Lindsay D. Clendaniel, Ph.D.
Founder & Clinical Director - In-office and Telehealth
Dr. Clendaniel is a pediatric psychologist who specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents and young adults with anxiety and health-related adjustment issues. She also provides comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations. Her work as a child therapist in Severna Park, MD focuses on increasing coping skills through relaxation training, mindfulness and thinking (cognitive) approaches with the goal of improving symptom management and wellness. She has particular expertise in pain management and treatment of chronic headache and functional gastrointestinal illness. Dr. Clendaniel is also a certified nature informed therapist.
When not in the office, Dr. Clendaniel enjoys spending time outdoors in her garden and exploring nature with her husband and two young children.
Laurie Better Perlis, Psy.D.
Psychologist - In office & Telehealth
Dr. Perlis provides both therapy and comprehensive psychoeducational testing in Maryland to children, adolescents and young adults. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety disorders (Separation Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, Social and Performance Anxiety, Specific Phobias), body-focused repetitive behaviors and neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD, Executive Functioning challenges, Specific Learning Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr. Perlis primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in her treatment approach.
In her spare time, Dr. Perlis enjoys jogging, yoga and baked goods - in that order! She also loves reading and spending family vacations at the beach with her husband and two children.
Joyce Cooper-Kahn, Ph.D.
Psychologist - In office & Telehealth
For over 25 years, Dr. Cooper-Kahn has worked with the full range of developmental challenges affecting children. She specializes in helping children manage behavioral, emotional, and academic difficulties. She has particular expertise in attention disorders and learning disabilities with an emphasis on interventions for executive functioning difficulties. She has authored two books on this subject. She works closely with parents, teachers, and other community professionals to help build each child's competencies. Dr. Cooper-Kahn is proud to have been voted a Favorite Doctor by readers of Chesapeake Family Magazine for four years.
Aliza Scharf-Bendov, LCSW-C
Licensed Certified Social Worker, Clinical - Telehealth & In-Home
Aliza Scharf-Bendov is a psychotherapist and family therapist with over a decade of experience assisting individuals and families to live their lives. She has done extensive work addressing a variety of challenges including adjustment to life transitions (including divorce), behavioral challenges, adoption, single parenting, co-parenting and coping with serious illness. Her current therapeutic focus is on parent support and guidance. Aliza practices from a strengths-based approach that seeks to identify and amplify people's inherent resilience and propensity towards healing and wholeness. Aliza's therapeutic style is described as warm, empathic and nurturing and her communication style as direct and open.
In her spare time, Aliza enjoys most forms of physical activity and has a background in Tae-Kwon-Do/martial arts.
Get The Mental Health Support You Deserve in Severna Park, MD
Our team of mental health clinicians in Maryland would love to assist your child in living life to the fullest. Learn more about our Severna Park, MD practice, or visit our FAQ for any additional questions. To start your journey, follow these simple steps:
Meet with one of our caring clinicians
Watch your child thrive
Services Offered at Thinking Tree Psychology
Thinking Tree Psychology offers a variety of mental health services at our Severna Park, MD psychology practice. Some of these services include family therapy, therapy for anxiety, therapy for chronic illness, pain management, ADHD intervention, and psychoeducational testing. At this time, we are also offering telehealth psychology services as a convenient, safe way to attend therapy. Please visit our therapy overview page to learn more about additional therapy services. For answers to your other questions, please visit our FAQ page.