Our Team

Dr. Naguib founded Sunfield Institute, a professional development organization dedicated to providing gold standard training for mental health providers. Dr. Naguib focused much of her career as a licensed psychologist to developing and providing training to professionals in the mental health field. She has trained hundreds of providers in the U.S. and internationally. She is a certified trainer in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and an independent trainer for two of the gold standard autism diagnostic assessment tools (ADOS-2 and ADI-R). In collaboration with her team, Dr. Naguib has created a number of training programs for professionals in independent practice, school districts, state health departments and universities across the world.

In addition to her training role, Dr. Suzi Naguib is a passionate and dedicated psychologist and a strong advocate for those affected by behavioral, emotional, developmental and learning disabilities. Dr. Naguib founded Sunfield Center in August of 2011 with a mission to offer the highest quality, evidence-based clinical care and increase awareness of mental health needs. Dr. Naguib is also the clinical director and founder of Sprouted Sage Full Circle Intervention Center, an intensive intervention center for young children diagnosed with autism. Additionally, Dr. Naguib established LightUp, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals with special needs. As a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience, Dr. Naguib brings a first-hand understanding of the need for research-informed evaluations, evidence-based treatment interventions and gold standard professional training.

Prior to founding the above centers, Dr. Naguib worked at the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC). She completed a two-year fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Behavior Disorders Service at the New York University (NYU) Child Study Center, where she remained for several years. Dr. Naguib completed her doctoral education at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and received her M.S. in clinical psychology at Loyola University Maryland. She completed her clinical training at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Johns Hopkins University. She is fluent in Portuguese and proficient in Spanish and Arabic.

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Christin Sammons is a master’s level psychologist and training specialist at the Sunfield Institute. She possesses expertise in the diagnosis and assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders across the life span, particularly in the differential diagnosis of autism, ADHD and emotional/behavioral disorders. Additionally, Christin specializes in the use of evidence-based interventions used to support individuals diagnosed with autism and anxiety disorders. These include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) treatment (a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, and related difficulties), and other evidence-based treatments to enhance coping, organizational, social, and independent living skills for children, adolescents, and young adults.

Prior to joining Sunfield, Christin worked as a behavior technician and garnered research experience in parental stress and its relationship with having children on the Autism Spectrum. Christin earned her master’s degree in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Calvin University. She completed her graduate-level field experience at Sunfield Center prior to joining our team.

Jeff Snyder is a licensed social worker and the Director of Operations and Development at the Sunfield Institute. Jeff also holds a senior leadership role in partnership with Dr. Suzi Naguib at our sister centers, Sunfield and Sprouted Sage Full Circle Intervention Center. At Sunfield Center Mr. Snyder also sees patients and is part of the diagnostic team. He has particular expertise in working with school aged children diagnosed with autism, ADHD and anxiety. Mr. Snyder supports his patients by providing research informed interventions addressing social, organizational and coping skills.

Prior to joining Sunfield, Jeff served as an education advocate for families experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County through the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD). He also has experience working at the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC), the University of Michigan Athletic Department Learning Services Office, as well as Novel Responses, providing ABA services. Jeff obtained his Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. He received his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Albion College. Mr. Snyder also serves on the Board of Directors for LightUp, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals with special needs.

Rachel Piper is a master’s level social worker. At the Sunfield Institute, Rachel heads the Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) training program along with Dr. Naguib. In this capacity, Rachel provides weekly training and supervision to clinicians who are working towards becoming certified in PCIT. In addition to her work at the Sunfield Institre, Rachel is the Director of Social Work Training at Sunfield Center, our sister mental health center. Rachel is passionate about supporting children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities as well as youth diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavioral and anxiety disorders.

Rachel earned her Master’s of Social Work degree in 2018 from the University of Michigan School of Social Work, as well as her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor in 2017.

