Psychologist in State of New York: License Number 020065
Board Certified: American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology
Brooklyn, NY
Provides individual, family, and intensive outpatient therapy, specializing in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive and related disorders, and autism. Provides consultation for professionals.
Brooklyn, NY
Co-founder and Co-Director of two business that provides an integrated team approach to treating and supporting children with school refusal and avoidance problems and their families. Provides assessment and treatment planning and coordination with other professionals. Provides and oversees others conducting individual, family, and intensive outpatient therapy, Co-directs non-therapeutic coaching program and supervises coaches, interns and externs.
Provided individual, family, and group therapy and conducted psychological evaluation and testing for individuals across the lifespan with Autism and/or Developmental Disability (DD) and co-morbid mental health diagnosis. Duties also included clinical supervision doctoral level psychology students,, and community workshops and speaking engagements.
Provided individual and family therapy utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Training including treatment of obsessive compulsive and related disorder, tic Disorders, ADHD, , and autism. . Participated in the Intensive Outpatient Program, Co-ran OCD Children & Families Support Group, and acted as a Liason with Academic Options.
Performed therapy with individual clients and groups, led various Mindfulness Based groups, and supervised Ph.D. graduate students who performed therapy with clients at university based community clinic.
Dissertation Title: Weightlifting as a Taught Competence Image for Dating Anxiety Management Training in Jewish Women
Miami, FL
Lynbrook, NY
Jericho, NY
Hempstead, NY
New York, NY
Scalable Psychopathology Intervention Intensive Training for ID & ASD (SPIRIT-ID ASD) (Additional PI Moskowitz, Lerner). The SPIRIT-ID ASD program involves training mental health practitioners to better meet the needs of autistic people or those with Intellectual Disability. This training is delivered to 260 mental health practitioners across New York State through 2024 and includes: Creation of curriculum and content for a 15-hour training program including Basic Training (9 hours) and Advanced Training (6 hours), Instruction of live content, management/oversight of program implementation, and management/oversight of junior professionals who are part of the SPIRIT-ID ASD team and who are responsible for parts of program implementation and data collection
Serve as a clinical expert for interactive, web-based training opportunity for clinicians to improve their skills in treating OCD and related disorders through a series of 90-minute small group sessions, and guide breakout group during a two day BTII to support clinicians in creation of detailed treatment plans in treating OCD followed by monthly consultation with group members
Provide weekly one-to-one supervision of graduate student extern regarding caseload at the university based community clinic.
Hempstead, NY
Taught Abnormal Psychology (Fall 2004, Fall 2005, Spring 2006); Psychology of Women (Fall 2005); Child Psychology (Spring 2005)
Westbury, NY
Taught Psychology of Gender (Spring 2006, Fall 2006); Theories of Personality (Fall 2006)
Brooklyn, NY
Taught Abnormal Psychology (Fall 2006)
Miami, FL
Principal Investigator: Youngmee Kim, Ph.D.
Project Manager for various studies investigating psychosocial and biophysiological aspects of quality of life of cancer patients and their family caregivers and implementation of intervention programs to improve overall quality of life. Responsible for the overall coordination and management of data collection & dissemination of findings: for:
New York, NY
Principal Investigators: Amy Horowitz, DSW/Ph.D., Joann Reinhardt, Ph.D.
Project Director: Brent E. Gibson, Ph.D.
Responsible for conducting semi-structured interviews in a longitudinal study examining developmental aspects of coping, and performing relevant analyses.
Hempstead, NY
Dissertation Sponsor: Richard O’Brien, Ph.D.
Conducted dissertation treatment study with a single subject multiple-baseline-across-subjects design on Anxiety Management Training utilizing taught competence imagery on anxiety and avoidance behaviors related to dating.
Palo Alto, CA
Supervisor: Ellen Markman, Ph.D.
Conducted experimental sessions examining cognitive and language development in children and infants; performed relevant statistics to analyze data.
