crozetaces

Biography

Michelle Benedict, MA has a master’s degree in contemplative education from Naropa University. Her life-long passion is to help others, particularly children. Michelle is a certified teacher in the state of Virginia with an endorsement in earth and space science, and geography. She has taught in a variety of public school settings. She teaches mindfulness techniques at Aligned Clinical and Educational Services, PLC to help people improve their emotional regulation and increase their overall wellbeing.

Licensure

• Virginia Teaching License

Biography

Dr. Lauren Carter joined ACES in 2016. Prior to ACES, Dr. Carter began her career as an elementary school teacher in Charlotte, NC. To acquire more experience working with students facing behavior issues and their parents, she earned a master’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. During this program, she focused on developing trauma-sensitive discipline strategies for elementary-school children. Next, Dr. Carter earned her PhD from the Clinical and School Psychology at the University of Virginia.  As a doctoral student, she primarily worked with children and pre-adolescents across multiple environments, including school, an outpatient center, and an in-patient state hospital.

Dr. Carter’s time at ACES is split between conducting psychological assessments and delivering therapy services. She administers a wide variety of assessment measures to help make sense of a child, adolescent, or adult’s behavior (ADOS-2, NEPSY-II, D-KEFS, Rorschach with R-PAS scoring, etc.). She is licensed as a school psychologist through the VA Dept. of Education.

Dr. Carter takes an active role in local and state organizations that promote antiracism efforts. Along with Dr. Lemite and Ms. Warner, she helps lead the ACES Aligned & United for Black Lives group. She is also a board member for the RISE Foundation in Waynesboro, VA (https://riseorg2018.com/rise-foundation-1) and sits on the Diversity Committee through the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists. During her free time, she loves to be outside, read, and spend time with her family.

Education

• B.A. Elementary Education & Linguistics, College of William and Mary, 2006
• Ed.M. Risk & Prevention, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2009
• M.Ed. Educational Psychology, UVA, 2011
• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, UVA, 2016

Other Licensure

• VDOE-licensed School Psychologist
• VDOE-licensed Classroom Teacher for PreK-6

Biography

Dr.  Hanumantha has worked as a resident in clinical psychology with ACES since 2012, providing comprehensive assessments and individual psychotherapy for children and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. Dr. Hanumantha has extensive prior experience in the field and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia in the Psychology Department and the American Sign Language (ASL) Program, a position she has held since 2012. Dr. Hanumantha is also a member of the Disabilities Access Committee and the University’s Diversity Council.

Dr. Hanumantha remains passionate about diversity and multi-cultural issues and has been active with education, advocacy and leadership on a local and national level. Expanding on her prior experience in research with Visual Language, Visual Learning (VL2), she taught research methods to local professionals in the Philippines on a project for Discovering Deaf Words through the United States Agency for International Development. Dr. Hanumantha has been invited to serve on the boards for national organizations, such as the Diversity Strategic Team of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Deaf Women United (DWU), and Global Reach Out Initiative. In 2009 Dr. Hanumantha co-founded and was a team member for the Deaf Youth Camp of Color. She continues to volunteer and share her experiences in an effort to empower others for success, always motivated to expand the access and well-being of people from diverse backgrounds.

Education

• B.S. Biology, George Mason University, 2000
• M.S., Administration & Supervision, Gallaudet University, 2005
• M.A., Clinical Psychology, Gallaudet University, 2005
• Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Gallaudet University, 2008

Biography

Dr. Lemite joined ACES in 2013, working with children, adolescents, and young adults who have learning, attention, and communication problems. Dr. Lemite has particular expertise in the cognitive and academic development of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She can assist parents in navigating through the special education system, school-based intervention teams, and Section 504-plans for accommodations.

Dr. Lemite started out as a classroom teacher in elementary schools.  In 2004 she began her life dream of becoming a school psychologist and has worked in Henrico County Public schools and Chesterfield County Public Schools for over 15 years.

