Rebecca Schwartz Mette, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

• Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, University at Buffalo

• Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor

• NY License #026942; Maine License #1457; National Register of Health Service Psychologists #54384

Training: Dr. Schwartz Mette received her Master's in Clinical Psychology and a dual PhD in Clinical/Developmental Psychology from the University of Missouri where she was trained in evidence-based assessment and treatment of children, couples, families, and adults. At Mizzou, she also completed a 4-year training rotation in comprehensive outpatient Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for older adolescents and adults and a 5-year rotation in forensic assessment (personal injury, child custody). She next completed her predoctoral clinical internship at Iowa State University Student Counseling Service where she received specialized training in group psychotherapy, disordered eating, and clinical supervision. She then completed a postdoctoral residency at the University of Wyoming Counseling Center, where she also served as its Assistant Training Director. From 2022-2025, Dr. Schwartz Mette was trained as a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher with the Center for Mindfulness at the University of California San Diego. 

Clinical Expertise: Dr. Schwartz Mette was trained as a generalist, with particular specializations in DBT and acceptance-/mindfulness-based approaches for children, adolescents, families, couples, and adults. She has extensive experience assessing treating anxiety disorders (e.g., panic, social anxiety, phobias, OCD) and mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar), body image and eating issues, acute and chronic trauma, relationship issues, and life stress/burnout. Dr. Schwartz Mette uses a variety of evidence-based treatments including cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal therapy approaches. She can also provide comprehensive psychodiagnostic assessments, including cognitive assessments for ADHD, giftedness, intellectual and learning disability, and autism spectrum disorder. A recent area of specialization is supporting health care professionals (e.g., medicine, nursing, mental health) with reducing job-related stress and burnout. 

Diversity & Inclusion: Dr. Schwartz Mette's approach to assessment and therapy is deeply rooted in attention to and appreciation of sociocultural identities and the various contexts in which we exist. Exploration of issues related to identity, society, and culture is welcomed in therapy, and Dr. Schwartz Mette maintains a strong commitment to continuous development of multicultural competencies as a professional psychologist. 

Research: As a faculty member at the University at Buffalo, Dr. Schwartz Mette maintains an active research laboratory, the BIRCH (Building Interpersonal Resilience and Community Health) Lab. Her work focuses primarily on adolescent peer relationships, depression, and suicide. A second line of research is focused on reducing burnout and enhancing resilience in health care trainees and professionals.

Jessica Kumar, PhD

“This is an amazing experience. Jessica is excellent at bringing me back to the crux of an issue- how to get past the stuck point. She knows when we need to spend extra time on a topic-when I need to talk something through for a deeper understanding. She is helping me redefine my vision to see my worth, creativity and power today. ”

— Former Client

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Training: Dr. Jessica Kumar earned her degree in Clinical-Community Psychology from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center and her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Genesee Valley Institute of Psychology specializing in PTSD and OCD treatment.

Clinical Expertise: Dr. Kumar has trained in multiple clinical settings (e.g., hospitals, university clinics, intensive outpatient programs, veterans affairs centers), which provided opportunities to work with people with a wide range of intersecting identities and presenting concerns. Trauma is Dr. Kumar’s primary clinical interest; she has advanced training in several evidence-based treatments for PTSD including Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Written Exposure Therapy (WET). Dr. Kumar also has expertise in treating depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders including OCD, and substance use disorders using a range of approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Additionally, she has experience working with couples to address relationship challenges and increase relationship satisfaction using Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT).

At Meridian, Dr. Kumar provides Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Written Exposure Therapy (WET), CBT for anxiety and depression, and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Approach: Dr. Kumar is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients to help them move toward the things that matter most to them. She values adapting evidence-based treatments to fit each client’s personal goals. Dr. Kumar strives to create a supportive environment in the therapy room to facilitate vulnerability and authentic connection. She considers it a privilege to both sit with clients in their pain and walk alongside them in their healing.

Diversity & Inclusion: Dr. Kumar recognizes that every client exists in a variety of contexts outside the therapy room and that these contexts often impact their mental health and how they experience therapy. She seeks to understand each person’s intersecting identities and prioritizes listening to clients’ perspectives. Dr. Kumar acknowledges that lifelong learning is essential to do these things effectively; she engages in ongoing self-reflection to increase awareness of her privilege and unconscious bias while simultaneously seeking to learn from others with identities different from her own.

Research: Dr. Kumar’s research focuses on refugee and immigrant health. She primarily uses qualitative methods to empower participants to share their own lived experiences of contextual factors that influence their health and well-being. For example, her previous research has explored topics such as the function of community resilience in refugees’ post-migration adaptation process, the impact of immigration policy changes on Latinx families’ well-being, and the role of multiple marginalized identity intersections in refugee women’s experiences of discrimination.