Dr. Barbara Hanna is a licensed clinical psychologist and a member of the Sunfield Institute’s training team. In addition to her work at the Institute, Dr. Hanna is the clinical training supervisor at the Sunfield Center. Dr. Hanna specializes in the diagnosis and assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders across the life span. She has a broad clinical background with considerable expertise in other areas as well, including intellectual, educational, and personality assessment in inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment settings. Dr. Hanna previously was the Diagnostic Supervisor for both the Simons Simplex Autism study (a genetic study funded by the Simon Foundation) and multi-center early intervention studies at the University of Michigan Autism and Communications Center (UMACC). Dr. Hanna completed her doctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. Prior to her position at UMACC she also held a clinical faculty position in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan.

Judith Coucouvanis is a Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who specializes in the treatment of children with developmental disabilities, severe behavior challenges, autism and co-occurring conditions. As a member of the Sunfield Institute, Judy provides advanced training in the areas of toileting, sleeping and feeding disorders.

Judy has been an advanced practice psychiatric nurse for over 40 years, specializing in the treatment of children with developmental disabilities, severe behavior challenges, autism spectrum disorders and co-occurring conditions. Prior to joining Sunfield, Judy worked as a Nurse Practitioner at the Department of Child Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Hospital. Judy completed her BSN and MA in Nursing from the University of Iowa. She has authored books on topics of parenting, toilet training and social skills.

Dr. Kira Boneff-Peng is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of young children with anxiety disorders, selective mutism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and disruptive behavior. Dr. Boneff-Peng has extensive experience using evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavior therapy and parent management training to treat children with a variety of concerns, including specialized training in the treatment of selective mutism and obsessive-compulsive disorder in youth. Dr. Boneff-Peng values supporting the whole family and incorporating parent psychoeducation, support, and skills-training in children’s treatment, as well as supporting and strengthening the parent-child relationship through treatment. Dr. Boneff-Peng has experience working with children and teens of all ages, but she is particularly passionate about early intervention with children ages 2 to 10. Dr. Boneff-Peng received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. She completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship training at the University of Michigan Mary A. Rackham Institute, in the University Center for the Child and Family. Dr. Boneff-Peng’s research focuses on selective mutism in youth, including understanding parental accommodation in selective mutism and exploring evidence-based treatments for selective mutism. In her free time, Dr. Boneff-Peng loves playing board games, swing dancing, and spending time with her family, friends, and beloved dog.

Dr. Allura Malcolm is a licensed clinical psychologist and trainer at the Sunfield Institute. Dr. Malcolm has particular expertise in parent management training (PMT), parent-mediated emotion regulation intervention, and working with twice exceptional youth (i.e., gifted and neurodiverse).

Dr. Malcolm received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Michigan State University in 2021. She then completed an APA-accredited clinical psychology internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Mary A. Rackham Institute University Center for the Child and Family in Ann Arbor, MI.

Dr. Nicole Bergamo specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families in areas of assessment, intervention, and consultation. She possesses expertise in working with individuals diagnosed with autism, anxiety and behavioral/emotional disorders. Dr. Bergamo is passionate about social and emotional skill-building, through individual and group intervention. In addition to be being a trainer at the Sunfield Institute, Dr. Bergamo is a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Sunfield Center where she supports the training of predoctoral psychology interns as the psychology training coordinator, leads the development of social group services, and maintains a caseload of weekly clients. She completed her Ph.D. in School Psychology at Michigan State University and her predoctoral clinical internship at Sunfield Center.

Dr. Lake Sweet is a postdoctoral fellow at Sunfield Center. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of young children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, parent behavior management training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and school consultation. Dr. Sweet is also training to become a certified PCIT therapist.

Dr. Sweet completed her doctoral studies in School Psychology at Michigan State University and her clinical internship at Michigan Medicine in Pediatric Psychology. At Michigan Medicine, she received specialized training in Integrated Behavioral Health, Elimination Disorders, and Congenital Heart Center Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Program clinics, focusing on developmental assessment, intervention, parent behavior management training and cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Sweet also holds her master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Colorado, Denver and has experience working as a special education and general education teacher.

Dr. Sweet enjoys cycling, running, reading, and spending time with her husband and two young sons.

