Heather Ballentine, B.A. | Intake Coordinator
Heather has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and has been working in the behavioral health field for 15 years. She is the mother of an Army veteran and is very passionate about working with veterans, active-duty service members, family members, and caregivers to ensure they receive the mental health services they need. As an Intake Coordinator for the clinic, Heather is responsible for completing intake screenings for new and returning clients seeking mental health services with the clinic. Heather’s main goal is to provide the highest level of service to our clients and to treat all clients with kindness and compassion.
Aaron Banas, Psy.D. | Psychologist
Aaron is a clinical psychologist, recently transitioned from active-duty service in the United States Navy. He is a prior-enlisted hospital corpsman and has a history of providing care for military-affiliated populations since he first entered service in 2003. Aaron completed his Doctorate at the George Washington University and is interested in building healthy and resilient communities through collaborative efforts in order to best support military-affiliated populations.
James Bell, LMSW | Intake Manager
James is a licensed master social worker, with experience that includes working as a clinical social work trainee at the Northport VA Medical Center and Hands Across Long Island (HALI). James also served as a coordinator for Veterans Justice Outreach and for the Pre-911 Caregiver Support Program. Additionally, he has served both in the U.S. Active Army and U.S. Army Reserves as a Behavioral Health NCO, working primarily with light infantry and medical support units. Most recently, James was activated in the Army Reserves and served as the Deployed Warrior Behavioral Health NCO at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. James holds a Master’s in social work with a concentration in clinical work from Hunter College, NY, and a Bachelor’s degree in speech communication from St. Joseph’s College, NY. James has also received training in military cultural competence and applied suicide intervention skills. He has been with the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals since August 2019 and has been engaged with the military population since February 2012.
Susan Carson | Office Project Coordinator
Susan is a longtime Maryland resident and has a Bachelor’s degree in history from Trinity University, DC. She has many years of experience in administrative roles in medical, dental, and mental health offices.
Grace Caulfield, LCPC, LPC (DC), LPC (VA), CAC-AD | Vice President & Clinic Director
Grace has worked in the field of addiction for over 23 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with both adolescent and adult populations, as well as a strong background in family therapy. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient, outpatient, psychiatric hospitals, and residential settings. She holds a Master’s in counseling psychology and is a licensed professional counselor in Maryland, as well as a Certified Associate Counselor, Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD) credential through the Board of Professional Counselors of Maryland. Grace received a Level 1 Trauma Certification through the Institute of Advanced Psychotherapy and Training, which she incorporates into her clinical approach and practice. Grace provides evidence-based treatment to veterans, particularly those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan wars, their families, and active-duty military personnel referred by their branch.
Simone Collins, LCSW-C | Clinician
A licensed clinical social worker with more than five years of experience in community and school-based mental health, Simone provides individual and group therapy to individuals experiencing trauma, dual diagnosis, depression, and anxiety. She uses CBT and solution-focused therapy to promote client autonomy and empower them to recognize their own potential for change.
Ta Shawn Couser | Office Manager
Ta Shawn has worked in the healthcare field for 17 years in a variety of capacities, in both direct care and office management. When not serving military families and their children at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, she is a phlebotomist and was previously an EMT. She has been with Easterseals since April 2021 as the office manager and in that capacity, she is responsible for supervising the admin team, managing client billing, managing and coordinating client appointments, and interfacing with many departments. As a military dependent herself, Ta Shawn is passionate about this mission and about keeping the overall office running smoothly.
Kenneth Hoffman, MD | Medical Director
A retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, Ken has over 35 years of experience in mental health treatment, health promotion, teaching, research, leadership, consultation, and advocacy. As medical director, he supports patients and clinicians for medication evaluations and management. Formerly a faculty member at the Uniformed Services University, Ken directed the Center for Training and Education in Addiction Medicine and an optimized healthcare model for recovery from acute and chronic conditions. He volunteers on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees and the Oxford House Board of Directors, and continues as an adjunct faculty member at the Uniformed Services University, where he facilitates medical student discussions on medical ethics. He has published in the areas of healthcare optimization, military medicine, and alcohol and other drug use disorders. Ken received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and has a Master’s degree in public health from Harvard University School of Public Health. He also completed psychiatric and public health residencies at Tripler and Madigan Army Medical Centers. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.