Sachs, R. and Wilson, M. (2022) “Not Less, Different: How OCD Treatment Can be Effectively Adjusted for Autistic Individuals," Workshop to be presented at the Online OCD Conference, International OCD Foundation Conference, Virtual, November 2022.
Hoffman, J., Hudak, R., Nadeu, J., Penzel, F, Sachs, R. and Wilson, M. (2022) “OCD and Autism Town Hall: Professionals and Those with Lived Experience Coming Together," To be presented at the Online OCD Conference, International OCD Foundation Conference, Virtual, November 2022.
Sachs, R., and Moskowitz, L., (2021). "One in Fifty-four Supervision Considerations for Utilyzing CBT in Cases Involving Autism and Co-Morbid Anxiety and OCD" Mini Workshop presented at the 55th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
Sachs, R., Albano, A., Gassner, D., Lerner, M.D., Moskowitz, L., Pimentel, S., and Rosen, T. (2021). "Expanding Access to Care for Youth with ASD: Supervision and Treatment Considerations for the "non-ASD Expert" CBT Provider" Clinical Roundtable presented at the 55th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
Sachs, R., Cody, K Poskar, S, and Rickel, J. (2021) “What To Do When Traditional Outpatient Therapy Isn't Enough: Navigating Next Steps," Presented at the Online OCD Conference, International OCD Foundation Conference, Virtual, October 2021.
Wilson, M and Sachs, R. (2021) “Expanding and Improving OCD treatment for Autistics through Patient-Therapist / ASD-NT Collaboration" Presented at the Online OCD Conference, International OCD Foundation Conference, Virtual, October 2021.
Gassner, D., Sachs, R., and Zheng, S. (2021) "When Autism and Depression Come Together," Webinar Presented for SPARK and Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), October 2021.
Sachs, R., Hudak, R, Swanay, K. and Tucker, B. (2021) "Breaking the Communication Barrier: OCD in Non-Speaking Individuals with ASD/Intellectual Disability," To be presented at 27th Annual Conference International OCD Foundation, New York, NY/Virtual, July 2021.
Sachs, R. and Swanay, K. “Not Just OCD: A Support Group for those with a Dual Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Developmental Disabilities and their Families.” Support Group to be presented at the 76th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, New York, NY/Virtual, July 2021.
Sachs, R., and Rosen, T. "A practitioner's guide to understanding and utilizing ASD assessment: A strengths based approach," To be presented at The Autism Symposium presented for PESI, Virtual, April 2021.
Cody, K., Gassner, D., Gorenstein, M., Halpern, D., and Sachs, R. (2021) "Preventing Co-Occurring Conditions: Resilience Factors for ASD/Mood Across the Lifespan" To be presented at Annual Conference, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Online Conference, March 2021.
Cody, K., Hershfield, J., Sachs, R. and Weg, A. (2021) "Treating OCD with ASD- You are better prepared than you think!" To be presented at Annual Conference, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Online Conference, March 2021.
Sachs, R., Albano, A., Kerns, C.M., Lerner, M.D., Moskowitz, L., Pimentel, S., and Rosen, T.(2020). "Not an ASD Expert? Not a Problem! Watch and Learn How You Can Use the Fundamentals of CBT to Treat Patients with Autism and Increase Access to Care" Clinical Roundtable presented at the 54th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
Sachs, R., Albano, A., Andersen, L;, Kaplan, J., Lack, C., Printz, D., and Stern, J. (2020). "CBT During a Global Pandemic: Lessons Learned About Access to Information and Care, Professional Mental Health and Utilizing Current CBT Evidence to Inform Novel Decision Making" Workshop presented at the 54th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
Sachs, R.(2020) “CBT Treatment of OCD and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Beyond the Basics” Presented at the Online OCD Conference, International OCD Foundation, virtual
Sachs, R. and Swaney, K. (2020) “Not Just OCD: A Support Group for those with a Dual Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Developmental Disabilities and their Families.” Support Group presented at the Online OCD Conference, International OCD Foundation, Virtual.