In 2020 Dr. Lemite transitioned to work full time at ACES but continues to provide psychoeducational assessments for deaf and hard of hearing children using listening and spoken language in schools throughout the state of Virginia as a member of the Virginia Network of Consultants (VNOC) collaborating with local school divisions serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

In addition to advocating for children and adults with special needs, Dr Lemite continues to maintain awareness of and space for diverse cultures, influences, and perspectives as they intersect with individual  wellbeing. She is a trained Yoga Instructor and integrates this practice into therapy sessions.

Education

• Ph.D., School Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, 2003

• M.A., Early Childhood/Elementary Education, Hofstra University, 1992

• BA., Psychology and Education, College of New Rochelle, 1989

Certifications and Memberships

• Nationally Certified School Psychologist
• Virginia Department of Education School Psychologist 
• American Psychological Association, member
• Virginia Association of School Psychologists, serving on Social Justice Interest Group
• International OCD Foundation, member
• Member of World Professional Association for Transgender Health , WPATH certification pending
• Integral Yoga Academy Registered Yoga Teacher – 200 , August 2017

Biography

Dr. Locke-Downer joined ACES in 2014 and enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults who are experiencing difficulties such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviors, behavioral problems, and social concerns. She uses a cognitive-behavioral treatment approach, with family and school consultation as important treatment components. Consultation with physicians, psychiatrists, and other treatment providers is also welcomed. Dr. Locke-Downer provides in-office and telehealth appointments.

Dr. Locke-Downer has been a practicing clinical psychologist since 2003, when she joined the faculty in the Clinical and School Psychology Program in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. Dr. Locke-Downer became Director of the Curry School’s Center for Clinical Psychology Services, the training clinic for doctoral students in the Clinical and School Psychology program. Over the course of eleven years, Dr. Locke-Downer’s work included supervising doctoral and postdoctoral trainees in psychological assessment and psychotherapy, teaching clinical seminars, and working with clients for assessment and therapy.

Education

• B.A., Psychology, Wake Forest University, 1996
• Ph.D., Clinical-Community Psychology, University of South Carolina, 2002
• Predoctoral Internship, Medical College of Virginia’s Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) 2001-02.
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, 2002-03.

Certifications and Memberships

• American Psychological Association (APA; www.apa.org)
• Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT; www.abct.org)
• International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF; www.iocdf.org)
• PSYPACT authorization (www.psypact.org)

Services

• Psychological testing for concerns about attention, behavior, relationships, social skills, mood, problem solving, cognitive functioning, learning, executive functioning, memory, independent living skills, and mental health.
• Assessments for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Second Edition, ADOS-2)
• Multi-Disciplinary Team Assessments
• Educational testing for accommodations for standardized tests (SAT, ACT, GREs, etc.)
• Consultation for complex diagnosis, developmental issues, and treatment planning

Biography

Dr. Plesko-DuBois established Blue Ridge Psychological Services, PLC in August of 2010 in order to provide comprehensive assessments to children, adolescents, and young adults. In 2013, Blue Ridge Psychological Services, PLC expanded into Aligned Clinical & Educational Services, PLC in Crozet, Virginia to offer a wider range of multi-disciplinary and collaborative clinical services.

Dr. Plesko-DuBois worked at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton, VA from 2002 – 2011 in various roles. She served as the school psychologist from 2002-2009, providing comprehensive assessments, clinical supervision, consultation for program development and data analysis, as well as group or individual counseling. Dr. Plesko-DuBois was the Director of Clinical and Educational Supports during the 2009-2010 academic year, supervising the delivery of all clinically related services, the behavior management team, transition services, school counseling and specialized health care planning. From 2010 – 11, Dr. Plesko-DuBois worked as a part-time psychologist assisting with the admissions process and the VSDB Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Project.

Since 2004, Dr. Plesko-DuBois has been a member of the Virginia Network of Consultants (VNOC) supporting local school divisions with services for their students who are deaf or hard of hearing.  VNOC was created by the Virginia Department of Education, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, and the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Plesko-DuBois has also enjoyed teaching as an adjunct professor at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. She taught psychopathology to graduate students in counseling and clinical psychology. In the past, she has also worked at the Center for Clinical Psychology completing comprehensive psychological assessments.

