About Us

Dr. Walter, a state-licensed psychologist, opened The Family Center 35 years ago to provide effective, compassionate, and personalized care for the complex psychological challenges facing families in our Central Maryland Community. Dr. Walter lives in Howard County and has a good understanding of the unique challenges in this community during these demanding times. Dr. Walter was awarded a graduate fellowship at the Institute of Child Study, UMCP, to concentrate on human development and family systems theory. After receiving her Ph.D., she completed a post-doctoral internship in clinical psychology. She currently supervises the clinical staff who specialize in the treatment of behavioral, emotional, developmental, and transitional problems of children, teens, adults, and families.

Nicky Lankerani is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. She completed her residency in general psychiatry at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Health System and at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she served as chief resident. Her specialties include mood and anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, pervasive development disorders, and diagnosis and early interventions for pre-schoolers.

Chris Williams is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW‐C) with over 20 years of clinical experience. Chris received his Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Howard University. Chris has worked with a myriad of client populations in various public health settings. Chris’ practice focuses on working with clients dealing with grief/loss, chronic health issues, mood and anxiety disorders. Chris also has a wealth of experience working with adolescents and families. Chris has years of experience working with and providing therapy and counseling services to the African‐American community. As a former high level athlete and coach, Chris also has a specialty providing sports psychology/counseling to youth and adult athletes and working with teams to address how mental and emotional health issues impact performance and sport enjoyment. Chris has been in clinical practice at the Family Center since 2001, and has been a resident of Howard County since 1977.

Dr. Shep Jeffreys is a licensed psychologist and Fellow in Thanatology specializing in grief, loss, and end-of-life concerns. He is a grief psychologist with clinical focus on the life journey of individuals, couples, and families who are experiencing grief as a result of bereavement, life-threatening illness, or life-limiting disability. In addition to providing clinical services to The Family Center clients and short-term groups for grieving people, Dr. Jeffreys is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Loyola University Maryland. He is on staff in the Department of Psychiatry, Howard County General Hospital, and is a consultant to hospices, hospitals, nursing homes, educational institutions, and corporations. He has also served as a trainer and workshop leader with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and as a consulting psychologist for the Johns Hopkins AIDS Service.

Dr. Krystin Wessner is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of children (ages 3+), adolescents, and families/couples. She received her doctoral degree from Loyola University Maryland. Dr. Wessner performs individual, family, and group therapy. Throughout treatment she emphasizes the importance of collaboration, working with each client, and the family, to develop a unique treatment plan and appropriate, obtainable, goals. In addition, Dr. Wessner conducts psychological evaluations that assess for learning disabilities, ADHD, and other social-emotional disorders.

Dr. Wessner consults closely with teachers, school personnel, pediatricians, and other health care providers to offer the most comprehensive treatment and advocates for the client’s educational, social, and mental health needs. Her areas of interest and specialty include behavioral and emotional disorders (e.g., ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorders), trauma, adjustment disorders, high functioning autistic spectrum disorders, and childhood grief and loss. In addition, she has worked with military families who are in the midst of transition and struggling with unique challenges and adjustments.

Andi is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC). She attended Towson University, where she earned Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Psychology and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology.  Andi has professional experience working as a Crisis Counselor, School Psychologist and Psychology Associate. She has experience providing acute to long-term mental health care and psychological evaluation.

Andi’s therapeutic approach is holistic, pulling from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Existential Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Strength-Based Modalities. Andi brings both professional and personal experience to help clients find wellness and decrease negative symptoms. She believes that true wellness is found at the center of physical, relational, and spiritual health. Andi works primarily with adolescents and adults and is also available for parent coaching for parents in need of support with children elementary-aged and younger. 

Brittney is a Registered Psychology Associate and Nationally Certified School Psychologist, who obtained her Master’s Degree in Psychology and Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology from Towson University. Brittney has been a practicing school psychologist in Maryland for the past 10 years. She also holds certification in early childhood education, and is a former kindergarten teacher. Brittney specializes in work with early childhood, elementary-age youth, and early adolescence. 

As a school psychologist, Brittney has practiced in multiple Maryland school systems. She conducts comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations, with particular interest in the neuropsychological foundations of learning disabilities, and behavioral and emotional disorders. Through evaluation, Brittney seeks to identify unique learning and behavioral needs, and engage families and practitioners in the development of comprehensive intervention plans and support systems. 

Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychoeducation, and play-based approaches, Brittney assists clients and families in identifying and addressing self-regulation needs. Brittney has extensive experience providing both individual and group counseling services to address needs related to anxiety, anger and stress management, social thinking skills, executive functioning, and the development of healthy coping strategies. Brittney engages her clients and families in targeted goal setting to facilitate integration of skills outside of the counseling setting, as well as age-appropriate self-evaluation of skill development to foster a growth mindset. 

Brittney is a strong believer in collaboration. In order for children to achieve optimal emotional, intellectual, physical, and social development, it is imperative that professionals and family members who support them work in collaborative efforts, with specific and common goals and intentions. Communication and highly-individualized approaches and treatment plans are key. Brittney is able to provide behavioral analysis and training to families to assist with in-home behavior management, and also seeks to support families in the understanding and navigation of Special Education processes and their child’s unique learning needs.
 

Amanda Ismail is a board-certified registered nurse practitioner specializing in psychiatry and mental health. She has a Bachelors in Nursing degree from Frostburg State University and earned her Masters degree in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.

She has spent most of her career working with children as a Pediatric ICU nurse and working with children and adolescents in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is the daughter of a Korean immigrant mother and understands the importance of culture and the role it plays in relationships and mental healthcare. 

Dr. Karen Bell is a Registered Psychology Associate and Nationally Certified School Psychologist, who obtained her Doctoral Degree in Psychology with a focus on School Psychology from Rhode Island University. Prior to becoming a school psychologist, Karen worked alongside the founders of the Stages of Change Theory, and remains rooted in the practice of meeting her clients and families where they are in their change process, and using tailored approaches to help them attain their goals. Karen has been a practicing school psychologist in Maryland since 2012, working with children ages 3yrs through adolescence. 

Karen conducts comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations, to help determine unique learning and social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Through this process, Karen seeks to engage families and practitioners in the development of intervention plans and support systems. Karen has a passion for advocating for families, children, and adolescence by working with other professionals as well as school teams to support their unique needs and assist families in understanding and navigating supports such as the Special Education and 504 processes.

Karen implements Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychoeducation, and play-based approaches to help clients and families identify and address self-regulation and learn positive coping strategies. She recently completed 60+ hours of play therapy training. Karen has experience providing both individual and group counseling services to address needs related to anxiety, depression, anger and stress management, social thinking skills, executive functioning, and the development of healthy coping strategies. Karen also works with caregivers through behavioral consultation to support skill development in the home and community settings.