At this time we are temporarily pausing on accepting new patients while we work our way through our extensive waitlist. We continue to see our current patients and their family members.
About Us
Allan J. Rooney, Psy.D.
Allan J. Rooney, Psy.D. specializes in neuropsychological assessment of children, teenagers and adults through geriatrics. He is also a certified Autism Spectrum Disorders Specialist following a post-graduate program in Autism Spectrum Disorders at Antioch New England University.
Dr. Rooney received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Nova University and his postdoctoral neuropsychology training through the Fielding Institute at New York University of Medicine. He also completed postdoctoral training in psychoanalysis at the Psychoanalytic Center for Communicative Education and Research (New York). He holds 2 masters’ degrees in clinical psychology, an M.S. from Nova University and an M.A. from Southern Connecticut State University. He received his B.A. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts.
Dr. Rooney’s experience working with children and adolescents began in 1985. He provided assessment and therapy for children with intellectual and emotional difficulties through the University of Miami School of Medicine-Mailman Center for Child Development. At the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Dr. Rooney worked with children and taught them behavioral techniques to help them manage their anxiety and depression associated with undergoing medical procedures.
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Dr. Rooney’s background includes work with Holocaust survivors at the Southeast Florida Holocaust Memorial Center. He further developed his work in adult psychology while on the staff at the Fairfield Hills Hospital in Connecticut, where he evaluated and treated chronic mentally ill adult and geriatric patients.
Dr. Rooney provided evaluations and therapy for patients with brain injuries and other neurocognitive conditions while Director of Psychological Services at the Brook Hollow Health Care Center in Wallingford, Connecticut. He has been in private practice since 1997.
Amanda Pope, Psy.D.
Dr. Amanda Pope is a clinical psychologist specializing in child and adult psychological, neuropsychological, and psychoeducational evaluations. She received her doctorate from William James College in Newton, MA and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Atlanta Psychological Services in Atlanta, GA. During her fellowship, she completed a broad range of assessments (e.g., neuropsychological, psychological, forensic, trauma-focused) and developed a focus in Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluations.
Dr. Pope completed an APA-accredited internship at the Brenner Center for Psychological Assessment and Consultation in Newton, MA, where she conducted comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations across the lifespan. In addition, Dr. Pope worked at the Roger Williams University Counseling Center in Bristol, RI during her internship, providing counseling services to undergraduate and graduate students.
Dr. Pope has also conducted assessments in her work as a Psychometrician at the Pediatric Psychopharmacology Department at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her goal is to provide comprehensive assessments that meet each patient's unique needs. She aims to provide recommendations that are direct and useful to patients and their families, as well as support them across multiple areas of functioning, including social, emotional, academic, and occupational to help them reach their optimal potential.
Rachel Grossman, Psy.D.
Dr. Rachel Grossman is a clinical psychologist who specializes in child, adolescent, and adult psychological and psychoeducational evaluations. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Antioch University New England in Keene, NH and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Seven Hills Behavioral Health in Worcester, MA. During her fellowship, she provided psychotherapy and a broad range of psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults.
Dr. Grossman’s prior experience includes providing early childhood mental health consultation for daycares and preschools in the Metro West and Boston areas through a consultation agency and working as a mental health professional with toddlers and young children in Early Intervention services. She has previously worked as a mobile crisis clinician providing crisis assessments to children and adults in their homes and in hospital emergency rooms. Dr. Grossman has also provided counseling services, psychological and psychoeducational assessments to children, adolescents, and adults in a therapeutic school, public schools, and community mental health centers.
Dr. Grossman’s goal is to provide thorough assessments to help children, adolescents, and adults successfully navigate a variety of different developmental, behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs and challenges. She strives to provide recommendations that are easily applicable, strength based, and effective in meeting her clients and families particular needs.
Susan Brefach, Ed.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Dr. Brefach received her doctorate from Boston University and did post-doctoral training at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Brighton, working with their inpatient evaluation team and providing therapy to children and families. She is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She has worked in area hospitals including Franciscan Children’s and North Shore Medical Center, in private clinics, and has maintained a private practice for 25 years.
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Her book, No Parent Left Behind: Navigating the Special Education Universe was written to help patents understand their children’s needs, and provide a “roadmap” to help them get the necessary services to “make school work” for their children from first worries to success in life.
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Dr. Brefach’s specialties include comprehensive evaluations and advocacy for children and adolescents (ages 5 through post-college) with neurodevelopmental disorders including Learning Disabilities including dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, emotional difficulties including anxiety and depression, Intellectual Disabilities, and behavior problems including school refusal. She has conducted hundreds of program observations, attended thousands of school meetings, and testified at special education hearings, all with the goal of helping children find success in school and beyond.
Catherine Smail, Psy.D.
Dr. Catherine Smail earned her doctorate from William James College in 2017 and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Lynn Community Health Center in Lynn, MA. She specializes in psychological, neuropsychological and psych educational assessments for children, adolescents and adults.
Dr. Smail has an extensive history working within integrated teams, collaborating with medical professionals on promoting health behavior change and serving as an advocate for her clients within the medical system. She has particular experience working with the Latine population, providing culturally appropriate clinical care. She also has a long history of working with charter and public schools to support the mental health needs of children and adolescents.
At NEPAC, Dr. Smail assists clients of all ages understand themselves better, and through this understanding, more easily navigate the world around them. She is motivated to provide culturally humble, easily applicable interpretations and recommendations on behalf of her clients.
Donna Wheeler
Patricia Chapman