Our
Clinicians

Dr. Jeffrey Kranzler, Ph.D., LCSW-C (Founder, Director)

Dr. Kranzler is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and holds a Masters and Ph.D. from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. He specializes in working with Autistic individuals across the lifespan and teaches social skills, mood regulation, anxiety management, executive functioning, interoception and confidence building skills. He has served as Social Work Supervisor of an Albert Einstein College of Medicine clinic, a Dean of Students at a large K-12 school in South Florida and has been performing therapy in a variety of settings for more than 16 years. Dr. Kranzler is the author of The Crimson Protector, a superhero adventure novel that teaches tweens and teens how to build confidence, overcome social anxiety and handle bullying (available in print and eBook versions on Amazon and at TheCrimsonProtector.com).

Robert Binger, LCPC, CASDCS, CCATP

Robert Binger is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with certifications in Autism (CASDCS-Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist) and Complex Trauma and is a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) . Robert has worked as a therapist in Montgomery County, MD, specializing in working with adolescents and adults to build emotional regulation, social skills, academic achievement, and distress tolerance and to provide trauma treatment, addiction services and crisis management. Previously, he worked as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP) Counselor in Western Maryland while earning his master's degree in Counseling Psychology. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from St. Mary's College of Maryland.

Having grown up Neurodivergent and later recovering from addiction, Robert pulls from extensive training, professional experience and personal experience to best meet every individual's needs. Each client can rest assured that they will be met with compassion, collaboration and consistency. Clients can expect a therapist who will both help them build upon their strengths as well as to develop the skills to meet areas of challenge.

Robert utilizes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), as well as Mindfulness, somatic approaches. Robert is also trained in the use of EMDR for trauma. He works with individuals, families, couples and groups. Robert provides Social Skills Development, Flexibility Skills Development, Anxiety Management, Mood Regulation, Interoception Skills Development, confidence building and Growth Mindset skills among others.

Dotty Sexton, LCSW-C, Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist

Dotty Sexton is a Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical (LCSW-C) and a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist (CASDCS) who works with Autistic individuals and with individuals with Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and anger struggles. Dotty has been working with school aged youth in the Maryland school systems for more than three years as a Mental Health Psychotherapist focusing primarily on anxiety, while also attending to co-occurring issues such as depression, ADHD, and anger and defiance. Dotty’s therapeutic approach to anxiety is a mixture of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and even encouraging clients to partake in group therapy at times. Exploring anxiety triggers and corresponding coping skills is just the beginning of Dotty’s treatment approach, and will later progress into client focused therapeutic interventions based on the individual client’s needs. Dotty teaches Social Skills Development, Flexibility Skills Development, Anxiety Management, Mood Regulation, Interoception Skills Development, Confidence Building and Growth Mindset skills among others.

Dotty graduated with her Master’s Degree from Salisbury University and then began to take on various roles at an outpatient mental health therapy clinic in Elkton, MD. She first worked as a Mental Health Psychotherapist for children and teens, and then became the School Based Therapy Program Coordinator. Later in her career she began an internship program partnering with Wilmington University offering supervision for student counselors. Most recently, she has organized and facilitated an LGBTQ+ group for teens as well as an anxiety and mindfulness group for young adults.

Dotty uses an integrative blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness interventions, and Solution Focused Therapy to focus on targeting the unique needs of each individual. Her passion helping others achieve their goals drives her work with clients. She empowers clients to shine brighter, encourages continuous growth, and advocates for equality despite differences.

In her free time she enjoys adventuring. Dotty is up for just about anything fun from sky diving, to hiking, to visiting new cities and exciting places. She loves to cook and bake, enjoys living an active and healthy lifestyle, and spends every chance she can connecting with loved ones. Dotty’s style of therapy reflects her life motto: the journey is the destination.

Amanda Sipes, LMSW, Certified Autism Specialist

Amanda is a social worker with extensive experience in the mental health field. In her current work as a school-based mental health therapist, Amanda utilizes a strengths-based approach focusing on the resourcefulness and resilience of her clients. Amanda works with a diverse group of individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, and post-traumatic stress.

Amanda began her career working with Autistic individuals as a behavior therapist and as an Intensive Individual Support Service provider. She focused on working with individuals ages two to twenty one in achieving independence through community mobility and development of social and behavioral management skills.

Amanda uses an integrative approach in individual, family and group therapy including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Mindfulness, Sand Tray Therapy, and Mental Health First Aid. Amanda has expertise in teaching her clients social skills, flexibility skills, anxiety management, mood regulation, interoception skills, confidence building, growth mindset skills and more. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology, Sociology, and Spanish Language from Towson University and her Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in families and children from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Amanda uses her own neurodivergence as an individual with dyslexia and her familial experience of growing up with both an autistic stepsister and a sister with ADHD to guide her practice and implementation of skills.

In her free time, Amanda enjoys traveling, going on walks, painting, and spending time with friends, family, and her two cats.

Heidi Hill, LCSW-C

Heidi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and got her start in the mental health field as a field staff member in wilderness therapy programs and at a residential treatment center. She then graduated with her degree in recreational therapy and worked as a nationally certified recreational therapist in the correctional system, a psychiatric hospital, and with teens in outdoor settings. Deciding that she wanted to do deeper clinical work, Heidi completed her degree in Social Work from the University of Utah in 2020, interning at a VA hospital’s PTSD clinic and as a school social worker. Since graduating, Heidi has worked in schools and outpatient mental health clinics, and continued her love of doing therapy in outdoor settings.

Heidi is passionate about giving people the skills they need to make informed choices. This includes helping people better understand their emotions, thought patterns, and behaviors. Heidi strongly believes in self-determination and that the client is the expert of their life. She sees her role as one of providing skill-building, psychoeducation, and advocacy. This often includes partnering with family and other members of a client’s educational and healthcare teams.

Heidi has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Nature-Informed Therapy (NIT), Play Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), and Teen Mental Health First Aid. Heidi teaches Social Skills, Anxiety Management, Mood Regulation, Interoception, Confidence Building, Growth Mindset, Flexibility Skills and more.

When Heidi is not working, she is likely to be outside hiking, rock-climbing, paddleboarding, or making music, and hanging out with her bearded dragon, Littlefoot.

Chana Lockerman, LCSW-C, LICSW

Chana received her undergraduate degree in anthropology from the University of Minnesota and her Master of Social Work from Catholic University in Washington, DC. Chana is studying for a doctorate in social work at the University of St Thomas in St Paul, MN, and will be completing her doctoral degree in May 2025.

Chana started her therapy career working with children. She served as a school-based therapist and clinic-based therapist in Baltimore County, working with children and families in underserved communities. She served as a therapist in a research-based in-home therapy program for at-risk youth, later becoming the first clinical supervisor of that program. For the past decade, Chana has been seeing clients in private practice in Montgomery County.

Chana has been working with autistic clients since her internships in

social work school from 2008- 2010. Her work with children and families includes helping clients navigate the joys and challenges of Neurodiversity and she was supervised by the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE) in the course of this work. Chana is also a specialist in reproductive mental health, with advanced training in family building, pregnancy, and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.

In addition to her clinical work, Chana enjoys training the next generation of social workers. She is an instructor in the MSW program at the University of Maryland as well as the online MSW program at Simmons University in Boston.

Whether as a therapist or an educator, Chana loves working with people! She loves hearing their stories and helping them effect positive change. Her work focuses on strengths, finding the things that are working and building on those skills to help find further success. She believes that everyone is capable of personal growth, no matter the challenges they face.

Elana Premack Sandler, LCSW

Elana received her undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her Masters Degrees from Boston University. In her undergraduate program, she double-majored in Journalism and Women's Studies and earned a minor in Psychology. Elana completed the dual degree MSW/MPH program at Boston University. She is in the process of earning a PsyD at The Chicago School for Professional Psychology.

As a therapist, Elana sees a person in their whole environment—what has life been like that's led to this moment, and what can be changed that may help move things forward? Elana has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with a range of life experiences.

For eight years, Elana was a part of the Simmons University School of Social Work faculty as an Associate Professor of Practice. Since 2009, Elana has been writing for Psychology Today online. Elana has postgraduate training in Sand Tray Therapy, complex trauma, and suicide prevention, CBT and Mindfulness. Elana specializes in working with Autistic clients and teaches Social Skills Development, Flexibility Skills Development, Anxiety Management, Mood Regulation, Interoception Skills Development, Growth Mindset, and Confidence building.

