I am a licensed psychologist and a board-certified music therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience. I received my doctorate from Carlos Albizu University in 2007 and completed my doctoral internship at Miami Children’s Hospital in the Department of Psychiatry. I established The Cadenza Center for Psychotherapy & the Arts, Inc. in 2000 to serve the greater Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.
While I do work with adults, my primary focus is with children & their families. I have training in behavior modification, family therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy & developmental psychology. In addition to conducting therapy, I also do evaluations for learning disabilities, conduct and behavioral disorders, autism, mood and personality disorders. For forensic cases related to autism, I have provided testimony and expert opinions as well as serving as an expert witness.
In addition to my work with clients, I serve as the center’s President and Clinical Director as well as supervise trainees in mental health and psychology. Finally, in addition to being a featured speaker at professional seminars, my professional service includes being on the editorial board for “Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts” (a peer-reviewed APA journal) and serving on several national committees and advisory boards both in psychology and music therapy.
Danyel Hen is a Doctoral level Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) with over 6 years of experience in the field of autism working with young children and over 10 years of experience working in the school setting with ages ranges from 3 months – 11 years old. She graduated with her Bachelors in Communication Disorders from University of Central Florida. Danyel graduated with her Masters in Exceptional Student Education with a concentration in autism and holds a Florida teaching certification for grades Prek-3rd grade. Dr. Hen recently completed her Doctorate degree (Ed.D.) in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Nova Southeastern University.
Danyel has experience providing ABA therapy in the home, clinic, and school setting and her expertise includes early intervention, individualizing instruction, promoting independence, assessment of skills, and managing challenging behaviors. Danyel also brings personal experience as a sibling of an individual with special needs.
Danyel was born in New York and moved to South Florida as a teen. She speaks both English and Hebrew fluently. In her free time, Danyel enjoys traveling to new places, reading, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
Liora Namiech is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 5 years of experience working with children of special needs. She was introduced to behavior analysis during an internship semester while pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Behavior at the University of Florida. Prior to entering the field of ABA, Liora taught yoga and health education classes and was motivated to earn a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in autism studies.
Liora has provided ABA therapy and supervision in a variety of settings and her professional skills include assessment and treatment of problem behaviors, implementation of direct skills assessments, and application of evidence-based teaching methods to promote acquisition of critical skills. Liora also has experience teaching functional communication to both vocal and non-vocal children from a verbal behavior approach.
Liora strives to provide compassionate service delivery, honoring each child’s individual needs and preferences. Liora was born in Paris, France and grew up in Miami Beach; she speaks both French and English fluently. Liora continues to reside in Miami and lives with her partner and their fur baby Jack. In her free time, Liora enjoys spending time with her family, eating sushi, and doing yoga.
Ingrid Barrero is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 6 years of experience working with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, working in homes, schools, centers, and community settings. She graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology from Florida International University and Masters degree in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Ingrid is especially proud to be a member of the Cadenza Center because she is passionate about the company’s vision to integrate behavioral and psychological treatments. She is especially interested in the role of mental health in early intervention. Ingrid intends on pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology to combine her behavioral background with psychotherapy to implement a concentrated and personalized treatment for individuals.
Ashley joined the Cadenza Center in 2019 and is particularly adept at working with difficult family dynamics, aggressive behavior, and adolescents with autism. Ashley’s professional interests include verbal behavior, behavior reduction, feeding, independent living skills and helping to improve family communication and relationships. In addition to maintaining a small caseload, Ashley serves as the Cadenza Center’s Operational Director. She is responsible for overseeing effective operating procedures across the company. Her duties include reviewing company guidelines, policies and procedures as well as assessing productivity, hiring and training procedures. Ashley intends on pursuing a degree in mental health in order to better serve as a primary clinician who can integrate her behavioral background with psychological theory.
Alia Basantsov is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who has worked with children for over 15 years, helping to better their and their parents’ lives. She started working as a summer camp organizer to build communities and create events for families, finding a passion for helping children overcome obstacles in their social and developmental lives. Three years ago, she decided to take a leap of faith to pursue her passion as a career: starting as an RBT and quickly growing to become a BCBA, loving every minute of her journey.
With a belief in continuous learning, she stayed updated on the latest research and methodologies to provide the most effective care. She believes in helping to build happy, fulfilling lives for everyone. Having a lot of experience in early intervention therapies with non-verbal children. Alevtina was born in Moscow and grew up traveling all over Europe. She is fluent in Russian and English. She loves smiles, sunshine, and beaches, spending time with family, and growing her daughter.
Irene Taffe (formerly Van Elderen) is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience in the field of Autism working with children and adolescents. Initially trained in speech therapy, Irene is a highly-motivated and a dedicated professional committed to continued learning and clinical advancement. She is not only skilled in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), but also hold certification in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Organizational Behavior Management (OBM).
Having worked at the Cadenza Center for over three years, she has not only provided direct ABA services, but she has served as a consultant to the clinical director through her expertise in program development, performance management, staff training, quality monitoring, and clinical outcome measurement. Irene believes in a holistic viewpoint and supports open communication with parents, caregivers and educators. She currently coordinates Cadenza’s training and mentorship program for RBT’s working towards certification as a Behavior Analyst.
Allana Karras is a Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) with over 6 years of experience in the field. She was introduced to the field of ABA and the growing need for providers during a departmental meeting while pursuing her Bachelors in Psychology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Allana quickly jumped head first into the field as a Behavior Technician. She has since worked her way up to where she is now as well as completed a Masters degree in Education (M.Ed) in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently studying for the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam in near future.
Allana has experience providing ABA therapy in various settings with those aged 18 months to21 years old. Her professional skills include assessment and evidence-based, individualized treatment for skill deficits and problem behaviors.
