Meet Our Staff

Director

Clinicians

 

Retired Clinicians

 

 

Administrative Staff

 

Eli Jerchower, Psy.D.

Eli Jerchower, Psy.D. grew up in northern New Jersey. He came to North Carolina in 1989 and received his B.A. in psychology from North Carolina State University. Upon graduation, he provided direct care and on-call supervision for Division TEACCH at the Carolina Living and Learning Center, a residential farming facility for adults with autism in Pittsboro. He then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he obtained his M.Ed. in school psychology and became a nationally certified school psychologist. Dr. Jerchower worked as a school psychologist for two years in Orange County, NC before relocating to work as a school psychologist at the Washington International School, a bilingual private school in Georgetown. He received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from George Washington University in 2002. After completing his internship and post-doc in neuropsychology at the Center for Preventive Psychiatry in White Plains, NY, Dr. Jerchower returned to North Carolina joining Silber Psychological Services in 2003 and becoming Director in 2014. Dr. Jerchower works with children and adolescents with a variety of difficulties, and he has special interests in behavioral and compliance issues, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, parenting issues, learning disabilities, anxiety, teen issues, divorce and childhood depression. He also has specialized training and experience in school-related issues and in providing psychological evaluations. Dr. Jerchower especially enjoys helping parents to create a supportive and loving, yet structured and disciplined family environment, as well as helping hard-to-reach and resistant adolescents plan and achieve their goals. He is also a certified Parent Coordinator and works to improve co-parenting skills in high conflict divorce. He is a licensed psychologist in North Carolina and is a member of the North Carolina Psychological Association (NCPA), the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. His professional activities include chair for the Membership Committee for the North Carolina Psychological Association.

 

Alanna Conder, Psy.D.

Alanna Adler Conder Psy.D. is a child clinical neuropsychologist with a background in pediatrics and sports neuropsychology. After graduating from the University of Rochester, she completed a doctorate in clinical psychology from Baylor University. Dr. Conder completed her internship in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Virginia, then worked at MCV in the Department of Pediatrics. For the past 23 years, Dr. Conder has been the Director of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Carolina Neuropsychological Service, Inc. Within that private practice setting, she provided outpatient assessment and consultation services to patients with complex neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders. Assessment and management of concussion and Post Concussion Syndrome is an area of special interest for Dr. Conder, one of the charter members of the Sports Neuropsychology Society.  She has presented nationally and locally on sports concussion management and post-concussion school re-entry and formerly served as a neuropsychologist for the National Hockey League, working with the Carolina Hurricanes.  She has authored publications in the area of sports concussion and rehabilitation of Persistent Sport Concussion Syndrome.  Dr. Conder’s areas of clinical specialty include child, adolescent and young adult neuropsychology; pediatric brain injury and sports concussion; neurodevelopmental disorders; ADHD and learning disabilities; and neurocognitive sequelae of medical conditions including epilepsy, perinatal/pediatric stroke, migraine and traumatic brain injury.

 

Sarah Furlong, Ph.D.

Sarah Furlong, Ph.D. is a child and family psychologist who is originally from Massachusetts. She completed her undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Furlong completed her doctoral internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine with a focus on community and child psychology. Dr. Furlong has experience working with children, adolescents, and families in community outpatient, psychiatric inpatient, and residential treatment settings. Dr. Furlong’s primary orientation is rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy, although she also incorporates acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and attachment-based perspectives in her approach to therapy. Dr. Furlong is also a registered Circle of Security Parenting facilitator. During graduate school Dr. Furlong developed a strong interest in early childhood behavior problems and gained advanced training in evidence-based treatments for children and families. She has a particular interest in models that reflect the complex and transactional systems within which children develop. Dr. Furlong has experience working with individuals at various developmental stages, including working with infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and parents. 

Dr. Furlong enjoys working with families to improve child behavior, including noncompliance, support development of secure attachment in parent-child relationships, and address challenges related to complex family dynamics and traumatic experiences. Dr. Furlong also provides evaluations for a wide range of problems, including concerns for ADHD, learning disabilities, and autism spectrum disorder. In addition, she has previously led group interventions focused on topics including parenting and social skills for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.  

Through the use of individual, family, and group therapy, as well as psychological evaluations, Dr. Furlong’s main goal is to support children and adolescents, and their families, as they navigate life stressors, adverse experiences, and mental health challenges.

 

Morgan Grinnell, Ph.D.

