PROFESSIONALS
Whitney Buckley, PsyD Psychologist
Whitney is a licensed clinical psychologist with a focus on children and their families. In addition, as a certified school psychologist and a decade of experience working in public schools, Whitney’s expertise offers unique insight into one of the primary environments in which children function. Committed to a collaborative approach with schools and families, Whitney provides support for clients navigating the eligibility process for special education and 504 eligibility and subsequent plan development. Whitney’s unique training also informs her assessments, where she completes comprehensive evaluations for children with a wide variety of challenges in order to assist other clinicians, parents, and schools with the critical information needed to best support individual needs, and help children understand their particular set of strengths and challenges so that they can be self-advocates while also productively working toward their goals.
Whitney specializes in working with children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, depression, and ADHD, and in working with children with autism or other social communication challenges. She emphasizes a collaborative approach with families that empowers parents to support and generalize their child’s progress outside of sessions. Seeing tremendous value in small group engagements in which parents are able to process and learn together how best to support their children, Whitney leads group programs based on the renowned SPACE methodology to treat anxiety, and parent training groups for those with children with ADHD or other challenges with regulation.
Dr. Buckley received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut. She received her graduate training from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University in New York, earning both a Masters of Science in School Psychology and a Doctorate of Psychology in School - Clinical Child Psychology with a concentration in Early Childhood development.
Mindy Kubrin, LCSW Psychotherapist
Mindy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a distinguished academic background. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Tulane University and earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University. Mindy specializes in assisting individuals in navigating life's most challenging moments, with a particular focus on adolescents, young adults, and their families.
Her practice encompasses crisis intervention, support during natural life transitions, and the establishment of long-term therapeutic relationships aimed at fostering personal growth and managing anxiety. Mindy employs a diverse array of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Exposure Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Independence Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). These techniques allow her to customize her approach to meet the unique needs of each client.
Mindy's professional experience includes significant roles at organizations such as Kids in Crisis in Greenwich, Connecticut, as well as clinical settings including pediatric emergency rooms, pediatric intensive care units (PEDICU), and inpatient substance abuse facilities. These experiences have enhanced her ability to provide support during acute crises and to promote long-term resilience during common life transitions.
Mindy is particularly dedicated to helping adolescents and young adults manage clinical anxiety related to academic pressures, social dynamics, and the transition to college. Whether addressing academic stress or striving for balance during life changes, she collaborates closely with clients to develop practical tools for managing daily challenges. Additionally, her experience as a trainer with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has equipped her to guide young adults toward achieving a healthy work-life balance.
Mindy's expertise is instrumental in guiding clients through anxiety, relationship dynamics, life transitions, and other pertinent issues, fostering resilience and well-being.
Tara Whitely, LCSW Psychotherapist
Tara has worked for the New Canaan Public Schools for the past 25 years. Alongside her continued work in schools, she is venturing into private practice to address the increasing prevalence of anxiety among children, a concern she has observed in the school system firsthand.
Tara helps children understand that anxiety is an external challenge they can confront and overcome. She fosters a perspective that encourages children to view their parents as supportive partners in managing anxiety, promoting teamwork and open communication.
Utilizing the SPACE therapeutic model from the Yale Center for Child Development, Tara helps parents learn how to stop accommodating their child's anxiety, which can unintentionally increase their anxiety by allowing them to avoid what they fear. This pattern often leads to an unhealthy cycle of avoidance. By collaborating with parents and schools, Tara creates supportive environments that foster resilience in anxious children.
Tara employs various therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Exposure Therapy, Independence Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to tailor her approach to each child's needs. She earned her Master's Degree in Social Work from Columbia University and is a licensed clinical social worker with a particular interest in anxiety management. A majority of Tara work is with elementary aged children and younger adolescents.
In her private practice, Tara provides individual counseling, child anxiety and independence therapy groups and co-facilitates SPACE Parent Workshops, equipping parents with strategies to support their anxious children effectively. Her commitment highlights the vital role of parental involvement and school collaboration in helping children thrive.