Allana was born in Michigan and moved to South Florida in 2021 with her partner. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants & traveling.
Melanie Gonzalez is a seasoned Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) with over 5 years of extensive experience collaborating with children and their families. In her university formation in Venezuela, she acquired her degree as a Licensed Psychologist, setting the foundation for her journey in the realm of mental health.
After moving to the United States her career in Applied Behavior Analysis began as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). This commitment led her to successfully achieve her certification as a BCaBA through the Florida Institute of Technology in 2020. Melanie specializes in catering to the needs of individuals on the autism spectrum, a testament to her unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of those with developmental disabilities. Her expertise spans various settings, including homes, schools, community, and clinic-based environments.
Melanie’s professional aspirations include furthering her expertise in mental health. Her goal is to obtain a specialized degree that will empower her to provide effective support across a wider range of mental health conditions. She envisions becoming a proficient clinician by seamlessly integrating her profound understanding of human behavior with the complex realms of psychology, thereby offering comprehensive care to those in need.
Dr. Roddia J. Hill is a Clinical Psychologist and Post-Doctoral Resident who received her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Forensic Studies at Nova Southeastern University, her Master’s in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She completed her doctoral internship in Health Psychology at Florida International University.
Dr. Hill has a passion for providing holistic and wellness-centered services. She aims to provide a space for safety, support, and acceptance to her clients. Additionally, she primarily utilizes an integrated approach that incorporates a combination of expressive, systems, narrative, interpersonal, person-centered, cognitive-behavioral (CBT), multicultural, and existential therapies. Ultimately, Dr. Hill believes in empowering her clients to bloom into their most full and authentic selves.
Dr. Hill’s professional interests include working with diverse populations, including but not limited to: women, youth, people of color, and LGBTQ+ folx. She also enjoys supporting folx challenged by trauma/PTSD, incarceration, anger, anxiety, mood disorders, stress, self-image and self-esteem, depression, and grief/loss. Lastly, she is also passionate about outreach/community service and qualitative research.
Outside of work, Dr. Hill is a bookworm, who loves to write poetry, draw, paint, practice yoga, roller skate, and is always down for anything involving Caribbean music or food!
Kyara Ramirez-Guzman is a bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Registered Marriage Family & Couples Therapy Intern. Kyara is also a National Certified Counselor who offers you 3 years of experience in working with individuals, family, marriages, couples and children in variety of settings in the mental health field. Kyara is also trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She obtained her Masters in Counseling with a Dual Specialization in Mental Health and Marriage, Family & Couples Therapy at Barry University.
Rebecca David-Cusani is a Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern (RMHCI) who recently joined the Cadenza Center.. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Mississippi and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Barry University.
Rebecca specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). She has experience working with those struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, and life stressors.
Rebecca has always been an advocate for mental health and is especially passionate about working with those struggling with social anxiety and depression. Rebecca strives to guide clients through life’s challenges by offering empathy, creating a safe space for clients to share without judgement, and incorporate mindfulness into the therapeutic environment.
Tyeshaa Hudson is a licensed Mental Health Counseling Intern who strives to provide support, encourage, and motivate her clients to pursue a fulfilling and beneficial life experience. Tyeshaa began her career in 2014 when she enrolled in the University of Miami’s Mental Health Counseling program. In addition to a Master’s degree, Tyeshaa utilizes spirituality, mindfulness, and meditation practices to contribute to a holistic pursuit of individual health. She is a multiculturally competent counselor who is passionate about understanding each clients’ unique perspectives, past experiences, and viewpoints on life.
It was through her extensive work with outpatient transition aged youth (13-18) in lower socioeconomic situations that Tyeshaa came to find her passion for working with teenagers and their families dealing with family conflict, cyber bullying, addictions, identity formation,
Tyeshaa believes that every person has the tools within themselves to achieve a harmonious life, and through open communication and understanding, there are infinite possibilities for success.
BriAnne Weaver is a board-certified music therapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music, with an emphasis in Music Therapy, from the University of Miami, and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology from the College of William and Mary. BriAnne has a wealth of experience working with individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, with multiple and varying diagnoses and diverse levels of ability, across the entire lifespan.
BriAnne is dedicated to serving the profession of music therapy. She is an Assembly Delegate for the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association (SER-AMTA) and has been re-elected for the 2024-2026 term. She is also a co-chair of AMTA’s Workforce Development and Retention Committee. This committee is designed to increase the awareness of music therapy as a career choice and to assist and provide support for professional music therapists to remain in the field.
BriAnne also more than 10 years of experience in training and supervising music therapy interns. The music therapy internship is the final step in training future music therapists to sit for board examination. Interns can bring a fresh perspective to the workplace and BriAnne looks forward to implementing a music therapy internship at Cadenza.
Outside of work, BriAnne enjoys exploring the vast array of art, entertainment, and food that South Florida has to offer. She loves to cook, bake, walk her dog, and wishes that she could play the piano just for fun more often. Be sure to ask BriAnne about her pet tortoise the next time you see her.
Andrea is a new addition to Cadenza’s front desk team. She is a graduate from Miami-Dade Community College with a degree in Marketing Management – International Business. Andrea speaks Spanish and English, being originally from Ecuador. She is a proud parent of two and brings her customer service experience from the world of hospitality. Andrea aims to bring a bright smile and genuine care to all those that first reach the Cadenza Center
Xochi joined the Cadenza Center team in 2022, bringing her background in logistics and is part of our front desk team, serving as the scheduling coordinator. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s University of San Antonio with a BBA in Information Systems Management. Xochi brings experience from nonprofit, corporate and governmental organizations. She is adept in project management and working with a wide range of stakeholders to develop win-win solutions.
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