Deer Creek Psychological Associates: About Us

Karin Bonnett, Business Manager.

Welcome to Deer Creek! I have been the Business Manager since the group's inception in 1993. I take care of all the details, gather information during the initial referral process, as well as schedule evaluations. Team members schedule their own hourly appointments, team meetings, and presentations. Some clinicians may be providers for your insurance company, while others may not accept any insurance. We can talk more about these details on the phone when you call me for the initial intake.

My main concern is to use the information you provide and help facilitate an effective match with a clinician. I take my job very seriously and know each clinician's areas of expertise, individual style and personality, as well as availability. I understand how hard it can be to get to this stage of the search process. Be assured that what you tell me will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

I hope your experience with us will be a positive one, whatever your needs may be. If for some reason we cannot help you, I will do my best to point you in the right direction. I trust you will find your reception courteous, sensitive and helpful.

Raymond J. Chin, PhD, MFA is a child and family clinical psychologist specializing in pediatric behavioral medicine and neuropsychology evaluations. His areas of interest include stress and anxiety disorders, autism, ADHD, aggression, and chronic illness. He consults to many schools and child service organizations to promote interagency team building. He frequently gives presentations and trainings to teachers on neuropsychology, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. He received his doctorate from Michigan State University, and was a Harvard Fellow at Boston Children's Hospital and Judge Baker Children's Center.

Cynthia R. Dale, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and behavior specialist. She received her doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Dale has a background in behavior analysis and management, social skills training, and community mental health. Her areas of interest include ADHD, learning disabilities, and pervasive developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Dale specializes in the design and implementation of individualized programs for the development of attention, emotional regulation, problem solving, and general executive function skills. She works with individual families and consults with area schools, serving both child and adult clients.

Mark J. Detzer, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist. He earned his PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Vermont and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship with Stanford University Medical Center. His areas of interest include:  Adolescent, adult and family adjustment and relationship issues, transitioning to adulthood while living with a chronic medical condition, depression/anxiety disorders, and school performance issues. He serves as a consultant to schools, medical clinics and child/adolescent programs. Dr. Detzer holds academic and clinical affiliations in Psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School and with the Dartmouth College Psychological and Brain Science Department.

David M. Drazin, PhD is a licensed clinical and school psychologist. He received his doctorate from the California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego. Dr. Drazin specializes in the evaluations and treatment of children and adolescents. Areas of expertise include Attention Deficit, learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders and issues related to self esteem. He provides consultations to schools and has served as the psychologist for the School Performance Clinic of the Child Development Program, Dartmouth Medical School.

Thomas B. Gamble, PhD is a licensed clinical and school psychologist. He received his doctorate from Washington University, St. Louis, MO. He specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents who have attention, performance and conduct problems. He has special interests in psychoeducational evaluations, affective disorders, and issues of loss, trauma and divorce. He provides psychological services for Hanover High School and consults to many area schools and child service organizations.

Claudia Cavagnaro Gibson, MD is a child neurologist. She received her training in pediatrics at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and in neurology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and was a Fellow in Cerebral Palsy and Learning Disabilities at Boston Children's Hospital. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with Special Competence in Child Neurology. Her special interests are children with neuro-behavioral disorders related to genetic, traumatic, or other causes and children with autism or communication disorders.

Laurie Farr Hanks, MA, CAS Laurie Farr Hanks, MA, CAS is a certified School Psychologist. She received her Masters degree and Certificate of Advanced Study at Plattsburgh State University of New York. Ms. Hanks has presented workshops on different evaluation tools and best practice in assessments. She has been published in Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, Psychology in the Schools, and the NASP newspaper Communique. She specializes in learning disabilities, with interests in cognitive theory and assessment for grades pre-K through 12. She provides psycho-educational evaluations and consul- tations for interventions to improve school performance in many area schools.

M. Allyn Higgins, LICSW is a Diplomate of the National Association of Social Workers. She received her Masters degree in Social Work at Catholic University and her post-graduate clinical training at the Family Therapy Practice Center of Washington, DC. Ms. Higgins works with children, adolescents, adults, and families on stress related symptoms including anxiety, depression, family issues, relationship difficulties, and family, school or work adjustment problems. She is trained in the use of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), a highly effective method taught to clients to alleviate stress, anxiety, fears, traumatic memory and in some cases physical symptoms. She has a special interest in the treatment of developmental delays related to Autism Spectrum Disorders and adoption.

Anna Hutton, PsyD earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. She completed a pre-doctoral internship through Dartmouth Medical School and completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at Children's Hospital in New Orleans. She is licensed as a psychologist in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Areas of specialty include assessment of ADHD, learning disabilities, and pervasive developmental disorders such as Autism and Aspergers. Dr. Hutton also conducts assessments with patients who have experienced neurological issues including seizure disorders, brain tumors, strokes, and traumatic head injuries.

Gerda Lenselink, MA, LCMHCis a Vermont licensed Psychologist-master and a New Hampshire Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She received a Doctoral Degree in Child Psychology in the Netherlands, at the University of Leiden, and has been working with children, adolescents, families and their teams for over twenty years. Ms. Lenselink specializes in the treatment of complex trauma and is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and sensorimotor psychotherapy. EMDR is an information processing therapy and uses an eight phase approach which is fully explained in the initial session. Additionally she treats anxiety, depression, ADHD, and family system problems. Families, adults, adolescents and young children are welcome in her practice.

Rhea M. McKay, PsyD has a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Antioch New England Graduate School and a degree in Child Assessment and Counseling from the University of Toronto, Institute of Child Study. Dr. McKay works with adults and children on issues related to trauma, separation and loss, foster care, divorce, adoption, and other family dynamics. She has a special interest in psychological assessment of children and adults.

Mary J. Schneider, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with adolescents transitioning into young adulthood as well as adults and senior citizens. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, mood disorders, life transition problems and relationship difficulties. Her clinical skills include cognitive-behavioral, behavioral and relationship therapy. She received her doctorate from the University of Vermont.

Plato is a Black Lab/Golden Retriever mix. He came to Dr. Chin from the Upper Valley Humane Society. He gets along well with people of all ages as well as dogs, cats, and rabbits. He is very gentle despite his size. He is trained and certified as a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) from AKC, Therapy Dog International (TDI), and Paws for Reading. He has visited with children in the classroom, assisted in demonstrations during presentations, and worked with children individually.