David M. Goldberg, Ph.D.
Dr. Goldberg is the clinical director and founder of Little Silver Behavioral Health. He received his doctorate in Experimental Psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1981, where he specialized in the areas of human perception and cognition. After he received his doctorate in Psychology he began work as a research associate at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Dr. Goldberg worked on numerous research projects aimed at adapting new technologies to meet human usability and performance needs. Dr. Goldberg's desire to apply the knowledge he learned in the laboratory to helping people in a clinical setting led him to a post-doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1996. He was licensed in the New Jersey the same year. Dr. Goldberg is a member of the Medical and Dental Staff of Monmouth Medical Center and has been in private practice in Little Silver, New Jersey for over ten years. Dr. Goldberg is a member of the American Psychological Association, the New Jersey Psychological Association, the New Jersey Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists, and is currently president of the Monmouth-Ocean County Psychological Association.
Anita M. Pfisterer, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Anita Pfisterer received her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers School of Social Work in 2005, after completing internships in behavioral health and oncology. Anita became certified in hypnotherapy in 1996 and has been a member of the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association since 1999, focusing on pain and stress management. In 2001, after taking the professional training course for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction taught by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli, Anita was the primary investigator for a Rutgers-Riverview Medical Center research project titled “The Efficacy of Meditation on the Coping Responses of Cancer Patients in Treatment.” Anita was trained in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback in 2002 and has incorporated relaxation skills into her practice. Anita worked in the oncology department at Monmouth Medical Center and facilitated numerous hospital based support groups including bereavement, oncology caregivers, and widows of the World Trade Center disaster. Anita is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Frank LoPresti, Ed.D.
Dr. LoPresti received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Rutgers University in 1988. He is a licensed professional counselor and has been working with school aged children for the past 34 years as an elementary school counselor, high school counselor and adult school career counselor. During the past 33 years Dr. LoPresti has worked in East Brunswick Public schools holding positions as a Career Counselor, High School Counselor, Department Chair of Guidance, Assistant Principal and Supervisor of Student Services before retiring in 2007.Dr. LoPresti's experience in working with school aged children and adolescents has given him great insight into the numerous issues that face today's youths. He has worked with students having difficulty adjusting to school and with students who have learning problems and behavioral issues that develop with this age group. His experience as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and a career counselor has provided him with the tools to conduct career assessments and counseling for adults in career transitions and adolescents in search of a college major or vocational goal. Dr. LoPresti's counseling orientation and expertise is in the area of cognitive and behavioral therapy which has allowed him to work with adults as well as adolescents in the area of anxiety and depression.Dr. LoPresti is a member of the New Jersey Psychological Association, Monmouth-Ocean Psychological Association, American Counseling Association and is a National Certified School Counselor.
Anita E. Smith, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., L.C.A.D.C.
Anita Smith received her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University in 2002. The following year, she completed the required educational and experiential requirements to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). In 2005, she completed the cycle and became a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). In 2008, Anita completed the training to become a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor (DRCC). To date, she has been able to utilize this training in an area school system as well as with soldiers returning from the Middle East. For the past six years, Anita has also worked in the outpatient psychiatric clinic at Monmouth Medical Center. During her time at the clinic, Anita has had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people who are all trying to deal with the various intricacies of their individual lives and the lives of their families. Anita has worked with these people through individual therapy and family therapy. Anita also co-facilitates a MICA (dual diagnosis) group at the clinic.
Mr. Ashe
Mr. Ashe (Rippling Waters Rustic Ashe), a French Bulldog, has been a therapy dog since March 2003. He was bred in North Carolina at Rippling Water Kennel by David and Peggy Roderick. After winning several dog shows he retired to become a full-time therapy dog.
Lucy
Lucy (Rippling Waters Pennyroyal Morgan), our second French Bulldog, was bred by Jo Miller in West Virginia and is distantly related to Mr. Ashe. She too has won several dog shows before retiring to work as a full-time therapy dog.