Education

• B.A., Psychology, Biology Minor, Wake Forest , 1995
• M.A., General & Experimental Psychology, The College of William & Mary, 1997
• Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, The Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology sponsored by The College of William & Mary, The Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University, 2002
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) at the Medical College of Virginia, 2003

Certifications and Memberships

• American Psychological Association

Biography

Nicole Schroeer (she/her/hers), joined ACES in 2013 after working for over two decades as an educator and behavioral analyst in the public and private sectors. Nicole has supported individuals with disabilities through both direct service, and staff and program development. Most recently she provided clinical services at the Virginia Institute of Autism and at the Virginia School for Deaf and Blind. Her development work  included developing online training materials for behavior analysts as Director of Learning Technologies at CentralReach, and producing and delivering CLASS® assessment materials as Program Development Manager at Teachstone. Prior to this work, Nicole spent a decade teaching and building staff development programs at a large statewide social service agency in New York City.

Nicole believes in a collaborative approach to treatment that ensures interventions are appropriate and implementable across environments, practitioners, and family members. She seeks not only to reduce behaviors, but to help access safe and sustainable means of achieving the best quality of life for clients and the people who love them.

Education

• B.A., State University of New York at New Paltz, 1994
• ASL/English Interpretation Program, LaGuardia Community College, 2000
• M.S., Education Studies, Bank Street College of Education, 2002
• M.S., Education, Early Childhood, General, and Special Education, Bank Street College of Education, 2009
• Behavioral Science, Applied Behavior Analysis, Florida Institute of Technology, 2013

Certifications and Memberships

• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): Behavior Analyst Certification Board
• Licensed Behavior Analyst: Virginia Board of Medicine
• Virginia State Postgraduate Professional License: Early Childhood Special Education, Early/Primary Education PreK-Grade 3
• NY State Professional Teaching Certificate: General Education and Special Education Kindergarten –Grade 2

Biography

Sarah joined ACES in 2012, where she offers collaborative, multi-disciplinary assessments and specialized consultation for children with complex communication profiles. Sarah is a member of the Virginia Network of Consultants (VNOC), supporting local school divisions with services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing and providing communication or behavior assessments for deaf or hard of hearing students throughout the Commonwealth. Sarah also works as a lead speech-language pathologist at Rehabilitation Associates in Richmond, VA. Since 2012, she has provided diagnostic, rehabilitation, and habilitation services, as well as progress monitoring for early intervention, school-based, and clinic-based settings.

Earlier in her career, Sarah worked at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB) for eight years as a speech-language pathologist for the educational program and supporting individual and group therapy for communication. She also served as the Autism Team Coordinator for five years, developing school-wide training as well as individual service plans.

Education

• B.S., Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, 2002
• M.S., Speech-Language Pathology, James Madison University, 2004
• BCBA, Applied Behavior Analysis, Professional Development, Florida Institute of Technology, 2011

Certifications and Memberships

• Member of American Speech-Language Hearing Association
• Certificate of Clinical Competence

Biography

Susanne Wilbur has worked in many different roles and with many different types of people in her career as a social worker and community advocate here in the Piedmont. She developed Charlottesville’s first outreach program for the deaf community.

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker with almost 20 years of experience in screening, assessment and treatment planning in various capacities
• Case Manager/Intensive In-Home Clinician with the Valley Community Services Board
• Supervisor at Piedmont CASA
• Lead Behavior Specialist with Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind
• Psychotherapist with ACES since 2013
• Community Development Liaison for Civic Access.
• Prior to becoming a social worker, Susanne worked as an instructor for rock climbing, backpacking, white water rafting, adaptive skiing in Colorado and Wyoming. She thoroughly enjoys working with children, pre-adolescents, adolescents and adults. She works with a variety of issues related to depression; physical, sexual or emotional abuse; major life transitions and substance abuse along with serious mental illness in collaboration with the support of community services boards.

Education

• B.A., Human Ecology, Connecticut College, 1981
• M.Ed, Experiential Education, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1985
• MSW, Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1999