OPAL has a singular goal.
Overcoming
Pain and
Adversity in
Life.
About OPAL
After more than 20 years of treating adolescents and their families, Nicole Chaikin, PsyD and Susan Morrison, LCSW observed clients becoming increasingly distressed and less able to fully participate in their lives. Initially, DBT had been demonstrated to be highly effective for adults with similar challenges. DBT has since been adapted to treat adolescents and young adults and in 2015, we founded one of the Main Line’s first adolescent DBT programs.
Our clinicians form a complementary and experientially diverse core team of committed and compassionate therapists. All OPAL clinicians have completed 40+ hours of DBT-specific training, with most trained directly by Behavioral Tech, LLC. Our practice is committed to providing an adherent DBT program and our team engages in weekly consultation meetings to support each other and ensure fidelity to the treatment model.
Our Team
Nicole D. Chaikin, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
-
CO-FOUNDER
Dr. Nicole Chaikin has been a practicing clinician for more than twenty years. Her integrative approach to psychotherapy weaves aspects of psychodynamic, dialectical (DBT) and cognitive behavioral strategies to tailor treatment to the individual client. Nicole’s DBT training was completed through Behavioral Tech.
Nicole values opportunities to work collaboratively with preteens, adolescents, and adults around a variety of life’s challenges and personal goals. Nicole’s areas of expertise include anxiety and mood disorders, self-injury/suicidality, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, and trauma-related problems. She also enjoys consulting with parents regarding child development issues and parenting concerns. In addition to her work with OPAL, Nicole is in private practice with Integrative Psychological Associates (IPA). Dr. Chaikin currently holds school psychologist positions at The Episcopal Academy and Montessori Children’s House of Valley Forge.
Nicole graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clark University, earning the distinctions Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude. She earned a master’s degree in clinical social work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as both master and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology (PsyD) from the Institute of Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University. Nicole has held leadership positions in various mental health settings, including community mental health agencies, inpatient units, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, and schools.
-
phone: (484) 674-6325
email: admin@opaldbt.com
Susan S. Morrison, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
-
CO-FOUNDER
Susan has been a practicing clinician for more than twenty years after earning her Masters in Social Service at Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including community mental health and private practice. Susan’s clinical approach is integrative, drawing from Object Relations Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other relational therapies. Susan completed her DBT training through Behavioral Tech.
Susan works with preteens, teens and adults seeking improved self awareness and coping strategies to overcome the obstacles to living the life they desire. Within the context of a supportive and validating therapeutic relationship, clients are empowered to establish authentic goals, often related to identity and sense of self. Susan specializes in the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, self-defeating behaviors, life transitions, social challenges, addictive behaviors, and ADHD. Consultation with parents regarding parenting issues is also available.
In addition to her work with OPAL, Susan is a member of Integrative Psychological Associates (IPA), a group practice with offices in Berwyn and Narberth.
-
phone: (484) 674-6325
email: admin@opaldbt.com
Emily J. Paull, PsyD
• Licensed Psychologist
• DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™ Certified Clinician
-
Dr. Emily Paull earned her Masters of Arts and Doctorate in Psychology at LaSalle University. In addition to private practice, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including residential, acute inpatient, and partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient treatment facilities. Emily is committed to providing effective, evidence-based treatment to her clients, and has been extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based interventions. She completed her DBT training through Behavioral Tech, and is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™.
Through working with Emily, adolescents and adults learn to navigate the barriers to building the meaningful lives they desire. She brings authenticity and compassion to each therapeutic relationship, creating an accepting environment from which one can learn, strengthen, and generalize more effective ways of interacting with themselves and the world. Emily specializes in the treatment of chronic emotion dysregulation, which can occur in the context of mood and anxiety disorders, suicidal and self-harming behaviors, and personality disorders. Additionally, she is trained in the DBT-PE protocol for clients who experience intense dysregulation with concurrent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Emily has authorization to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology granted by the PSYPACT Committee and can service clients in any participating PSYPACT state.
Emily’s passion for DBT extends into her personal life, in which she regularly practices mindfulness meditation and advocates for mental health destigmatization. In addition to her work in psychology, Emily values creativity, human and animal rights, and living sustainably.
-
phone: (484) 339-4022
email: emily@opaldbt.com
Elizabeth J. Schol, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
-
phone: (484) 229-7098
email: elizabeth@opaldbt.com
Austin J. Angiollilo, PsyD
Postdoctoral Fellow
-
Austin completed his doctoral degree in clinical psychology at La Salle University, his M.A. in clinical psychology at La Salle University, and his B.A. in Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies at West Chester University. Austin completed his pre-doctoral internship at Temple University's Tuttleman Counseling services as a generalized clinician with a focus on working with clients with eating and body image concerns. Austin has worked with clients who have a variety of concerns such as mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and ADHD.
Austin's clinical approach centers around helping people understand their emotions and their impact on thoughts and behaviors utilizing evidence-based techniques such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He strives to be empathetic, encouraging, validating, and change-oriented. Austin creates a safe space for clients to discuss their challenges and collaborates on how to move toward their value-driven goals. In their work with Austin, clients learn to identify what is getting in the way of living life to the fullest and actively create a life they look forward to living.
Austin has over 10 years of experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community and provides a non-judgmental and empathetic space for people to discuss, explore, and understand their identities as they develop over time. He offers clients support in coming out if and when it feels right and consults to parents of LGBTQIA+ children, teens, and adults. Austin is also qualified to provide education and guidance in considerations for LGBTQIA+ high school and college students including Title IX laws. Austin has expertise in the area of gender identity and transitions and is passionate about helping individuals (and families when appropriate) navigate the transition process. He provides education on the different ways to express gender, which may or may not include medical intervention, as well as assistance in weighing the risks and benefits of social, legal, and medical transition. Austin conducts evaluations and writes letters for medical transition services when appropriate and can assist in legal name and gender marker changes.
-
phone: (484) 229-7112
email: austin@opaldbt.com