Team

Dr. Cynthia Abinader is a clinical neuropsychologist with specialized expertise in the assessment of older adults with complex medical and neurological conditions. She received her B.A. in psychology from Fordham University in New York, graduating with honors. She went on to earn both her master’s degree and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a concentration in neuropsychology, from Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania. Dr. Abinader completed pre-doctoral internship rotations at Temple University Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she gained broad exposure to inpatient and outpatient neuropsychological services. She then completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Abinader has extensive experience evaluating adults and older adults presenting with a wide range of conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease and atypical dementias), movement disorders, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, brain tumors, autoimmune conditions, and post-acute cognitive concerns following COVID-19 infection. She has also developed particular expertise in the evaluation of individuals being considered for neurosurgical intervention, including pre-surgical candidacy assessments for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor.

As a Spanish-speaking provider, Dr. Abinader is committed to offering culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate care for bilingual and Spanish-speaking individuals. She values a collaborative, team-based approach to assessment and care planning, emphasizing the integration of cognitive, functional, and emotional health to develop personalized recommendations that support both patients and their families.

Dr. Emily Gabriel is a School Psychologist and Licensed Psychologist specializing in the academic, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children and young adults. Dr. Gabriel’s focus on both education and mental health helps to support individuals from a global perspective, tailoring recommendations that can be applied inside and outside of the classroom.

Dr. Gabriel has extensive experience working in K-12 public and charter schools as a member of the Child Study Team. She effectively assists diverse learners through a deep understanding of educational services and state policies, including New Jersey State Code and the special education process. With her background in evaluation, mental health, and evidence-based practices, she brings a comprehensive approach to supporting children and families.

Through the use of psychological, academic, and behavioral data, Dr. Gabriel conducts multidisciplinary evaluations to assess for diagnoses such as learning disabilities, Autism, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and other conditions. Additionally, Dr. Gabriel is committed to providing therapy and counseling for individuals with social-emotional and behavioral challenges. She utilizes a cognitive-behavioral approach to address needs such as social skills, executive functioning, and anxiety.

Dr. Gabriel received her B.S. in Psychology from Tulane University, followed by her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in School Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. While completing her doctorate, Dr. Gabriel trained at the Herr Clinic at PSU, providing psychoeducational and behavioral evaluation services to children, adolescents, and young adults in the community. She was also a team member for Project RESPECT under Dr. Jennifer Frank, a USDOE grant-funded initiative with a focus on helping teachers respond to students in emotionally supportive ways. She is a member of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), New Jersey Association of School Psychologists (NJASP), American Psychological Association (APA), and New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA).

Dr. Stuart Leeds is a clinical psychologist, whose practice includes individual, marital, family, and group therapy of children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Leeds also specializes in forensic psychology – evaluating and treating juvenile and adult offenders and performing risk/threat management assessments.

Dr. Leeds specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families that are coping with problems of depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and who are in situations of considerable distress.

Dr. Leeds received his B.A. in Psychology at SUNY Stony Brook in New York.  He also received a separate Masters’ degree at the City College of New York, and at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Meadows Campus where he completed his doctorate degree.  Dr. Leeds completed a one-year post-doctoral Associate Fellowship at the Institute for Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy in New York City. Dr. Leeds has additional post-doctoral training in juvenile offenders and forensic psychology, family in crisis management, short-term group psychotherapy with severe behavioral and pathological disorders, and in working with at risk populations.  Dr. Leeds has specialty experience with adolescent and adult Internet and Gaming addictions, sexual deviance and offender issues, fire-setting evaluations and treatment, anger management, and victims of abuse, including working with very young children and siblings.

Dr. Leeds was formerly a staff psychologist at the Bergen County Department of Child and Family Services, providing group and individual treatment for juvenile offenders and their families. He initiated, designed, and coordinated the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program at Morristown Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Leeds has published several articles and a book chapter regarding innovative therapy techniques.  He has conducted workshops and provided lectures on a variety of topics including: teen suicide, school violence, self-harm, domestic violence, innovative therapies, parenting issues, and various forms of abuse.  Dr. Leeds is a member of many professional organizations including The New Jersey Association; The Morris County Psychological Association; The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers; and Associate Fellow-Rational Emotive Behavior Institute.

Dr. Nathan McClelland is a clinical psychologist who specializes in providing individually tailored, evidence-based psychotherapy with a focus on increasing self-understanding – the way one makes sense of their own history, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors – and the examination of how and why individuals often engage in distressing or ineffective behaviors.  Dr. McClelland assists patients in improving their awareness of these patterns, and in the process make changes to allow for a richer and more meaningful life.

Dr. McClelland works with individuals, couples, and groups, from late adolescence throughout the adult lifespan, and treats a range of presenting concerns, including depression, anxiety, life transition issues, challenges of young adulthood, and relationship difficulties.  Dr. McClelland also conducts clinical and forensic assessments for adults addressing a range of referral questions, with particular emphasis on psychiatric diagnostic clarification. 

