Archives: Authors

Jelena Kecmanovic, PhD, (aka “Dr K.”) is a clinical psychologist and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University who integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with existential approaches. During her 30 years of experience as a therapist, teacher, mentor, author, and presenter, she has focused on anxiety, resilience, technology and mental health, and on achieving authentic goals. Dr K. is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, and her work also has appeared in CNN, Salon, Aeon’s Psyche, Psychotherapy Networker, and Psychology Today Magazine, among others. She is working on a book project entitled The price of self-deception: How fooling yourself backfires and what to do instead. You can find her at drkpsychology.com.

Jennifer Baggerly, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, is a professor of Counseling at the University of North Texas at Dallas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor with over 25 years of play therapy experience. Dr. Baggerly provides counseling and play therapy at Kaleidoscope Behavioral Health in Flower Mound Texas. She served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Association for Play Therapy from 2013-2014 and was a member of the board from 2009-2015. She has over 70 publications and is recognized as a prominent expert in children’s crisis intervention and play therapy.  

Jennifer Hayes, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S, is an Assistant Professor of Psychology (UMass Global- A nonprofit affiliate) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is a Registered Play-Therapist-Supervisor and trained in Polyvagal theory as a Safe and Sound Protocol provider. Her practice is rooted in rural mental health, where her passion was ignited. Dr. Hayes holds a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in child and adolescent therapy. Dr. Hayes is an AAMFT Clinical Fellow, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, a Professional Member of the Association for Play Therapy, and an Associate member with the APA.

Jeremy Shapiro, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and adjunct faculty member of the Psychological Sciences Department of Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Shapiro has worked as a therapist, researcher, and trainer in university, hospital, community mental health, private practice, and corporate settings. His books include, Psychotherapeutic Diagrams: Pathways, Spectrums, Feedback Loops, and the Search for Balance (for therapists), Finding Goldilocks: A Guide for Creating Balance in Personal Change, Relationships, and Politics (for everyone), and Child and Adolescent Therapy: Science and Art (a graduate school textbook). From the beginning, the focus of Dr. Shapiro’s career has been integrating scientific research with immersive therapy experience to construct accurate, deep-level understandings of human problems and their solutions.

Jeremy Shapiro, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and adjunct faculty member of the Psychological Sciences Department of Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Shapiro has worked as a therapist, researcher, and trainer in university, hospital, community mental health, private practice, and corporate settings. His books include, Psychotherapeutic Diagrams: Pathways, Spectrums, Feedback Loops, and the Search for Balance (for therapists), Finding Goldilocks: A Guide for Creating Balance in Personal Change, Relationships, and Politics (for everyone), and Child and Adolescent Therapy: Science and Art (a graduate school textbook). From the beginning, the focus of Dr. Shapiro’s career has been integrating scientific research with immersive therapy experience to construct accurate, deep-level understandings of human problems and their solutions.

Jerry Crimmins, PsyD, is a Licensed Psychologist since 2003 who lives and works in Minnesota. He is certified in DBT through Behavioral Tech at the introductory and advanced levels. He is the co-owner of the Minnesota Center for Psychology, a group private practice in Saint Paul, MN. He has extensive experience in telehealth and is excited to collaborate with Talk Therapy.  

Jessica Kitchens, LPC, RPT, is a therapist who operates Kitchens Counseling Services, where she specializes in substance use, play therapy, and is a Board-Certified Cognitive Specialist. She has lived experience as a late-diagnosed autistic with a PDA profile, and a mother of five children (ages 10-24), several of which are diagnosed with AuDHD, and the youngest with PDA as well. Jessica also has an MBA and is currently pursuing a PhD in Change Leadership for Equity and Inclusion with an emphasis on Community Leadership and Change. Jessica, her husband of 25 years, and her children have called NW Arkansas home for almost 20 years. In her spare time, she likes to write and research areas of interest, spend time in nature, run, skate, work out, dabble in art on occasion, and spend time with her friends, and family. Jessica has a strong love for working with neurodivergent individuals and hopes to make a brighter future for those in her community. Her website is Home – Jessica Kitchens. 

Jessica Kitchens, LPC, RPT, is a therapist who operates Kitchens Counseling Services, where she specializes in substance use, play therapy, and is a Board-Certified Cognitive Specialist. She has lived experience as a late-diagnosed autistic with a PDA profile, and a mother of five children (ages 10-24), several of which are diagnosed with AuDHD, and the youngest with PDA as well. Jessica also has an MBA and is currently pursuing a PhD in Change Leadership for Equity and Inclusion with an emphasis on Community Leadership and Change. Jessica, her husband of 25 years, and her children have called NW Arkansas home for almost 20 years. In her spare time, she likes to write and research areas of interest, spend time in nature, run, skate, work out, dabble in art on occasion, and spend time with her friends, and family. Jessica has a strong love for working with neurodivergent individuals and hopes to make a brighter future for those in her community. Her website is Home – Jessica Kitchens. 

Lawrence Rubin, PhD, is a North Carolina-based psychologist, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and on the clinical faculty of Nova Southeastern University. He is a board-certified diplomate in clinical child and adolescent psychology who specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, teens and their families. He has published numerous book chapters and edited volumes in psychotherapy and popular culture including the Handbook of Medical Play Therapy and Child Life: Interventions in Clinical and Medical Settings and Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Skills: A Popular Culture Casebook Approach. Lawrence is the editor at Psychotherapy.net.

 

Jessica Stone, PhD is a licensed psychologist in the state of Colorado. She has served on a number of boards, including the World Association for Sand Tray Professionals, AutPlay, and the California branch of the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Stone is an international speaker, clinical supervisor, and registered play therapist. She is the co-creator of The Virtual Sandtray, which has partnered with the Lowenfeld Trust, and is the developer of Digital Play Therapy. Dr. Stone has been featured for her work throughout the virtual world as an innovator, ambassador of play, and stalwart advocate for the use of digital technology in the field of psychology.

Jill Savege Scharff, MD is Co-director of the International Psychotherapy Institute and Chair of the International Institute for Psychoanalytic Training. She is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School and Teaching Analyst at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute. Her private practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland is concentrated on psychoanalysis with children and adults, and on couple and family therapy.

Dr. Scharff edited Foundations of Object Relations Family Therapy, (1989) and The Autonomous Self: The Work of John D. Sutherland (1994). She wrote Projective and Introjective Identification: The Therapists Use of Self (1992). With David E. Scharff, M.D. she co-authored Object Relations Family Therapy (1987), Object Relations Couple Therapy (1991), Scharff Notes: A Primer of Object Relations Therapy (1992 and 2nd edition 2005), Object Relations Therapy of Physical and Sexual Trauma (1994), Object Relations Individual Therapy (1998), Tuning the Therapeutic Instrument: The Affective Learning of Psychotherapy (2000), and co-editor of Self Hatred in Psychoanalysis: Detoxifying the Persecutory Object (2003) and The Legacy of Fairbairn and Sutherland (2005). She is series co-editor of the Library of Object Relations at Jason Aronson, Inc.

Dr. Scharff has been the invited guest speaker at scientific meetings, symposia and workshops on psychoanalysis, marital and family therapy throughout the United States and Europe. She is also interested in social dance and theatre. She founded the Cosmos Club Theatre in Washington D.C. where members' plays are performed in readers theatre and put into workshop.