Dr. Sydney Nelson is a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Sunfield Center. Dr. Nelson specializes in assessing and treating children with neurodevelopmental and learning disabilities. At Sunfield Center, she completes comprehensive neurodevelopmental and psychoeducation evaluations for children and teens, as well as provides evidence-based treatment related to anxiety, social skills, and executive functioning skills. Dr. Nelson values caregiver-child interactions, which is reflected in her integration of psychoeducation and parent training within treatment sessions. Dr. Nelson is also a certified PCIT therapist.

Dr. Nelson received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Michigan State University. Prior to beginning her doctoral training, Dr. Nelson earned her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University, and worked as a school social worker supporting children with disabilities and their families.

In her free time, Dr. Nelson enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, cheering on the Michigan State basketball team, and crafting.

Dr. Chris Owen is a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Sunfield Center. As such, he plays a pivotal role in training students and healthcare providers in evidence-based interventions, notably Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Alongside this, he manages a caseload of clients on a weekly basis. Dr. Owen is passionate about creating a “behavioral health home” for his clients—a place where clients and families can return for different life challenges, from tantrums in early childhood to anxiety during unprecedented times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Think of it as a behavioral health home for any stage of development: tackling tantrums and meltdowns, alleviating event-specific anxiety, navigating learning difficulties by learning compensatory strategies, attending social groups to practice skills and connect with peers, and even planning for future careers and job attainment. He believes in the value of having a consistent, knowledgeable support system that understands your unique needs throughout life’s ups and downs. Connect with Dr. Owen today and embark on a journey of understanding, empowerment, and comprehensive care.

His dedication to psychological care can be traced back to his dual-major days at the University of Pittsburgh in psychology and gender studies. During this time, he became strongly aware of the disparities in psychological care, especially for children on the autism spectrum. This understanding propelled him to take a research position at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His academic voyage led him to West Virginia University (WVU) for his Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology. Under the mentorship of Dr. Cheryl B. McNeil, he fortified his expertise in PCIT, evidenced by his multiple peer-reviewed publications and over 30 presentations across various forums. More recently, Dr. Owen completed his predoctoral internship at Sunfield Center with the Mid-Michigan Psychology Internship Consortium. During this time, he continued to sharpen his clinical skills and developed a specialization in autism, including providing clinical services for adults on the spectrum (e.g., career planning, occupational attainment, and stress management).

Melding cognitive-behavioral strategies with a developmental lens, Dr. Owen champions a personalized treatment plan, often weaving in unique analogies and patient interests. He believes in empowering patients, making therapy relatable, and taking a collaborative approach to patient care, particularly with families. His background in gender studies also equips him to uniquely support the LGBTQ+ community and other underserved groups, always promoting equality, understanding, and respect.

Dr. Megan Warfle is a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Sunfield Center. Dr. Warfle specializes in the assessment and treatment of individuals diagnosed with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other emotional and behavioral disorders. She enjoys working with children and teens through individual treatment, parent management training, and group social skills interventions. Dr. Warfle emphasizes the use of evidence-based treatments through behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. Dr. Warfle is a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and enjoys working with caregivers collaboratively to help provide whole-family support.

Dr. Warfle received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Michigan State University in 2023. She completed her clinical psychology internship at the MARI University Center for the Child and Family through the University of Michigan, where she conducted AAEC autism and psychoeducational evaluations and provided therapy to children, teens, and parents. In her free time. Dr. Warfle can be found running on Michigan trails, playing with her Corgi, and rooting for the Buffalo Bills.

Ewa Wilkinson is a master’s level psychologist and trainer at the Sunfield Institute. Ewa has expertise in the assessment of children, adolescents and adults, particularly in the differential diagnosis of autism, ADHD and emotional/behavioral disorders. In addition to assessment, Ewa has extensive experience in parent mediated treatment of anxious children. She is currently pursuing certification to be a trainer for the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program, a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD and related difficulties.