Prior to joining Morris Psychological Group, Dr. McClelland completed his postdoctoral training as a Fellow of Psychology in Psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he developed expertise in both psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches.  Dr. McClelland has also gained specialized experience in Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for borderline and narcissistic personality disorders and Exposure and Response Prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Dr. McClelland graduated summa cum laude from Boston University in 2008, before beginning graduate training in psychology at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. Dr. McClelland earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s in September 2013 after successfully defending his doctoral dissertation and completing the Predoctoral Psychology Internship Program at Nassau University Medical Center in East Hempstead, New York.  Dr. McClelland is a member of the New Jersey Psychological Association and Morris County Psychological Association.

Dr. McClelland is currently licensed as a psychologist in the states of New York and New Jersey, is certified for interstate practice via PsyPact, and provides both in-person and telehealth services through HIPAA-compliant web services.

Dr. Hayley Hirschmann is a clinical psychologist in private practice with the Morris Psychological Group, P.A. in Parsippany.  Practice specialties include treatment of adult depressive and anxiety disorders and grief management.  She also has a special interest in, and experience treating, mental health issues specific to women. Such issues include, but are not limited to, post-partum depression, post-surgery depression, menopause related depression, adjustment to divorce or single parenthood, and coping with chronic illness, losses or trauma.

Dr. Hirschmann received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Michigan in 1990.  She went on to obtain her Master’s degree (1991) and Ph.D. (1995) in clinical/school psychology from Hofstra University.  Before coming to Morris Psychological group, Dr. Hirschmann worked as an Assistant Program Supervisor at the outpatient mental health clinic of South Nassau Communities Hospital on Long Island.  While working there, she was trained as a member of the Nassau County Critical Incident Response Team and responded to several local disasters.

Dr. Hirschmann is on the medical staff at Saint Barnabas Medical Center (in Livingston, NJ) and works part-time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, providing support opportunities for new parents facing the trauma of having a newborn in the ICU.  She is a member of the New Jersey Psychological Association and has served in several positions on the Executive Board of the Morris County Psychological Association for over a decade.

Dr. Steven Rego is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with individuals and couples.  Dr. Rego uses an eclectic mix of therapeutic modalities like EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help get at the root of psychological issues.  Dr. Rego specializes in trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and OCD. He also works extensively with couples.

Dr. Rego completed his undergraduate education at Drew University and graduate degree at New York University. He also holds a Ph.D. in in Clinical Sexology.  He has worked at the US Department of Veterans affairs as Suicide Prevention Case Manager helping veterans at risk for suicide. Following this, Dr. Rego became Director of a Vet Center (a Department of Veterans Affairs program serving combat veterans and veterans with military sexual trauma). There he not only led the Vet Center but, conducted individual, couples, and group counseling as well as providing clinical supervision to the clinical staff. Dr. Rego has also worked at the Special Treatment Unit, the New Jersey facility for sexually violent predators, where he specialized in group and individual treatment. He was also on staff at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, NJ, the prison for repetitive and compulsive sexual offenders. Mr. Rego also has extensive private practice experience working individuals and couples.

Dr. Rego has given presentations on different trauma treatment modalities and suicide prevention.

D. Rego has been a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, and the Association for VA Social Workers.

Dr. Jayne Schachter is a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience in working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.  She provides cognitive-behavioral treatment through individual psychotherapy, parent counseling, and group therapy.  Her areas of expertise include (but are not limited to) the evaluation and treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavior problems, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, effects of divorce, toileting issues, gender identity concerns, and coping with medical illness.

Dr. Schachter received her B.S. in human development and family studies from Cornell University.  She earned her Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Ohio State University, where she also taught introductory psychology.  Dr. Schachter then completed her clinical internship at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.  Since that time, Dr. Schachter has been on the medical staff at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Schneider Children’s Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and currently Morristown Medical Center.  Currently, she is also a member of the NJ Craniofacial Center which treats children with congenital and acquired craniofacial disorders. In addition to direct patient care, a large component of Dr. Schachter’s work has included training and supervision of psychology graduate students and interns, as well as medical students, psychiatry residents, and child psychiatry fellows.  She also held an appointment as an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  In addition, Dr. Schachter maintained a private practice in Mountain Lakes for many years.

Dr. Schachter has published articles on depression and child abuse and given numerous talks to professional groups, parents, and teens on topics such as the effects of divorce on children, managing behavior problems in preschoolers, transitioning to kindergarten, compliance with medical treatments, anxiety, and stress management.  She has been a member of the American Psychological Association, Society of Pediatric Psychology, New Jersey Psychological Association (current member of the Ethics Committee), Morris County Psychological Association, and New Jersey Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists.