Who We Are
Kenneth Stefano & Associates (KSA), a team of clinical psychologists and educational specialists, offers a distinctive multi-disciplinary approach to consultation, assessment, and advocacy.
Our practice, building on the more than 30 years’ experience of our founder, Dr. Ruth Spodak, specializes in conducting comprehensive evaluations and developing therapeutic strategies for children, adolescents, and adults who face learning, attention, Executive Functioning, social, and emotional difficulties.
We use our expertise to help our clients overcome obstacles to realizing their full potential, and thereby achieve academic, professional and personal success.
Dr. Kenneth Stefano Psy.D.
is a clinical psychologist who has worked with children, adolescents and families for the last 20 plus years. After completing his doctoral internship at the John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (JLG-RICA), he joined the JLG-RICA staff as a psychologist, remaining for the next 15 years. Dr. Stefano assumed various roles during his tenure at JLG-RICA, including providing intensive individual and family therapy to seriously emotionally disturbed students in a residential setting. Dr. Stefano also served as the staff psychologist on the JLG-RICA Evaluation Unit, administering psychological evaluations to children and adolescents referred by the court system.
From 2004 to 2007, Dr. Stefano served as Clinical Director of the Evaluation Unit, managing a multidisciplinary team of professionals who provided comprehensive diagnostic and placement evaluations for the juvenile court of Montgomery County, MD. Prior to that, he was the Institute’s Director of Psychology Internship Training, leading efforts to select, train and supervise pre-doctoral psychology students.
In addition to his extensive clinical and assessment experience, Dr. Stefano has provided expert testimony at juvenile court proceedings, as well as advocacy for local public school students with learning and emotional problems. Dr. Stefano graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Psychology/Communications, and completed his graduate training at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Our Staff
Christine M. Cariello Psy.D.
Dr. Cariello is a licensed psychologist who earned her doctorate in School-Clinical Psychologist from Yeshiva University in the Bronx, NY. During her training, she worked with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings. Following completion of her Doctoral Internship at the Washington DC Department of Mental Health, she completed a one-year residency, where in addition to providing psychotherapy, she served as Director of an ADHD Clinic. There, she provided ADHD evaluations and facilitated groups for parents and their children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Since then, Dr. Cariello has worked in various settings, including a residential treatment facility, a local school district, as well as private practice. She has extensive therapy and assessment experience with children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Cariello is currently in the process of obtaining her ADHD Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) Certification.
Allison Maletsky Psy.D.
Dr. Maletsky is a licensed psychologist who earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL, with a primary focus on child and adolescent psychology. She has trained and worked in numerous clinical settings, including schools, a psychiatric hospital, a residential facility and therapeutic school, multiple private practices in the DC area, a medical hospital, and, most recently, an Autism-focused organization. Dr. Maletsky received specialized training in the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder during her postdoctoral fellowship and is proficient in administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). She has extensive experience evaluating children as young as 18-months-old all the way through young adulthood. Dr. Maletsky joined KSA as a contractor in 2015 and came on board full-time in 2023.
Abby Smith M.A.
Abby Smith, MA LDT-C, is a Teachers College, Columbia University graduate and master teacher with twenty years plus experience. She has been a classroom teacher, learning specialist, administrator and currently works with students and families to create strategies to support learning and success. Ms. Smith has experience with educational testing and evaluations and is an educational consultant for Stefano and Associates. She specializes in students who have complex disorders and comorbid disabilities. As a consultant for KSA she provides insight on educational needs, resources and recommendations as well as runs educationally focused groups that range from study skills and writing skills to time management and executive functioning.
Robin Stearn M.S.W.
Ms. Stearn is our Client Manager. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work, emphasizing Planning and Administration, from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Ms. Stearn has a variety of professional experiences in health/mental health including working for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Education Development Center: Children’s Safety Network, and On Our Own of Montgomery County.
Ms. Stearn joined KSA in February 2020 and is in the office Mondays through Fridays to respond to all client coordination needs.