A non-profit adoptive family support center
Serving families, professionals and educators since 1998

 

Support Services - Counseling Staff

The following are our very talented, dedicated team of therapists who are qualified to address an extensive array of mental health issues in children, adolescents and adults.

Our highly trained and experienced C.A.S.E. therapists not only specialize in treating adoption-related issues, such as a child who is troubled by aspects of his adoption story, but they also have the expertise to treat the most common mental health problems: depression and suicidal ideation, learning/ attention problems and school refusal, low self-esteem, social or peer-related problems, ADHD, effects of trauma, attachment issues, risky behavioral problems including alcohol/drug abuse, and self-mutilation.

To address these concerns, our clinical team provides the following services:

  • Individual therapy
  • Marital and family therapy
  • Group therapy - Kids Adoption Network
  • Sand tray therapy
  • Consultations
  • School advocacy and consultation

In their work, you can be confident that the C.A.S.E. team is especially sensitive to the impact of pre-adoptive experiences, as well as to the possible complex connection between adoption issues. Debbie Riley, Executive Director provides a consultation with a family and the problems the child or adolescent is exhibiting. That is what makes C.A.S.E.'s clinical team unique.

In addition to our services for children/adolescents and their families, C.A.S.E. therapists also work with adults who were adopted, prospective adoptive parents and birth parents. Clients at C.A.S.E. also benefit from the Center's strong collaborative community network of educators, pediatricians, psychologists, and other mental health providers, which ensure extensive access to school and community services.

Counseling Staff info

Diane Banks, LICSW, LCSW-C has been in the field since 1975 with expertise in pre and post adoption. She has worked extensively with teenagers, particularly those who have finalized adoption but are struggling to adjust and those who have been sexually abused or where there is a suspicion of abuse.

 

Julie Bulitt, LCSW-C has been in the field of adoption for 10 years and a family therapist for 15 years. She specializes in adolescents with adoptive families who also have biological children, and has led parent and children's groups. Her expertise includes families with birth and adopted children. She specializes in teenagers who are struggling with depression, self-esteem and self-image. She is the parent of four children, two by adoption and two by birth.

Sean Delehant, LCPC, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, has provided individual, family and group psychotherapy for 18 years with an emphasis in substance abuse. He is certified as both a group psychotherapist and psychodramatist.   Mr. Delehant was awarded the Anne Archibold Award by the D.C. Commission on Mental Health Services.  Each year, this award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of mental health.


Barbara Franck, LCSW-C has over 10 years of experience in the field of adoption working with families with children of all ages. Her areas of expertise include transracial adoption and learning differences. She is the adoptive parent of two children.

 

Allison Harshaw, M.S., CCLS, is an adoption therapist who provides psychotherapy to children and families served by the Rural Adoptive Family Initiative (R.A.F.I.). R.A.F.I., partnered by Department of Social Services, One Church One Child and C.A.S.E., strives to recruit rural families to adopt Virginia’s waiting children while also providing adoption sensitive mental health services to enhance the success of adoption and promote community adoption competencies. In addition to her direct clinical duties, Ms. Harshaw works with the schools, community therapists and adoption related community groups, to provide training, education and consultation.

 

Stephanie Hesse, LCSW-C has 15 years of experience in family therapy working with children of all ages, with particular expertise in adolescents. Her main interest and expertise is with children involved with the child welfare system who have experienced trauma.

 
Mari J. Itzkowitz, LSCW will manage our Adoptive Families Preservation Project program in Virginia as well as provide clinical services to adoptive families. Marie has more than 10 years of specialized experience in the areas of loss and grief, including working with foster children and families
as the prepare for adoption. Her expertise extends to transitional loss, role adjustment, and healing after unexpected life changes. Contact her at 703-425-3703 or email her at itzkowitz@adoptionsupport.org .

Madeleine Krebs, LCSW-C, C.A.S.E Clinical Coordinator, has over 35 years of experience providing psychotherapy for families with children of all ages. She has worked extensively with foster and adopted children who have experienced early trauma, grief and loss and with families concerning domestic, international and kinship adoptions. Ms Krebs is frequently called upon to provide expert testimony in court on behalf of the child.

 
Vanessa Marshall, LGSW
Reverend Vanessa Marshall is co-founder of Circle of Light Holistic Health Practices and Interfaith Ministry Services and founder of What If. in Maryland . She has over 20 years of experience providing holistic healing approaches to adults, children and families and specializes in working with children and families who are joining together in adoption. She is an Ordained Interfaith Minister, Reiki Master and a Licensed Clinical Graduate Social Worker. 
 

John Meeks, M.D., C.A.S.E.'s psychiatric consultant, has been a practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist for over 40 years. He has served as director of several child and adolescent divisions of psychiatric hospitals. He is co-founder and has served as president and Medical Director of the Foundation Schools since 1975. In 1998, he received the prestigious national Schonfeld Award from the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry for his lifetime contributions to child and adolescent psychiatry.

 
Amy Moskovitz, MS, NCC, LPC , has experience working with children who are diagnosed with emotional and behavioral issues. She is an adoption therapist who provides counseling and support to children and families whom are served under the Rural Adoptive Family Initiative (R.A.F.I.) Grant, in order to reinforce the attachment bond between the child and his or her pre-adoptive and adoptive family members. Counseling includes advocating for individual needs while fortifying relationships between the family unit to ensure a successful adoption process.
 

Debbie B. Riley, M.A. Executive Director of C.A.S.E., a marriage and family therapist, has 25 years of experience with a specialty in adolescence. She has extensive collaborations with community organizations that support at-risk teens, and co-founded Operation Runaway with the Montgomery County Police Department. She specializes in treating the complexities of adoption and adolescence, children adopted internationally who are experiencing post-trauma stress and adjustment challenges, as well as children who struggle with complex learning and emotional needs. She is the adoptive parent of one child.


Karen Schulz, LCSW-C has been a practicing child and adolescent psychotherapist since 1982. Her areas of expertise include working with very young children in the preschool years focusing on early developmental issues. She also provides treatment of mood anxiety disorder.


Allyson Shaffer, LCSW-C has over 10 years experience working with children and adolescents with behavioral and psychiatric problems. Before joining the C.A.S.E. team, Ms. Shaffer provided family and group therapy with children and their families at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington , D.C., many of whom were in the foster care system. She has also previously provided counseling services to birthparents and adoptive parents in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit at the Children's Hospital in San Diego , CA .


Ellen Singer, LCSW-C has over 25 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in working with prospective parents, adoptive parents, adult adoptees, and birth parents. Her areas of expertise include: coping with infertility, making the decision to adopt, open adoption, search and reunion, third party reproduction, marital therapy and relationship issues. Ms. Singer provides parent education on topics including Talking with Children about Adoption and W.I.S.E. Up! She is a key author of CASE's publications and contributor to adoption magazines. Ms. Singer serves as the Adoption Resource of the Professional Advisory Council for the Mid-Atlantic Region of RESOLVE. She is a parent by adoption and by birth.

 

 

  Updated 28 March, 2008                 top See Our Privacy Statement | Contact Us