Our Professional Staff

Our professional staff includes board certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrists, a neuropsychologist, specialized psychotherapists, behavior and executive function skills specialists, and learning consultants.

Dr. Sterchele is a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist who recognizes the importance of understanding all aspects of an individual’s identity and values. She develops holistic and comprehensive treatment plans by closely working with parents, schools, medical providers, and therapists. She partners with a family to create goals and a plan of action, which may include medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes or a combination of each.

Dr. Sterchele specializes in the treatment of ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD and trauma related symptoms, OCD and Tic disorders.  She focuses on the difficulties many experience with emotional regulation, social and communication skills, learning and academics, the challenges others face with gender dysphoria and gender transitions, and she provides guidance for navigating the stresses and transitions we all face in life.

Dr. Sterchele is particularly interested in helping individuals who have experienced trauma and trauma related symptoms. She has presented research on understanding the challenges and barriers of assessment and treatment planning for traumatized youth at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2019. She has also worked in partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of School Health to provide workshops to parents on building healthy relationships with their children.

Dr. Sterchele attended Temple University School of Medicine and then completed her adult psychiatry residency training at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, serving as Chief Resident in her fourth year. She then completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at New York University, where she served as Inpatient Chief Fellow.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Nanda Muthusawmy, MD, is a Board Certified Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of ADHD, mood regulation disorders, behavior disorders, depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders, and OCD and Tic Disorders.

Dr. Muthusawmy provides diagnostic psychiatric evaluations, prescribes appropriate medications where appropriate, but strongly believes in the power of psychotherapy to bring about positive change for the children, adolescents, and adults she treats.

Dr. Muthusawmy attended Rutgers Medical School, where she received her medical degree and then completed her adult psychiatry residency training. She was then accepted to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship and additionally participated in its Division of Tics, OCD, and Related Disorders specialty clinic.

Merritt Hubsher, MD is the medical director of ADHD, Mood & Behavior Center. He is a Board Certified Child, Adolescent and Adult psychiatrist, and expert in the diagnosis and treatment of both childhood and adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADD, ADHD). He specializes in the treatment of all child and adolescent emotional, behavioral, social and academic disorders. He possesses an expertise in the treatment of mood disorders in children, adolescents and adults, (such as Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety and OCD Disorders), behavior disorders (such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder), as well as Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Dr. Hubsher received his medical degree from SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in New York. He received his residency training in Psychiatry at New York University Medical Center, where he also completed his fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Hubsher has been in practice since 1987, promoting effective treatment for children, adolescents and adults.

Dr. Hubsher has appeared on television and radio, has been quoted in numerous newspaper articles, has lectured all over the State of New Jersey to school teachers, guidance counselors, therapists and parent groups as well as other psychiatrists, and regularly consults with pediatricians, family practices, primary care and specialist physicians, teaching the hallmarks of childhood mental health, behavioral and academic conditions, in order to increase awareness and thereby help children to receive the help from which they can so greatly benefit.

In December 2018, Dr. Hubsher was voted the #1 Favorite Kids’ Doc out of all pediatric doctors, in all specialties, in all of New Jersey.

Dr. Joshua Shifrin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Clark University in Worcerster, Massachusetts. Dr. Shifrin then attended Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts where he earned his Masters of Science in educational psychology and his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in school psychology. After working for approximately five years as a licensed school psychologist, Dr. Shifrin continued his studies at Florida State University where he earned his PhD in the American Psychological Association (APA) Accredited combined school psychology and counseling psychology program. Dr. Shifrin completed his APA accredited internship at the Andrus Children’s Center in Yonkers, NY. Dr. Shifrin is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey and New York, as well as a Diplomate of the American Board of School Neuropsychology, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Dr. Shifrin specializes in conducting pediatric/school neuropsychological evaluations.

Kaitlyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor in New Jersey whose clinical specialties include working with adolescents,  and adults who are struggling with anxiety, mood disorders, as well as personality disorders. Kaitlyn has extensive experience working with clients and families who are in crisis, and believes in a creating a therapeutic relationship from honesty, a judgement free environment, and viewing every client from a strength-based perspective.

Kaitlyn has practiced in numerous clinical settings including Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment, substance abuse as well as a private practice setting. Kaitlyn received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and education and her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University at Albany.

Michael Shugrue is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at the ADHD, Mood and Behavior Center, where he specializes in treating children, adolescents, and their families. Michael joined the center in 2005 and provides individual, group, and family therapy. He is also a regular speaker at conferences and events addressing parents and educational audiences on a wide range of topics from dealing with ADHD to fostering self-esteem in special needs children.

Michael received his Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University in New York. Prior to joining the ADHD, Mood and Behavior Center, Michael spent 3 years at the Institute for Behavioral Health Services at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey. From 2000 to 2002, Michael worked at and helped develop “Project Destiny”, a unique and highly successful Oakland, California-based full service, ‘wrap-around’ program. There, Michael both provided counseling and supportive services to high risk families in economically challenged neighborhoods as well as participated in the development, direction and team management of the burgeoning, grant supported ‘wrap around’ program. In addition to direct client work, Michael also has extensive experience working with juvenile justice, educational, and hospital/health service systems.

Ashley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2011, but has been working clinically with children and families since 2005. Her educational background is in psychology and direct practice social work. She earned her master’s degree from Bryan Mawr College in 2009.

Patricia Palko is a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing within the state of New Jersey with over a decade of counseling experience providing mental health services in community, educational, as well as clinical settings to individuals, children, adolescents, and their families.

Patricia believes that in order for behavioral health service outcomes to be successful, working collaboratively as a team will promote carryover and follow-through across all realms of treatment.  Patricia is passionate about enabling her clients to become their best advocate and ally.  Patricia prefers utilizing types of therapeutic interventions that are evidenced-based within the models of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. She also practices Person-Centered as well as Family Systems therapies due to beliefs centered around the family being an integral part in the treatment plan and overall progress when working with children and adolescents.

Patricia has experience providing counseling and behavior intervention services to individuals diagnosed with Depression and Mood Disorders such as Bipolar Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, PTSD, and those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD.  Patricia provides parent training, support services, as well as family therapy for families undergoing a variety of mental health concerns.  Patricia has undergone various trainings in the areas of Mindfulness, Social Emotional Learning, Yoga/Meditation, DBT, and IEP educational advocacy. Patricia is certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional.

Patricia has a Master’s in Counseling Psychology degree specialized in both Mental Health as well as School Counseling from St. Elizabeth University and was the top graduate within her programs upon graduating in 2011.

When Patricia is not practicing therapy, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling across the US, cooking and baking, as well as being outdoors within nature.