Ages: Dr. Kumar treats adults and couples.

Amanda Breese, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Training: Dr. Amanda Breese earned her undergraduate degree in psychology at the College at Brockport, State University of New York. She earned her Master’s degree in Education Studies and Doctorate degree in Counseling/School Psychology at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Breese completed her pre-doctoral internship at Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center (WNYCPC) and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Treatment for the Effective Management of Pediatric OCD (TEMPO) clinic based in Oishei Children’s Hospital (OCH) Children’s Psychiatry Clinic specializing in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and management of other anxious childhood emotional disorders. 

Clinical Expertise: Dr. Breese specializes in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for children, teens/adolescents, and young adults with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other anxiety-related conditions (including Tourette’s/Tics and ARFID). In addition to her work in ERP, she also has extensive training and experience using a variety of evidence-based models to treat anxiety, OCD, mood, and emotional disorders including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), and the Unified Protocol.

Diversity and Inclusion: Dr. Breese is passionate about providing culturally competent and responsive care to all clients to ensure that each individual is provided with equitable, evidence-based psychotherapy services and resources. She believes in striving to not only recognize but celebrate and incorporate clients’ individual backgrounds and identities into treatment. It is important to Dr. Breese to continue developing personal and professional skills to provide and foster culturally competent care.

Approach: When in her care, Dr. Breese likes to create a collaborative environment where the client and therapist can take equal roles in treatment. Clients can expect a warm space where they will be treated with respect and compassion, adaptation of multiple treatment perspectives/approaches to meet their goals, and individualized care. Dr. Breese recognizes that treatment can be a process of trial and error and looks forward to helping clients and their families navigate their journeys to improving functioning.  

Ages: Dr. Breese treats children, teens/adolescents, young adults, and families.

Joe Morone, MHC

“He’s a wonder, skilled therapist. He’s innovative, encouraging, available. He researches approaches for me. He knows me well. I would highly recommend him.”

— Former Client

“Joe has provided our son with realistic goals that have set him up for success each week. Progress was positive from day one of meeting him. Our son left each session knowing which strategies to use and he also was able to practice in real time.”

— Parent of Client

Mental Health Counselor

Training: Joseph Morone graduated from St. John Fisher University’s Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program in Rochester, NY. Joe completed his internships at Genesee Valley Psychology, where he was trained and became a specialist in treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Depression, and at MindFit Mental Health in East Rochester, NY, where he specialized in leading groups for children and adolescents with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Clinical Expertise: In addition to his specialization in treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Illness Anxiety Disorder, and Depression, Joe worked for three years at Rochester General Hospital’s Behavioral Health Unit as a Wellness Counselor. In this role, Joe has led groups and conducted individual appointments for a large variety of clients faced with disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Postpartum Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Personality Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and those faced with difficult life circumstances prompting emergency care. Joe utilizes Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, Inference-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (I-CBT, Trained by OCD School) for OCD, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for OCD and Depression, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety and Depression.

Approach to Treatment: Joe has empathy and admiration for those that struggle with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and difficult life circumstances. Through his commitment to treating OCD (via ERP and I-CBT) and related mental illness (panic, specific phobias, BFRBs, etc), he seeks to enable his clients to regain control of their autonomy and pursue a life driven by valued experiences and a sense of peace. Through a combination of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered, and Strength-Based approaches, he seeks to create a nonjudgmental environment in which his clients may safely explore their struggles and utilize evidence-based interventions to enable them to heal and move forward.

Diversity & Inclusion: Joe recognizes that mental illness may strike anybody, at any time, regardless of their individualized culture or background. Through active listening, exploration, and research, Joe seeks to step into his clients’ reality and co-develop treatment specific to the individual. Additionally, Joe partakes in his own self-reflection and supervision to strive for cultural humility.

Ages: Joe treats adolescents and adults.

Madeline Lehrer, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Training: Dr. Madeline Lehrer earned her undergraduate degree at Penn State University. She received her doctorate in School Psychology from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at UC Davis Medical Center in the CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center and the Early Psychosis Program. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Front Range Treatment Center specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Dr. Lehrer is Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Clinical Expertise: Dr. Lehrer specializes in treating child trauma, self-injury, chronic suicidality, and transdiagnostic emotion regulation difficulties in adults, children, and adolescents, and utilizes evidence-based therapies including DBT, CBT, TF-CBT, Unified Protocol (UP) for emotional disorders, parent-child behavioral interventions, and Motivational Interviewing. Dr. Lehrer also specializes in conducting comprehensive psychological and psycho-educational assessments for adults, children, and adolescents.

Diversity & Inclusion: Dr. Lehrer is committed to providing culturally competent care that align with her clients’ values and socio-cultural backgrounds. She is passionate about increasing access to mental health care in the greater Rochester area and is dedicated to ongoing education and growth of her cultural knowledge and therapeutic approach.