Hoffman, D., McKay D., Owens, S., Rego, S., and Sachs, R. (2019) "Making our science palatable to the hungry public: Embracing the power of social media" Panel presented at 53nd Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Atlanta, GA
Sachs, R. (2018) "Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder and Behavior Management" presented for DOE Paraprofessional Conference on behalf of the NYS Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (RCASD), Brooklyn, NY
Hoffman, J., Hudak, R., Nadeau, J., Penzel, F., and Sachs, R., (2019) “Autism Spectrum/OCD" Workshop presented at the 26th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Austin, TX.
Hoffman, J., Hudak, R., Penzel, F., and Sachs, R., (2019) “Pre-Conference Training Session: Conceptualizing and Treating OCD in Those with Autism Spectrum Disorder" presented at the 26th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Austin, TX.
Sachs, R. (2019) “Not Just OCD: A Support Group for those with a Dual Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Developmental Disabilities and their Families.” Support Group presented at the 26th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Austin, TX.
Orth, C., Sachs, R., Weinstock, C., Wilcox, H., and Wilms-Float, AM., (2019) "Autism: Changing Challenges from Childhood to Adulthood" Panel presented at AHCJ's Health Journalism Conference, Baltimore, MD.
Gaus, V, Brodkin, E., Bookman-Frazee, L., Maddox, B., Mitchell, Z., Sachs, R. and Vivian D.(2018) "Community-Based Mental Health Treatment for Co-Ocurring Psychiatric Conditions and ASD: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go" Panel presented at 52nd Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC.
Hoffman, D., McKay D., Owens, S., and Sachs, R. (2018) "What Can an Evidence Based Mental Health Practitioner Do When Faced with Pseudoscience" Panel presented at 52nd Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC.
Sachs, R. (2018) "Applications of Exposure Therapy across different diagnoses- common themes and important differences: OCD, Hoarding, Social Phobia and Specific Phobia." Presented at the South African Society of Psychiatrist (SASOP) Congress, Pretoria, South Africa.
Sachs, R. (2018) "An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders and Cognitive Behavior Therapy: How can CBT be use to target flexility to improve symptoms of ASD." Presented at the South African Society of Psychiatrist (SASOP) Congress, Pretoria, South Africa.
Sachs, R. (2018) "Differential Diagnosis: When is it Autism Spectrum Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or both CO-Ocurring ASD and OCD" Presented at the South African Society of Psychiatrist (SASOP) Congress, Pretoria, South Africa.
Sachs, R. (2018) “Not Just OCD: A Support Group for those with a Dual Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Developmental Disabilities and their Families.” Support Group presented at the 25rd Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Washington DC.
Sachs, R. (2018) "Autism Spectrum Disorder and Flexibility" presented for DOE Paraprofessional Conference on behalf of the NYS Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (RCASD), New York, NY.
Sachs, R. (2018) "Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder and Behavior Management" presented for Staff and Community Members at PS 181 on behalf of the NYS Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (RCASD), Brooklyn, NY.
Sachs, R., & Cody K. (2018) “Treatment Resistant OCD or Co-Morbid ASD? Diagnostic and Treatment Implications: Workshop presented at the Annual Conference, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Washington DC.
Sachs, R., & Cody K. (2017) “Assessment: Recognizing and Evaluating OCD in Autism” Symposium presented at the Treating OCD in the Autism Community Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
Hoffman, J.& Sachs, R.(2017) “Clinical Barriers to Change in OCD and Autism” Symposium presented at the Treating OCD in the Autism Community Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
Sachs, R., & Cody K (2017) “Getting Unstuck: Interventions for Fostering Independence Throughout Delveopment.” Keynote presented at the 17th Annual Spring Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Associations (AHA) Conference, Garden City, NY.
Sachs, R., & Cody K. (2017) “Innovative Assessment-Based Approach to Treatment Planning: Utilizing Assessment Beyond Diagnosis for Co-Co-Occurring Anxiety/OCD and Autism” Master Clinician Session presented at the Annual Conference, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), San Francisco, CA.
Sachs, R. (2017)" High-Functioning Autism: Proven & Practical Interventions for Challenging Behaviors in Children, Adolescents & Young Adults" Full Day Workshop presented for PESI, Chattanooga, TN, Nashville, TN and Knoxville, TN.
