Staff

Dr. Jennifer Feretic is a psychologist at Emmaus/ Cognitive Therapy of Staten Island. She obtained her doctorate from St. John's University where she also received her Master's Degree in School Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude.   Dr. Feretic is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist in New York and New Jersey.  She has worked in school and clinical settings.  Her research interests include irrational beliefs as well as anxiety and depression.  As a native Staten Islander, Dr. Feretic takes pride in providing evidence-based state-of-the-art services to those on Staten Island.

Dr. Feretic holds a Diplomate from the  Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. This certification identifies her as having an advanced level of expertise in cognitive therapy. She has extensive training in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders in both adults and children, utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, and has attended a series of trainings provided by the Beck Institute.

In addition to providing therapy, Dr. Feretic also conducts school neuropsychological and psychological evaluations.  Dr. Feretic holds a Diplomate from the American Board of School Neuropsychology. This is a post-graduate intensive training and certification program with an emphasis on neuropsychological processes related to learning.  Dr. Feretic has a passion for using assessments to help understand one's strengths and weaknesses and find solutions that work.

Dr. Francine Hansen is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York, a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey, and holds the national CCMHC credential through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). She also has diagnostic privilege. Dr. Hansen earned her Psy.D. with magna cum laude honors from California Southern University and completed her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at Pace University. She is a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. Her undergraduate degree in Forensic Psychology was completed at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Dr. Hansen’s clinical work is distinguished by highly specialized expertise in evidence‑based treatments for OCD and anxiety disorders. This level of specialization is uncommon in the mental health field and reflects years of focused training, mentorship, and dedicated practice. Her depth of knowledge in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) allows her to provide targeted, effective care that truly sets her apart as a clinician.

Her clinical foundation was shaped through an internship with Dr. Steven Phillipson, director of The Center for Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy, followed by postgraduate training at Cognitive Therapy of Staten Island. She also spent over a decade working under the guidance of Dr. Salhany, further deepening her expertise in OCD and anxiety treatment. In addition, Dr. Hansen has extensive training in the approaches of Dr. Reid Wilson, as well as ACT‑based strategies developed by Dr. Steven Hayes and Dr. Russ Harris.

Before entering the mental health field, Dr. Hansen spent 11 years in the financial industry as a project manager and analyst. Her work during the financial crisis gave her a firsthand understanding of the significant stress and emotional strain people experience in high‑pressure environments, ultimately inspiring her transition into psychology.

Dr. Hansen has also maintained a strong connection to educational settings, conducting evaluations, developing behavioral interventions, and performing functional behavioral assessments. She is a Professional Colleague of The Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies and has served her community as an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at Pace University.

Because OCD and anxiety disorders require highly specialized, evidence‑based treatment approaches, clinicians with Dr. Hansen’s level of focused expertise are rare. Her advanced training, depth of experience, and commitment to scientifically supported care make her uniquely equipped to help individuals facing these challenging conditions.