Approach: Dr. Lehrer believes that effective therapy begins with a strong, trusting relationship. Her approach to treatment is rooted in collaboration – working together with clients to set goals, uncover unhelpful patterns, and develop practical strategies for change. She sees therapy as a partnership where clients’ insights and strengths are the foundation that is built upon using the tools and expertise that Dr. Lehrer provides.

Ages: Dr. Lehrer treats adults, adolescents, and children as young as 6 years old.

Jenna Sabers, LMSW

“My treatment is both skills based and individualized. Jenna is open to discussing my concerns from many different points of view.”

— Client

Licensed Social Worker, State of New York

Training: Jenna earned her undergraduate degree at the State University of New York at Geneseo. She then went on to earn her Master's degree in Social Work with a certificate in Mental Health from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. She completed her first-year internship at Holy Family Institute's Specialized Learning Program providing supportive counseling to students in grades 1-12. Jenna completed her second-year internship providing individual, group, and family therapy at UPMC's (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) Pediatric OCD Clinic. At Genesee Valley Psychology, Jenna specializes in providing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, CBT for anxiety and depression, and utilizes the ComB method for body focused repetitive behaviors (skin picking, hair pulling). 

Clinical Expertise: Jenna's training has provided her with the opportunity to work with children, teens, adults and families in both group and individual settings. Areas of clinical expertise and interest include OCD, anxiety disorders, and body focused repetitive behaviors. She also feels passionately about providing support to those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Jenna utilizes evidence-based therapies including Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) for OCD, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Approach: Jenna's approach to the therapy is collaborative and evidence-based. She aims to help clients learn tools to assist growth and move toward their goals while also creating a supportive and empathetic environment. She believes in the power of connection and a strong therapeutic alliance to create a safe space for clients to safely explore their struggles.

Diversity & Inclusion: Jenna's approach to the therapy is collaborative and evidence-based. She aims to help clients learn tools to assist growth and move toward their goals while also creating a supportive and empathetic environment. She believes in the power of connection and a strong therapeutic alliance to create a safe space for clients to safely explore their struggles.

Ages: Jenna sees children, teens, and adults.

Sofia Falco, PsyD

“Sofia is the best therapist I’ve ever worked with, period. She is an incredible listener, easily able to reflect valuable insights and observations back to me, and to support me in detangling my feelings and experiences. I feel very comfortable working with her during this difficult time.”

— Client

Licensed Psychologist, State of New York

Training:  Dr. Sofia Falco is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who earned her Doctorate in Clinical and School Psychology at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY. Dr. Falco completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University Counseling Center at the University of Rochester. She completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Genesee Valley Institute of Psychology specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Clinical Expertise: Dr. Falco trained in a variety of school and health service settings including community mental health, college counseling, and school based health centers.  She has had the privilege of working with people across a wide range of backgrounds and presenting concerns. Dr. Falco’s clinical interests include emotional dysregulation, trauma, and interpersonal functioning. She has training and experience utilizing evidenced-based models including Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to relational frameworks. 

Diversity and Inclusion: Dr. Falco is dedicated to maintaining a space where clients can fully embody, embrace and explore their multifaceted, ever evolving identities and experiences, while attending to how these intersecting identities and contexts impact their sense of self, relational patterns, mental health and well being.  Dr. Falco is committed to intentional learning, professional development,  self-reflection, and advocacy as she strives to reflect cultural humility. 

Approach: Dr. Falco compassionately partners with her clients as they pursue their goals, move towards greater freedom, and build lives that reflect what is meaningful to them. She  prioritizes non-judgmental curiosity and collaboration as clients confront avoidance and develop an openness to approach new ways of thinking and being. She utilizes evidence-based practices and relational models to empower her clients with proven skills and increased self awareness. 

Ages: Dr. Falco treats adolescents and adults.

Ashley Cooper, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist, State of New York

Nationally Certified School Psychologist

Training: Dr. Ashley Cooper received her undergraduate and graduate education from Roberts Wesleyan University, where she now serves as Assistant Professor of Psychology. In addition to her academic role, she is a clinical supervisor for doctoral students at Westside Psychological Services. Dr. Cooper has also received extensive training at Genesee Valley Psychology under the guidance of Drs. Lauren Wadsworth and Madeleine August.

Clinical Expertise: Dr. Cooper specializes in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and works extensively with individuals and families in this capacity. She is proficient in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and the ComB Method for Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors. Her clinical experience also includes working with neurodivergent populations, such as those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Specific Learning Disabilities. Additionally, she provides executive functioning coaching and has comprehensive training in psychological assessments, particularly for diagnosing ASD, ADHD, and personality disorders. Dr. Cooper works closely with parents, providing coaching and interventions tailored to their needs, including the implementation of the SPACE method (Supportive Parenting of Anxious Childhood Emotions).

