Supervisors
All clinical services are provided by graduate student therapists and supervised by senior clinical faculty of the Department of Family Science. Supervisors are experienced Couple & Family Therapists who bring a variety of theoretical approaches and a broad experiential base to the students.
Clinical Faculty Supervisors
Dr. Mariana Falconier (she/her) is a Professor in the Department of Family Science and has been the CFT Program Director since May 2020, a year after joining the University of Maryland, College Park. She earned both her master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and her doctoral degree in [name of department and university]. Before joining the University of Maryland, she was an Associate Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where she served first as Director of the Center for Family Services (2008–2016) and later as Director of the Master's Program in Marriage and Family Therapy (2017–2019). She also served as director of outpatient mental health clinics at Washington Assessment and Therapy Services and Vesta, Inc. (2004–2008). Dr. Falconier, originally from Argentina, is a licensed psychologist in her home country and a licensed MFT in both Maryland and Virginia. She has worked as a therapist for more than 34 years and currently maintains a small private practice. Her clinical work in the U.S. has been dedicated to Latine individuals, couples, and families, as well as immigrants, across a wide range of issues. Dr. Falconier has been an AAMFT Approved Supervisor since 2007. She holds a master's degree in teaching and has been an educator since 1989. She has taught courses at several universities on developmental psychology, multicultural and diversity issues in MFT, couple therapy, and MFT theories and techniques, particularly postmodern approaches. Her research focuses on how couples cope with stress, primarily economic stress among low-income couples and immigration stress among Latine couples. She developed TOGETHER, an evidence-based program designed to help couples improve their communication, coping, and financial management skills, which has received more than $11 million in federal funding. TOGETHER has enrolled more than 1,600 couples, primarily low-income Black/African American and Latine couples, the latter through its cultural and linguistic adaptation, JUNTOS en PAREJA. Since 2023, the program has also been adapted for and served LGBTQ+ people. In 2021, Dr. Falconier's work on these programs was recognized with the Excellence in Professional/Clinical Practice Award from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) and the George F. Kramer Practitioner of the Year Award from the UMD School of Public Health. Dr. Falconier is also leading a research project on the Emotional Map of the Home with colleagues from the University of Szeged. She has published and presented nationally and internationally, including an invited presentation on family stress and coping to Pope Francis and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in Vatican City. She is the lead editor of Couples Coping with Stress: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (2016), which received the 2018 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Award, and co-author of Treatment Plans and Interventions in Couple Therapy: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach (2024). She has collaborated with colleagues in Switzerland, Romania, Italy, Hungary, Argentina, Pakistan, Germany, Hong Kong, and Chile, among others, and has served as an editor of international journals. She is a member of the COAMFTE Standards Review Committee. Education and Training 2005 Ph.D., Family Studies Department of Family Studies, University of Maryland, College Park 2002 M.S., Marriage and Family Therapy Department of Family Studies, University of Maryland, College Park 1994 National Professor of English Superior National Institute of Professorship Dr. J. V. Gonzalez, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1992 Licenciate in Psychology (equivalent to MA in Psychology) School of Psychology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mariana K. Falconier, Ph.D
Professor, Family Science
Director, Couple and Family Therapy Master's Program
Dr. Tiara Fennell (she/her) is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy in the Department of Family Science in University of Maryland’s School of Public Health and Director for the Center for Healthy Families. She is also a licensed Couple and Family Therapist in Maryland, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and a Maryland Board Approved Supervisor. She has earned her doctorate degree in Human Development and Family Science: Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Tech, and has received her master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University. As a scholar, Tiara is 23 engaged in research focusing on the experiences of burnout for community mental health clinicians and developing clinical trainings to support African American families in therapy. More specifically, Tiara's research aims to apply a systemic focus to these different clinical areas in order to develop interventions that can better support clinicians and improve the quality of mental health care for all. Tiara Fennell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and an AAMFT-approved clinical supervisor candidate. Education and Training M.S., Marriage and Family Therapy, Northwestern University Ph.D., Human Development and Family Science: Marriage and Family Therapy, Virginia Tech
