Staff and Bios

Rebecca Kullback LCSW-C, co-founder of Metropolitan Counseling Associates LLC. is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes with adolescents, young adults, couples, and families. She has worked extensively providing hospital based and outpatient individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy, and has a particular interest in working with young women who experience unstable mood and relationships. Rebecca received her MSW in clinical social work from Smith College School for Social Work and subsequently worked at Chestnut Lodge Hospital where she treated patients with severe character pathology and mood disorders alongside some of the most renowned mental health providers in the country. With increasing interest in prevention, Rebecca began working in school systems. She has worked on staff, as a supervisor, and as a consultant to numerous special education and independent schools and was the Upper School Counselor at Sidwell Friend School in Washington DC prior to moving into full time private practice. Rebecca speaks regularly to school and community groups on issues pertaining to adolescent and young adult development. Rebecca has broad experience working with individuals and families of all adoption experiences providing counseling, education, and support. She is well versed in the unique challenges faced by adoptees and adoptive families and was a participant in a pilot program used to develop an advanced certification for adoption competent therapists. Rebecca believes that successful treatment of adolescents requires a systems approach that incorporates consideration of the influences of family, school, and community with individual development.

Amye L. Fried, LCSW-C, co-founder of Metropolitan Counseling Associates, LLC has been providing individual, group and family therapy to children, adolescents and young adults in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for over 10 years. Amye has a sub-specialization in the use of sand-tray and play therapy, techniques she uses in her work with children, ages four and older. In addition, Amye serves as a clinical supervisor, and educational advocate for students with emotional and/or learning challenges, a parent guide and a consultant in the community. Amye graduated Summa Cum Laude from Emory University with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and from Smith College with a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work. Amye has also completed all of her coursework and clinical requirements towards her Ph.D. in Social Work. Amye has served as a keynote speaker at private and public schools, hospitals, colleges and professional conferences on topics including the teen-parent relationship, child and adolescent social dynamics, eating disorders, exercise abuse and childhood trauma. Beginning at the age of 20, Amye has published multiple abstracts and co-authored a paper on the relationship between problematic exercise and various forms of psychopathology. She has presented her work entitled “The Cost of Autonomy for Adolescents: Dangerous Risks, Secrets, and Shame” at two national conferences. In the July 2009 issue of the Washingtonian Magazine, Amye was cited as one of the best adolescent therapists in the DC metropolitan area and in August of 2009, Amye was interviewed by News Channel 8 as an expert on the topic of bullying.

Devora Freund, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist licensed in Maryland. Her experience includes work with children, adolescents, groups, couples, and families. After she earned her Bachelor's degree in Education, Devora was a classroom teacher and administrator for 14 years. As part of her administrative role she earned a Master's degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She received her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University. During her training Devora worked with individuals and couples at the GW Center Clinic and with young children, and their families at Mazique Head Start program in Washington D.C. At Mazique Devora conducted play therapy for children ages 3-6. She provided parent/family support and consulted with administrators and teachers on a regular basis. Devora completed her internship at The Psychiatric Institute of Washington . At PIW Devora participated in multidisciplinary treatment planning teams and provided individual and group therapy to a divers inpatient population suffering from mental health and addictive illnesses. Devora is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a verified psychotherapist by Psychology Today.

Holly Funger, LCSW-C, is a clinical social worker licensed in Maryland who specializes in work with adolescents and young adults. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and her Master of Social Work degree from The Catholic University of America. Holly is a National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Certified School Social Work Specialist and has worked in several area independent schools as a School Counselor, most recently completing her eighth year at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Holly worked with the Community of Concern to develop the program “Conversation’s That Count”, an interactive program for adolescents and their parents focusing on alcohol and drug abuse. Holly has also received a certification from Rutgers University and the Training Institute in Sexual Health Education (TISHE) as a sexual health educator. Holly works with many young people who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly as they affect school performance and social interactions.

Karen Garman, LCSW-C, is a clinical social worker licensed in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, who specializes in work with children and families. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and her Master of Social Work degree from Howard University. She completed the seminar series in Infant and Young Child Mental Health, as well as the post-graduate certificate program in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at the Washington School of Psychiatry, where she has also served as a guest instructor.

Karen has over 15 years of clinical social work experience, including work at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore providing clinical services to children with special physical and medical needs in foster care; clinical work at the Foundation Intermediate School in Maryland, focusing on the social, emotional, and therapeutic needs of children with significant emotional disabilities; and most recently, at the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children, where she provided assessment and treatment to children birth through 11 years old, including therapy to children and families, support and guidance to parents, and mental health consultation in daycare/preschool settings. In addition she provided clinical supervision to social workers as well as training of graduate students in Social Work.

