PROVIDER BIOGRAPHIES

JOAN D. CAHILL, L.C.S.W., B.C.D. is a state licensed and board certified independent clinical social worker. She received her M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut in 1974 and practices in Southington. Her specialties are in the area of chemical dependency, bereavement and traumatic loss, anxiety disorders and marriage and family therapy. Ms. Cahill has extensive experience in providing a variety of psycho educational groups to parents, families, and adolescents. In addition, she is affiliated with local and national EAPs. She is on the Affiliate Clinical Staff of the Department of Psychiatry at Hartford Hospital and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Connecticut Society for Clinical Social Workers, and the Academy of Certified Social Workers . She holds Diplomate status in clinical social work and is Board Certified by the ABECSW.

SANDRA J. CHRISTIANSON, L.M.F.T. is a licensed Marital and Family Therapist who received her graduate degree in marital and family therapy from Central Connecticut State University in 2002.  She received an undergraduate degree in human development and family relations from the University of Connecticut in 1997.  Her graduate work included co-leading an intensive outpatient program for dual-diagnosis adolescents and working in the general child outpatient services at Wheeler Clinic.  Sandra continued to work for almost three years as a full-time therapist in Wheeler Clinic’s child outpatient services before beginning private practice in Windsor.  She developed more experience in the area of substance use by leading an adolescent substance use group that was part of a grant funded research project through the University of Connecticut.  She also ran anger management, social skills, and divorce groups for children, as well as a mood management group for adolescent females.  Sandra has five years of experience working as a special education tutor in a public school system.  Her clinical interests include individual, couples, and family therapy with children, adolescents, adults and their families.  Her clinical practice addresses a wide range of clinical issues including adjustment issues, divorce and blended family issues, mood disorders, substance use, behavior disorders, school-related disorders, parenting, and family relationships.  Sandra is a member of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapists.

KEVIN J. CONNOLLY, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with expertise in the treatment of trauma victims, PTSD, anxiety disorders and disruptive behavior disorders. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1983 and completed his internship at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, specializing in family therapy. He practices in Bloomfield and Bristol and is a consultant to the Bristol School System and to the Hartford Vet Center. Formerly, Dr. Connolly was the Director of the Sexual Abuse Program at the Wheeler Clinic and served as a consultant to Protective Services for the state of Connecticut and New York City. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Connecticut Psychological Association where he serves as a Key Psychologist.

SARAH CRAWFORD, Psy.D.  is a licensed clinical psychologist who offers clinical services at the Windsor office. She received her doctoral degree from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco and spent the majority of her training and post-graduate placements working with children and families in community mental health settings. Dr. Blumengarten-Crawford provides individual, couples and family therapy. She has worked with children from pre-school age to late adolescence and has provided clinical and behavioral consultation to schools. Her interests include anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, attachment issues, disruptive behaviors, parent-child relationship difficulties, parenting skills, learning difficulties and social skills deficits. Her approach to therapy involves creating a collaborative relationship with families in order to increase self-understanding and promote growth and change. Dr. Blumengarten-Crawford is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Western Massachusetts and Albany Association for Psychoanalytic Psychology. 

JOHN A. CROUCH, Ph.D., ABPP-CN  is a licensed and Board Certified Clinical Neuropsychologist with over 25 years of assessment experience.  He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas in 1989.  He completed specialty training in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Florida and University of California, San Diego.  Dr. Crouch has worked in a range of settings including major medical, rehabilitation, and inpatient psychiatric facilities.  He was previously Co-Director of the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at Hartford Hospital and The Institute of Living.  He has been in full-time independent practice since 2001.  Dr. Crouch conducts assessments with clients across the lifespan who have various medical/neurological (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, etc.), psychiatric (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, etc.), and developmental (e.g., learning disability, etc.) conditions.  Dr. Crouch is on the State of Connecticut (DHMAS) Competency to Stand Trial Team and has considerable experience conducting assessments for forensic/legal matters.  He provides psychotherapy services to clients and their families, specializing in adjustment to disability.  Dr. Crouch has an extensive list of publications, has presented at both local and national conferences, and belongs to numerous professional organizations. 

LINDA S. KRANITZ, J.D., Ph.D.  is a licensed psychologist in the Windsor office who earned her doctorate at Rutgers University.  She completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral training at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Newington.  She has continued her affiliation with the VA, where she is involved in clinical, research, and training activities.  She treats adults and adolescents, and has particular expertise in the areas of addictive disorders and dual diagnosis, health behavior and behavior change, and stress management.  She provides individual, group, and couples/marital therapy, using a solution-focused approach.  She helps clients change in the context of a strong therapeutic relationship, integrating a variety of strategies, including cognitive, behavioral, emotion-focused, motivational, and mindfulness techniques.  Prior to becoming a psychologist, she earned a law degree at Yale Law School and practiced law for several years before returning to school to study psychology.  This history gives her a unique understanding of the challenges inherent in working in a fast-paced professional arena; she welcomes the opportunity to assist people coping with these issues.  She is a member of the American Psychological Association.

