Rachel Jespersen
Rachel Jespersen is the coordinator of the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis clinical and research program. She manages administrative aspects and recruitment for the program’s research studies and coordinates referrals and intakes for the CBT for Psychosis clinical program. Rachel graduated with honors from Baruch College, CUNY with a BA in Psychology and has a Master’s degree in Social Work from the Silver School of Social Work of New York University. She is a licensed social worker in both New York (LMSW) and New Jersey (LSW).
Shaynna Herrera, Ph.D.
Dr. Shaynna Herrera is a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her research focuses on the evaluation and dissemination of psychoeducation for individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. She developed one of the first manualized psychoeducation interventions for this population, the Brief Educational Guide for Individuals in Need (BEGIN). Through her Faculty Practice, Dr. Herrera also conducts clinical and diagnostic assessments and provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and with psychosis. Dr. Herrera received her Bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yeshiva University. She completed her predoctoral psychology internship at the UCLA Semel Institute in the Adolescent Serious Mental Illness Track, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Advanced Psychology Fellowship in Mental Health Research and Treatment at James J. Peters VA Medical Center. She has worked with Dr. Landa since 2013.
Joseph S. DeLuca, Ph.D.
Joseph S. DeLuca, Ph.D. is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (part-time) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. DeLuca contributes to the team's clinical research and training programs. Dr. DeLuca completed a joint BA/MA degree in Forensic Psychology at the City University of New York (CUNY), John Jay College and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. DeLuca then completed a predoctoral internship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where he specialized in the early stages of psychosis, followed by a National Institute of Mental Health T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Mount Sinai (primarily within the Psychosis-Risk program, mentored by Drs. Landa and Corcoran).
Clinically, he specializes in assessment and psychotherapy for youth (adolescents and young adults) -- particularly those at risk for, or in the early stages of, psychosis. He also works with individuals across the lifespan who have psychosis-spectrum experiences. Dr. DeLuca has extensive training in evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies for youth in diverse settings, and his research is aimed at understanding intersectional stigma and addressing equity issues in services. He runs the Intersectional Stigma, Psychosis, Youth, and Resilience (INSPYR) lab at Fairfield University, where he teaches, conducts research, and mentors students as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
Michael Jacobs, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael Jacobs has been a valued member of Dr. Landa's team since 2010. Alongside his research involvement, Michael has been instrumental in training therapists with Dr. Landa in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for psychosis and in Group and Family-Based CBT for the prevention of paranoia. Before becoming a clinical psychologist, Michael built a diverse career as a vocal coach, voice teacher, and professional musical theater performer, amassing a decade of experience in the field.
In addition to his role at Mount Sinai, Michael runs the Performance Institute for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. In his private practice, he helps clients with a wide range of issues, from paranoia and depression to audition and performance anxiety. For more information, visit www.PerformanceCBT.com.
Rosa Cataliotti, LCSW-R
Rosa Cataliotti is a psychiatric assessor for the CBT Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis clinical and research team. Her work focuses on identifying and providing structured interviews for those who may be at clinical high risk for psychosis. Since 2016, Rosa has provided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, coordinated specialty care, and psychiatric assessment to people at clinical high risk for psychosis and those experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Rosa graduated from Queens College, CUNY with a BA in Psychology and has a Master’s Degree in Social work from the Silver School of Social Work of New York University. She is a New York State licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-R).
Talin Araian
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Talin Araian is a 5th-year doctoral candidate in the Psy.D. Counseling Psychology program at Felician University. She is currently completing her psychology doctoral internship in the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis Clinical and Research Program at Mount Sinai Hospital/Icahn School of Medicine, where she previously trained as an extern. Talin received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Montclair State University and has a unique background in pharmaceutical sales prior to returning to pursue her advanced degree.
In addition to her clinical training, Talin serves as Felician University's New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA) Campus Representative for graduate students and is an active member of the NJPA Committee on Legislative Affairs. She is a two-time recipient of the Executive Women of New Jersey President's Scholarship, recognizing exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and professional promise. She has also received the Beacon of Social Justice Award in recognition of her commitment to advocacy and social justice. Additionally, Talin has co-authored scholarly papers, presented papers at professional conferences, and published scholarly work.
Her clinical interests include working with adolescents and adults experiencing psychosis, trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges. Talin is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care while advancing advocacy and research to improve the lives of individuals facing mental health, life, and relational challenges.
Andreas Bezahler
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Andreas Bezahler (M.A.) is a doctoral extern in the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis program at Mt. Sinai with Dr. Landa. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Clinical Psychology (Health Emphasis) at Fordham University with specializations in anxiety and OCD treatment. Prior to graduate training, he completed his B.S. in Psychology at the University of Miami, working in a child and adolescent mood and anxiety treatment program as a research assistant. After graduating, Andreas worked as a research coordinator at McLean Hospital’s OCD Institute where he served as a group facilitator and research assistant on projects aimed at augmenting treatment for OCD through digital intervention. Andreas’s master’s thesis focused on explaining why certain individuals require multiple rounds of behavioral treatment for OCD, to help elucidate treatment targets. Currently, Andreas is interested in how to implement and augment CBT and third-wave treatments (e.g., ACT), to improve individuals quality of life, with a special emphasis on helping those with a marginalized identity.