Karen works with children experiencing a range of emotional and behavioral difficulties. She has particular interest and expertise in helping young children and parents to develop strong and healthy attachment relationships, providing early intervention in social-emotional and developmental struggles, and in working with children and families on issues related to grief and loss, trauma, social difficulties, emotional regulation, and anxiety. She also enjoys working with parents who have questions and concerns about parenting.

Joy Martini holds a BA in Interpersonal Communications from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Over the past decade she has worked with children, adolescents, and young adults in different academic and therapeutic capacities. She spent 8 years working in early childhood development as a teacher at the Outdoor Nursery School. Joy has completed the “Strategies that Work” tutor training program by Dr. William Stixrud. In her work, she develops skills for working with individuals with executive functioning disorders, dyslexia. ADHD and depression. Joy is particularly interested and accomplished in developing strategies to connect with children, teens, and young adults who have been frustrated and discouraged about learning. She is also certified in the Ortin-Gillianham multi-sensory approach to teach reading and comprehension to school age children who struggle with traditional approaches to learning. As program coordinator for Ascend, Joy helps clients develop and attain concrete life skills and a structured schedule that supports their therapeutic, academic, and occupational goals.

Allison Nordlinger is a licensed clinical social worker, who has been working with children, teens, young adults and their families for over 10 years. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her M.S.W. from the Catholic University School of Social Service. Allison has worked in community- based mental health clinics, school settings, and in private practice. She provides therapy to individuals and groups, and incorporates parent guidance support into her work with children and teen clients. Allison is trained in multiple theories of practice and routinely integrates insight oriented therapy with a cognitive/ behavioral approach to meet the unique treatment needs of her clients. She is licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Phillip A. Reynolds, LCSW-C, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia. His experience includes work with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Phillip graduated from Elon University with a Bachelors degree in psychology and sociology, minors in women/gender studies and anthropology, and an overall concentration in human sexuality. He received his MSW in clinical social work from Smith College School for Social Work and subsequently directed and developed the R.I.V.E.R.S. Program for youth with sexual behavior problems at The Jefferson School, a treatment program in Jefferson, MD. He is experienced at teaching human sexuality and safer sex practices to adolescent populations. Phillip also has significant experience working with couples in all stages of their relationships, whether considering marriage, improving the quality of the relationship, or working through a divorce and transitioning to separate lives. Phillip is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and is a verified psychotherapist by Psychology Today.

Chris Whitaker LCSW-C, ATR is a clinical social worker, licensed in both Maryland and Virginia and a registered art therapist. Chris’ experience with adolescents and their families covers over 25 years. Her training began in the criminal justice field after graduating with a BS in the Administration of Justice from American University. Through her understanding of the universal language of art, she obtained a Masters in Art Therapy from George Washington University and entered the field of mental health working in psychiatric inpatient units with adolescents for the next ten years. During this time, she began to explore the field of special education and spent the next 7 years working with emotionally disabled students in Fairfax County, Virginia. She returned to graduate school and obtained a Masters in Social Work from the University of Maryland and returned to special education as both a clinical social worker and art therapist. Her training at the Family Therapy Practice Center under Marian Walters in Washington, DC, laid the ground work for her work with sexually abused adolescents and their families. While working in special education in both public and private settings she has developed a private practice in Bethesda, Maryland specializing with girls and women. During this time she has been a member of the Montgomery County Executive Board on both the Victims Services Association and Citizens Review Panel on Child Protective Services. Now in fulltime private practice, Chris incorporates art therapy and psychotherapy in her individual, family, and group work with adolescents and adults.

Katherine J. Whorton, LCSW-C has been providing indivudual, family and group therapy in the private and public sectors since 1996. Katheirne graduated with honors from Chapman University and herned her Masters degree in clinical social work from Smith College. Additional training includes completion of the adult psychotherapy program at the Baltimore Washington Center for Psychoanalysis and advanced clinical training at the Clinical Social Work Institute in Washington DC. Katherine began her practice with a focus in hospice and medical social work and then worked with the severe and chronically mentally ill at Chestnut Lodge Hospital until its closing. Currently, she works at the National Institute of Mental Health with a focus on human subjects protections for research participants. Katherine's current practice serves adolescents and adults with a focus on anxiety, depression, relationships and issues related to loss and bereavement.

Sarah Whorton graduated from Loyola Marymount University, Seaver College of Science and Engineering in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry. She was a project administrator in research labs for 7 years and taught high school science for 4 years. Due to the fact that Sarah is a military spouse and as a result has relocated several times in the past 5 years, she decided to use her project administrator skills in other realms. She has held administrative positions with Churchill County, Nevada and served as the Ombudsman for VAW-116 (Carrier Air Wing-116). Upon her family’s move to the Washington, DC area, Sarah joined Metropolitan Counseling Associates, LLC in March of 2011 as the Office Manager and Bookkeeper.