Elana works collaboratively, listening to what's most important to clients and their families and sharing information and resources to guide folks in their choices. Elana aims to help establish a sense of belonging and confidence. Elana helps children, adolescents, and adults facing both everyday transitional moments as well as life-changing decisions.

Sam Rosenblatt, LCPC

Sam Rosenblatt is a graduate of the University of Florida where he studied psychology as an undergraduate and received a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling. Sam uses guided mindfulness practices to help others gain self awareness, reduce stress, experience healing, and access deeper parts of themselves. After graduating, Sam became a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and further developed his skills in teaching mindfulness. Since then, he has been using mind-body practices to help his clients with anxiety management, emotional regulation, stress reduction, and navigating the many challenges of life. Sam teaches Social Skills Development, Flexibility Skills Development, Anxiety Management, Mood Regulation, Interoception Skills Development, confidence building and Growth Mindset skills among others.

Sam began his career working with Autistic individuals on the Autism Spectrum as a classroom aide at the Ivymount School and in summer camps for Autistic individuals . Since receiving his LCPC license, he has worked with a wide range of clients of all ages. He has worked with Autistic individuals in his private practice and is excited to join KAPS and continue to his work with the population he is dedicated to serving!

Sam is passionate about health and wellness. In his free time, Sam enjoys being outdoors, practicing yoga, and spending time with friends and family.

Michelle Ivey Kamin, LMSW

Michelle received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from The College of New Jersey and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. As a Licensed Social Worker, Michelle has spent the past eleven years working with Neurodiverse children and adolescents alongside with their families.

Michelle’s area of expertise is working with Autistic individuals as well as individuals diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety, Sensory Processing Disorder, Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder, Expressive/Receptive Communication challenges, and other related diagnoses. Michelle is also certified in AutPlay Therapy, an integrative family play therapy approach to working with Autistic and Neurodiverse children, adolescents and their families. Michelle teaches Social Skills Development, Flexibility Skills Development, Anxiety Management, Mood Regulation, Interoception Skills Development, confidence building and Growth Mindset skills among others.

Michelle has spent most of her post-graduate career working in a school for bright, capable students with social communication, executive functioning and self regulation challenges. She enjoys teaching and coaching children to help them build their personal toolboxes of coping skills and social strategies. She is especially interested in helping children build their strength and confidence in the areas of emotion regulation and social skills. Michelle is passionate about helping children build upon their strengths through developing resilience and celebrating each success along the way.

Michelle believes whole-heartedly in meeting each client where they are and helping clients develop skills, confidence, and independence. She takes a holistic, solution focused and strengths-based approach with Autistic individuals and their families; she prides herself on building strong relationships with her clients based on a foundation of respect, trust, empowerment and compassion.

Tarah Keeley, LICSW, LCSW-C, ABD

Tarah Keeley is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Masters of Social Work degree from Columbia University and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. As a seasoned clinical social worker with twenty-years of experience as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and senior clinical manager, she has extensive experience working with Autistic individuals and children, adolescents and adults who experience ADHD, anxiety, developmental disorders, substance misuse and who may have histories of trauma. Tarah utilizes a relational, humanistic approach that focuses on concrete, skill-based training when working with clients. Tarah has considerable training in the impacts of trauma on the developing brain and she is oriented around the interplay of Sensory Processing Disorder, Mixed Expressive and Receptive Language delays and Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder on daily life functioning. Tarah understands the importance of understanding and supporting a client within the context of their family and community. As a clinician, Tarah utilizes Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Tarah teaches Social Skills Development, Flexibility Skills Development, Anxiety Management, Mood Regulation, Interoception Skills Development, Confidence Building and Growth Mindset skills among others.

Tarah enjoys teaching and supporting clients in developing effective flexibility skills, emotional regulation skills, distress tolerance skills, anxiety management, and social skills and creates unique, interesting and multi-sensory client sessions. She believes that the therapeutic space should have a lasting impact and be a catalyst for clients to feel that they can be who they authentically are. In her spare time, you can find Tarah traveling to remote areas of the world, skiing or reading a book.