Narise Ramlal
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Narise Ramlal is a doctoral extern in the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis program at Mount Sinai. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University. Prior to graduate training, she completed her B.A. in Psychology at Hofstra University. After graduating, Narise was a research assistant at Harvard University for 3 years, working on intensive longitudinal studies focused on understanding, predicting, and preventing suicide. Currently, her research focuses on understanding how the interaction of stigma, such as weight, racial, and psychiatric stigma, influences mental health care access and contributes to health disparities among individuals with multiple marginalized identities. Her clinical interests include working with those experiencing severe mental health conditions.
Lauren Robinson
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Lauren Robinson is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program (Health Emphasis) at Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. She is a doctoral extern in the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis program at Mt. Sinai with Dr. Landa. Lauren earned her B.S. in Psychology from Florida State University and has professional experience as a psychometrician and as a research assistant at the Yale School of Medicine. Her research interests center on the neural and behavioral correlates of psychotic-spectrum and neurodegenerative disorders. She is dedicated to utilizing evidence-based cognitive behavioral strategies to help individuals navigating first-episode psychosis (FEP) achieve their recovery goals.
Najé James
Najé James, is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her role includes assisting with patient recruitment, overseeing the collection, tracking and management of data as well as administration of the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS) for both the Early Stage Identification and Engagement to Reduce Duration of Untreated Psychosis (EaSIE): Evaluating the Impact of Systematic Screening and Communication and Telehealth Adaption of Group and Family Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Youth at Risk (GF-CBT-TH) studies. Additionally, Najé is a 3rd year Clinical Psychology PhD student at the City College of New York. Najé received her Bachelor of Science degree from the Pennsylvania State University (summa cum laude).
Prior to her time at Mount Sinai, Najé has worked in various health and mental health care settings assisting with data collection and administration of psychological and cognitive assessments throughout her time at institutions such as the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Integrative Medicine, Child Mind Institute and the Psychological Center at the City College of New York. Najé’s research and clinical interest including addressing and improving the mental health of individuals throughout the African Diaspora, specifically through understanding cultural identity and access to mental health services for individuals experiencing mental health challenges including being at clinical high risk or experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
Shelley Fuentes
Shelley Fuentes is a Clinical Research Coordinator in Dr. Landa's lab, where she tracks the uptake of screenings, evaluations, and referrals, monitors mental health service usage, and contributes to data collection to assess the effectiveness of interventions. She holds a Master of Public Health from Montclair State University with a concentration in Health Systems Administration and Policy and received the Academic Excellence in Public Health Award for the Class of 2024.
Before her current role at Mount Sinai, Shelley worked in the Care Management Organization of Passaic County in New Jersey, where she specialized in children's mental and behavioral health with a primary focus on youth involved in the Juvenile Justice Commission, Children’s Crisis Intervention Services, and the Division of Child Protection & Permanency. Her professional experiences and educational background highlight her dedication to improving health systems and policies, particularly for the Latinx population and other underrepresented communities.
Celia Ziliak
Celia Ziliak is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis program at Mount Sinai. They assist with patient outreach, data collection and tracking for several of Dr. Landa’s clinical studies, and they are certified to conduct the SIPS assessment. Celia received their bachelor’s degree from Barnard College at Columbia University, where they graduated summa cum laude with awards for academic excellence in Psychology and Gender & Sexuality Studies. They previously worked as a research assistant in the Group Dynamics Lab at Barnard, a teaching assistant for clinical psychology, and a clinical intern at the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy. Celia is committed to promoting inclusive, accessible care and supports efforts to remove barriers to quality mental health care.
Jack M. Kenny
Jack M. Kenny is a Research Assistant Intern in Dr. Yulia Landa’s Lab in the Psychiatry Department at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Jack assists the research team with patient outreach, data collection, data tracking, and study recruitment for Dr. Landa's clinical studies. He is a junior at Fairfield University where he is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience. Jack has received dean’s list honors while at Fairfield University and intends to pursue a career in clinical neuropsychology.
Emily Lamoureux
Emily Lamoureux is a volunteer research assistant in Dr. Yulia Landa's lab in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Emily is a senior at Fairfield University, where she is majoring in Psychology. Emily supports the research team with project-related tasks and holds strong interests in psychological assessment and clinical psychology. After graduation, Emily plans to pursue a career in School Psychology.
Madison L. Oberly
Madison L. Oberly is a Research Assistant in Dr. Yulia Landa’s lab within the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is currently a senior at Fairfield University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience, along with minors in Special Education and Health Studies. Her interdisciplinary academic background has provided a strong foundation as she prepares her applications to Clinical PsyD programs. In her role at Mount Sinai, Madison collaborates with Dr. Landa and the research team on a variety of projects, contributing to ongoing research.
Lisa Lavoie
Lisa Lavoie is an illustrator who focuses on educational illustration. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Kansas City Art Institute. Her whimsical yet bold illustration style helps make reading fun. She loves to draw, and especially loves to draw people and animals. She has been working with Dr. Landa since 2010, illustrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy workbooks for both adolescents and adults. Currently, she is illustrating a parent skills book with Dr. Landa. Her other clients have included The New York Times, Women's Day, Unicef and The Seaman's Church Institute.
Her work can be seen at www.lisalavoie.com