Meet the New England ACT Chapter Board of Directors
Jeff Szymanski, PhD
President, Board of Directors
Dr. Jeff Szymanski received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Northern Illinois University in 1997 following his internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Following the completion of his degree, Dr. Szymanski specialized in treating outpatients with Borderline Personality Disorder using Dialectical Behavior Therapy. In 2001, he returned to McLean Hospital as a Behavior Therapist at the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Institute, a residential facility for individuals with severe and refractory OCD, and in 2006 he became the Director of Psychological Services there. As a Clinical Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Szymanski has supervised pre-doctoral psychology interns, psychiatry residents, and has run CBT seminars. In 2008, Dr. Szymanski began working at the International OCD Foundation as the Executive Director.
Amy Meade, PhD
Vice-President, Board of Directors
Dr. Amy Meade received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Clark University. She completed her internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Meade currently holds a joint faculty appointment as Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry of Harvard Medical School and Assistant in Psychology at McLean Hospital, where she provides individual, group, and family therapy at the Adult Borderline Center Outpatient Clinic. She is also responsible for program development at the BHP. Dr. Meade sees individuals, couples, and families, through her private practice in Arlington, MA.
Christopher Miller, MS, MPA
Secretary, Board of Directors
Christopher Miller graduated from Suffolk University in 2009 with an MS in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Public Administration. He joined New England Forensic Associates in 2009 as a counselor providing behavior therapy and psychometric testing for individuals with problematic sexual behavior. His work generally focuses on adjustment issues and impulse control disorders. He specializes in the assessment of sexual arousal and sexual interest. His previous work experiences focussed on chronic mental illness and domestic violence. He has GLBTQQI-specific mental healthcare training.
Lisa Coyne, PhD
Member-at-Large, Board of Directors
Co-Chair, Education Group
Lisa Coyne received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Mississippi in 2004, following her internship at Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, where she also completed a Postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology, with a specialty in child anxiety and OCD. At present, she is an Associate Professor in the APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Suffolk University, where she also directs the Early Childhood Research Clinic (ECRC). She is one of the original ACT Trainers, and has been practicing ACT with children, teens, and adults for 10 years. At present, her research focus involves applications of ACT with depressed mothers and their children.
Gabe Gruner, LCSW
Member-at-Large, Board of Directors
Gabe Gruner graduated from the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2009. He completed his clinical internship at the University of Michigan Psychological clinic where he received extensive training in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. He then completed a post-MSW fellowship at the Boston University Compulsive Hoarding Research project where he trained in psychological assessment and cognitive-behavioral therapy while working as a therapist on a hoarding treatment study. He has a particular interest in mindfulness and acceptance-based behavior therapies in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders.
Nate Gruner, LICSW
Member-at-Large, Board of Directors
Co-Chair, Consultation Group
Nate Gruner graduated from the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work in 2009. He completed a clinical internship at the Two Brattle Center where he was trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for clients struggling with emotion regulation deficits and self-destructive behaviors. After graduating from Boston College, he completed a fellowship at the OCD Institute at McLean Hospital, where he was trained in behavior therapy for OCD. He is currently working as a behavior therapist at the OCD Institute. Nate has a strong interest in mindfulness-based behavior therapies and is currently involved in research on using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to enhance Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD.
Mariola Magovcevic, PhD
Member-at-Large, Board of Directors
Co-Chair, Consultation Group
Dr. Magovcevic earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Clark University in 2006. She completed both her pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training at McLean Hospital and currently has a joint faculty appointment as Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry of Harvard Medical School and staff psychologist providing individual, family and group therapy at the Gunderson Residence and the Adult Borderline Center Outpatient Clinic at McLean Hospital. Her primary orientation to treatment is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and she has been trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. As a Clinical Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Magovcevic has supervised pre-doctoral psychology interns, psychiatry residents, and currently runs two ACT groups in the adult outpatient clinic.