Full Time Faculty
Deborah Elkis-Abuhoff, PhD., MA is an assistant professor with research interest in health psychology and creative arts therapy. Deborah has a background in graphic arts, has a teacher certification in fine arts education K-12 and is a New York State licensed psychologist.
Her M.A. in creative arts therapy combined with her Ph.D. in clinical/health psychology provides her with the background to launch innovative programs and presentations that bring the creative arts to the mental health field. Her work at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center provided experiences in working with the long-term chronic psychiatric patient.
Deborah is currently a member of the Internal Review Board at South Oaks Hospital
Adjunct Faculty
Viven Abrams ATR-BC is an art therapist and Dual Diagnosis Program Coordinator at South Oaks Hospital, as well as a faculty member at Hofstra University. Ms. Abrams's areas of special interest include working with addicted mentally ill patients and with people who have experienced trauma, grief and loss. Ms. Abrams supervises interns, graduates and has a limited private practice.
Joan Alpers, MSP, ATR-BC,CCLS is the Coordinator of the Child Life Program at Schneider Children’s Hospital of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. With over 20 years of experience, Joan has given numerous presentations and in-services to the Child Life Community, the Art Therapy Community, and the Allied Health Community. In addition, she holds graduate faculty level appointments and maintains a private practice as an art therapist.
Lois Carey MSW, BCDSW, Mrs. Carey is a diplomate of the National Association of Social Workers, a Fellow in the New York Society of Clinical Social Work Psychotherapists, a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor for the International Association of Play Therapy, a Professor for the International Society for Child and Play Therapy, the President of the Association for Play Therapy and the Director of the Center for Sandplay Studies. She has lectured on Sandplay nationally and internationally and is co-editor, of Family Play Therapy,(Aronson, 1994); author of Sandplay Therapy with Families and Children,(Aronson, 1999); and co-editor School Based Play Therapy (2002).
Margaret Carlock,ATR-BC is an administrator and senior art therapist at The Children's Learning Center of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County (ucpn). She holds a graduate level faculty position at Hofstra University and has has a private practice.
Joanna Cutolo, M.A., ATR-BC, CTRS has worked with geriatric populations for over 15 years. Johanna is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and has presented workshops about art therapy to the New York State and Long Island Therapeutic Recreation Associations. Johanna serves as an adjunct professor in art therapy at Hofstra University and as an art therapy consultant to the Gurwin Geriatric Center in Commack, New York.
Gail Elkin-Scott, ATR-BC has worked in a wide variety of settings with people of all ages. Her background in human development serves as a foundation for her holistic approach. Currently, she maintains a private practice in Manhattan, runs an art therapy program for individuals with dementia, and holds a faculty position at Hofstra University. Gail is continuing her education as a candidate in the Institute for Expressive Analysis.
Dorit Netzer, M.A. ATR-BC, Adjunct Faculty, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts, a Masters degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University, and is a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. She is the founder and director of the Integrated Arts Program at Posey School and has an art therapy private practice.
Sherry Reiter, Ph.D. is a clinical social worker and creative arts therapist specializing in poetry therapy and drama therapy. She was on the steering committee of both The National Association for Drama Therapy and The National Association for Poetry Therapy. Past?]President of NAPT, and The National Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy, she is the recipient of The Pioneer Award from NAPT in 2005 for her visionary work in the field.
Sheryl Stern MA, ATR-BC is an adjunct at Hofstra University and has a in private practice at Long Island Psychiatric, Roslyn, NY where she works with issues of post-partum depression, weight management, ADHD, depression and sexual abuse.