AMAZING IS POSSIBLEChildren's Behavioral Health Services

Kay Kutz, LSW, provides leadership and oversight to The Children’s Institute’s behavioral health team and ensures all services provided to our amazing kids and families meet the highest quality of care and compliance. She is honored to lead our team of behavioral health professionals who are motivated, passionate, and positively impact the social and emotional well-being of children and adolescents via both in-person and telehealth therapies.

• Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from California University of Pennsylvania 

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Dr. Kole earned his bachelor’s, medical, and bioethics degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a combined residency program in pediatrics, adult psychiatry, and child psychiatry at Brown University and is board certified in these three fields. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh, he provided integrated care psychiatry to patients of all ages at the Providence Community Health Center. His commitment to patient care has led him to be twice inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dr. Kole is accepting new patients and will see clients on Tuesdays both in-person and via telehealth at The Children’s Institute.

• BA, MD and Masters in Bioethics at University of Pennsylvania 2005-2013
• Combined Residency in Pediatrics, Adult Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry at Brown University 2013-2018
• Board Certified Physician in Pediatrics, Adult Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry
• National Health Service Corps Scholar 2018-2020

Dr. Melnick provides clinical supervision and consultation to The Children’s Institute’s behavioral health team. He is a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and is a supervisor of psychiatric residents at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital and Allegheny Health Network. For more than 40 years, Dr. Melnick maintained a private practice and previously served as medical director at The Bradley Center and Pressley Ridge and also served as medical director of the St. Francis Medical Center’s in-patient child and adolescent psychiatric units. Dr. Melnick has been recognized as a Distinguished Life Fellow by both the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

• BA in Psychology Antioch College, 1967. MD Drexel University College of Medicine, 1972
• Internship, Residency in Psychiatry and Fellowship In Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 1976
• Board Certified in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

With a passion for helping others, Ericka Grab, M.S., takes a strength-based and faith-based approach to therapy. For every amazing individual she sees, she believes in drawing upon their strengths to help them overcome challenges, and in drawing upon their values and beliefs to put it all into practice. Therapy is always client-certered. As Ericka likes to say, her clients are "in charge of driving the ship. I am there with the map to help along the way." She is passionate about meeting them where they are and letting them lead the way. "I am there to help guide as needed, but ultimately they are the ones leading," she says. 

Ericka loves to see families overcome challenges, showing support, love, and appreciation for each other. From every session, she hopes clients walk away knowing they are not alone. There is someone here to help them along the way.

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University
• Masters of Science in Professional Counseling from Carlow University
• Experience working in youth residential programs, wrap-around services as a Therapeutic Support Staff (TSS), family-based services, as a behavioral specialist consultant/mobile therapist, and as a school-based paraprofessional

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Bethany Crile, M.A., NCC, LPC, found her calling to help others through her own journey of resilience and healing. She helps children to think, feel, explore, and make sense of their personal worlds. Bethany seeks to enhance their brain/body connections to aid in healthy development while healing from past traumatic experiences. Her approach is very playful, child-directed, and trauma-informed and she seeks to provide creative, exploratory therapeutic practices to help children flourish. Bethany is currently working towards her national certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EDMR) Therapy.   

• Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Communication Arts from Allegheny College
• Graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Waynesburg University
• National Certified Counselor (NCC)
• Certified Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional (CATP)

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Casey Harvilla, M.A., ATR-BC, LPC, enjoys helping others and believes that self-expression and self-awareness are crucial tools in reaching goals and becoming your best self. As a board certified art therapist, she loves providing a space for clients to be creative and open, but also offers traditional talk therapy/counseling, therapeutic play and writing, and various other methods that help kids better express and understand themselves. She enjoys helping children and families realize their potential and learn positive ways to interact and grow. Casey’s specialties include working with children with anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-esteem, and body image challenges. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy with Digital Media minor, Mercyhurst College
• Master’s degree in Art Therapy with specialization in Counseling, Seton Hill University 
• ATR-BC (Board Certified Art Therapist)
• LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)
• CCATP-CA (Certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Anxiety Treatment Professional)

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Christina Jolley, CRNP, evaluates, diagnoses, and treats children within our behavioral health clinic, including children whose treatment may require appropriate prescription medications. She has worked with children of many ages and abilities, including extensive work with children with autism and other special needs, and loves being able to follow the journeys of children and families as they learn, grow, and meet their goals. Christina wants kids to feel that their voice is highly valued when making treatment decisions and enjoys working together to meet their goals. She also takes the time to connect with other medical providers and schools to gain the best understanding of the children and families she serves.

