OPAL has a singular goal:

Overcoming
Pain and
Adversity in
Life.

About OPAL

After more than 20 years treating adolescents and their families, Nicole Chaikin, PsyD and Susan Morrison, LCSW observed clients becoming increasingly distressed and struggling 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 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, 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 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 is a school psychologist at Montessori Children’s House of Valley Forge and previously held school psychologist positions at The Episcopal Academy and The Montgomery School.

    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. She earned her Master's degree 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; she draws 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 greater 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. She also delivers consultation regarding parenting issues.

    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

  • Dr. Elizabeth Schol is a dedicated clinical psychologist with a Doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) and over a decade of experience in the field of mental health. She specializes in helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with a compassionate and evidence-based approach.

    Elizabeth’s therapeutic style is deeply rooted in the belief that the therapeutic process is collaborative, emphasizing empathy, respect, and joint problem solving. As a psychologist specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), she is dedicated to helping clients navigate emotional dysregulation and interpersonal challenges through evidence-based techniques. Elizabeth’s practice emphasizes the integration of mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation skills to foster meaningful and sustainable personal growth.

    Elizabeth has extensive experience working with diverse populations in a variety of clinical settings, including community mental health, neuropsychological assessment, the justice system, and crisis response centers. She has worked with individuals facing anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other mental health challenges. Additionally, she specializes in supporting parents of adolescents and young adults dealing with mental health concerns, providing guidance and strategies to help them navigate these complex issues.

    In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Schol is committed to ongoing professional development and staying current with the latest research in psychology. She believes in the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance and works to create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel heard and supported.

    Outside of her practice, Dr. Schol is an avid Philadelphia sports fan, enjoys running marathons, and finds joy in art and painting. She values the balance between work and personal life and brings this holistic perspective into her therapeutic practice.

    Dr. Schol earned her PsyD from La Salle University and she is licensed to practice psychology in Pennsylvania. She also has authorization to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology granted by the PSYPACT Committee and can service clients in any participating PSYPACT state.

  • 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. 

  • Identity understanding, development, and exploration. Psychoeducation and support for queer and trans clients and their parents, including navigating Title IX and high school/college supports

    Gender Identity-specific services including:

    • Psychoeducation and answering the many questions that come along with transition, including helping to weigh risks and benefits of social, legal, and medical transition

    • Psychoeducation on different ways to express gender identity (including both medical and non-medical options)

    • Reviewing and assisting with relevant transition processes including evaluation and letter writing for medical transition when appropriate, assistance in legal name and gender marker change when appropriate.

  • phone: (484) 229-7112

    email: austin@opaldbt.com

Madeline Vandevere, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

  • Dr. Madeline Vandevere completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at West Chester University with specializations in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Trauma. Maddy completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship with Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems and her postdoctoral fellowship at the School in Rose Valley. Maddy has worked with many populations and multiple levels of care, and especially enjoys working with younger children and their families to achieve optimal social and emotional development.

     

    Each treatment plan is intentionally tailored to meet the needs of the individual child and their family, and Maddy will often pull from various evidence-based treatments to maximize therapy outcomes. She most often utilizes techniques from play therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and always works through a trauma-informed lens. Maddy is currently completing her foundational training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through Behavioral Tech.  She specializes in working with children and their families to optimize family cohesion and positive relationships. In particular, Maddy has experience in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, executive functioning coaching, social and coping skill building, and adjustment to life transitions. 

     

    Maddy is committed to providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment where children feel safe to explore their thoughts and emotions. By combining therapeutic techniques with a holistic understanding of each child's context, she strives to empower children to achieve their full potential and navigate life’s complexities with confidence.

  • phone: (610) 620-3784

    email: maddy@opaldbt.com