Morgan Grinnell, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She grew up in a small town near Charlotte, NC. After graduating with her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Grinnell earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University. She completed her doctoral internship through Johns Hopkins School of Medicine at the Kennedy Krieger institute in Baltimore, MD where she focused on providing individual and family therapy in an outpatient clinic. Dr. Grinnell has experience working with a broad age range, including both toddlers and older adults into their eighties. She has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient mental/behavioral health clinics, schools, private practices, pediatrician offices, and an HIV clinic.

Dr. Grinnell predominately conceptualizes cases from a cognitive-behavioral perspective, and works to customize treatments for her clients using modalities that are supported by research in order to provide the most effective services for the people she sees. In therapy, Dr. Grinnell strives to cultivate a collaborative, warm, and authentic relationship with each person she works with, which often means using humor as a tool. Dr. Grinnell has extensive training in treating ADHD, behavior concerns, and family conflict. She also enjoys parent coaching, working with anxiety and mood related concerns, and supporting individuals through life changes. Additionally, she has ample experience completing evaluations for ADHD and learning disorders or academic difficulties.

 

Meredith Kolk-Tomberlin, LCSW, ACSW

Meredith Kolk-Tomberlin, LCSW, ACSW is a North Carolina licensed clinical social worker. She also holds certification as an independent social worker through the National Association of Social Workers. Meredith earned a Masters of Social Work from Florida State University (1992) and holds specialty certifications in school social work (NASW-NC) and divorce issues from Loyola Law School. Providing clinical social work services to children, adolescents, and families for over 20 years, she has extensive experience dealing with ADD, anxiety/OCD, depression/mood disorders, social/school adjustment and performance concerns. Treating eating disorders is of special interest to Meredith. She served as the director of both the Eating Disorder Partial Hospital Program and the Intensive Outpatient Program at Walden Behavioral Care, located outside Boston. Additionally, she contributed to Medical Director Dr. James Greenblatt’s book, Answers to Anorexia. Meredith has a special interest in families with adoptive children and blended families. In her clinical work, Meredith utilizes CBT, DBT, traditional behavioral modification approaches, thought and skill-based mindfulness, and family therapy. She believes in supporting and guiding families as a clinical partner through their challenges and assisting them in finding their unique strengths and opportunities for growth within their family systems.

Meredith has contributed to the National Association of Social Workers by serving as the NC State Co-Chair for School Social Work and as a member of two statewide teams for the NC Department of Public Instruction.

 

Rachel Lerner, Ph.D.

Rachel Lerner, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral fellow at Silber Psychological Services who recently completed her doctoral internship at Virginia Treatment Center for Children/Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Dr. Lerner earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Clark University and has experience providing individual, family, and group therapy to children and families in outpatient, psychiatric inpatient, and medical settings.   Dr. Lerner’s primary orientation is rooted in an acceptance-based cognitive-behavioral (CBT) framework that focuses on improving quality of life and reducing symptoms. In treatment, Dr. Lerner also takes a systems-based approach where she collaborates with caregivers and teachers to promote meaningful change in children’s lives. She additionally utilizes acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to facilitate effective actions, regulation of emotions, and present moment awareness. Dr. Lerner cultivates an empathetic and caring environment to help children and families from all backgrounds understand the challenges they are dealing with and how best to handle them in line with their own values, supports, and strengths.  Dr. Lerner specializes in providing parenting support and working with young children and their caregivers. She is certified in parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based treatment for young children with behavioral difficulties. Through this treatment, Dr. Lerner empowers caregivers to learn therapeutic skills that improve children’s attention and listening, reduce children’s tantrums, and strengthen the caregiver-child relationship. Dr. Lerner also has expertise in providing evidence-based treatments to children and adolescents with a variety of presentations, including anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and youth exploring their sexual and gender identities. She provides psychological assessments to children and adolescents, which helps to clarify diagnoses and provide specific treatment recommendations for children and families. Beyond clinical work, Dr. Lerner conducts research on how caregivers can help improve the academic achievement, motivation, and behaviors of children with ADHD.

 

Sharon Levine, Ph.D.

Dr. Levine is a licensed psychologist who specializes in assessment and therapy for children, teens, young adults, and families. Her clinical expertise includes support for individuals navigating anxiety and depressive disorders, school and learning challenges, obsessive compulsive disorder, and complex family dynamics. She is also passionate about working with individuals exploring their gender and sexual identities, navigating difficult developmental transitions, and healing from backgrounds of trauma and loss. 

