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A licensed
behavioral psychologist or a clinician oversees each student’s treatment
program. The term clinician refers to a person with a masters or
doctoral degree in psychology or allied field. The clinician
is part of a treatment team that also includes a case manager, the teacher,
the special education supervisor and the residential coordinators.
Additional input is obtained from medical consultants, psychiatrists,
nursing staff, speech therapists, etc. as required. The design of each
student's program, as well as each substantive change in that program, must
be reviewed and approved by a doctoral-level psychologist or clinician.
Currently, the
following individuals are serving as clinicians at JRC:
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Gary Dube, Ph.D.
Psychologist |
Dr. Dube earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Nova
Southeastern University in 1983 and completed a pre-doctoral
internship at McLean Hospital. One of the members of his
dissertation committee was Dr. Leo Reyna, a former consultant to Dr.
Israel. Dr. Dube has spent a substantial portion of his career
working as a forensic psychologist as well as a clinical/behavioral
psychologist and he is a ‘Designated Forensic Psychologist’
Supervisor in Massachusetts. In addition to his consulting work for
the Judge Rotenberg Center, he works for a non-profit human service
provider as the Program Director for Juvenile Court Clinic services
in Plymouth, Bristol and Barnstable Counties. Dr. Dube has been a
consultant for JRC since 1987. |
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Robert von Heyn, Ph.D.
Clinician |
Dr. von Heyn is Director of Clinical Services at JRC. He received
his Ph.D. in Psychology from Adelphi University and B.A. in
Psychology from Susquehanna University. Prior to JRC he was the
Assistant Director of a youth facility in Great Neck, New York and
taught Psychology courses at Adelphi University. Dr. von Heyn moved
from New York to work at JRC (formerly the Behavior Research
Institute in Providence, Rhode Island) in 1989 and has been here for
the last 17 years and has witnessed the vast improvement of hundreds
of students that have been at JRC. |
|

James Riley, Ph.D.
Psychologist |
Dr. Riley received his A.B. from Bowdoin College and his Ph.D. from
Boston College. He is a Licensed Psychologist/Health Service
Provider. He is also a Professor of Psychology at the University of
Massachusetts-Dartmouth and Clinical Director of Comprehensive
Mental Health Systems, Inc. Dr. Riley has served as a JRC
psychologist since 1992. |
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Patricia Rivera, Ph.D.
Psychologist |
Dr. Rivera is Assistant Director of Clinical
Services at JRC. She received
her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of
Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Rivera is a licensed
psychologist in the state of Massachusetts. Her prior experience includes working at a
special education school for students with behavior problems,
community mental health counseling and sport psychology. Dr. Rivera
has been employed at JRC since September, 2002. |
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Nicholas Lowther, M.A.
Clinician |
Nicholas Lowther received his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology
with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Minnesota
State University. He is originally from the United Kingdom and
completed some of his earlier training in the UK. Nicholas has been
working with individuals with behavior disorders and developmental
disabilities since 1999. He completed internships at the Murdoch
Center in North Carolina working with individuals with developmental
disabilities as well as a neuropsychology practicum at the Riverview
Clinic in Minnesota. Nicholas has served as a JRC clinician since
January, 2004. |

Thelmisha Vincent, M.S., BCBA
Clinician |
Thelmisha Vincent received her Masters Degree in Counseling
Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Her prior experience includes working with children and adolescents
in hospitals, juvenile detention centers, community residential
programs, and foster care. She has also served as a clinician for
various community mental health centers within the Boston area
providing counseling and family reunification services. Thelmisha
has served as a JRC case manager for 2 years and as a clinician
since July, 2005. |

Kelly Ilsley, Psy.D., BCBA
Psychologist |
Dr. Ilsley received her Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology
from the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield,
MO. She completed her predoctoral internship at Pennsylvania
Counseling Services with rotations in child and adolescent
outpatient therapy; alternative education counseling with
adolescents; inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation; and in-home
family crisis intervention. Dr. Ilsley completed her postdoctoral
fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital
for Children in Dallas, TX. Her prior experience includes working
with children and adolescents in a variety of community-based,
outpatient, school, and inpatient settings. Dr. Ilsley began working
with children with developmental disabilities while completing her
training as an Occupational Therapist, prior to her psychology
training. Dr. Ilsley has served as a JRC clinician since October,
2005. |

Nathan Blenkush, BCBA
Clinician |
Dr. Blenkush received his Ph.D. in Conditioning and Learning from
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and B.A. in Psychology from
the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Prior to JRC, Dr. Blenkush
treated individuals with behavior problems in residential and
community based programs in Wisconsin and Tennessee. He is a Board
Certified Behavior Analyst with years of experience serving children
and adults who emit problem behaviors. Dr. Blenkush has served as a
JRC clinician since January, 2006. |

Nicolle Matthews, Ph.D.
Clinician |
Dr. Matthews received her Doctorate in Psychology with a
concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of
Texas in Austin, Texas. Her prior experience includes work as a
professor and guest lecturer for Texas Lutheran University and The
University of Texas on topics such as The Application of
Conditioning Procedures; Animal Learning and Behavior; and The
Application of Schedules of Reinforcement. Dr. Matthews has served
as a JRC clinician since February, 2006. |

Steffanie
Koué, Psy. D.,
BCBA
Clinician |
Dr. Koué received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pacific
University in Oregon. She has been working with individuals with
severe behavioral disorders, including juvenile sex offenders and
firesetters, and individuals with developmental disabilities since
1996. Dr. Koué has served these populations in numerous settings
including homes, residential settings and detention centers. She
completed her doctoral internship at South Shore Mental Health,
Behavioral Services in Quincy, MA. Previous research interests have
included criminal profiling juvenile firesetting. She is currently
an adjunct professor for a behavioral Masters program at Simmons
College in Boston. Dr. Koué has served as a JRC clinician since
March, 2006. |

Michelle G. Gulker, Ph.D.
Psychologist |
Dr. Gulker earned her Ph.D. in Clinical
Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology. She
completed her training as a clinical fellow at McLean Hospital /
Harvard Medical School. Dr. Gulker is a Licensed Psychologist and a
Certified Health Service Provider in the State of Massachusetts.
Prior to JRC, Dr. Gulker worked under a contract for the Department
of Mental Retardation in Fall River, MA, working with individuals
with mental retardation and developmental disabilities who had
severe behavior problems / disorders. She also worked as the
Training Coordinator and Primary Supervisor of Behavioral Services
at South Shore Mental Health in Quincy, MA. In addition, Dr. Gulker
had a private practice working with families and children with
behavior problems. Her additional experience working with
adolescents and young adults with challenging behavior problems
includes working in residential treatment facilities, community
mental health settings, and psychiatric facilities. Dr. Gulker has
served as a JRC clinician since September, 2006. |

Gregory Todisco, M. Ed.
Clinician |
Gregory Todisco received his Masters
Degree in Counseling Psychology from Cambridge College in Cambridge,
Massachusetts and obtained his BS in Developmental Psychology at
Suffolk University in Boston, MA. He is currently working toward a
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Counseling Psychology at
Cambridge College. His prior experience includes working with
children and adolescents in youth mediation groups, and served as a
community recreational counselor for three years. For two years, he
also worked in adult and geriatric health services in Lowell, MA and
aided in the development of their behavioral health program working
as a Behavioral Analyst. Gregory has served as a JRC case manager
for nearly 2 years and as a clinician since April, 2007. |

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