Doctors
CNS doctors are licensed psychologists with extensive training in their areas of specialization.
For detailed information, click an image below.
Brett A. Steinberg, PhD, ABPP-CN, Director
Cheshire office; also telehealth
Dr. Steinberg is a clinical and forensic neuropsychologist who specializes in cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems of adulthood, old age, and adolescence. In addition to offering diagnostic and treatment services to individuals, couples, and families in a variety of outpatient and inpatient settings, he's provided record review, examination, expert witness, and consultation services in civil, criminal, Workers’ Compensation, and administrative matters. Dr. Steinberg's clinical interests have included traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders, the impact of language on personal experience, and the associations among mental processing, psychological state, and pain. His theoretical interests have included the microstructure of the cerebral and cerebellar cortices as well as subcortical, cerebellar, and interhemispheric contributions to neuropsychological functions.
On a Personal Note...Although my road to neuropsychology took various turns, that ultimate destination isn't surprising given two of my deepest personal values: an intense curiosity to understand how things work and a passionate desire to make a difference for others. In school, curiosity prompted me to explore electronics, mechanics, photography, computers, and music, and for brief periods I considered careers as a guitarist and mechanical engineer. Later, an undergraduate physiological psychology course sparked my interest in the human brain, and subsequent graduate and medical school courses in neuropsychology and neuroanatomy set that interest ablaze, solidifying my plan to become a neuropsychologist. My desire to make a difference has its roots in personal challenges, my appreciation for the wisdom and generosity that others have shown me during my journey, and my awareness that taking responsibility for one’s life is the key to greatest freedom and empowerment. Through my diagnostic and treatment work, I have daily opportunities to partner with people in support of their creation of lives that "light them up" by expressing their values and serving their highest self-interests.
My role as Director of CNS has been challenging as well as gratifying. Our practice comprises a team of skilled and compassionate providers and administrative staff who’ve been acknowledged throughout Connecticut and beyond for clinical and forensic excellence. These acknowledgements have rested on our commitment to partner with each other and those we serve, including patients, family members, referral sources, our professional peers, and the broader communities to which we belong.
During my "off-the-clock" hours, I enjoy spending time with my family, touring Connecticut on my motorcycle, taking and processing digital photos, and playing 60s and 70s rock music with a long-term group of musician friends "of a certain age".
Dr. Steinberg served as Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Connecticut (UConn; Storrs, Connecticut) and as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn's School of Medicine (Farmington, Connecticut). While at UConn, he co-led development of the Houston Conference-based Neuropsychology Concentration in the clinical psychology PhD program. He's taught graduate courses in Neuropsychological Assessment, Research Design and Test Construction, and Neurobiology of Aging. In addition, he's taught Introductory Psychology at the undergraduate level, trained clinical psychology interns and psychiatry residents, and delivered an annual invited lecture to UConn's doctoral students in clinical psychology (Introduction to Forensic Neuropsychology). Finally, he's served as a consultant to the New Haven Superior Court for Juvenile Matters and the Learning Disabilities Association of Connecticut.
Dr. Steinberg’s administrative and professional activities have included serving as a member of UConn’s Institutional Review Board, faculty advisor to the UConn Department of Psychology’s Committee on Diversity in Clinical Psychology, secretary of the Association of Doctoral Education in Clinical Neuropsychology (ADECN), and a member of the Scientific Program Committee of the International Neuropsychological Society (INS). He's also served as co-chair of the Professional Affairs Committee of the Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA), secretary of CPA’s Neuropsychology Division, and a member of CPA’s Legislative and Education Committees. In 2020, he received CPA’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Practice of Psychology. Finally, he's served as an ad hoc reviewer for several peer-reviewed professional journals (Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition; Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology; Brain and Cognition; Epilepsia; Neuropsychology; Psychological Assessment; and The Clinical Neuropsychologist). As an investigator, Dr. Steinberg has conducted behavioral and/or functional neuroimaging (fMRI) research on age-related changes in brain structure and mental abilities, the neuropsychological consequences of mild traumatic brain injury ("concussion"), the association between premorbid intelligence and cognitive test performances, and factors that affect jurors’ decision-making and retention of information presented at trial.
After earning his BS in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst, Massachusetts) and his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Carolina (Columbia, South Carolina), Dr. Steinberg completed his predoctoral internship at the Gainesville Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Florida Health Sciences Center (Gainesville, Florida) and his postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Michigan Medical Center (Ann Arbor, Michigan). He's board-certified in Clinical Neuropsychology by the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) and he's licensed in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Dr. Steinberg joined CNSÂ in 2002. He served as Director of Training from 2012 to 2021 and was appointed HIPAA Compliance Officer in 2015. He's served as Director since 2020.
Karina Gitman, PhD
Weatogue office; also telehealth
Dr. Gitman brings a unique background to CNS as a graduate of a PhD program in Counseling and School Psychology. She received extensive training with children and adolescents with developmental conditions (e.g. autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and learning disorders), acquired disorders (e.g. multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative conditions), and behavioral and psychiatric problems (e.g. ADHD, oppositional-defiant disorder, depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders). Dr. Gitman has also worked in and consulted with schools regarding educational planning and placement, participated in behavior modification programs, and developed individualized behavioral and educational plans.
On a Personal Note...When I was a college student, I never struggled with choosing a professional track. I immediately declared psychology as my major and have not veered off that path since. My passion is in brain-behavior relationships and the networks and connections within ourselves and between ourselves and the world. I journeyed in my personal and professional life, homing in on particular education and training I needed to understand that relationship. It's fascinating and humbling to see how factors from culture at large, our family and our immediate environment, our biological/genetic make-up, and our life events intertwine and make us who we are today. As a lifespan clinical neuropsychologist providing services to individuals of all ages, I've seen this connection play out time and time again. My interests and skills are varied, and I often serve patients with multiple neurodevelopmental and/or acquired conditions.
I transfer this appreciation and knowledge to my work with each patient, and I'm committed to looking at people "as a whole" regardless of any particular characteristics. I'm known for my compassionate yet direct approach, and I'm an avid advocate for patients whether in their personal lives, their educational settings, or their job environments. I take great care at walking patients and parents/guardians through the examination process, ensuring that all questions are answered and there's a high level of comfort to proceed with the evaluation.
My patients and I share a wonderful condition called "being human". In addition to my education and training, I bring a great deal of unique experience to my relationships with my patients – as an immigrant, a mother of three children, and a family caretaker.
Dr. Gitman completed her doctoral studies at the State University at Buffalo, New York. Her research focus was on autism spectrum disorder and pediatric health psychology. She received postdoctoral training in neuropsychology at Jacobs Neurological Institute, serving primarily adolescent and adult populations. There, she gained experience in the neuropsychological evaluation of adolescents and adults with a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, demyelinating disorders, dementias, seizure disorders, brain tumors, substance abuse, learning disorders, schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. She also conducted capacity assessments, pre-neurosurgical baseline evaluations (e.g. for deep brain stimulation), and forensic examinations to determine claim validity. In addition, she worked with professional athletic teams in sport-related traumatic brain injury evaluations. She also was involved in investigative research with local and national multiple sclerosis databases.
As a therapist, Dr. Gitman has worked with children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, Asperger’s disorder, intellectual disability, conduct disorder, borderline personality disorder, self-harm behavior, depression, and anxiety. She's also developed and implemented behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatment plans and counseled families and children. Finally, she's provided psychotherapeutic services to adults with mood and anxiety disorder and stress- and relationship-related issues.
Dr. Gitman is licensed in Connecticut and New York. She joined CNS in 2011.