Approach: Dr. Cooper offers a person-centered, strengths-based approach, with a strong emphasis on the holistic aspects and contextual factors of each individual, including family systems and personal identities. She understands that people are complex and appreciates the nuances of the human experience, incorporating this philosophy into her treatment. Dr. Cooper creates a warm and gentle environment for clients to engage therapeutically. Prioritizing the therapeutic relationship, she aims to support clients in building a meaningful, value-driven life that aligns with their personal goals and aspirations. She inspires clients to proactively engage in their treatment, and nurture a curiosity about their own growth and development.

Diversity and Inclusion: Dr. Cooper is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive environment in her clinical practice. She actively pursues ongoing training and education to enhance her cross-cultural humility. Dr. Cooper strives to ensure that the therapeutic relationship is respectful and effective for all clients.

Ages: Dr. Cooper works with individuals (3+) and families.

Carey Dowling, PhD

Licensed Psychologist in New York

Training: Dr. Carey Bernini Dowling earned her Bachelor's in Psychology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, and her Master's and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Clifford Beers Clinic, in New Haven, CT, where she was trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents and continued to gain experience providing other empirically supported treatments. She completed a post-doctoral experience with colleagues at the University of Mississippi where she continued to work with children, adolescents, and their families, and expanded her experience with adult clients. While in Mississippi, she especially gained experience providing empirically supported treatments for anxiety, OCD, depression, and trauma-related disorders in children and adults.

Clinical Expertise: Dr. Dowling's clinical training and experience as a psychologist (and professor teaching primarily undergraduate students) has provided her the opportunity to work with children, teens, emerging adults, parents, and adults in many settings. Dr. Dowling has extensive experience working with issues including anxiety (e.g., Panic Disorder), depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), externalizing disorders (ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder), and trauma across the lifespan. Dr. Dowling uses multiple forms of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP for OCD in children - adults), Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy (for PTSD in adults), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT for PTSD in children and adolescents), Parent Management Training (for behavioral concerns in children and young adolescents), and the Unified Protocol for the transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders (for anxiety and mood disorders in adults). 

Approach: Dr. Dowling's approach is client centered. Her collaborative approach to treatment creates an environment where the client is the expert in their life and she works with them to help them make the necessary changes they want to make to improve the quality of their life. Treatment is rooted in a thorough assessment of any issues the client is having and the interventions are discussed and agreed upon with ongoing assessment helping to modify treatment as needed. She is particularly interested in helping clients reach their treatment goals and getting back to the life they value as quickly as possible through the use of empirically supported treatments. 

Diversity & Inclusion: Dr. Dowling is committed to creating an environment that is compassionate, safe, and inclusive for all of the various identities clients have (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation, religious, political, etc.). She welcomes discussion of the influence of these identities and integrates them into treatment as appropriate. She also recognizes the need to continually learn and grow and has a personal and professional practice to continue to learn about identities and life experiences different from her own. 

Meg Dorfner, PsyD

“She is precise to our needs, empathetic, efficient, flexible as needed. She is extremely knowledgeable yet open to figuring out any curve balls we throw her way. Highly responsive to our needs. It is top notch effective clinical care. ”

— Client

Licensed Psychologist, State of New York

Training: Dr. Meg Dorfner earned her degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Youth Opportunity Center (YOC), an adolescent residential treatment facility with adjoined juvenile detention center in Muncie, Indiana. While at the YOC, Dr. Dorfner conducted numerous rigorous court-ordered assessments for at-risk youth and their families. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Genesee Valley Psychology specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and trauma in children, adolescents, and young adults. 

Clinical Expertise: Dr. Dorfner has training experience in a variety of different clinical settings (e.g., community mental health centers, private practices, residential treatment facilities, and juvenile detention centers) that has allowed her to work with an assortment of different presenting concerns. Through these various clinical experiences, she has been trained to provide a wide range of psychological assessments for people of all ages (e.g., children, adolescents, and adults). This includes cognitive/intellectual assessments, comprehensive personality assessments, and assessments of behavioral and executive functioning. She has been formally trained in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of the ADOS-2, the gold standard assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders. 

Testing Approach: When doing testing, Dr. Dorfner takes a comprehensive approach. She believes it is important to consider all of the gathered clinical information and potential differential diagnoses in order to provide thorough recommendations for the best course of treatment. This includes recognizing the socio-cultural identities that interact with life experiences and symptom presentation. Furthermore, she believes collaboration with client’s, family, and other professionals is imperative to understanding an individual and, therefore, to providing the most accurate results. She finds it important to identify and focus on a client's unique strengths and attributes in order to facilitate the best possible results and recommendations.

Ages: Dr. Dorfner sees clients as young as 5.