Kacie Lemen, LMSW

Kacie received her BA in Psychology with an emphasis in Child Life Development at Azusa Pacific University and her Masters degree in Social Work with a Health Specialization from The Catholic University of America.

Kacie has extensive experience in numerous special education schools and care settings working as a school-based mental health therapist for the past three years. Kacie’s area of expertise includes working with school-aged and adolescent Autistic individuals, as well as individuals diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety, Learning challenges, Communication challenges, Sensory Processing Disorder, and other related differences. Kacie teaches Social Skills, Anxiety Management, Mood Regulation, Interoception, Confidence Building, Growth Mindset, Flexibility Skills and more.

Kacie enjoys helping clients achieve their full potential while affirming their authentic selves. Kacie’s approach is non-judgmental with an emphasis on first building relationships in order to establish trust. She values each individual’s unique insight and invites them to be an active participant and partner in the therapeutic process. Kacie’s approach to therapy utilizes concepts from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solutions-Focused Therapy among other therapeutic modalities to help individuals engage in person-centered skill building and social emotional development.

Outside of her therapeutic work, Kacie enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, traveling, cooking, and attending live music and theater performances.

Jennifer Polkes, Educational Advocate/School Consultant/Autism Resources Expert/Job Coach/Life Skills/Executive Functioning Coach

Services Provided

1. Finding resources for Autistic individuals that support their independence, education, careers and finances

2. Finding the best educational settings for Autistic individuals

3.Advocating for services and supports for Autistic individuals in elementary, middle, and high school and in college

4. Advocating for services and support for Autistic individuals in the workplace

5. Teaching Life Skills such as budgeting, bill paying, travel training and more

Jennifer comes to KAPS after over fifteen years of working as a disability advocate in the DC metropolitan area. She has extensive experience in working with employers to teach them how to help hire, retain and manage differently abled employees. Over the last several years, Jennifer has focused her attention on education advocacy. She has helped families of children with special needs find appropriate school placement and has acted as a liaison between families and schools while addressing a student’s requirements for success. She has also worked with a myriad of local and national disability organizations on lobbying legislative agendas and program initiatives around disability employment. She is the proud mother of a soon-to-be high school graduate and two unruly dogs.

Sarah Behrens, Executive Functioning Coach

Services Provided

TIME MANAGEMENT: prioritization, preparation, planning, and efficiency.
ORGANIZATION: tracking systems for physical and digital materials and self-monitoring.
STUDY SKILLS: engagement in less preferred topics and approaching various reading, writing, memorizing, and note taking tasks.
SELF-ADVOCACY: self-awareness, motivation, reframing perspective, and utilizing help.
GOAL-SETTING: self-awareness, independence fostering, and expanding strategy toolbox to achieve set goals.

Sarah is a graduate of the University of Missouri with an emphasis in Cross Categorical Special Education. She has taught and supported students and families in a variety of public and private educational settings in the Chicago, D.C. and Tampa Bay areas for fourteen years. She has taught at two independent schools geared for children with high functioning autism who benefitted from individualized instruction in the areas of social, communication, and executive functioning skills in addition to all academic content. She has also taught in a variety of public and charter school settings supporting a vast realm of Neurodiverse learners while holding leadership responsibilities and developing and managing processes around students who benefit from a 504, Individualized Education Program, or an equivalent plan. She has supported teachers, staff, and parents in their growth of implementation of best practices, differentiated instruction, and strategies to best serve growing populations of diverse learners.

In addition, Sarah has continuously worked to support students and families in the role of educational coach and advocate. This type of work has occurred both in and out of school settings. It has allowed her to act as a driver and partner within each student’s support team to put into motion habit building of necessary lifelong executive functioning and advocacy skills.

Sarah cannot think of anything else in the world that she would rather be doing than creating ways to support individualized learning. She thrives on challenging herself to figure out what individuals and families need and then work together to close spaces that exist between goals and achievements to increase consistency of gains at school and at home. She also strives to support students to be empowered to play an active role as their own advocate through recognition of their strengths, motivations, goals, and step by step strategy development.