Meet Our Review Board

Learn more about the experts who review our articles to make sure they are accurate and trustworthy.


The Verywell Mind Review Board is a team of board-certified physicians and established mental health experts who ensure our content is high-quality and inclusive. They join us in our mission to be a compassionate resource that helps you prioritize your mental health and well-being.

Get to know the passionate psychotherapists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, mindfulness coaches, and other mental health professionals and educators who make up the Review Board.

Review Board Members

Alicia Bigelow, ND

Naturopathic Physician
Alicia Bigelow, ND
Alicia Bigelow, ND is a functional and integrative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience in patient care. Formerly, she served as a clinical and academic faculty member at NUNM. Currently, she offers consultations through the non-profit organization, Right to Heal. She also provides IV ketamine treatment to patients with depression, anxiety, and PTSD at Cascade Psychedelic Medicine in Portland, OR.
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Janet Brito, PhD, PsyD, LCSW, CST-S

AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist & Supervisor
Dr Janet Brito
Dr. Janet Brito is a nationally certified Latinx sex therapist, AASECT supervisor, speaker, and trainer. She is a graduate of Pacifica Graduate Institute and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Brito is the founder and owner of the Hawaii Center for Sexual Relationship Health, a group practice that specializes in relationship sex therapy, out-of-control sexual behavior, and gender sexually diverse populations, as well as The Sexual Health School, an online training program for healthcare professionals seeking human sexuality training.
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Daniel B. Block, MD

Psychiatrist
Block

Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Dr. Block is a staunch patient advocate and was awarded the Medical Service Advisor Award in 2000 for his work with New Directions, a chapter of the DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance).

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Deepa Burman, MD, FAASM

Pediatric Sleep Medicine Specialist
Deepa Burman
Deepa Burman, MD, FAASM, is a board-certified pediatric sleep medicine specialist and co-director of the Pediatric Sleep Evaluation Center at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She is also an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
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Claudia de Llano, MFT

Marriage and Family Therapist, Author
Claudia de Llano
Claudia de Llano is a Marriage and Family Therapist, lecturer, mental health speaker, and author of "The Seven Destinies of Love." She facilitates peoples’ paths toward awakening of inner harmony and conscious being. 
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Claire Eggleston, LMFT-Associate

Psychotherapist
Claire Eggleston, LMFT-Associate

Claire Eggleston, LMFT-Associate is a neurodivergent therapist and specializes in and centers on the lived experiences of autistic and ADHD young adults, many of whom are also in the queer and disability communities. She prioritizes social justice and intertwines community care into her everyday work with clients.

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Steven Gans, MD

Psychiatrist
Steven Gans

Steven Gans, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and practices at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. Dr. Gans leads a team-based approach to treating patients with serious mental illnesses.

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Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS

Psychologist
Rachel Goldman

Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS, is a licensed psychologist and clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine. She is also a speaker and wellness expert specializing in stress management and health behavior change, as well as weight management and eating behaviors. She serves on leadership boards of The Obesity Society and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

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Monica Johnson, PsyD

Clinical Psychologist
Monica Johnson, PsyD

Dr. Monica Johnson is a clinical psychologist and owner of Kind Mind Psychology, a private practice in NYC specializing in evidence-based approaches to treating a wide range of mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders). Additionally, she works with marginalized groups of people, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and alternative lifestyles, to manage minority stress.

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Ivy Kwong, LMFT

Psychotherapist, Relationship Coach
Ivy Kwong

Ivy Kwong, LMFT, is a psychotherapist specializing in relationships, love and intimacy, trauma and codependency, and AAPI mental health. For over seventeen years, she has had the honor of walking alongside hundreds of individuals on their journeys of healing in relationship with themselves and with others. She has a private telehealth practice where she sees individual clients for therapy in CA and WA and coaching worldwide.

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Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, FAAN

Neurologist
Shaheen Lakhan

Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, is an award-winning, board-certified physician-scientist and clinical development specialist. He is board-certified in neurology and pain medicine, with clinical training from the Cleveland Clinic and Massachusetts General Hospital. He has taught at Harvard Medical School and the California University of Science and Medicine.

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Mei T. Liu, Pharm.D., BCPP

Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist
Mei Liu

Dr. Mei Liu is the Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist at the Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

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Akeem Marsh, MD

Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist
Akeem Marsh, MD, board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist

Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with children and families of medically underserved communities. He is also the co-editor of the book, “Not Just Bad Kids: The Link Between Adversity and Disruptive Behavior."

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Armeen Poor, MD

Pulmonologist, Intensivist
Armeen Poor

Armeen Poor, MD, is a board-certified pulmonologist, specializing in critical care and sleep medicine. He is an assistant professor of medicine at New York Medical College, with clinical duties in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City. Dr. Poor was awarded the Resident Research Award from Columbia University Medical Center.

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Yolanda Renteria, LPC

Psychotherapist
Yolanda Renteria, LPC

Yolanda Renteria, LPC, is a licensed therapist, somatic practitioner, national certified counselor, adjunct faculty professor, speaker specializing in the treatment of trauma and intergenerational trauma.

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Divya Robin, LMHC

Psychotherapist
Divya Robin

Divya Robin, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist, wellness educator, content creator, and media contributor in New York City. As a licensed mental health counselor, she works with adults and adolescents facing various mental and emotional challenges.

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Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD

Clinical Psychologist
Sabrina Romanoff
Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in New York City, where she works with individuals and couples. She is also a professor at Yeshiva University’s clinical psychology doctoral program where she teaches advanced doctoral candidates about principles of group theory and practice.
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David Susman, PhD

Psychologist
David Susman
David Susman, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. He is also an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, award-winning blogger, and the founding director of Eastern State Hospital’s Recovery Mall.
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John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE

Addiction Medicine Specialist
Umhau

John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine.  

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Former Verywell Mind Review Board Members

  • Richard N. Fogoros, MD
  • Claudia Chaves, MD
  • Sanja Jelic, MD
  • Amy Morin, LCSW
  • Sara Clark
  • Aron Janssen, MD
  • Elena Klimenko, MD
  • Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP
  • Megan Monahan
  • Margaret Seide, MD
  • Huma Sheikh, MD
  • Carly Snyder, MD

How Our Review Board Process Works

Every article created by our team of expert writers that contains verifiable facts or medical information makes its way through our comprehensive Review Board process and gets assigned to a specialist based on their area of expertise. Even our custom illustrations go through the Review Board.

Mind Review

When you see this check mark on a Verywell Mind article, you can trust it meets the high standards of our Review Board.

The Verywell Mind Review Board members confirm each piece of content they review is up-to-date, thorough, and authoritative—containing facts and guidelines that reflect the latest in mental health research and health information, as well as compassionate advice to help you feel your best.

If the Review Board suggests improvements, those are shared directly with our editorial staff so our editors can make any changes needed. Once a piece of content is approved, it receives the Review Board stamp in the byline—and you’ll know exactly who reviewed it and when.