Meet Our Staff
	Laura Lustig, Ph.D., L.M.F.T., President and founder of NLC,  is a licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist in practice for over 30 years. Her specialization includes working with young children and their families, as well as with families who have loved ones dealing with chronic mental handicaps. Dr. Lustig provides consultation to therapists, groups and organizations. She is a noted educator, author and speaker.
	Selbe Potter Ruggiero, L.C.S.W.,is the clinical director and supervisor at the New Learning Therapy Center and has been in practice for over 20 years providing clinical psychotherapy and counseling to individuals, couples and families. She utilizes an integrated approach to treatment which includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral modification techniques. Selbe specializes in life coaching, personal change strategy, conflict resolution and interpersonal relationship management as well as spiritual exploration and mind-body connection. She is an adjunct professor at Columbia University and teaches a course on Alternative Therapies in the Helping Profession.
	Victoria Katz, M.A., L.M.F.T. is the Director of Social Skills Programming at The New Learning Therapy Center. Her practice consists of working with individuals, children and families. She has extensive experience in therapeutic and social coaching for children. Mrs. Katz works with parents with children who have attention deficits and other learning disabilities. She has developed a highly acclaimed program in coaching children ages 7-15 in a wide variety of social issues including social anxiety, managing interpersonal relationships, conflict resolution and problem solving. Mrs. Katz is also an adjunct professor in the Psychology Department at Sacred Heart University where she teaches courses on children with learning disabilities.
	Karen E. Giunta, M.A., L.M.F.T.,is a licensed marriage and family therapist, life coach and group facilitator. With over 20 years of experience in behavior modification, Karen incorporates physical, mental and emotional components into her work with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Karen specializes in work with couples and marital counseling, family relationships, parent education, anxiety and mood disorders, grief and loss, trauma, stress management, weight loss or gain, lifestyle behaviors and practices, and many transitional issues, including marriage, divorce, empty-nest, and career changes. Karen holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy and a master's degree in exercise science. She is an Emotionally Focused Couples and Family Therapist and an EMDR Level 1 & 2 trained psychotherapist. Karen is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy and an associate member of EMDR International Association. She is also an adjunct professor for the Psychology Department at Sacred Heart University.
	Christine Cowell, M.A., MFT, received her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fairfield University and her B.S. degree from Sacred Heart University. Chris works with individuals, children, couples and families to help them attain personal goals and achieve more satisfying relationships. Her approach focuses on utilizing client strengths in order to resolve longstanding issues that may be holding them back. Chris' areas of interest include: resolving family conflict, developing effective parenting techniques, alleviating anxiety and depression, helping couples develop closer, more intimate relationships, women's issues, grief and loss. Chris is an experienced group facilitator and an Associate Member of The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
	Lynda Martone, M.S., L.M.F.T., is a psychotherapist experienced in assessing, diagnosing, and treating individuals, couples, and adolescents. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the states of Connecticut and California, her work helps achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive interpersonal relationships. Specialties are working with depressive disorders, women's issues, men struggling with relationships of any kind, and couples work. She is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the American Psychotherapy Association.
	Heidi Siebert, LMFT., is a licensed marriage and family therapist and provides support for individuals, couples and groups. She has worked with clients on a variety of issues including infertility, mood disorders, anxiety, loss, women's issues, and relationship and life transitions. Heidi utilizes a combination of modalities including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the only couples therapy validated through extensive research, Gestalt therapy (a mind/body approach), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and relational models of therapy.Prior to joining the New Learning Therapy Center, she worked for several community agencies and children's hospitals. Before pursuing a career in psychotherapy Heidi worked in human resources, designing training and employee relations programs. Her style is down to earth and flexible, adapting to each clients unique needs. As a professional, wife and parent she understands the desire to create joy, balance and clarity.
	Carol H. Sampson, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who provides psychotherapy to adults, adolescents, children, and families. She helps clients address issues such as depression, anxiety, and mood instability. She also helps clients navigate life's transitions and challenges including relationship and parenting issues, divorce, and loss. Carol's specialty is child and adolescent psychotherapy. She helps youngsters develop healthy coping skills to deal with emotional challenges. With parents, she strives to strengthen family relationships by helping them develop parenting strategies that respond to the unique needs of their child. With all her clients, Carol helps them access their inner thoughts, feelings, and resources so that they can heal and grow. Carol utilizes warmth, compassion and a touch of humor to provide a safe, nonjudgmental environment to help her clients explore new ways to manage and overcome emotional distress.
