About OTI

The Open Therapy Institute (OTI) is at the forefront of a burgeoning area of mental health care, developing innovative, evidence-based tools to help people, support professionals, and address social issues. Top scholars, researchers, and clinicians are applying a wide range of theoretical models to understand current challenges and disseminate this knowledge throughout the field and to the general public.

When people make connections to others and get support, they’re more likely to speak up. This can improve dialogue, understanding, and viewpoint diversity, as well as mental health. These positive changes can then ripple throughout the larger society. Whether you’re a mental health professional, a patient, the leader of an organization, or just a citizen looking for openness and dialogue, OTI is developing solutions to help make things better.

Meet Our Team

  • Andrew Hartz, Ph.D.

    Founder of OTI

    Formerly a professor in clinical psychology. He founded the Open Therapy Institute in 2023.

  • Sally Satel, M.D.

    Senior Advisor

    Psychiatrist and Lecturer at Yale University, and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. She was a 2014 finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science.

  • Michael Strambler, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor

    Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University, where he's director of Child Wellbeing and Education Research

  • Pamela Paresky, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor

    Associate at Harvard University, Senior Fellow at the NCRI, Advisor to the NYU Mindful Education Lab

  • Larry Amsel, M.D., MPH

    Senior Advisor

    Columbia Medical Center, Attending and Research Psychiatrist

  • Dean McKay, Ph.D., ABPP

    Senior Advisor

    Professor at Fordham, past president of the Association of Behavior and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)

  • Joshua Aronson, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor

    Professor at NYU, known for pioneering concepts like 'Growth Mindset'

  • Camilo Ortiz, Ph.D.

    Clinical Director

    Long Island University Director of Clinical Training and Professor at LIU’s clinical psychology program

  • Val Thomas, DPsych, FHEA

    Executive Editor

    UK-based psychotherapist and writer. She co-founded the online platform Critical Therapy Antidote.

  • Jon Mills, Psy.D., Ph.D., ABPP

    Senior Advisor

    Honorary Professor, University of Essex and Emeritus Professor of Psychology & Psychoanalysis at Adler Graduate Professional School

  • Daniel Burston, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor

    Professor Emeritus in Psychology at Duquesne University, author of numerous books

  • Paul Garcia-Ryan, LCSW

    Senior Advisor

    Psychotherapist in private practice, president of Therapy First

  • Douglas Novotny, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor

    Practicing clinical psychologist, founder of Your Positive Sum LLC

  • Bret Alderman, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor

    Contributing author of "Cynical Therapies: Perspectives on the Anti-therapeutic Nature of Critical Social Justice”

  • Coral Harriman, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor

    Practicing clinical psychologist, past lecturer and community-based child advocate

  • Craig Frisby, Ph.D.

    Head of Research

    University of Missouri emeritus professor, has been associate editor for several peerreviewed journals

  • Richard Redding, J.D., Ph.D.

    Head of Research

    Chapman University professor of psychology and the Ronald D. Rotunda Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence

  • Jonathan Shedler, Ph.D.

    Faculty

    University of California San Francisco professor, co-author of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-2)

  • Brandy Shufutinsky, Ed.D., LSW

    Faculty

    Social worker and writer; Director of Education and Community Engagement with the Jewish Institute for Liberal Value

  • Ben Lovett, Ph.D.

    Faculty

    Professor at Columbia University, psychologist specializing in learning disorders and ADHD

  • Neil Kressel, Ph.D.

    Faculty

    Professor of Psychology at William Paterson University, former instructor at Harvard University and NYU

  • Yedidya Levy, Psy.D.

    Faculty

    Psychologist and assistant director of the Yeshiva University Counseling Center

  • Nina Silander, Psy.D.

    Faculty

    Clinical health psychologist, researcher, and executive board member of the Society for Open Inquiry of Behavioral Science

  • Ira Moses, Ph.D., ABPP

    Faculty

    Practicing psychoanalyst, clinical instructor at Yale University Medical School

  • Lucas Klein, Ph.D.

    Faculty

    Psychoanalyst, formerly a forensic psychologist involved in correctional, criminal, and civil litigation

  • Chloe Carmichael, Ph.D.

    Faculty

    Clinical psychologist and author of “Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety”

  • Christine Anerella, Ph.D.

    Faculty

    Licensed clinical psychologist with research on substance use and attachment theory

  • Carole Sherwood, DClinPsy

    Faculty

    Clinical psychologist, codirector of Critical Therapy Antidote and founder of Save Mental Health

  • Robin Atkins, LMHC

    Faculty

    Counselor to individuals, couples, and families; specialist in reproductive mental health

  • Jake Wiskerchen, MFT, NCC

    Faculty

    Owner and operator of Zephyr Wellness, board member of Walk the Talk America

  • Ronald Chau, Ph.D.

    Faculty

    Postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Counseling and Student Development at the University of Delaware

  • Leslie Elliott Boyce

    Program and Outreach Coordinator

    Co-founder of Solid Ground, an online peer support community, and the host of “the radical center” podcast

  • Melia Dunbar

    Administrative Manager

    Staff at the Open Therapy Institute with background in communications