Beth M. Karassik, PhD
Cheshire office; also telehealth
Dr. Karassik's education, training, and experience have made clear to her the interplay of emotional reactivity and cognitive function: People do not do their best thinking when feeling threatened, scared, or upset. As a certified Discernment Counselor, trained Collaborative Divorce Family Specialist/Divorce Coach and Child Specialist, and co-mediator with attorneys, she offers several services for divorcing or separating couples. In each case, she brings deep appreciation, based on personal experience, of the impact of divorce on families, couples, and children. Moreover, having experienced a series of deaths in her close family, Dr. Karassik became a certified Grief Educator and now offers individual and group services to help people manage the challenges of loss.
Video:Â Navigating Divorce with Mindfulness and Resilience
On a Personal Note...I've always been interested in people, curious about their stories, and oriented toward being of service. The study of neuroscience and neuropsychology has deepened my understanding of what drives and sustains human behavior, and also my appreciation of how stress or upsets can interfere with our best thinking and actions. Knowledge of brain-based reactions to stress and trauma has informed my practice for more than 30 years, working with a wide range of people in psychotherapy, diagnostic evaluations, and separation/divorce. After my own divorce, I trained in Mediation and Collaborative Divorce to support separating couples in ways that would have made a difference for me. I also provide Discernment Counseling, a time-limited intervention for couples "on the brink" to become clear on what direction they want to take.
I've conducted neuropsychological examinations across the lifespan, and this work informs all aspects of my practice. My background in neuropsychology gives me insight into how the brain affects emotions and decision-making during difficult times, like divorce or separation. In my Collaborative Divorce practice, I work with couples as a Family Specialist to design parenting plans and as a Child Specialist to bring the voice of any children to the process. While my education, training and experience provide the basic understanding, it was my own divorce that gave me a real appreciation of the impact of this life transition on families, couples and individuals. Working with me, you will be met with compassion, commitment, creativity, warmth, and humor. Also informed by current research on well-being, my commitment to you is not just to minimize distress/pain but to have you see automatic patterns of reacting that aren’t working for you and then create new possibilities for the future that align with your best interests.
Dr. Karassik's education, training and experience span over 30 years in clinical and forensic psychology and neuropsychology. In addition to her Divorce and Separation practice, she's consulted with physicians, attorneys, and educators regarding differential diagnosis, educational planning, and treatment recommendations for children and adults with a broad range of neuropsychological, learning, emotional, and behavioral disorders. She's also provided ongoing outpatient psychological and neuropsychological treatment services to individuals across the life span.
Dr. Karassik is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA), and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). She's a Board Member and co-chair of the Professional Development Committee of the Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce (CCND; www.gooddivorcect.com), and she's affiliated as both a Family Specialist/Divorce Coach and a Child Specialist with the Collaborative Divorce Team of Connecticut (CDTC; www.collaborativedivorceteamct.com). Finally, she's Co-President of Divorce Solutions of Connecticut (DSC;Â www.mydivorcect.com).
Dr. Karassik received her BA in Psychology from Wellesley College and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Emory University in 1989. She's been with CNS since 1992.
Our Values
Within our team and with those we serve, the following values guide CNS interactions and activities.
Teamwork
Your interests are my interests
Integrity
Completeness of word and deed
Excellence
Commitment to what's possible
Service
We're here to make a difference
Making a difference.
Every day.
Comprehensive Neuropsychological Services, PC
Drs. Steinberg and Karassik:
 558 Maple Avenue, Suite 5
 Cheshire, CT 06410
 Also telehealth
Dr. Gitman:
 225 Hopmeadow Street, Suite 700
 Weatogue, CT 06089
 Also telehealth
Telephone:Â 203-271-3809
Fax:Â 203-272-6968
Email:Â [email protected]
STANDARD NOTICE
Right to Receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of Expected Charges Under the No Surprises Act
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” that explains how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers must give patients who do not have insurance, who choose to not use insurance, or who use out-of-network insurance benefits an estimate of the bill for their medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs such as medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one (1) business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you may dispute that bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or contact our office.