Our Professional Staff
Our professional staff includes licensed, highly trained, experienced clinical psychologists, school psychologists and clinical social workers. They are active members of their state and national associations, and continually participate in advanced post-graduate seminars and educational forums.
Roberta R. Fallig, Ph.D.
Dr. Roberta R. Fallig is Clinical and Executive Director of Psychological Associates of North Jersey, LLC. She is a licensed psychologist in both New York and New Jersey, and has almost 20 years of experience providing individual, couples and family counseling to children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Fallig is a member of the professional attending staff at Hackettstown Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Fallig completed her doctoral work in Psychology at Hofstra University, after graduating with honors from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst and earning a Masters degree in Psychology from The New School For Social Research in New York City. She then went on to complete a 3 year post-doctoral training in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickenson University in Teaneck, NJ. In addititon, she has specialized post-doctoral training in marriage and family counseling, psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, eating disorders, trauma and child abuse, and stress management.
Dr. Fallig has presented many community sponsered talks in Warren, Morris and Union Counties on topics ranging from ADD/ADHD through CHADD, Eating Disorders, Anxiety and Depression in Adults, Issues of Adolescence etc and is a frequent guest expert on local radio and in newspapers. Dr. Fallig has been a consulting school psychologist in Morris and Essex County schools, and continues to provide clinical supervision to masters and doctoral level therapists. Dr. Fallig is also a Partner with Springfield Psychological Associates,LLP, a group practice of psychologists with offices in Warren, Morris and Union County, New Jersey. In addition to Hackettstown, Dr.Fallig sees patients in her Springfield office, located in Union County, New Jersey. She is a member of a variety of professional organizations, including the New Jersey Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, and Eating Disorders Association of New Jersey.
Keri Cooper, LCSW
Keri Cooper is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been providing mental health services for almost 10 years. She obtained her BA in Psychology from LaSalle University and her MSW from The University of Pennsylvania. She is a Certified School Social Worker, a Certified Clinical Supervisor, and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
The majority of Keri’s experience is in treating children and adolescents, along with their families. She has experience working in outpatient private settings, private schools as well as child and adolescent residential facilities. In these settings, Kerri has worked with individuals and families experiencing a wide range of issues, including behavioral issues, depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder and developmental disorders.
Suzanne Dowd, LCSW
Suzanne Dowd is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Board Certified Diplomate with 20 years of experience counseling children, adolescents, adults and families in outpatient mental health, school and private practice setings. She is certified as a NJ School Social Worker, certified by the Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Suzanne received her MSW from the Rutger’s University School of Social Work. Her previous professional experience includes working for an adolescent outpatient mental health facility, and local school districts, where she provided individual and group counseling as well as parent education and training.
Donna Etkins, LCSW
Donna Etkins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 20 years of experience counseling individual adults and couples in private practice settings. Donna received her Masters in Social Work from The University of Maryland School of Social Work. She has had extensive post graduate training in the field of addictions and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Her other specialties include the areas of depression, anxiety and marital issues.
Sara M. Mendez, LCSW
Sara Mendez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been providing mental health and social advocacy services for children and their families for close to 10 years. Sara has a broad range of experience in both hospital settings as well as in a variety of outpatient settings, including specialty clinics, private special needs schools and in private psychotherapy practice.
Sara specializes in providing psychotherapeutic services to children ages 2 through 18. In particular, she provides individual, family and group therapy services, focusing on attachment, behavioral, emotional and developmental issues, ADHD, parent education and training, abuse, grief, depression and medical issues.
Sara received her BSW from Siena College in New York and her Masters degree from Columbia University. She is an accredited member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Debbi Stavis, LCSW
Debbi Stavis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Board Certified Diplomat who has been providing mental health services over 20 years. She obtained her BA in Psychology from George Washington University and her MSW from Rutgers University. She is a Certified School Social Worker and is an accredited member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Debbi has almost 10 years of experience working in New Jersey school systems as a Student Assistance Counselor. Her previous experience also includes counseling adolescents and their families in an intensive outpatient chemical dependency unit. The bulk of her experience is in private practice, offering individual , family and group psychotherapy to adolescents, adults and families. Her areas of specialty include working with adolescents and young adults with a range of issues from peer presure, to depression, anxiety, trauma and substance abuse. With those teens and adults suffering with substance abuse/dependency issues, Debbi provides services from assessment through recovery and aftercare, and also specializes in working with children and adult children of addicts.
Jay Sweifach, D.SW, LCSW
Dr. Jay Sweifach is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing in both individual, group and family therapy. He was educated and trained at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, where he received both a master’s and doctoral degree in Social Work. He is an Associate Professor on the faculty of Wurzweiler at Yeshiva University in NYC. Dr. Sweifach has been practicing for over ten years, working with children, adolescents and adults. He specializes in areas including interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, social skills, adolescent development, depression, anxiety, life transition adjustment, spiritual awareness and sexual identity/sexuality issues.
Dr. Sweifach has an extensive list of authored and coauthored papers which have been published in leading social work and interdisciplinary journals. He has presented at academic conferences both nationally and internationally on topics including domestic violence, social work education, ethics, sex education and volunteerism.
The right therapist makes all the difference in the world!