Sachs, R., Gaus, V.L., Hoffman, J., Kerns, C.M., Lerner, M.D., Woods, D. (2016). Mechanisms of Change in CBT for ASD: knowledge and process based interventions. Clinical Roundtable presented at the 50th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.
Sachs, R., Hoffman, J., Hudak, R., Penzel, F., & Tucker, B. (2016) “Live Your Best Life Anyway!: A Town Hall Experience with the OCD & Autism Spectrum Disorder Special Interest Group” Workshop presented at the 23rd Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Chicago, IL.
Sachs, R. (2016) “Not Just OCD: A Support Group for those with a Dual Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Developmental Disabilities and their Families.” Support Group presented at the 23rd Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Chicago, IL.
Sachs, R. & Baumeister, A., & Mitchell, Z. (2016) “Help! My Brain’s CEO has Fallen Into a Deep Hole on the Way to Work: Understanding How Executive Function (EF) Difficulties can Impact Mental Health and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression” Symposia presented at the Annual Conference, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Chicago, IL.
Gilbert, K., Gaus, V., Sachs, R., & Veeenstra-VanderWheel (2016) “Mental Health Care and Adults on the Autism Spectrum.” Workshop presented at the 16th Annual Spring Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Associations (AHA) Conference, Garden City, NY.
Sachs, R., (2016) “Dealing with School Related Stress Using Cognitive Behavioral Concepts” Workshop for parents and professionals presented at the P.S. 116, New York, NY.
Sachs, R., (2016) “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Study” Guest Lecture for Psychology 334: ASD, Matthew Lerner, SUNY, Stony Brook.
Sachs, R., Gaus, V.L., Hoffman, J., Kerns, C.M., Lerner, M.D., Storch, E. (2015). Addressing Real and Imagined Constraints in Utilizing CBT for Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Practices regarding the applicability of CBT to ASD. Storch, E. (Chair). Clinical Roundtable presented at the 49th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, IL.
Sachs, R., (2015) “ASDs & OCD: Complicating Comorbidities Treatment.” Discussion presented at Tics, Tourette's and Related Disorders clinic at New York Presbyterian Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
Sachs, R., (2015) “Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents.” Discussion presented at Mercy First Hospital, Syosset, NY.
Sachs, R., Boden, D., Rios, B., Schure, D., Weber, A. (2015) “Family Matters: Navigating Parenthood of a Child with a Dual Diagnosis of OCD or Related Disorder and an ASD” Symposia presented at the 22th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Boston, MA.
Sachs, R. (2015) “Not Just OCD: A Support Group for those with a Dual Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Developmental Disabilities and their Families.” Support Group at the 22th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Boston, MA.
Sachs, R. & Iemolo, M. (2015) “The Role of ASDs in Treatment of Co-Occurring Conditions: Complicating Comorbidities” Symposia presented at the Annual Conference, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Miami FL.
Sachs, R. & Baumeister, A., & Braider, L. (2015) “How to Navigate Screen Time: iPads, Cell Phones, Computers - oh my!” Symposia presented at the Annual Conference, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Miami FL.
Sachs, R., (2014) “Understanding and Addressing the Role of ASDs in OCD Treatment.” Discussion presented at OCD New Jersey (OCDNJ) December Meeting, Brunswick, NJ.
Sachs, R., (2014) “Lazy, Messy, Stubborn Kid? Maybe Not: Learning About Executive Functioning” Workshop for parents and professionals presented at the Fusion Academy, Brooklyn.
Sachs, R., Cody, K. & Newman, S. (2014) “The Role of ASDs in OCD Treatment: Complicating Comorbidities” Workshop at the 21th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Los Angeles, CA.
Sachs, R., Cody, K. (2014) “Not Just OCD: A Support Group for those with a Dual Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Developmental Disabilities and their Families.” Support Group at the 21th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
Ronemus, M., Sachs, R., (2014) “Symposium on Autism.” Discussion at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.
