Orla Cashman, Ph.D., LCSW
Orla Cashman, Ph.D., LCSW is a doctor of Clinical Social Work with a Masters in Social Work from Hunter College and a Doctorate in Clinical Social Work from New York University. Orla received her first degree from SUNY Purchase in Drama Studies. Prior to her entry into private practice, Orla gained experience by working as a therapist at the Mead School in Stamford, CT, where she built an understanding of the mental health needs of children and adolescents as they mature and progress through school years. While finishing her thesis on the effects of socioeconomic status on treatment and mental health, Orla published her findings in a book she co-authored titled Toxic Wealth: How the Culture of Affluence Can Harm Us and Our Children.
Orla has maintained a private practice in Greenwich, CT for 25 years. Orla has worked with hundreds of children, adolescents, families, and adults to not only overcome their present challenges but to equip them for their future and even maintain contact as a resource for years to come. She has conducted extensive research in the areas of adolescence, parenting, and on the impact of socioeconomic status on mental health treatment, topics on which she speaks publicly in addition to providing consultations to schools and organizations. Orla is intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Gestalt Therapy and frequently works with all ages as well as with couples, families, and groups. Additionally, Orla often serves as a parenting-coordinator, which is a court-appointed advocate for the children of parents going through divorce whose role is to facilitate the decision-making process with respect to the best interest of the children involved.
Orla's unique and eclectic approach to the therapeutic process creates a warm, supportive, and welcoming atmosphere that makes her patients feel comfortable and safe. She truly understands the importance of meeting a patient where they are, which at times may mean integrating nonconventional techniques like mindfulness, music, or role-play that leave clients feeling comfortable and open to progress. In recent years, Orla has expanded her individual private practice to become Greenwich Psychotherapy & Associates, a group practice offering psychotherapy to individuals, groups, and families in the Fairfield County and Westchester, NY areas. In addition to regularly seeing patients, Dr. Cashman works closely with each of the GPA therapists to provide supervision and case consultation.
Kaila Cashman, LCSW
Kaila is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a specialization in children, adolescence, and families. She is a dedicated clinician with 7 years of experience working with children and families in therapeutic foster care, schools, and individual psychotherapy settings. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies & Community Development from Towson University with a concentration in Services to Children and Youth, Kaila completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Maryland School of Social Work with a concentration in Services to Children and Families. After earning her Masters, Kaila was based in Maryland where she gained social work experience in various school settings in addition to serving as a Family Consultant for the KidsPeace Therapeutic Foster Care Agency. From there, Kaila moved north to join GPA where she split her time with the Family Centers in outpatient behavioral health and the School Based Health Center in Stamford as a therapist. Kaila primarily utilizes a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) framework but incorporates other modalities to find the best fit for each individual patient. Currently, Kaila is a full time clinician here at GPA, and we are excited to have her on our team.
Alessandra Pane, LCSW
Alessandra is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a focus on anxiety and depression in adolescents, adults, and children 3 years old and up. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Sacred Heart University, Alessandra began working as an office administrator at GPA. Inspired by Dr. Cashman and her associates, Alessandra pursued and completed her Master of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University. In addition to her work at GPA, Alessandra worked for four years with Pathways, Inc., a non-profit mental health agency in Greenwich, CT serving adults with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Alessandra is also a 200-hour registered yoga teacher from the Kripalu School of Yoga in Lenox, Mass, and passionate about mental health and holistic mind-body wellness - integrating mindfulness, meditation and yoga into her practice wherever suitable.
Arabelle Rowe, LCSW
Arabelle Rowe was born and raised in Wales, UK. A licensed clinical social worker, she has a wealth of experience on both sides of the Atlantic, having trained and worked in London and also graduating from New York University with a Masters in Social Work.
Arabelle is a Diplomate Member of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and a member of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy. Arabelle has completed advanced training and utilizes in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). She works with individuals, couples, families and children and has extensive experience treating depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and relationship/family issues. She provides a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental therapeutic environment. Arabelle will work collaboratively with you to identify your goals and tailor the treatment to facilitate any changes necessary to meet those goals.