• Doctorate in Nursing Practice 
• Certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 
• Certified as a Pediatric Mental Health Specialist
• Certificate in School Nursing

Dana Buchko, M.A., is often the first friendly voice parents and guardians hear on the phone when connecting with our Behavioral Health team to learn more about our services. Having earned her Medical Assistant associates degree from the Sanford Brown Institute of Pittsburgh, she finds great joy in using her skills and knowledge to help connect families with the right resources. Dana loves playing an important role with parents and guardians selecting The Children’s Institute to meet their child’s needs.

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Katie Ashman, LPC, believes that a core part of wellness is gaining insight and awareness to emotional regulation and understanding how children handle both comfortable and uncomfortable life events. A “helper at heart,” she is drawn to the deeper meaning of challenges children face in life and aims to help them uncover their deeper meaning in order to learn and grow from it. Katie provides a safe and supportive space and loves being a part of children and families’ journeys to wellness and connection. She has experience working with children who have experienced life challenges related to trauma, attachment, grief and loss, foster care, adoption, and child welfare.

• Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Carlow University
• Licensed Professional Counselor 
• Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner 

For more than five years, Michelle Altman, LCSW, has specialized in pediatric mental health, working with families to address concerns such as anxiety, stress management, depression, and emotion dysregulation. She values meeting clients “where they are” and helping both children and caregivers navigate life’s challenges using the power of empathy and validation. Michelle has been comprehensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and holds a Certificate of Advanced Practice in Trauma-Informed Care. Michelle is also proud to be bilingual and provide therapy services in both English and Spanish.

• Bachelor's degree in International Affairs and Human Services, The George Washington University
• Master's degree in Social Work, Syracuse University
• Comprehensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Certificate of Advanced Practice in Trauma-Informed Care

Catherine has her master’s degree in Counseling, with a focus on Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. She is a National Certified Counselor. She worked with children, teenagers, and their families who were juvenile justice or protective services systems involved during both her internship and initial position after graduate school. She has worked with them in residential, home, and outpatient settings. Catherine utilizes a variety of approaches as needed by the client and families, including person-centered, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior, dialectical behavior, and narrative therapeutic techniques. She believes that clients and families are the experts on their lives and the therapist is there to help and support them in helping themselves. Prior to becoming a therapist, she received her bachelor’s degree in Applied Criminology from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina and worked as a victim advocate for survivors of crimes. This strengthened her belief in the ability of people to overcome and grow through adversity. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, visiting small towns, and knitting and crocheting. 

Marie Fritch, M.A., ATR, has valued over six years of experience providing therapeutic support and intervention to clients across childhood to teenage years. She has her masters in art therapy and counseling from Edinboro University. Marie is a registered art therapist through the Art Therapy Credentials Board. She also holds experience utilizing a variety of therapeutic approaches selected specifically for the client and family’s needs including Person-Centered Therapy, CBT, DBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Marie aspires to help and empower individuals who have experienced difficult life circumstances on their journey to wellness and healing. She believes in the power of gaining awareness of emotional regulation, healthy self-expression, and increased self-esteem practices. Her experience includes treating individuals living with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and PTSD to overcome challenges and find effective coping strategies to work through difficulties in life. She is skilled in providing therapeutic intervention across settings in both in her private therapy office, as well as in school settings to meet clients where they need support in their treatment.

Lacy is a licensed professional counselor and has been working with children and families in the mental health setting for over 14 years. She appreciates the courage it takes to begin addressing life’s challenges through therapy. Her goal is to provide a supportive, warm environment in which clients can connect with their authentic selves, express feelings, and create positive change. 

Lacy embraces a collaborative and holistic approach when helping clients to address symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD and other mental health diagnoses. She believes a client’s resiliency is their greatest strength in overcoming adversity. Lacy utilizes a combination of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy to help clients reach their goals. 

Lacy has a degree in Sociology from Washington and Jefferson College and earned her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Carlow University in 2007. 

As a behavioral health therapist at The Children's Institute, Hopeton Bailey works with amazing kids and their families to work toward resilience and healing, with particular clinical interest in anxiety, depression, anger management, family conflict, stress management, self-improvement, and trauma. A Certified Grief and Counseling Specialist (CGCS) with extensive training in trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and grief and loss, Hopeton obtained his master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is also bilingual - English and Patois.

He has a background and therapeutic skills in person-centered counseling, behavioral therapy, family therapy, mindfulness and meditation, trauma-focused therapy, grief and loss therapy, and brief solution focus therapy.