Elizabeth S. Thayer, Ph.D., Partner, President and Clinical Director, Licensed Psychologist.

Dr. Thayer received her Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Thayer has expertise in parent counseling for divorced or separated parents. She works closely with many family attorneys in the Hartford area.

She also specializes in working with women, children, adolescents and families. Dr. Thayer is a member of the Connecticut Board of Examiners in Psychology and former Chairperson of the Appeals Committee for the Certificate of Professional Qualifications in Psychology, of the National Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Connecticut Psychological Association. Dr. Thayer is listed in the National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology. In 2004 Dr. Thayer received The Distinguished Contribution to the Practice of Psychology Award from the Connecticut Psychological Association.

She is also trained as a Collaborative Divorce mental health professional and a divorce mediator. Dr. Thayer is on the board of the Connecticut Council for Divorce Mediation and Collaborative Practice.

Wendy F. Habelow, Ph.D., Partner and Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Habelow received her Ph.D. in 1991 from Michigan State University and completed her clinical internship at Yale University. Her areas of expertise include the treatment of depression and anxiety, parenting and family issues, and marital treatment.

She conducts individual psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and adults; couples therapy; family therapy; group therapy; and psychological assessment. Dr. Habelow’s particular areas of interest include women’s issues, eating disorders, divorce issues, organizational consulting, and conducting support groups.

Dr. Habelow is a member of the Connecticut Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, and is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. She trained as a Collaborative Divorce mental health professional. She also serves as a Special Master at the Regional Family Court in Middletown and the Early Intervention Program in Hartford.

Vicki Strnatka-Knapp, Ph.D, Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Strnatka-Knapp is a licensed psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and adults.  She provides individual, family and group therapy as well as psychological and educational testing.  Her areas of interest include anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, school problems and behavioral issues in children and adolescents as well as parent support and training.  Dr. Strnatka-Knapp received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from George Mason University in 2003, which included an internship at the Richard H. Hutchings Psychiatric Center in Syracuse, New York, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at The Village for Children and Families in Hartford, CT.

Naomi Neuwirth, L.C.S.W., Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Beacon is pleased to welcome Naomi Neuwirth, LCSW to our staff.

Mrs. Neuwirth is a licensed certified social worker who specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, adults and couples. She had been in private practice in West Hartford for the past twenty years. She has consulted at the Montessori School, Hartford; Noah’s Ark, West Hartford; The Lollipop Tree, West Hartford; and the University of Connecticut Child Care Center, Farmington.

She received her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University in 1978. She received advanced certificates in child psychoanalytic training and marital training from the Postgraduate Center, New York from 1980-1984. She also received training as a consultant to child care centers. She received her MFA in writing from Sarah Lawrence in 2003 and published a book called Tilted Lives.

Heather Quinlan, L.C.S.W., Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Ms. Quinlan received her MSW from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She has provided individual, family and group psychotherapy in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Prior to pursuing her Master’s Degree, Ms. Quinlan earned the J.D. and practiced law for several years. Ms. Quinlan works extensively with adolescents, adults and couples. Her areas of expertise include self-esteem, relationship issues, eating disorders and body image, trauma recovery, self-harm and depression.

She also specializes in parent counseling and divorce-related issues. Ms. Quinlan is a member of the National Eating Disorders Association.

Bruce S. Rothschild, M.D., Medical Director

Board Certified Psychiatrist. Dr. Rothschild received his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 1985 and did his residency training in psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

He has been practicing psychiatry in the Hartford area since 1989. Initially at the Institute of Living, he developed and headed the Eating Disorder Day Hospital. Since 1993, he has been the Director of Consultation/Liaison Services at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

Dr. Rothschild is also an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where he is actively involved in medical student education. His subspecialty clinical interests include mood disorders, eating disorders and anxiety disorders. He sees patients for medication evaluations as well as ongoing treatment.

Betty Ann Rudolph, L.C.S.W., Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Ms. Rudolph received her MSW from the University of Connecticut and completed her clinical internship at Yale University.

She has had extensive experience in inpatient, outpatient, and private practice settings providing individual, couples, family and group psychotherapy. Her areas of specialization include the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, couples therapy, women’s issues, parenting issues, conflict resolution, divorce and separation issues, substance abuse and sexuality issues.

Ms. Rudolph is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and is a licensed Clinical Social Worker.

T. Scott Sewitch, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Sewitch received his Ph.D. in 1984 from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Sewitch has extensive experience helping patients better manage the psychological aspects of physical injury, chronic pain, headache, and other medical issues.

He also provides Psychological Evaluations for Workers Compensation cases, Fitness for Duty Evaluations, and assessment of the psychological effects of motor vehicle accidents and other personal injuries.

Dr. Sewitch conducts stress management, sexual harassment, and motivational enhancement programs for individuals and employers, and provides structured cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder, anxiety, depression and marital discord. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society of Behavioral Medicine and the Connecticut Psychological Association.

Donald E. Topor, L.C.S.W., Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Mr. Topor received his MSW from the University of Connecticut in 1982 while on a scholarship from the National Institute of Mental Health.

He has extensive training with inpatient, outpatient and crisis services. His areas of expertise are in the treatment of depression, anxiety, parenting skills, family issues and marital conflict. He conducts individual psychotherapy with adolescents, adults, couples and families. Particular areas of interest include military medicine and geriatric care, and he implemented Beacon’s Reunification Program.

Mr. Topor is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and is listed in their National Directory. He also provides supervision at the request of the Ethics Board of the Connecticut Chapter of Clinical Social Work.

You can download a PDF document for printing with this biographical information on Beacon Behavioral Services' providers. Click here for a PDF document.