For the last fifteen years, Arabelle has worked at New York-Presbyterian Hospital working with a wide range of psychiatric disorders - where she supervised social workers, medical residents and medical students. Arabelle also helped develop the College Track Program, which provides intensive treatment for undergraduate and graduate students who need to step out of their academic programs to address psychological and/or psychiatric issues. At New York-Presbyterian, Arabelle was the recipient of numerous awards including the Donald M. Hamilton Award for Exceptional Service and Caring, and another for Excellence in Education and Training, which saw her co-found and co-lead a year long Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Training Program.
Steven Bennett, LPC
Steven Bennett, Licensed Professional Counselor, is a member of Greenwich Psychotherapy & Associates providing therapeutic services to early adolescents, teens, and adults. Originally from Wisconsin, Steven holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in English Education, and he earned his M.Ed. in Counselor Education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He has extensive training and experience with School Counseling and educational issues, Parenting Teens, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR/Trauma, and Anxiety/OCD treatment. He utilizes Motivation Interviewing, as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in his work. He is a trainer of CBT-Exposure/Response Prevention (E/RP) - the gold standard treatment for OCD and anxiety. He also has training in, and a passion for psychotherapy for pain management.
Steven started his career as an English teacher in New Hampshire before moving into alternative education to serve students struggling in traditional educational settings. Since then he has taught English as a second language, guided adventure therapy trips, taught special education, and was the high school teacher and basketball coach in an Alaskan Yup’ik Eskimo village. He has served as a principal of an alternative high school, and he was a school counselor for 15 years. Prior to joining GPA, Steven was a Clinician at Mountain Valley Treatment Center, a residential program for teens and young adults with severe anxiety disorders. Most recently, he was a founder and the Associate Clinical Director of the Anxiety Institute in Greenwich.
For nearly 40 years, Steven has practiced tailoring his therapeutic approach to individuals. After all, one size fits, well, one. The through-line has been building trusting relationships for co-exploration. He is experienced in creative applications of group therapy, exposure, rock climbing, art, writing, chess, cinema-therapy, basketball, music, culinary arts, and more. Steven is passionate about building collaborative therapeutic relationships, working with each person to understand the obstacles to living their most meaningful life and then, together, creatively facing and navigating the inevitable distress and challenges that come with moving into living more fully.
Mark Cheramie, LCSW
Mark Cheramie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience providing therapeutic services to adolescents and adults. Originally from New Orleans, Mark holds a B.A. from the University of New Orleans and a Master of Social Work Degree from Tulane University. Mark’s professional experience began working as a staff therapist at an Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He went on to work in the Louisiana school system in the capacity of early intervention, special education, and was a leader on the crisis response team. In 2007, Mark attended training with Jack Kornfield, the father of modern Buddhist Psychology. This began a deeper personal and professional journey into the benefits of mindfulness. Mark has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In addition to treating individuals, Mark treats couples and families and has completed trainings with the Ackerman Institute for the Family and Level 1 of the Gottman Method. Recognized as a gold standard of couples therapy, the Gottman Method helps couples disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; and create a heightened sense of empathy and connection within the context of the relationship.
Margaret Grimsley, LCSW
Margaret Grimsley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 28 years of experience. She recognizes each client’s individuality in the therapy process, as she walks alongside clients as they navigate challenges. She is passionate about mental health wellness and the dedication to guiding her clients toward self-discovery and a renewed sense of purpose. Margaret employs a strengths-based approach and incorporates various therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Margaret’s practice has served adolescents and adults in the areas of anxiety, depression and navigating difficult life transitions. Another focus of Margaret’s practice has been working with adults and adolescents focusing on understanding and recovering from codependency associated with their family members or significant others having addiction and alcoholism challenges.
Randi Olin, LCSW
Randi is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a clinical focus on couples, families, and emerging adults. After receiving her B.A. from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Randi went on to receive a Juris Doctor degree from Cardozo School of Law in New York City. She completed her Master of Social Work at Fordham University, where she gained social work experience working with individuals, couples and families, and co-led substance abuse recovery support groups. She is the co-founder and co-executive editor of the online parenting publication, Motherwell Magazine, and is a freelance writer on subjects related to parenting and families; her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Modern Loss, and Brain, Child Magazine. Whether working with individuals, couples or families, Randi’s approach is to create a collaborative, non-judgmental and supportive environment where every client feels comfortable, respected and heard; she values the unique and distinct experiences and backgrounds of every client and is dedicated to creating a safe, authentic and welcoming space working alongside clients to help identify goals as well as ways to meet them.