Cody, K., Sachs, R., Wajsblat, L. (2013) “ASD, Co-Occurring Conditions and Maintaining Good Mental Health.” Workshop presented at the 14th Annual Spring Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Associations (AHA) Conference, Garden City, NY.
Sachs, R. (2014) “Autism Spectrum Disorder and OCD Behaviors.” Workshop for parents and professionals presented at the Sid Jacobson JCC Special Needs Center, East Hills, NY.
Sachs, R. (2013) “The Role of ASDs in OCD Treatment.” Discussion presented to staff at Rogers Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI.
Hoffman, J., Poskar, S. & Sachs, R. (2012) “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Dating.” Workshop presented at the 19th Annual Conference, International OCD Foundation, Chicago, IL.
Sachs, R. (2011) “Managing Stress: As a person and as a practitioner.” Talk presented at the University of Miami Medical School to Third Year Medical Students, Miami, FL.
Selke, J. & Sachs, R. (2005) Add a social skills camp to your program. Talk presented at the Tri State 2005 Camp Conference. New York, New York.
Sachs, R., Bruer, T., Schare, M. (2014) Using virtual reality exposure to prepare for an airplane flight for an adolescentt with ASD: a case report. Poster Session to be presented at ABCT’s 48th Annual Convention, Autism Spectrum and Developmental Disorders (ASDD) SIG in Philadelphia, PA.
Sachs, R., Kim, Y. (2011 Risk Factors for Bereavement Outcomes Among Cancer Caregivers. Poster Session presented at ABCT’s 45th Annual Convention, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sachs, R., Kim, Y. (2010). Pre-loss depression: A predictor of complicated grief among cancer caregivers. Poster Session presented at 2010 Sylvester Cancer Research Poster Presentation, Miami, FL.
Guedj, S., Leon,J., Wesley, K., Sachs, R., Kim, Y. (2010). Dyadic and individual effects of attachment between colorectal cancer patients and their caregivers on mental and physical health. Poster Session presented at 2010 Sylvester Cancer Research Poster Presentation, Miami, FL.
Sachs, R., O’Brien, R., Levy, J., Feiner, J., Cohen, E. (2009). Weight Lifting as a taught competency image for Anxiety Management Training with dating anxiety in Jewish Women. Poster Session presented ABCT’s 43rd Annual Convention, New York, NY.
Sachs, R., O’Brien, R., Levy, J., Feiner, J., Cohen, E. (2009). Weight Lifting as a taught competency image for Anxiety Management Training. Poster session presented at the 117th annual American Psychological Association Conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sachs, R. (2009). Predictors of dating anxiety and dating behaviors in Jewish women. Poster session presented at the 117th annual American Psychological Association Conference. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Pastor, S.C., Orban, L., Sachs, R., Ephron, R., Owens, S.G., Corso, A., & Dill, C.A. (2004). Monitoring anti-gay hate speech utilizing implementation intentions. Poster session presented at the 111th annual American Psychological Association Conference. Honolulu, Hawaii.
Dill, C., Owens, S.G., Ephron, R., Sachs, R., Corso, A., Gross, D., & Sledz, B. (2004). Self-efficacy and reinforcement: Delimiting the effects of implementation intentions. Poster session presented at the 111th annual American Psychological Association Conference. Honolulu, Hawaii.
Examiner for the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Behavior & Cognitive PsychologyReviewer for Submissions to ABCT Annual Convention
Quality of Life Research Journal
Evidence-Based Practice in Child & Adolescent Mental Health Journal
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Associations (AHA-NY)/ The Asperger Autism Network (AANE)
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (IOCDF)
Anxiety and Depression Association of America: Participant in the ADAA Career Development Leadership Program, 2015
Hofstra University: Nominated for the H. Alan Robinson Outstanding Dissertation Award, August 2009
New York Association of School Psychologists: The Ted Bernstein Award, Excellence in the Practice of School Psychology, November 2009
Hofstra University: Graduate Student Research Fellowship, September 2002-May 2004
New York University: NYU Trustee Scholar, 1995-1999; Dean's List, 1997-1999