Tiara Fennell, PhD, M.S., LMFT
Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Science
Director, Center for Healthy Families
Mona Mittal (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is also an Affiliate Faculty member for the UMD’s Prevention Research Center, and an Affiliate Faculty member at UMD’s Population Research Center. She received her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas Tech University and a Masters in Clinical Investigation from the University of Rochester. Dr. Mittal is engaged in prevention and intervention research focused on mental health and traumatic stress, particularly interpersonal violence, and sexual and reproductive health outcomes among populations that experience health inequities. Dr. Mittal is collaborating with U.S. and international researchers to further her program of research and promote capacity building in global mental health and traumatic stress. She has acquired nearly 2 million dollars in federal research grants as Principal Investigator, published numerous peer-reviewed publications, and book chapters. She has served as a scientific reviewer/panelist for the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Mittal has a commitment to community-based research principles that underlie her research and teaching, making her an effective scientist who doesn’t just care about what works, but also how interventions work and for whom. Dr. Mittal is a Licensed Marriage and Therapist (LMFT) in MD, and NY and an AAMFT-approved clinical supervisor. Dr. Mittal is in private practice in Bethesda, MD. Education and Training M.A., Clinical Investigation, University of Rochester Medical Center, 2014 Ph.D., Marriage and Family Therapy, Texas Tech University, 2002 M.A., Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS),1998 B.S., Home Science, Lady Irwin College, Delhi University, 1996
Mona Mitral, Ph.D
Associate Professor, Family Science
Amy Morgan (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her PhD in Human Development and Family Science: Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Morgan is an interdisciplinary family scientist whose research examines how family relationships shape adaptation and well-being in the context of chronic adversity. Much of her work focuses on incarceration, family separation, and reentry, examining how relationships can contribute to both vulnerability and resilience as families navigate prolonged strain and major transitions. Her research is grounded in the view that relationships are not simply affected by adversity, but are central to how people experience, navigate, and recover from it. Dr. Morgan translates this scholarship into relationship-centered approaches to prevention and 24 intervention, including her work developing supports for couples navigating reentry and preventive mental health programming for college students. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Maryland and Virginia, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Dr. Morgan also runs and maintains her own private practice, Bridge Point Wellness, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dr. Morgan is the recipient of the 2023 Doris Sands Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2025 National Council on Family Relations Emerging Mentor and Teacher Award. Dr. Morgan is also heavily involved in policy work, advancing research with policy implications for historically marginalized families and the mental health professionals who serve them. Ph.D., Human Development and Family Science: Marriage and Family Therapy, Virginia Tech, 2020 M.S., Human Development and Family Science: Marriage and Family Therapy, University of New Hampshire, 2012 B.A., Psychology, University of New Hampshire, 2010
Amy Morgan, MS, PhD
Assistant Professor, Family Science
Clinical Supervisors
Diana Mayer, MS, LCMFT (she/her) is an AAMFT Clinical Fellow and supervisor candidate with over twenty years of experience working with children and families. Diana owns a private practice in Bethesda, MD where she specializes in childhood and adolescence anxiety and depression, parenting, and acculturation. She also works for the World Bank Counseling Unit. Diana’s preferred models are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative, and Structural Family Therapy. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology in Venezuela, and her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy by the University of Rochester, NY.
Christie Zell, LCMFT, DBT-C (she/her) is a Board-Approved and AAMFT-Approved Supervisor in the State of Maryland. She has over 5 years of supervising LGMFT's and LGPC's, and 3 years supervising Graduate students here at the Center for Healthy Families. In her clinical work, Christie works from a postmodern approach while also centering tenets of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Christie practices Supervision from a developmental perspective allowing for the Supervision relationship to change over time from that of a teacher to a more collegial approach. In work with her supervisees, Christie looks to build on areas of confidence as they find their clinical voices while also supporting them through areas of growth. Radical genuineness is a central theme in ways Christie connects with clients, colleagues, and supervisees. Christie hopes her supervisees feel seen for who they are inside and out of the therapy room, that they challenge prior beliefs of what therapy "should" look like, and that they grow into their therapist identity feeling supported and confident.
