Yulia Landa, Psy.D.
Principal Investigator
Yulia Landa, PsyD, MS, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Director of the Psychology Fellowship Program at the VISN 3 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at James J Peters VA Medical Center. Dr. Landa received a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hartford, and an MS in Clinical and Translational Investigation from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in schizophrenia treatment and research at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University/New York Presbyterian Hospital, and a comprehensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a Scholar at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research. Dr. Landa conducts clinical and translational research aimed to improve treatment outcomes for patients suffering from psychosis. Her work focuses on developing and evaluating targeted CBT for the treatment and prevention of psychosis and identifying critical mechanisms (psychological and neurobiological) of their effects. She has established individual, group and family-based CBT programs for patients experiencing delusions, paranoia and voice-hearing. Her work on standardizing and evaluating Group CBT for Delusions is notable as one of the first validated CBT for psychosis models in the U.S. Dr. Landa has received multiple grant awards, including NARSAD Young Investigator Award to conduct research on her novel "Cognitive Group Treatment for Paranoia" and NIH KL2 Career Developmental Award for her project “CBT for the Prevention of Paranoia in Adolescents at High Risk.” To facilitate the dissemination of CBT for psychosis Dr. Landa has developed CBT for psychosis training programs and has been teaching clinicians both in the US and internationally.
Rachel Jespersen
Rachel Jespersen is the coordinator of the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis clinical and research program. She manages administrative aspects and recruitment for the program’s research studies and coordinates referrals and intakes for the CBT for Psychosis clinical program. Rachel graduated with honors from Baruch College, CUNY with a BA in Psychology and has a Master’s degree in Social Work from the Silver School of Social Work of New York University. She is a licensed social worker in both New York (LMSW) and New Jersey (LSW).
Shaynna Herrera, Ph.D.
Dr. Shaynna Herrera is a licensed clinical psychologist and Instructor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her research focuses on the evaluation and dissemination of psychoeducation for individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. She developed one of the first manualized psychoeducation interventions for this population, the Brief Educational Guide for Individuals in Need (BEGIN). Through her Faculty Practice, Dr. Herrera also conducts clinical and diagnostic assessments and provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and with psychosis. Dr. Herrera received her Bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yeshiva University. She completed her predoctoral psychology internship at the UCLA Semel Institute in the Adolescent Serious Mental Illness Track, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Advanced Psychology Fellowship in Mental Health Research and Treatment at James J. Peters VA Medical Center. She has worked with Dr. Landa since 2013.
Joseph S. DeLuca, Ph.D.
Joseph S. DeLuca, Ph.D. is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (part-time) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. DeLuca contributes to the team's clinical research and training programs. Dr. DeLuca completed a joint BA/MA degree in Forensic Psychology at the City University of New York (CUNY), John Jay College and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. DeLuca then completed a predoctoral internship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where he specialized in the early stages of psychosis, followed by a National Institute of Mental Health T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Mount Sinai (primarily within the Psychosis-Risk program, mentored by Drs. Landa and Corcoran).
Clinically, he specializes in assessment and psychotherapy for youth (adolescents and young adults) -- particularly those at risk for, or in the early stages of, psychosis. He also works with individuals across the lifespan who have psychosis-spectrum experiences. Dr. DeLuca has extensive training in evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies for youth in diverse settings, and his research is aimed at understanding intersectional stigma and addressing equity issues in services. He runs the Intersectional Stigma, Psychosis, Youth, and Resilience (INSPYR) lab at Fairfield University, where he teaches, conducts research, and mentors students as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
Michael Jacobs, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael Jacobs has been a valued member of Dr. Landa's team since 2010. Alongside his research involvement, Michael has been instrumental in training therapists with Dr. Landa in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for psychosis and in Group and Family-Based CBT for the prevention of paranoia. Before becoming a clinical psychologist, Michael built a diverse career as a vocal coach, voice teacher, and professional musical theater performer, amassing a decade of experience in the field.
In addition to his role at Mount Sinai, Michael runs the Performance Institute for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. In his private practice, he helps clients with a wide range of issues, from paranoia and depression to audition and performance anxiety. For more information, visit www.PerformanceCBT.com.
Olivia Jarrett
Olivia Jarrett is a doctoral extern in the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis program at Mt. Sinai with Dr. Landa. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology (Health Emphasis) at Yeshiva University's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology with specializations in neuropsychology and psycho-oncology. Prior to graduate training, she completed her B.S. in Psychology and Global Health with a minor in Neuroscience at Duke University where she researched the neurobehavioral toxicology of environmental pollutants. In addition to working with the I-Can-Feel-Better Team, Olivia works under the leadership of Dr. Hannah-Rose Mitchell to provide caregivers of cancer patients with psychosocial support and co-lead groups focused on grief and self-care. Olivia has previously served as a research coordinator under Dr. Edythe London at UCLA's Neuroimaging and Addiction Treatment Laboratory where she assisted in conducting neuroimaging and cognitive assessment for the lab's stimulant use disorder research. Olivia is very interested in employing cognitive behavioral strategies to help individuals maintain sustainable relief from distress and progress towards important personal goals. Her work with differing populations has solidified her continuous commitment to providing equitable mental health care.
