotion regulation difficulties, suicidal ideation, and psychosis. At the SMart Center, Kathryn works with both families and individuals presenting with Selective Mutism and other various mental health disorders and participates in many CommuniCamp™ as a counselor.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Watching Philly sports, listening to music, going on walks, and cooking
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 🥺
- Favorite Season: Fall because of football, the cooler weather, and changing leaves
- Best career advice: “Be a lifelong learner, always ask questions, and go outside your comfort zone, because that is when you learn.”
- “I hope to always see the whole individual through treatment. Treatment for any psychological condition is not a one-size-fits-all all. Therefore, I want to conceptualize each client to the best of my ability and create and implement a treatment plan that will be effective for them, based on their background and history. I hope to help individuals grow through their most vulnerable moments and to make meaningful connections with all of my clients.”
Clinician / Doctoral Trainee
Ilana Weinstein is a Clinical Psychology Psy.D. student at La Salle University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University at Albany. Ilana has gained valuable experience working with children, adolescents, and their families from diverse backgrounds. The individuals she has worked with have had various diagnoses, such as anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Moreover, Ilana has provided an array of treatment modalities which have occurred in a multitude of settings, including schools, homes, and private practices.
Her clinical interests lie in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric mental health disorders and developmental conditions. Ilana is especially passionate about early intervention programs and individualized care. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, playing with dogs, and listening to music. At the SMart Center, Ilana works with both families and individuals presenting with Selective Mutism and other various mental health disorders and has participated in many CommuniCamps™ as a counselor.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Journaling, listening to music, building LEGO, watching Disney movies, and playing with dogs
- Favorite Pet: Loves all animals
- Favorite Emoji: 🧸
- Favorite Season: Winter because of the fun activities like tubing and building snowmen
- Best career advice: “Once you find a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
- “During my career in the mental health/selective mutism space, I hope to create a safe space for individuals who are struggling. I want my clients to feel comfortable and supported during their journey. I also desire to help my clients feel motivated and optimistic about their futures.”
Administrative Staff
Lead Clinical Care Coordinator / Office Manager
Laura Bansemer is a valuable member of the SMart Center Support and the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI) Team. Laura earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Muhlenberg College graduating magna cum laude and phi beta kappa. With over 10 years of customer service experience, Laura was previously a weight loss counselor and then a call center director.
Her favorite hobbies outside of work include walking her dogs, Bonnie and Percy, and puzzling! Laura loves dogs and prefers fall because of the cooler weather and leaves changing color. The best career advice she’s received is “People don’t leave companies. They leave people. How you treat those you work with and how you interact with clients makes a big difference.” Laura hopes to make things a little easier/brighter for someone else especially when they are dealing with something challenging even if it’s through a brief interaction.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Walking her dogs, Bonnie and Percy, and puzzling
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 😍
- Favorite Season: Fall because of cooler weather and the leaves changing
- Best career advice: “People don’t leave companies. They leave people. How you treat those you work with and how you interact with clients makes a big difference.”
- “If I can make things a little easier/brighter for someone else especially when they are dealing with something challenging even if it’s through a brief interaction that’s my goal.”
CommuniCamp Director / Clinical Care Coordinator
LisaMarie Vargas was born and raised in Morristown, NJ and is the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants. She is a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor in science from Temple University. After graduating, she fell into, and fell in love with, a career in marketing and events. She is a seasoned event professional who brings her experience from various industries, including, but not limited, to sports, food, and tourism, to the SMart Center. LisaMarie has worked with popular public figures such as Serena Williams, Mike Tyson, Snoop Dogg, Allen Iverson, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, and many others. She is a pro at creating unique events that leave a lasting impression by combining new trends and unmatched hospitality. At the SMart Center, you will find LisaMarie organizing CommuniCamp plans, building out other SMart Center events, and heading up marketing and social media efforts.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Eating tacos and drinking margaritas, yoga, and arts & culture
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 🫠
- Favorite Season: Summer because of beach weather
- Best career advice: “Stop apologizing”
- “I hope to make impactful experiences for our families.”
Sales & Marketing Intern
Alexandra Collins graduated from Temple University in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus on child psychology. She has a lot of experience working with children of all ages in environments such as daycare, day camps, one-on-one care, and volunteer programs for children in need. Alexandra also overcame selective mutism when she was in elementary school. She hopes to continue her education in the field of psychology so she can be even more involved in the process of helping others.
Marketing Consultant
Brandon Blum was born and raised in Abington, PA. After graduating from Temple University, he spent six all-encompassing years inside the digital marketing wings of three prodigiously large media companies. His day-to-day consisted of project managing key corporate client relationships; relentlessly writing, pitching, ideating & launching six-figure multi-channel advertising campaigns; and learning how brands – large and small – tell their stories. In other words, communication is his area of expertise. In addition to his marketing consulting work, Brandon is the co-founder of For Others, a clothing label that gives back to the local communities their items are purchased in or purchased for. Brandon currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Marketing Coordinator / Clinical Care Coordinator
Dakota Hornak was born and raised in Willow Grove, PA. They graduated from Susquehanna University in May of 2022 with a BA in communications and psychology and have done work in marketing and sales for over ten years. They have wanted to work in mental health and non-profit organizations since beginning college and has been a freelance designer and marketer since their freshman year. As a hobby, Dakota began art and graphic design as well as writing, which then became their passion and what they wanted in a career. They are now the marketing coordinator for the SMart Center.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Creating new art projects, watching movies, and going hiking or kayaking with their partner and dog
- Favorite Pet: Loves all animals
- Favorite Emoji: 🤠
- Favorite Season: Fall because of Halloween and getting to spend time outside while the leaves change
- Best Career Advice: “Put your time and energy into that field and the cause you are passionate about and believe in wholeheartedly.”
- “I hope to help families struggling with mental health challenges and create valuable resources about selective mutism and mental health overall for people across the globe who need access to resources they otherwise may not have.”
Clinical Care Coordinator
A graduate of DeSales University, Mary Kate had previously worked as an Executive Assistant and Meetings Coordinator at the Philadelphia Bar Association. After taking a leave while her children were very young, Mary Kate returned to the workforce in 2016 and worked as a church secretary before joining the SMart Center at the Clinical Care Coordinator. She is thrilled to be with the SMart Center, and is gratified to be helping our SMart families get the help that they need. Mary Kate lives in Jenkintown with her husband, three children and two dogs. She is an avid reader, a wannabe foodie, and an enthusiastic fan of Philadelphia’s sports teams.
- Current Favorite Hobby: Reading
- Favorite Pet: Dog
- Favorite Emoji: 😍
- Favorite Season: Autumn, because it feels like a new beginning
- Best career advice: “Believe in your own abilities”
- “I want to ease the burden of the administrative work so that our clinicians can help our families.”
Clinical Assistant
Zoe Nelson is a third-year student at Drexel University studying Psychological and Brain Sciences with a focus on child psychology. She is on the executive board of Drexel’s chapter of the International Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi) as the Head of Public Relations. Zoe is excited to complete her second co-op at the SMart Center as a Clinical Assistant.
Zoe has over ten years of experience working with children of various ages in different environments, such as schools, camps, and volunteer programs, as well as being a nanny for multiple families. She has worked with children with Selective Mutism as a CommuniCamp Counselor at the SMart Center for many camps. Zoe also has experience working with adults and children who are trauma survivors at The Joseph J. Peters Insitute, where she completed her previous co-op.
Zoe was diagnosed with Selective Mutism at age three and overcame it with the help of many others. She hopes to use her personal experiences and education to continue to help children in need and provide hope that they too can overcome it.
SMart Center Therapy Dogs, Our Mascots, and Best Friends
Therapy Pug
Mr. B is Dr. E’s first therapy dog. He accompanied Dr. E to various conferences and SM retreats and has touched the lives of our families for 14+ years! It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of this beloved ‘O.G.’ pug. He played an instrumental role in the lives of so many families affected by Selective Mutism. He was known to knock on the doors (with his paw!) when he wanted to join a session. He would either sit on a child/teens lap ‘n snuggle or sit by their feet. He instinctively knew who was comfortable and who needed more TLC. Mr. B was a true blessing to so many children who have suffered in silence.
Therapy Pug
Lil’ Girl (pictured left) or “SMall Lady of Love” joined the SMart Center team in 2014.She’s small and cuddly and our families adore her!
She often disguises herself as a stuffed animal to help kids (and parents) who may be afraid to realize she’s just like a stuffed animal but can move around and play!
Lil’ Girl attends CommuniCamp™ and will go from classroom to classroom helping children/teens feel comfortable.
Therapy Dog
Bonnie is a lovable, happy, blonde bombshell who loves to go for walks! Our patients (and staff) love to play with her. She says “hi” to everyone she meets and she makes sure to greet to each staff member every morning.