Dr. Levine earned her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed her doctoral internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio with their child, adolescent, and family track. She has been trained in psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and systems-based approaches to individual and family therapy and has had advanced training in psychological assessment to address a range of concerns across the lifespan. Her experience providing services to children and families spans community, private practice, inpatient, and school-based settings. In her sessions, Dr. Levine aims to work collaboratively with clients to build insight, self-awareness, and confidence as they navigate daily challenge and change. 

In addition to clinical services, Dr. Levine is passionate about community outreach, mentorship, and teaching. She has conducted research examining the value of classroom-based mindfulness interventions and the implementation of trauma-informed student supports. Currently, she is also involved in a local initiative that aims to increase access to mental health services in rural schools. Prior to her doctoral training, she was a middle and high school English teacher, an academic counselor for first-generation college students, and an instructional coach for first-year, K-12 teachers. Dr. Levine is proud to have started her professional career as a teacher and sees her background in the classroom as invaluable to her clinical work.

Yesenia Schuler, Psy.D. (Photo coming soon)

Yesenia Schuler, PsyD is a clinical neuropsychologist with a pediatric concentration who received her doctorate in Counseling and School Psychology from Rivier University in New Hampshire. Prior to earning her doctorate, Dr. Schuler earned her B.A. in Psychology from Manhattan College and M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, she completed her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership and School Psychology at Plymouth State University. Dr. Schuler was a School Psychologist for 11 years in the New Hampshire public school system and continues to maintain licensure in that capacity. She also recently obtained her school psychology license in North Carolina, after relocating from New Hampshire. Dr. Schuler completed her internship at Tewksbury Hospital in Massachusetts where she provided various assessments and clinical interventions for individuals with complex medical and psychiatric conditions. This experience provided a global understanding of the impact of early childhood trauma and lack of early intervention on development. Following her internship, Dr. Schuler completed two years of fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology in Massachusetts where she focused on complex childhood trauma and neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, specific learning disorders, ADHD, and mood disorders. An integral part of her assessment approach is working collaboratively with families and schools to better understand the child’s academic, social, and emotional functioning and use that information to foster development across contexts and empower children to access their full potential. Dr. Schuler has also worked with individuals across the lifespan in psychotherapy and psychological and neuropsychological assessment. In her clinical practice, she takes an eclectic approach specific to individual needs that includes elements of CBT, DBT, ACT, and strengths-based therapy. She also provides group therapy and social skills training. 

 

Julie Vose Spittler, LCSW

Julie Vose Spittler is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) from Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in English in 2009. Julie graduated magna cum laude with a master’s degree in social work in 2012. While in graduate school, Julie interned with a comprehensive forensic assessment team where she first developed her interest in trauma, particularly as experienced by those children and adolescents in the child protection system. Upon graduating, she continued to develop her knowledge, skills, and expertise around the emotional and mental health needs of children, adolescents, and the adults who raise them. 

Julie has worked in community mental health providing in-home, evidence-based treatment to families and children. She has worked in a private practice conducting forensic custody evaluations for the court on behalf of the state and private families. Through her work at the University of Kentucky HealthCare’s Adolescent Medicine Division, Julie realized the developmental windows of that population, ages nine to twenty-five, were a particular area of skill and passion. Locally, she has worked at Triangle Family Services and NC State University Counseling Center helping individuals and families feel supported, empowered, and competent. 

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused-CBT, mindfulness, EMDR Therapy, DBT skills, and a psychodynamic approach to increase each family member’s ability to regulate emotions and behaviors to provide relief from distress and propel them to success, defined in their terms. She works to help parents and children foster their secure attachment to one another, as your connection to your child is their best resource. Julie believes in the inherent goodness of every human and communicates this through her compassionate, authentic, and skilled approach. 

Julie is a member of the National Association of Social Workers in North Carolina. She volunteers with SAFEChild through their Moms Supporting Moms program.

 

Miriam McCaa Tighe, Ph.D.

Mimi McCaa Tighe, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Oklahoma State University in 1997. During her graduate training, she developed a strong interest in early childhood behavioral problems and parent-child interaction therapy. Dr. Tighe completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. After finishing her training in 1998, Dr. Tighe began working at Silber Psychological Services providing testing and therapy for children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Dr. Tighe relocated out of state in 2003 but continued to work as a psychologist in various settings.

