Who We Are
Ellen Berman, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is a psychiatrist and family therapist. Areas of expertise include individual and couples therapy, the interaction between depression and couples dysfunction, and adults and their families of origin. Dr. Berman completed her psychiatric residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She was the Director of Training at Marriage Council of Philadelphia (now Council for Relationships) from 1972 through 1984, and founded and consulted to the Women's Center at Belmont 1984 - 1996. Currently she is head of couples and family training for psychiatric residents in the Department of Psychiatry, Univ. of Penn.
Dr. Berman is President of the Association of Family Psychiatrists, Chair of the GAP Committee on the Family, and is on the editorial boards of several journals. She is co-author of a textbook, Marital and Family Therapy 4th edition, and has written numerous articles on couples, sexuality, adult development, and training psychiatric residents. Dr. Berman was cited in Philadelphia Magazine as a Top Doc, Top Doc for Women, and Top Therapist. She also received the Practitioner of the Year Award from the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society in 2001 and received the Earl Bond Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2005 from the Department of Psychiatry at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania. In 2010 Dr. Berman received the Lifetime Contribution to Family Therapy Award from the Amercian Family Therapy Academy (AFTA).
Phone: 610-667-4617
Email: emberman@yahoo.com
Office Address: 321 Mallwyd Rd., Merion, PA 19066
Robert Garfield, M.D. is a psychiatrist and family therapist. He is Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and helps coordinate family therapy training with the residents. His areas of expertise are individual and couples therapy, family of origin work with adults, men's issues, mid-life and marital separation and divorce.
Dr. Garfield received psychiatric training at the University of Wisconsin (1971-74) and was the first Director of the Hahnemann University Mmasters of Family Therapy Program (1976-82). He has served on national boards and committees in family therapy organizations: AAMFT Training Directors Organization (1978-82), AFTA Board of Directors (Treasurer, 1988-90). He is currently an Advisory Editorial Board member of Family Process. Dr. Garfield is past President (1990-93) and current board member of Philadelphia Physicians for Social Responsibility. He has also been cited as a Top Doc and Top Therapist in Philadelphia Magazine.
Phone: 610-668-8685
Email:
Office Address:191 Presidential Blvd., Suite W10, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Judy Rader, M.A., L.M.F.T., is a licensed marriage and family therapist whose practice includes individuals, couples, and families. Before joining Bala Psychological Resources, Judy was a senior supervising therapist at Council for Relationships for over ten years. Judy's areas of expertise include: couples work, particularly communication skills and relationship enhancement; parenting issues; divorce and co-parenting; infidelity/affairs; blended families; and sex-therapy. Judy is a trained EMDR practitioner who uses this powerful processing modality as an adjunctive treatment for depression, anxiety, and traumatic reactions.
An experienced public speaker, Judy regularly presents at churches, schools, and parenting groups on couple communication skills and relationship enhancement, adolescent parenting skills, and parenting skills for younger children. She developed an adolescent parenting workshop entitled, "Staying Connected to Our Teenagers” and has offered this workshop to many parents groups throughout the area. Judy is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), and is an AAMFT-approved supervisor. To learn more about Judy's practice please go to www.JudyRader.com .
Phone: 610-416-6709
Office Address: One Bala Ave., Suite 110, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Beverly Roth, M.D. has been in private practice for 25 years working with adults and children individually and in groups. She was formerly head of Emergency Psychiatry and founded the Stress Center at the Medical College of PA which was cited in Philadelphia Magazine. In that capacity she also provided direction for a multi-disciplinary teaching program supported by a NIMH grant and was co-investigator in several research projects focusing on the effects of family violence and domestic abuse on women. She was director of the Outpatient Department of Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment where she co-founded the Women's Center. I
n addition to her work in women's issues and stress-related disorders, Dr. Roth has extensive experience in her practice with men and women dealing with the most difficult problems, including mood and anxiety disorders, and psycho-logical trauma. She works with a range of approaches including psycho-dynamic perspectives, hypnotherapy and relaxation techniques. She also provides psychiatric evaluations with an emphasis on understanding all aspects of each individual, not just applying diagnotic labels. This approach allows for an understanding of the full range of possible solutions for each person's unique problems.
