2025-2026 Board of Directors

Kathryn Wood (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Maryland and a Provisional Registered Drama Therapist with the North American Drama Therapy Association. She received a Masters in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies and has been living and working in the DMV area since 2020. Kathryn discovered ACT early on during in her graduate program and has trained extensively in ACT throughout her career. She works with adults and emerging adults and has a special interest in working with folks undergoing all kinds of life transitions or changes. She is a kink and poly-affirming practitioner and works with clients all along the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum. Kathryn notes that both Drama Therapy and ACT emphasize identifying and changing relationships to the stories in our lives. Drama therapy techniques can even further enliven and embody ACT metaphors, drawing both therapist and client more deeply into the therapeutic process.

Hannah (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker located in Bethesda, MD. She has been practicing as a clinician for more than 10 years and recently founded Gold Therapy. She has extensive experience working with a diverse group of clients during her time in community mental health supporting individuals with HIV and comorbid mental health needs. Hannah also worked as a school social worker in an underserved community and, more recently, at the Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA), where she supported individuals in a community mental health setting. In the past few years, Hannah has become very passionate about ACT. ACBS WorldCon Cyprus (2023) was the first time she stepped into the trainer role, having been accepted to present an In-Person Workshop. Hannah's dedication to the CBS community continues to grow every day. She is honored to take the next step in her ACT journey and serve as President for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

Rachel Phillips-Anderson (she/her), LCSW-C is a psychotherapist and meditation teacher with a private practice serving clients in Maryland and Washington, D.C. For over a decade, she has integrated Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help individuals struggling with OCD and other anxiety disorders live more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Rachel has been practicing meditation and mindfulness for over 20 years. She was recently ordained as a lay practitioner in the tradition of Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, and brings a deep commitment to presence and compassion into her clinical work. Before becoming a psychotherapist, Rachel worked in media and communications policy, focusing on the use of communication technologies to support the needs of diverse voices and communities. As a psychotherapist, she strives to provide anti-racist, disability-inclusive, and gender- and LGBTQIA+-affirming psychotherapy by actively engaging in reading, clinical trainings, self-reflection, and candid conversations.

Alessandra (Alex) Pieraccini, PsyD (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist and owner of The Center for Insight and Growth, LLC, a private practice based in Baltimore, Maryland. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from La Salle University in Philadelphia and completed her pre-doctoral internship in Health Service Psychology at Towson University Counseling Center (TUCC). After her internship, Alex stayed on as a Staff Psychologist at TUCC for 7 years before leaving to start her private practice in 2024. During her time at TUCC Alex took on a variety of roles, including Referrals Coordinator, Coordinator of Group Services, and Assistant Director/Clinical Director. She now works in her private practice full time supporting adults with anxiety, perfectionism, and identity development concerns.  In therapy, Alex strives to show up authentically and utilizes a blend of mindfulness, ACT, and CBT techniques based on each client's unique needs.

Naomi LeVine (she/her) is a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. She earned her bachelor's degree in Family, Youth, & Community Sciences from the University of Florida and a master's degree in Couple & Family Therapy from the University of Maryland. In addition to providing therapy in private practice and agency settings, some of her favorite projects have included facilitating groups, offering workshops, and creating and implementing mental health infrastructure for staff at an overnight summer camp. Naomi currently is the owner of Naomi LeVine LLC, a solo private practice, where she provides therapy to individuals and couples. She is especially passionate about working with couples who are dating, engaged, and newly married, and is a Prepare-Enrich certified facilitator. She is also a clinical supervisor and works with multiple pre-licensed MFTs. She loves using ACT with her clients to help them build values-aligned relationships and lives, and she is grateful to have found the ACBS community of intelligent and thoughtful clinicians. 

Erin Pressman, LCSW-C (she/her) is a clinical social worker who works in private practice at True North Therapy and Consulting and Kennedy Krieger Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Communication Through Theater from University of Maryland Baltimore County, an AMI Elementary Education Certificate from Centro Internazionale Studi Montessoriani, and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore. She is also a certified children’s yoga instructor. Erin’s work focuses on children, teens, and their families in multiple contexts and she works clinically via individual, group, and family sessions using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In her work she has developed and administered a college persistence protocol and a valued decision-making protocol for two Baltimore City high school mentorship programs. In addition, she conducts research on ACT teen groups for depression with Johns Hopkins Hospital. Her current projects include an ACT parent group, ACT individual teen protocol and ACT for substance abuse in Baltimore City Schools. Erin also enjoys training other professionals how to use ACT for children, teens, and parents. She regularly presents introduction to ACT, ACT for parents, ACT for teachers and runs consult groups which focus on applying ACT. She believes that her work with teens and children in different professional capacities, including teaching public and private school, directing plays, teaching yoga classes, and therapy has helped her better understand more of where life happens for families. She holds the belief that therapy is meant to support these environments and help us find meaning and direction as we move in them.

Aria Jaye (she/her) is a recent summa cum laude graduate of Towson University’s Honors College, where she completed her undergraduate degree in psychology. During her studies, Aria discovered a heartfelt passion for contextual behavioral science, leading her to author a systematic literature review on the role of psychological flexibility in psychedelic effect on depressive symptoms. She presented this research as a poster at the 2024 ACBS World Conference. Aria has since had the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with the wonderful ACT clinicians at True North Therapy and Training, where she is currently employed. She also serves on the board of the ACBS Psychedelic and Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness Special Interest Group. Starting in fall 2025, Aria will continue her education at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University of Chicago, where she is thrilled to have the opportunity to further deepen her knowledge of contextual behavioral approaches. Grateful to have encountered CBS and its surrounding community early in her education, Aria is passionate about helping make this space accessible and welcoming to fellow students and early-career professionals.