	Franklin Tuchols, LCSW is a social worker licensed in Connecticut and New York. Frank is a clinical member of The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Frank has over thirty years of experience in providing therapy to individuals, couples, children and families. A former clergyman, Frank specializes in assisting those who have experienced a significant loss in their life or who are living with a life threatening or chronic illness. Frank also is experienced in working with same sex individuals and couples and issues of sexual identity.
	James J. Dipisa, Ph.D. has 25 years experience as a licensed psychologist, specializing in developmental psychological assessments of children and adolescents and consultations with parents and school staff. Dr. Dipisa has done training with the All Kinds of Minds group at the University of North Carolina. For the past 10 years he has been working with the Norwalk School system and was formerly faculty with the Yale Medical School Department of Pediatrics. For 25 years, Dr. Dipisa has been a member of both the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists. Dr. Dipisa has presented many training sessions for parents and other professionals on children’s cognitive development and neurodevelopmental assessment.
	Edward C. Keane, Ph.D.,Ed.D.,LMFT, is the Clinical Psychology resident at the Center providing psychological assessments, case consultation/psychotherapy, and forensic evaluations. He has 30+ years experience as a therapist, program consultant, trainer, author, and professor of psychology and human services. His clinical specialties include trauma/stress treatment, domestic violence intervention, family therapy, mood and anxiety treatment, as well as intervention for anti-social and conduct disorders. Dr. Keane has chaired two State-wide Commissions on adolescent health issues and has been honored for his many contributions to behavioral health initiatives in Connecticut. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
	Molly Morgan, MSW, RYT, received her Masters in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University. She works with children, adolescents, adults and couples to address issues of depression, anxiety, relationship struggles and stress management. Mollys particular interest is in helping clients to develop a stable sense of self so as to enhance interpersonal relationships, intuition, decision-making, stress tolerance, and life satisfaction. Her training and interests include cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness based practices. She is a Kripalu-trained Registered Yoga Teacher with experience teaching yoga for mood stabilization and well being. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Molly spent 15 years working as a corporate marketing communications professional.
	Jill Caruso,M.A.,MFT,  Jill sees individuals, couples and families, and works toward the idea of looking at our lives with a perspective. She brings a hopeful, strength-based attitude to therapy, and offers a comforting, confidential place to make sense of the past, look with clarity at the present and plan for the future. Jill's special training includes Emotionally Focused couples therapy and Reiki healing energy work. Areas of professional interest include neurofeedback and mindfulness meditation. She received her B.S. from Georgetown University in Spanish, and offers this experience as an adjunct to her practice. She received her M.A. from Fairfield University. She is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
	Peggy-Sue Forster, M.A., MFT, is a graduate of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Fairfield University, trained mediator and associate member of the AAMFT.  A former nursery school director/head teacher and youth counselor with a B.A. in Early Childhood /Elementary Education (Summa Cum Laude) from American University, she brings a developmental perspective to her work with families and children that fosters healthy self-esteem, effective parenting, and builds on the unique strengths of each family which may be challenged during difficult life transitions.  She helps individuals/ couples to identify and change behavioral patterns that may be limiting intimacy and life satisfaction.
	Mary Dobson, MA, MFT received her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fairfield University. As a member of The Phi Beta Kappa Society and Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, Mary keeps abreast of current research in psychology and family therapy and uses evidence based models in her practice. Mary co-authored "The impact of care-giving history on prenatal depression in adolescent and young adult women," published in Psychology of Women Quarterly in 2007. Marys areas of interest include working with children and young adults to strengthen familial relationships in times of transition, address attachment issues, and diagnose and treat substance abuse, eating disorders, attention deficit disorder, depression and anxiety. Mary takes a post-modern approach and employs mindfulness based cognitive techniques, working with clients to formulate a therapeutic alliance and co-create an environment in which change occur. A member of AAMFT, Mary also works in the school system counseling at-risk teens.