Dr. Margaret Sala
Dr. Margaret Sala is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Program of the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Dr. Sala received her B.S. in Business Administration and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Southern Methodist University, and her clinical internship training from the Connecticut VA in West Haven. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Drexel WELL Center, under the mentorship of Dr. Evan Forman. Her research interests focus on understanding the role that mindfulness plays in eating and weight disorders. The ultimate goal of her research is to design novel mindfulness-based interventions that alleviate eating and weight disorders.
Check out her CV.
In addition to her research, she holds a part-time psychotherapy private practice.
Current Lab Members
Sarah Song
Graduate Student
Sarah Song is a second year at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in the Adult Clinical Psy.D. program. She is currently externing at the Brooklyn College Personal Counseling. Her research interests include looking at the cultural factors that impact eating disorders. Her ultimate clinical goal is to spread mental health awareness to the Asian population, where mental health is still stigmatized.
Rebecca Berg
Graduate Student
Rebecca is a first-year student in Ferkauf's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She previously graduated from the University of Richmond with a BA in Psychology and PPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law). Since graduation, she has been working at a residential treatment center for individuals with eating disorders. Her research interests broadly include the development of coping skills and maladaptive behaviors in the context of PTSD, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, seeing live music, and spending time outdoors.
Sofia Coll
Graduate Student
Sofia Coll is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology Psy. D. program at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. She has completed a one-year placement as an extern at Baruch College Counseling Center and is currently a neuropsychology extern at Cornell Neurosurgery. She also works as a student clinician at The Max and Celia Parnes Family Psychological and Psychoeducational Services Clinic in the Bronx. Her research interests focus on understanding the intersection of trauma and eating disorders. She is looking forward to joining the MEAL lab to begin working on her RPII (dissertation).
Danielle L. Kahn
Graduate Student
Danielle is a first-year student in Ferkauf's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She graduated in 2019 from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in Psychology and Educational Studies. During her undergraduate experience, she was a Research Assistant and Data analyst at the Weight Management and Eating Disorder Program with a focus on how Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) can be used as a premiere form of treatment for Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. Post-graduation, Danielle was a Clinical Psychology Research Coordinator in the Eating Disorder Clinical and Research Program and Neuroendocrine Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School where she supported research investigating the homeostatic and hedonic food motivation pathways underlying Eating Disorder trajectories. Specifically, how the course of eating disorders relate to food motivation pathways in the brain through resonance imaging (MRI), psychological assessments, and evaluation of hormones in the blood that influence feelings of hunger and satiety. Her research and clinical interests broadly include eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and suicide. In particular, Danielle is interested in mindfulness-based interventions for Anorexia Nervosa, the complexity that distinguishes Anorexia Nervosa from Atypical Anorexia Nervosa, and treatment/recovery. In her free time, Danielle is a certified Yoga Instructor and loves reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Madeline Schupak
Graduate Student
Madeline is a first-year student in Ferkauf's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She graduated in 2021 from Tulane University with a B.S. in Psychology and two minors in both Spanish and Music. During her undergraduate experience, she interned at Children's National Medical Center's Donald Delaney Eating Disorder Clinic. Her research interests generally include eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, the effects of COVID-19 on the aforementioned disorders, and mindfulness. In her free time, she enjoys singing, writing, and spending time with friends.
Ayelet Schechter
Graduate Student
Ayelet is a first-year student in Ferkauf's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She previously graduated from Yeshiva University with a BA in Psychology and Studio Art. Since graduation, she has been working as a clinical/treatment coordinator at an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in a behavioral health clinic which provides high-level care to high-risk patients struggling with interpersonal difficulties, emotional dysregulation disorders, and other comorbid disorders. She has helped create an effective way of tracking clients progress throughout treatment and has worked to use this information to create the most effective treatment for each client. Ayelet’s research interests broadly include eating disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders and effective treatments for each of these disorders. She is also particularly interested in studying early intervention for Anorexia Nervosa and identifying as well as tracking the development of this disorder. In her free time, Ayelet enjoys painting, traveling, hiking, and sports.
Joshua Plutchik
Research and Marketing Assistant
Joshua is a second-year undergraduate student at New York University studying psychology and marketing. He has long been captivated by the workings of the mind, from both a neurobiological and psychological standpoint. He intends to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology. His areas of research interests include mood and anxiety disorders, working with LGBTQIA+ adolescents and adults, mindfulness-based interventions, and trauma. Joshua is also passionate about portrait and landscape photography and videography. He hopes to contribute to the burgeoning utilization of technology to assist in evidence-based psychological interventions to increase access to at-risk populations.