Zack Berman, Ph.D., M.S., LCMFT, CST is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, and AAMFT Approved Supervisor who sees clients in Rockville, MD as a member of a private group practice. After five years as a rehabilitation counselor supporting clients with severe mental illness diagnoses in a community mental health setting, Zack graduated from the University of Maryland's Couple and Family Therapy program and went on to complete his Ph.D. in the Department of Family Science. His clinical interests center on couples therapy, sex therapy, and men's mental and sexual health, and he has extensive experience working with diverse clientele in LGBTQ+, consensually non-monogamous, and kink communities. Zack's preferred models are Bowen Family Systems, Structural Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). He frequently engages clients in spontaneous experiential exercises, blending psycho-education with a strengths-based approach to help them achieve their goals.
Liann Seiter Brown, MS, LCMFT (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Maryland and District of Columbia who works with clients in private practice. She is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and an AAMFT supervisor candidate. She also serves as a supervisor for our current CFT students in The Center for Healthy Families. Ms. Seiter received a bachelor’s degree in marriage, family, and human development from Brigham Young University (BYU) a master’s degree in Sociology from BYU, and a master’s degree in couples and family therapy from the University of Maryland at College Park. Ms. Seiter is also trained as a massage therapist, yoga teacher, and birth doula. She enjoys working with children, adolescents, and emerging adults struggling with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and grief.
Stella Li, MMFT, LCMFT (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate in Maryland. Stella graduated from Converse College’s Marriage and Family Therapy program; she has experience collaborating with co-therapists in high school, carceral, and community clinic settings. Stella currently works with individuals and couples in a private practice. Her areas of interests include neurodivergence, LGBTQ+ populations, and deconstructing dominant narratives that negatively impact relationships. Stella enjoys using experiential and narrative models to help clients identify the ‘shoulds’ in their lives, and shift their focus to ‘wants' and 'needs’.
Samantha Congdon is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over a decade of experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and adults through individual, couples, and family therapy. She provides teletherapy across five states, offering accessible and compassionate care grounded in trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming, and gender-affirming principles. Her clinical approach is rooted in Narrative Therapy, where she helps clients re-author the stories they’ve been told or have internalized; shifting away from problem-saturated narratives toward those that highlight agency, resilience, and meaning. She is also a certified Intuitive Eating clinician, passionate about helping clients heal their relationship with food and body. She supports those struggling with disordered eating and body image issues through a non-diet, mind-body framework that promotes self-trust and body respect. She integrates DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills to support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. She also draws from a range of modalities, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), CBT, Gestalt, and mindfulness-based practices. As a certified yoga teacher, she incorporates breathwork and relaxation techniques to support those managing anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. Her work is deeply collaborative and systemic. She views mental health through the lens of each person’s environment, relationships, identities, and lived experiences. Whether you’re navigating trauma, life transitions, neurodivergence (such as ADHD or Autism), OCD, or self-esteem challenges, she strives to create a space where you feel seen, safe, and empowered.
Vickye Hayter is a licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in health care. She is the founder and owner of a private practice in Kensington, MD, where she works with individuals, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds. Grounded in a client-centered approach, Vickye integrates various evidence-based therapy models— including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and narrative therapy— to help clients navigate challenges related to anxiety, depression, life transitions, and trauma. Her extensive health care background spans roles as a business consultant, public health nurse, health educator, and maternal-child health specialist in a variety of settings. This broad experience gives her a unique, systemic perspective on healthcare delivery and its impact on health outcomes. Vickye earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Health Science from the University of Arkansas, a Master’s in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland, and a PhD in Nursing from George Mason University. Her research focuses on trauma-informed care.
Chris Erb (he/him) is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Couple and Family Therapy program and began working in private practice in 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chris provides therapy to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, supporting clients with a range of presenting problems, including anxiety, depression, grief, behavioral challenges, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and relationship issues. He is committed to cultural humility and is an ally of sexual and gender minorities, and enjoys working with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples from diverse backgrounds. Chris approaches therapy with an integrative lens, incorporating aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotionally focused therapy (EFT), Bowenian, and attachment-based models to foster insight, communication, and positive change.
Andrew Dauler (he/him) is a registered Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT) who earned his graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is a therapist who works with children, families, individuals, and couples to address their well being in a systemic way. His theoretical orientation is a blend of parts based models such as Internal Family Systems, experiential models such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, coaching such as Gottman method, and behavioral and educational cognitive behavioral therapies. His clinical focus revolves around shifting from a blame based reaction to emotions into a growth based mindset to achieve progress.