Kay Middleton
Kristen ("Kay") v.H. Middleton is an extern in the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis clinical and research program at Mount Sinai Hospital/Icahn School of Medicine. She is a doctoral student in the Psy.D. Combined School and Clinical Psychology program at Kean University. Kay graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in English, and spent the first part of her career as a K-12 educator, giving her insight into the social-emotional dynamics of youth, adolescents, and their families. Kay moved into the field of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Najé James
Najé James, is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her role includes assisting with patient recruitment, overseeing the collection, tracking and management of data as well as administration of the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS) for both the Early Stage Identification and Engagement to Reduce Duration of Untreated Psychosis (EaSIE): Evaluating the Impact of Systematic Screening and Communication and Telehealth Adaption of Group and Family Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Youth at Risk (GF-CBT-TH) studies. Additionally, Najé is a 3rd year Clinical Psychology PhD student at the City College of New York. Najé received her Bachelor of Science degree from the Pennsylvania State University (summa cum laude).
Prior to her time at Mount Sinai, Najé has worked in various health and mental health care settings assisting with data collection and administration of psychological and cognitive assessments throughout her time at institutions such as the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Integrative Medicine, Child Mind Institute and the Psychological Center at the City College of New York. Najé’s research and clinical interest including addressing and improving the mental health of individuals throughout the African Diaspora, specifically through understanding cultural identity and access to mental health services for individuals experiencing mental health challenges including being at clinical high risk or experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
Shelley Fuentes
Shelley Fuentes is a Clinical Research Coordinator in Dr. Landa's lab, where she tracks the uptake of screenings, evaluations, and referrals, monitors mental health service usage, and contributes to data collection to assess the effectiveness of interventions. She holds a Master of Public Health from Montclair State University with a concentration in Health Systems Administration and Policy and received the Academic Excellence in Public Health Award for the Class of 2024.
Before her current role at Mount Sinai, Shelley worked in the Care Management Organization of Passaic County in New Jersey, where she specialized in children's mental and behavioral health with a primary focus on youth involved in the Juvenile Justice Commission, Children’s Crisis Intervention Services, and the Division of Child Protection & Permanency. Her professional experiences and educational background highlight her dedication to improving health systems and policies, particularly for the Latinx population and other underrepresented communities.
Celia Ziliak
Celia Ziliak is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the CBT for the Treatment and Prevention of Psychosis program at Mount Sinai. They assist with patient outreach, data collection and tracking for several of Dr. Landa’s clinical studies, and they are certified to conduct the SIPS assessment. Celia received their bachelor’s degree from Barnard College at Columbia University, where they graduated summa cum laude with awards for academic excellence in Psychology and Gender & Sexuality Studies. They previously worked as a research assistant in the Group Dynamics Lab at Barnard, a teaching assistant for clinical psychology, and a clinical intern at the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy. Celia is committed to promoting inclusive, accessible care and supports efforts to remove barriers to quality mental health care.
Jack M. Kenny
Jack M. Kenny is a Research Assistant Intern in Dr. Yulia Landa’s Lab in the Psychiatry Department at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Jack assists the research team with patient outreach, data collection, data tracking, and study recruitment for Dr. Landa's clinical studies. He is a junior at Fairfield University where he is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience. Jack has received dean’s list honors while at Fairfield University and intends to pursue a career in clinical neuropsychology.
Deborah Ugo-Omenukwa
Deborah Ugo-Omenukwa is a Research Volunteer in Dr. Yulia Landa’s Lab within the Psychiatry Department at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In this role, she assists with transcribing therapy sessions for evaluation, completing adherence checklists based on these transcriptions, and supporting the team with data entry and verification tasks. Deborah is currently an (academic) junior at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, where she is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Social Psychology. She has consistently been on the Dean’s List each semester and is a McNair Research Scholar. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology.
Lisa Lavoie
Lisa Lavoie is an illustrator who focuses on educational illustration. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Kansas City Art Institute. Her whimsical yet bold illustration style helps make reading fun. She loves to draw, and especially loves to draw people and animals. She has been working with Dr. Landa since 2010, illustrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy workbooks for both adolescents and adults. Currently, she is illustrating a parent skills book with Dr. Landa. Her other clients have included The New York Times, Women's Day, Unicef and The Seaman's Church Institute.
Her work can be seen at www.lisalavoie.com