Meredith Zoltan
Research Assistant
Meredith graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing and Finance in 2015. Having an interest in third wave psychology that focuses on mindfulness and behavior, Meredith is currently in the process of a career change. Meredith plans to attend a PsyD program starting in the Fall of 2023 with the intention of integrating psychoanalytic approaches with current mindful practices learned through her work within Dr. Sala’s Mindfulness Lab. In her free time, you can find Meredith running, practicing yoga, giving her dog too many kisses and trying new restaurants!
Jamie Jacobson
Research Assistant
Jamie Jacobson is a second-year student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. She previously graduated from Binghamton University with a BA in Psychology. Her research interests broadly include eating disorders, suicide, and various mood disorders. Having the opportunity to take part in Dr. Sala’s Mindfulness, Eating Disorders, and Acceptance Lab has given Jamie the chance to pursue her interests even further. Jamie plans to attend a PsyD program in the Fall of 2024 to continue to achieve her research and clinical goals. In her free time, you will find Jamie hanging with her friends, attending concerts, and watching movies!
Charlize Dilmanian
Research Assistant
Charlize Dilmanian recently graduated from Binghamton University with a BA in psychology and English. She has previously worked as an undergraduate research assistant in a visual attention and distraction lab, and as an intern for a psychologist focusing on medical decision-making in Tel Aviv, Israel. Charlize’s research interests include eating disorders, depression, trauma, and addiction, and she is particularly interested in mindfulness as a treatment method for these struggles. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology in the future. In her free time, Charlize loves reading, writing, photography, graphic design, and listening to music!
Tzivia Deitsch
Research Assistant
I’m a current undergraduate student of psychology and education at Yeshiva University. Post-graduation, I plan to pursue a doctorate degree in child-clinical psychology with the hopes of pursuing a career in clinical psychology. I am a current lab assistant in Dr. Sala’s lab, where I’m learning firsthand about mindfulness as a technique for eating disorder treatment. I hope to continue my studies about mindfulness as a mental health treatment. My other interests include reading, tennis, and hanging out with friends and family.
Rafaella (Ella) Zanatti
Research Assistant
Rafaella (Ella) Zanatti is a first-year master's student in the general Psychology in Education program at Teachers College. She previously graduated from Duke University with a BS in Psychology and intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Ella's research interests include eating disorders, mood disorders, and the impact of culture on psychopathology. She is particularly interested in work related to intervention development, cultural adaptation of treatments, and Latinx adolescents and adults. In her free time, Ella enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Laura Meyer
Research Assistant
Laura is a first-year student in the Ferkauf Adult Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She graduated from Boston University in 2021 with a B.A. in Psychology under the Pre-Medical track. Since graduation, she has worked in the Outpatient Psychiatry Services as a patient experience representative at Boston Children's Hospital. She is a current extern at Academics West. Her research interests include the development of digital-based interventions and their utility in reaching minority populations, as well as using mindfulness in therapeutic treatment. She is looking forward to diving deeper into the world of eating disorders. Laura enjoys taking film photos, painting, and traveling in her free time.
Sophie Schanzer
Research Assistant
Sophie Schanzer is a senior at Yeshiva University in the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program at Stern College for Women. She is majoring in psychology and plans to pursue a PsyD. This past academic year, she was an administrative intern for the Center for Anxiety and a peer mentor for first-year students on campus. This summer, she is volunteering as a counselor at the Child Mind Institute Summer Program and NYU Camp Courage. She values helping people and enjoys working with children and adolescents.
Serena Jacobs
Research Assistant
Serena Jacobs is a senior at New York University in the Steinhardt School. She is in the applied psychology program, majoring in psychology, and a minor in child and adolescent mental health studies. Serena intends to pursue her PsyD and become a clinical psychologist for children and adolescents. She wants to work specifically with children and adolescents who have undergone trauma or suffer from traumatic stress disorders. Serena is very fascinated and interested in the brain and brain development and wants to learn more about why people act, think, and feel in the way that they do. In her free time, Serena loves exercising, taking long walks, reading, and hanging out with friends!
Lab Alumni
Leeba Goldenhersh
Leeba Goldenhersh is now a graduate student in Dr. Lata McGinn’s lab at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University.
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Mel Kressel
Mel Kressel is completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the Columbia University Counseling Center.