Who We Are

Adaptive Behavioral Health Inc., (ABH), was created to develop and produce products for the treatment of chronic stress and anxiety for the application of Social and Affective Neuroscience to consumers, commercial and medical organizations. A combination of brain mechanics and behavior produce a powerful approachfor for reducing high levels of chronic stress. ABH is a teaching treatment using biology and individual bioraphy to aid participants in the development of a daily baseline of reactions to stress.
 
We are a science-based company, specializing in translating neuroscience into applied consumer and clinical programs. Rigorous research through observational studies and field studies assures that we deliver solution-driven programs to our clients. 

We offer programs for the healthcare industry for the well-known but unaddressed complications of chronic stress and anxiety which accompany other physical diagnoses. These programs create integration between cause and effect and symptom orientation.


Sara Denning, PhD, Behavioral Psychologist, Founder and Executive Director. Dr. Denning created the Adaptive Behavioral Health methodology from over 19 years of experience in private practice. Currently she has a copyright and patent pending on the HUMAN- How to Use My Anxiety Now, Program for stress reduction. Publication of the original work, My Anxiety Notebook, has been expanded into multiple programs for application in the Public Health area. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Southern California University for Professional Studies for her work on behavioral adaptations, Change in self-efficacy and coping behaviors as a result of exercise and cognitive strategies. She completed a master’s degree in Psychology from The New School for Social Research. Her graduate and post-graduate training includes Psychoanalytic seminars with Dr. Austin Silber at Bellevue NYU, Neurology at Columbia University, and participation in a Fellowship for developing application of developmental neuroscience at the Anna Freud Centre, at Yale University in New Haven, CT. 

Collaborations: 

Kathy McGuire, International Teacher, with experience in multiple cultures... Pakistan, Brazil, Congo, Costa Rica, and many more, Kathy brings the art of teaching to science. When tools are developed through active experiential learning that 'makes sense' to the student the result is more useable and permanent. She is responsible for training ABH programs.

Cheryl Appel, MD,  co-author of Prepare For Stress. Dr. Appel is Board certified in pediatrics, now practicing adolescent and young adult medicine in New York City and White Plains New York. Prior to establishing her own private practice, Dr. Appel was a Medical Director of the Andrus Children's Center in Yonkers, New York, coordinating the care of 75 residential-based children with three staff psychiatrists. 

Practitioners:

Andrew Hearn, LMSW, Director of Adult Protective Services at Village Care of New York. Private Practice specializing in Adaptive Behavioral Health treatment of anxiety.

Ruby Torres, LMSW , Special training in Medical Social Work, Community service, group theapy, school social work and Hospice. Currently resding in Tampa Florida with a practice focus on anxiety and stress relief using Adaptive Behavioral Health methods.

Matt Yetsko, MSW, LMSW, Columbia Univ. School of Social Work. Currently in community and private practice in New York City.

Research: 

Daisy Burr, MA, Research Assistant to Dr. Denning. Doctoral Candidate at Dartmouth in Social and Affective Neuroscience. MA in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis in affective neuroscience from the New School for Social Research. Daisy B.A. in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College with a concentration in psychology and affective neuroscience. Research assistantships at Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, and New York Presbyterian. Her research interests are neurobiological correlates of emotions, specifically how emotional states, normal versus anxious states, affects regulation at a neurological level. 

Catherine Pittaway-Walsh, MS, Research Assistant to Dr. Denning.  Doctoral Candidate at University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Neuroscience. Catie obtained a MS in Biotechnology and a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.  She is currently completing a Masters in General Psychology from NYU. Catie’s current research is focused on understanding connections between our brain and our body. 

Megan Sy, MS, Doctoral student Stony Brook Medicine, Neuropsychology Externship. MA Psycholog New York University. Clinical interest in acquired and chronic medical conditions.

Shoba Bharratt, MA, Columbia University, Human Development in Psychology.

Past Interns:
Liz Wartella, MPH, Epidemiology, with an expert certificate in Health Policy and Practice from the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. BS, Cornell University in 2013 in Human Development and a concentration in Social and Personality Development. 

Bhakti Hemant Kanade,MPA, Health Policy and Management, with aspecialization in Health Finance from Robert. F Wagner School of Public Service, New York University. Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, India in 2008, Bachelors in Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery.

Maxime Soula and Swann Cousin, current studies, undergraduate neuroscience and psychology, French Institute, Summer 2015 and 2016. Street survey team.

Lu Han and Hayoun Kim, graduate studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, 2013. Translations of ABH programs into Chinese and Korean.