PATRICIA (P.J.) LUSSIER, L.C.S.W. is a pediatric licensed clinical social worker whose clinical focus is children from birth to age eight and their families.  She provides assessment, consultation and intervention for young children who are struggling with social, emotional, behavioral, regulatory, and developmental challenges.  Ms. Lussier uses a wide variety of techniques including play therapy, applied behavioral analysis, floor time, sensory profiles, and parent coaching.  Strategies are tailored to meet the needs of the individual child, their family and environment (e.g., school, home).  Her practice collaborates with a network of preferred clinicians of various disciplines including, child psychiatry, occupational/physical therapy, speech/language therapy and pre-school special education.  In addition to her practice at Spectrum, for the past ten years Ms. Lussier has provided and continues to provide behavioral consultation, intervention planning and parent coaching for families in a large Birth to Three program.  Ms. Lussier also consults to numerous daycare centers and preschools, including a school for preschoolers with hearing impairments and their hearing peers.  She is a Certified Trainer on the use of the DC 0-3R diagnostic manual to identify developmental difficulties in children birth to three.  She also provides trainings about a wide variety of early childhood topics throughout the state to both professionals and parents.  Ms. Lussier earned her master’s degree from the University of Connecticut, School of Social Work.  She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Connecticut Association of Infant Mental Health, and Zero to Three, a national non-profit organization dedicated to children birth to three.

THOMAS PATENAUDE, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and forensic examiner providing clinical and diagnostic services out of the Windsor office. He earned his doctorate in 1997 from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. He works with adults, adolescents, and children. Dr. Patenaude provides individual, couples/marital, family, and group therapy. His areas of interest include anxiety and depression, child and adolescent adjustment and behavior disorders, relationship difficulties, divorce & life transitions, stress management, crisis intervention, parenting skills/training, and forensic assessment. Dr. Patenaude also provides psychological testing, intellectual/cognitive assessment, and forensic evaluation. His approach to therapy is founded in multiple treatment methods that include focus on the therapeutic relationship, cognitive restructuring, behavior modification, and the development of insight as change agents. Dr. Patenaude also provides expert testimony in criminal and civil legal matters, as well as consulting to psychiatrists, general medical practitioners, and attorneys practicing in the community.

CHRISTOPHER PENTA, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist. He received his MA in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford in 1985 and completed the doctoral program in clinical psychology at Antioch New England Graduate School, the psychology internship program at the Yale University School of Medicine, and the addiction training program at the University of Connecticut Graduate School of Social Work. Before beginning full-time private practice, he enjoyed a long association with the University of Connecticut Health Center where he served as a clinician and faculty member. He has worked extensively in the field of addiction and its treatment at both UConn and Yale. His interests include forensic psychology, trauma, family therapy and treatment of complex addictions. An experienced psychotherapist, Dr. Penta has a special interest in cognitive-behavioral therapy and techniques for engaging individuals who are often resistant to traditional psychotherapy. He is a member of the American and Connecticut Psychological Associations.

KAREL RUBINSTEIN, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts in 1979. Since 1982, she has been in the private practice of psychotherapy with adults and older adolescents. From 1979-2004 she was affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Health Center, where she provided clinical supervision and ethics training to psychology interns. Her clinical interests include brief treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, adjustment issues in aging, and the role of spiritual and religious factors in psychological adaptation. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Connecticut Psychological Association.

DALE C. THIELERT, L.C.S.W. is a licensed clinical social worker who earned his master’s degree from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. He brings 16 years of experience to his current private practice working with adult individuals and couples in the Windsor office. His social work career began in 1991 as a case manager working with the homeless population, supporting their efforts to maintain dignity and re-gain autonomy. He then completed internships at New Britain General Hospital counseling older adults struggling with depression and anxiety and at the Wheeler Clinic in Plainville treating adults of all ages with a broad range of mental health issues. He was then hired by the clinic and worked there from 1999 through 2007 facilitating substance abuse, anger management and domestic violence groups, as well as providing individual therapy to group members requiring additional support. While at the clinic he helped launch the DOVE program for male domestic violence offenders and provided supervision for student interns. During the past five years, he has received extensive training in the treatment of trauma, a condition often underlying substance abuse, impulse control and mood disorders. Mr. Thielert draws from a wide variety of therapeutic theories and techniques in collaborating with clients to individualize a treatment approach that best meets their needs. His guiding principle is to mobilize existing strengths and resources while encouraging personal growth through the development of new insight and life skills. He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

DANIEL E. WEISS, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who earned his doctorate from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology in 1999. After completing his internship at the Village for Families and Children, Inc., Dr. Weiss worked in the children’s outpatient department at the Wheeler Clinic for five years. He joined Spectrum Psychotherapy Centers in 2004 and practices out of the Windsor office. Dr. Weiss' primary emphasis is with children, adolescents and families age birth through 18. His treatment specialties include anxiety, depression, social skills training, ADHD, adjustment disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, and bereavement. Dr. Weiss is a member of the American Psychological Association.