In addition to being a trainer, Ewa sees patients at Sunfield Center where she conducts comprehensive evaluations and helps families through the initial diagnostic process. Ewa is passionate about empowering families with knowledge and resources to help them develop a roadmap to access appropriate intervention. With her extensive knowledge and compassion Ewa supports families during the post diagnostic period which can be emotionally overwhelming for many families. Prior to joining Sunfield, Ewa was part of the diagnostic team at the Detroit Medical Center’s University Pediatricians Autism Center. She received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and her psychology master’s degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Brittany is a master’s level clinical social worker at Sunfield Center. Brittany’s background is in medical social work and she is passionate about making connections between medical care and behavioral health services for child and young adults with special needs. Brittany has experience in serving individuals (and their families) with autism, ADHD, developmental disabilities, and complex care needs. She is especially interested in supporting families with coping with behavioral concerns, educational advocacy needs, and supporting teens and young adults with transitions from pediatric to adult care services.

Brittany earned her Master’s of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2012, and her bachelor’s degree in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan. She has her school social work certification and has expertise in navigating systems such as Medicaid, foster care, community mental health, and with adaptive programming and services for children with special needs. In her free time, Brittany enjoys baking, art, swimming, and spending as much time as possible outside with her family.

Janelle is a master’s level clinical social worker who specializes in the delivery of evidence based interventions for individuals diagnosed with autism, anxiety and disruptive behaviors. Janelle is a Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) certified therapist and is in the process of becoming a PCIT trainer. In addition to providing trainings at the Sunfield Institute, Janelle supervises graduate level social work students at Sunfield Center. She is passionate about serving individuals and families diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and behavioral disorders. She provides cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based treatments to help individuals gain organizational skills, grow their social skills, and develop coping skills. She enjoys assisting families in building a strong parent-child relationship, increasing child compliance, and decreasing parental stress. Janelle earned her Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, and her bachelor’s degree in social work from Calvin University. Janelle completed her graduate level training with the Sunfield Center.

Nicole Gegas is a Temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist (TLLP) and pre-doctoral intern at Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in School Psychology at Ball State University. Nicole enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults with diverse neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders and their families. Nicole is passionate about supporting families across multiple systems of care, utilizing evidenced- based interventions, enhancing the parent/caregiver and child interactions, and providing culturally responsive care. Prior to beginning her doctoral training, Nicole earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis. She has maintained her Board-Certified Behavior Analyst certificate and previously worked as a BCBA at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Columbus, Ohio. Nicole enjoys spending time with her two adorable dogs, watching movies, reading, and painting.

Jessica Camacho is a Temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist (TLLP) and pre-doctoral intern at Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her PsyD in Clinical Psychology with a Nueropsych concentration at JFK School of Psychology through National University located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her passion is to work in pediatrics and has had the experience in providing psychological assessments as well as providing child and family therapy through a multicultural lens as a bilingual clinician in diverse clinical settings. With a background in ABA therapy, Jessica has continued to expand her knowledge and interest in working with children diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Her goal is to continue to work with children that have neurodevelopmental needs as well as working with families and collaborating with other providers to provide the best care and support for them and their child throughout the treatment process. During her spare time, Jessica enjoys traveling, cooking, and exploring new food spots.

Amna A. Agha is a Temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist (TLLP) and predoctoral intern at Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her PhD in School Psychology at Michigan State University. Her clinical experience includes assessment and intervention for children with neurodevelopmental disorders in school and hospital settings. Amna’s research focuses on the cognitive processes involved in reading and writing, self-regulation and literacy development, and reading and writing assessment. Amna’s previous experiences as a resource teacher for elementary students guide her work. In her leisure time, Amna enjoys listening to poetry recitations, reading about healthful lifestyles, and practicing mindfulness movement.

Jessica Tschida is a Temporary Educational Limited Licensed Psychologist (TELLP) and advanced clinical practicum student at Sunfield Center. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Michigan State University. Jessica enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults with a variety of internalizing and externalizing concerns and is passionate about working with youth on the autism spectrum and their families. Her research examines how community-engaged approaches can improve use of mental health evidence-based practices for autism in community-based settings. Prior to beginning her doctoral training, Jessica was a clinical research assistant at the Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Jessica enjoys dancing, reading, and spending time with her dog.