Phone: 610-527-2015
Email:
Office Address: 860 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Cynthia Shar, M.Ed. is a highly skilled and caring licensed psychologist with over 25 years experience in individual, couple, and family psychotherapy. Her areas of expertise include mood disorders, women's issues, eating disorders including compulsive overeating, relationship difficulties, struggles of professional women, parenting issues, and retirement transitions. In addition, Ms. Shar provides supervision for other therapists. Ms. Shar is an active, engaged therapist who works collaboratively with each individual to help define realistic goals and draw upon their strenghts to take steps towards a more satisfying and fulfilling life. She integrates a variety of treatment approaches such as psychodynamic, family systems, cognitive behavioral therapy, and guided imagery to enhance therapeutic change.
Ms. Shar was a founder and past managing partner of Bala Psychological Resources (BPR) and former director of the Women's Center at Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment. She was on the staff of the University of New Hampshire counseling service where she founded the Eating Disorders Program and Nontraditional Student Program. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Pennsylvania Psychological Association and the Association for Women in Psychology. Ms. Shar was cited in Philadelphia Magazine as a "Top Shrink" and "Top Doc for Women."
Phone: 610-667-5306
Email: cynthia.shar@gmail.com
Office Address: One Bala Ave., Suite 110, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Dea Silbertrust, Ph.D., J.D., is a licensed psychologist and a founding member of Bala Psychological Resources. She graduated from the law-psychology program at Hahnemann (now Drexel) and Villanova Universities. For over 15 years, Dr. Silbertrust has worked with individual adults and adolescents, couples, and families in the Philadelphia area. Her main specialty is eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating, with all age clients from pre-teens to mid-life adults. She also has expertise in mood disorders, anxiety, psychological trauma, and relationship difficulties. She takes a dynamic approach to understanding life difficulties and creating change that incorporates psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and family therapies along with mindful-ness meditation, guided imagery, and relaxation exercises.
Dr. Silbertrust also provides psycholegal consultation to attorneys, mental health professionals, and individuals experiencing stress during litigation. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the Academy of Eating Disorders, and the Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists where she currently serves as President. She has given numerous presentations to clinicians and lay people on eating disorders and professional ethics. You can see more information at her personal website, www.deasilbertrust.com.
Phone: 610-667-5328
Email: dcsilbertrust@comcast.net
Office Address: One Bala Ave., Suite 110, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Leda Sportolari, MSW, LCSW is a psychotherapist with many years experience working with adults, children, teens, couples, and families. Ms. Sportolari offers clients a safe place to explore their concerns and struggles, actively helping them find new, more satisfying directions forward. She is known for being thoughtful and insightful as well as down-to-earth and direct. Ms. Sportolari specializes in: child and teen assessment and treatment; relatonship and sexuality concerns; and helping children and families negotiate separation, divorce, and remarriage. She has a particular interest in young children and their families, using an attachment-based perspective to understand and treat social-emotional and behavior problems. She offers parenting consultation and classes.
Ms. Sportolari holds a part-time faculty position at the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She also is a board member and past-president of the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work.
Phone: 610-649-9945
Email: lsportolari@gmail.com
Office Address: 191 Presidential Blvd., Suite W10, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
David Wohlsifer, Ph.D., LCSW, has experience in individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. His practice includes the treatment of children, teens, and adults. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he completed a post-graduate specialty certification program in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Cognitive Therapy. He also has advanced training as a sex therapist. His areas of expertise include sexual issues, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, mood disorders, family therapy, trauma, substance abuse, and internet and pornography addictions. Dr. Wohlsifer has also worked extensively treating sleep disorders in people of all ages using cognitive therapy.
Dr. Wohlsifer is on the faculties of Bryn Mawr College of Graduate School in Social Work and Social Research and the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice. He also teaches Couples and Family Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine, Psychiatric Residency. Dr. Wohlsifer was the winner of the 2009 "Excellence in Teaching Award" for part time faculty at the Unviersity of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice. Dr. Wohlsifer chairs the Jewish Family Interest Group for the American Family Therapy Academy, has co-authored a book chapter on Sex Therapy and Culture, and is an associate editor for the family therapy journal Family Process. To learn more about Dr. Wohlsifer's practice please go to www.drdavidw.com
Phone: 610-668-1734
Email: davidmsw@aol.com
Office Address: 191 Presidential Blvd., Suite W10, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004