At The Parent TRAIN, we believe real progress happens when the right experts work together. Our team of licensed professionals—including therapists, psychiatrists, speech and occupational therapists, and behavioral specialists—collaborates to provide personalized, effective care for children, teens, and families. With in-person services for those near Riverdale, NJ and virtual support across New Jersey, we make it easier to get coordinated care that truly makes a difference.
Training-Resources-Awareness-Information-Networking
Our Team.
Educational & Training Backgrounds of our Staff Include
Rutgers University
Montclair State
Seton Hall
Fairleigh Dickinson
Kean University
Monmouth University
California School of Professional Psychology
SAFE PATHS: Sexual Abuse Family Education
Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute
It's important to recognize that no therapist possesses the expertise to address every issue effectively. That's why we have a collaborative team!
Dr. Maria Salvanto
The owner and founder holds three graduate degrees in psychology and has dedicated her career to supporting children and families. As a highly qualified diagnostician, she provides comprehensive testing, developmental assessments, and evidence‑based evaluations. Her expertise helps parents understand their child’s needs, access the right services, and receive clear, compassionate guidance grounded in many years of trusted, highly respected clinical experience.
Michelle Berger, LPC
She has been a dedicated member of our team for over 10 years, bringing extensive experience and specialized clinical training to her work. She is trained in domestic violence and marriage therapies and holds advanced expertise in behavior analysis. Her work in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) focuses on using Discrete Trial Training (DTT) and Verbal Behavior (VB) techniques to support individuals on the autism spectrum, helping clients build meaningful skills through structured, evidence‑based interventions.
Nuha Matari, LPC
A Licensed Professional Counselor who has been a dedicated and compassionate member of our team for well over 8 years, she brings warmth and professionalism to every client interaction. With over 20 years of experience as an educator, counselor, and mental health professional, she supports adolescents, individuals, and families with compassion, insight, and culturally competent care that promotes meaningful growth and emotional well‑being.
Karen Johanning, LPC
She is a senior clinician with extensive experience across diverse clinical settings, bringing advanced expertise to her work with adolescents and young adults. In addition to maintaining a caseload, she oversees the intern program at our office, providing supervision, mentorship, and hands‑on guidance to emerging professionals. Her leadership strengthens clinical training, supports high‑quality care, and ensures that clients receive developmentally informed, evidence‑based services.
Megan Narciso, LCSW
She began her path to full licensure with our agency, bringing dedication, compassion, and professionalism to every step of her clinical journey. With over a decade of experience championing children’s well‑being, she offers deep expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and evidence‑based behavioral interventions that support meaningful growth and positive outcomes for young clients and their families.
Jay Murray, LCSW
With over 20 years of experience providing therapy for teens, adults, and families, Jay specializes in anxiety, addiction, relationship issues, and family dynamics. He works with adults facing stress, substance use, communication difficulties, and emotional regulation concerns, helping them build healthier relationships, strengthen coping skills, and create lasting change. His approach is collaborative, client‑centered, and focused on improving emotional well‑being and daily stability.
Liz VanderValk, LPC
A valued member of our team for over 12 years, she leads a free weekly parenting support group that provides an essential resource for families seeking guidance and community connection. Her extensive clinical training includes working with children and adults on the autism spectrum, conducting comprehensive assessments, and preparing detailed diagnostic reports that support accurate understanding, informed decision‑making, and effective treatment planning.
Hailey Panella, LPC
A Licensed Professional Counselor and experienced school counselor who fosters meaningful growth through compassionate, client‑centered care. She brings valuable insight, collaboration, and developmental expertise to every setting. Her dual perspective allows her to support individuals across a wide range of life stages, offering guidance that is both evidence‑based and deeply attuned to each client’s unique needs.
Ryan Garner, LPC
Ryan has been with our practice since the start of his career and specializes in supporting older teens, young adults, and their families. He provides therapy for anxiety, depression, life transitions, and identity development. Ryan helps clients manage academic stress, independence, and family dynamics, while guiding parents in strengthening communication and relationships. He also offers affirming therapy for transgender and gender‑diverse clients, creating a safe, inclusive space to explore identity and build confidence.
Medical Team
Dr. Malini Bhatia is a psychiatrist with over 50 years of experience, specializing in comprehensive mental health care across the lifespan. She diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, bipolar disorders, personality disorders, insomnia, ADD, and more. While she works with individuals of all ages, her primary focus is providing thorough evaluations and evidence‑based psychiatric treatment for children and adolescents, helping young people and their families access compassionate, effective care that supports long‑term emotional well‑being.
Anne Huelbig is a psychiatric nurse practitioner who brings extensive expertise in treating depression, ADHD, and anxiety disorders in children to our team. Deeply committed to family‑centered care, she is passionate about empowering children and their caregivers with practical tools, compassionate guidance, and evidence‑based strategies that support long‑term mental health, confidence, and overall well‑being.
Dr. Keilynn Alicea, A dynamic psychiatric nurse practitioner with a doctorate in nursing and specialized fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry, she brings advanced clinical expertise to every evaluation and treatment plan. Her background includes extensive experience in psychiatric emergencies, comprehensive diagnostic assessments, psychopharmacology, and interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to her clinical work, she trains emerging professionals at a local university, ensuring she remains at the forefront of the latest medications, evidence‑based treatments, and best practices in mental health care.
Associate Therapists
Christie Calamito,
LCDAC, LAC
Jessica Huddy,
LAC
Marco Pelosi
LAC
Katie VanderValk
LAC
Robyn Trezza
LAC
Speech & Language
(including social skills)
Danyela Williams, SLP Scott Shansky, SLP
Together, Danyela and Scott bring extensive experience in school-based and private speech-language therapy services. Danyela specializes in social communication and pragmatic language skills, helping children improve conversation, social interaction, and communication confidence.
Scott focuses on early childhood speech and language development, providing comprehensive speech evaluations and ongoing therapy for young children. He supports early intervention needs, including speech delays and language development milestones.
Both are dedicated to helping children build strong speech, language, and social communication skills, supporting growth across key developmental stages.
Occupational Therapy
(including sensory integration)
Gianna Vento, OTR-L Maddy Carlo, OTR-L
Gianna and Maddy are compassionate pediatric occupational therapists specializing in emotional regulation, sensory integration, and fine‑ and gross‑motor skill development. They work closely with children to improve coordination, self‑regulation, and daily functioning through individualized, evidence‑based occupational therapy techniques. Their supportive, family‑centered approach makes them trusted providers for families seeking help with sensory processing challenges, motor‑skill delays, emotional development, and overall functional independence. They are dedicated to helping children build confidence, strengthen essential skills, and thrive in everyday environments.
Nutrition Supports
(with our registered dietician)
Jane Oneill, RD
Jane is a registered dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition, helping families confidently meet their children’s dietary needs. She works with autistic children with picky eating, supports teens with restrictive eating patterns, and guides families managing gastrointestinal conditions and food allergies.
Jane simplifies complex nutrition challenges into practical, sustainable routines. Her family-centered care helps improve eating habits, reduce mealtime stress, and build long-term healthy relationships with food.
Behaviorist
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Alea Hemming, BCBA
Alea works with children and families to improve behavior and build essential skills using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She supports children with autism, developmental delays, and behavioral challenges in home and school settings.
Alea emphasizes a family-centered approach, coaching parents in positive parenting strategies to manage behavior, strengthen relationships, and support emotional regulation. Her services include behavior assessments, individualized plans, and parent training.