Karen Katrinic, LMFT | Clinician
Mallary Lass | Outreach Manager
As outreach manager, Mallary enjoys collaborating with community partners and strengthening the clinic’s programs for veteran and military communities. She has been with the Cohen Clinic since its launch in 2017, starting as the intake coordinator before advancing into her current role. Mallary is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served for more than eight years as a mental health technician, including experience as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor. During her service in Alaska, Germany, and Texas, she trained and supervised staff members and created a number of training and clinic continuity manuals. Moreover, she was one of the first mental health technicians in the Air Force to work in the Behavioral Health Optimization Program in Primary Care. While deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Mallary served as an in-flight medical escort to psychiatric patients and in the inpatient psychiatric unit. She has taught and led classes for staff and gave briefings for clients on various psychological health educational topics such as sleep, hygiene, suicide prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, and stress management. Mallary graduated with an Associate’s degree in applied sciences in mental health from the Community College of the U.S. Air Force.
Helen Lowenstein, LCSW-C | Supervising Clinician
Helen is a board-certified licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience providing counseling services to veterans and their families. She specializes in the treatment of PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, and other behavioral health disorders. Her professional work includes serving as an EAP counselor at Military One Source for 10 years, a social worker at Framingham’s Women’s State Prison in Massachusetts, and a social worker at facilities providing geriatric treatment in Virginia and D.C. Helen has training in cognitive behavioral therapy, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She holds a Master’s of science in social work from Barry University in South Florida and is licensed in the states of Virginia and Maryland.
Rocio Ramirez, M.Ed. | Counseling Fellow
Rocio completed her Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling at George Mason University. Working primarily in an outpatient setting, Rocio is passionate about treating children, adolescents, and adults within a group or individual setting, treating depression, anxiety, relationship distress, and PTSD. Rocio's approach emphasizes the collaborative approach toward goal setting and ongoing development of the therapeutic relationship. She is trained in CPT and CBT for adults and children and adolescents and continues to seek ongoing additions to her skill and knowledge base.
Lillian Walker Shelton, Ed.D., LPC, LCPC | Clinician
Originally from Philadelphia, Lily obtained a Bachelor’s degree in sociology from St. Joseph’s University. After earning her Master’s degree from Trinity Washington University in community mental health counseling, Lily worked in community mental health and private practice. She has volunteered internationally for mental health awareness and locally with the unhoused population in Washington, DC. She has had the opportunity to support veterans and their spouses as a career coach and as a volunteer with domestic violence survivors. Lily currently teaches counseling classes at Trinity and Marymount universities.
Leah Taylor, Psy.D. | Clinical Psychologist
Leah is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in providing evidence-based practice for PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders. She received her Doctorate in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and post-doctoral residency within the VA Maryland Health Care System. During this time, she received intensive training in the treatment of trauma-related disorders secondary to combat exposure and military sexual trauma with veterans and military service members. She is well versed in utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and behavioral concerns, in addition to Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD.
Emily Wigglesworth, LPC, LCPC, NCC | Clinician
Emily is a licensed professional counselor with 10 years of experience working in the behavioral health field. She brings expertise in working with individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and trauma. She has provided care in various settings, including hospitals, inpatient and outpatient facilities, as well as in the home and community. Emily began her career working in community mental health, providing therapy, crisis management, and case management to homeless and vulnerable adults. She has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s in community counseling from Marymount University. Emily transitioned into the role as a clinician at the Steven A. Cohen Clinic in April 2022 and currently provides individual and group therapy for adults and adolescents using evidenced-based practices and trauma-informed care. She embraces strength-based approach and emphasizes collaboration with clients to identify and utilize strengths they already possess to achieve their goals.
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