In June 2022, Dr. Tighe relocated to Asheville and rejoined the Silber team to provide teletherapy services to older children, adolescents, and adults remotely. She is passionate about developing a nonjudgmental, dynamic, and warm working relationship with her patients and their families. Dr. Tighe utilizes evidence-based treatments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness strategies, and behavioral approaches in her work. She especially enjoys collaborating with parents to address behavioral and household challenges, supporting individuals with anxiety and mood-related problems, and helping patients achieve goals and manage the stressors in their lives. Dr. Tighe is licensed in North Carolina and Louisiana, and she is a member of American Psychological Association and North Carolina Psychological Association.

 

Sandra Wartski, Psy.D.

Sandra Wartski, Psy.D. completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester and received her Doctorate in Psychology from Widener University.   After interning at Media Child Guidance Clinic and The Renfrew Center, Dr. Wartski moved to Raleigh and joined Silber Psychological Services in 1993. As a licensed psychologist in North Carolina, Dr. Wartski has been conducting individual, family and group therapy, as well as psychoeducational evaluations, with special interests in mood disorders, anxiety, eating disorders, relationship issues and crisis intervention.   She is also a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS).  One of her favorite parts of being a therapist is the opportunity to build relationships allowing room for positive growth and change.  Dr. Wartski also enjoys providing presentations and writing articles on a variety of mental health topics for both community groups and other professionals.   Her primary professional volunteer activities have related to disaster mental health responding, serving as Disaster Response Network Coordinator for North Carolina and as Mental Health Lead at the Triangle Red Cross; she has served as President of the North Carolina Psychological Association (NCPA) and President of the North Carolina Psychological Foundation (NCPF) but is currently serving as Chairperson for the Public Education Committee of NCPF.  Dr. Wartski has been honored to have received the North Carolina Psychological Foundation President’s Award, The Exceptional Volunteer Service Award from the American Red Cross and the “Heroes in the Fight” Award from the Coalition for Persons Disabled by Mental Illness.

 

Lizzie Wilson, M.A.

Lizzie Wilson is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Psychology program at UNC Chapel Hill who is completing a clinical externship at Silber for the 2024-2025 academic year. Lizzie grew up in Charlotte, NC, and attended college at UNC Chapel Hill, majoring in psychology and biology with a minor in chemistry. After graduating, Lizzie worked as a researcher at UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine, studying how the menstrual cycle and associated hormones impact female teens’ stress responses, mood symptoms, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors. Currently, at UNC, she is conducting research on circadian and infradian rhythms, stress reactivity, interpersonal stressors, emotion-related impulsivity, psychosocial and biological development, and psychometrics. Additionally, she works on projects related to the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based assessments for youth mood disorders. Clinically, Lizzie has received training in evidence-based assessment and evidence-based treatment, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She has worked at a community mental health clinic at UNC, working with a variety of clients and their parents, focusing on presenting problems including Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Specific Phobias, OCD, and Behavioral Disorders. Lizzie is passionate about community outreach and improving the accessibility of services for families. At Silber, Lizzie aspires to foster a safe, inclusive space for her clients to explore their personally meaningful goals that could be in service of a fulfilling life.

 

Retired Clinicians

Retired, David Filipowski, Ph.D.

Dr. Filipowski has retired from private practice and is no longer seeing patients.  Dr. Filipowski enjoyed his 35 years with Silber Psychological Services, P.A. and is grateful that through the years so many patients and families entrusted him with their care and allowed him to join them for a while on their journey to improve and manage their mental health and well-being.

 

Retired, Linda Silber, Ph.D.

Linda Silber, Ph.D. has retired from private practice and is no longer seeing patients.  From the American Psychological Association, she has received the Karl Heiser Presidential award for advocacy on behalf of professional psychology.  Dr. Silber is a strong supporter of people having access to mental health treatment. Formerly she has served on the North Carolina Psychology Association board as Insurance chairperson, Director of Professional Affairs, and later, President of North Carolina Psychological Association (NCPA).

Retired, Stephanie B. Rodelander, ACSW, LCSW

Stephanie B. Rodelander, ACSW, LCSW. has retired from private practice and is no longer seeing patients.  Stephanie was a member of the National Association of Social Workers and enjoyed immensely her long association with Silber Psychological Services.

 

Administrative Staff

Tarsha Marshall,  Office Manager

Tarsha Marshall, PHR, SHRM-CP, Assistant Office Manager, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a diploma in a Medical Administration program.  She has certifications from the Society for Human Resources (SHRM-CP) and the HR Certification Institute (PHR); licensed Notary Public and Electronic Notary Public.  Experience in healthcare operations, sales, customer service, and marketing; she joined the administrative staff in April of 1999 and works primarily in our Cary office. 

 

 

Lori Kelly, Administrative Assistant