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Staff

Meet Our Highly-Trained, Experienced and Caring Staff

At BCW/The Tree House, parents and caregivers work with trained counselors who have extensive experience in bereavement counseling.

Program Staff

  • Anne-Marie Conlan, LMHC

    Director
  • Joanna DeNicola, MPA, LCSW, CT

    Assistant Director
  • Pat DiScenza

    Administrative Assistant
  • Melody Madera

    LCHS Administrative Director

Anne-Marie Conlan, LMHC

Director
914.787.6158

Anne-Marie Conlan, LMHC, joined BCW staff in 2014. A graduate of Loyola University in Maryland, she received her Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Manhattan College. Anne-Marie’s prior experience was a Director of Guidance at St. Barnabas High School in the Bronx and as a group counselor on the in-patient psychiatric children and adolescent units at New York Presbyterian Hospital in White Plains. At NYP, she completed her clinical work and received her license in mental health counseling for New York State. Having been a Tree House volunteer for several years, she became Assistant Director as BCW until August 2015 when she was promoted to Director.

Joanna DeNicola, MPA, LCSW, CT

Assistant Director
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Joanna DeNicola, MPA, LCSW, CT, is the BCW Assistant Director. Joanna joined our staff in May 2017. Prior to BCW, Joanna was program manager of the Healing Hearts Center for Grief and Loss, a program of Regional Hospice and Palliative Care in Danbury, CT. The Healing Hearts program provides bereavement support to grieving children, families and individuals. Joanna began her career in bereavement at The Den for Grieving Kids in Greenwich, CT. Joanna has a Masters Degree and clinical license in Social Work from Fordham University as well as a Certificate of Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Presently she coordinates the Mount Kisco Tree House, adult support groups and individual counseling.

Pat DiScenza

Administrative Assistant
914.787.6158

Pat DiScenza joined the BCW staff in 2007. Pat comes to us after working in the corporate and small business world. She is experienced in operational, intrapersonal and administrative skills.

In 1997, after Pat’s husband died suddenly, she and her daughter attended the Tree House Program in Bronxville. Five years later, Pat completed the Facilitator Training for the Tree House and has been an active and valuable volunteer since then.

Melody Madera

LCHS Administrative Director

Counseling Staff

  • Kathy Kehoe-Biggs, LCSW, PhD

  • Mary Cullman, LCSW, MSW

  • Karen LaGotta, LMSW

  • Emily Laitmon, LCSW

  • Ellen Theg, L.P.

  • Marianne Walsh, MA

  • Regine Plummer, LMHC

  • Laura Himmselstein, LMSW

Kathy Kehoe-Biggs, LCSW, PhD


Kathryn Kehoe-Biggs, LCSW, Ph.D began her work at the Bereavement Center of Westchester in 2001. She provided individual grief counseling  and ran grief support groups for adults, children and adolescents.  In addition, she conducted trainings for school personnel and tree house volunteers. She currently, has a private practice in Pelham and continues to train and lecture at BCW.

Mary Cullman, LCSW, MSW


For over twenty-five years, Mary Cullman has worked in the bereavement field, concentrating on individual counseling and group facilitation. Since receiving her masters degree from Columbia University School of Social Work, Mary has worked at Phelps Hospice, AIDS Related Community Services and for the last decade with BCW. In addition to counseling individual adult clients, Mary facilitates a Spousal Loss Group, Treehouse Group, SAS Group (Support After Suicide) and has trained in CGT (Complicated Grief Treatment) at The Center for Complicated Grief, Columbia University.

Karen LaGotta, LMSW


14 years counselor at BCW
30+yrs hospice and palliative care social worker
Private practice in Tele mental health and home visits

Emily Laitmon, LCSW


Emily Laitmon, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and grief counselor working with individuals, couples, and families at the Bereavement Center. She went through the volunteer training at BCW after her son died in 1998, and currently facilitates support groups for spouse and child loss. She teaches and leads workshops for clinicians and school personnel. She wrote and co-edited a book with parents from her support group “OUR CHILDREN, OUR HEARTS: Journeys of Child Loss and Remembrance”.

Ellen Theg, L.P.


Ellen Theg trained as a volunteer in the Tree House program after 9/11 and joined the BCW as a staff counselor in 2001, leading adult groups for the Tree House program and members of the community who have lost spouses, parents, and siblings. A psychotherapist in private practice, she is trained in experiential psychotherapy with a focus on treating the whole person.

Marianne Walsh, MA


Marianne Walsh, MS, CT, RTSC, is a certified counselor in death, dying and bereavement. A graduate of College of New Rochelle’s Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Thanatology, Marianne has extensive experience in bereavement support groups, workshops and conference presentations. Marianne facilitates The Maggie Rose Perinatal Bereavement Program: support groups for stillbirth, miscarriage, and pregnancy. She also provides individual, couples, and family counseling to persons experiencing perinatal loss.

Regine Plummer, LMHC


Laura Himmselstein, LMSW


Clinical Consultants

  • Debra Morrison-Dyke, Ph.D.

    Clinical Consultant
  • Kathy Kehoe-Biggs, LCSW, PhD

Debra Morrison-Dyke, Ph.D.

Clinical Consultant

Debra Morrison Dyke, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has been affiliated with BCW in a variety of capacities since 1997.
From 1997-2001 she worked part time as a Clinical Coordinator running grief groups, conducting individual counseling sessions, working
in the On Site School Program, and participating in the training of facilitators for the Tree House Program.
From 2001-present she serves as a Clinical Consultant to BCW continuing to participate in the facilitator training for the Tree House and offering supervision and workshops in grief education and counseling.

Kathy Kehoe-Biggs, LCSW, PhD


Kathryn Kehoe-Biggs, LCSW, Ph.D began her work at the Bereavement Center of Westchester in 2001. She provided individual grief counseling  and ran grief support groups for adults, children and adolescents.  In addition, she conducted trainings for school personnel and tree house volunteers. She currently, has a private practice in Pelham and continues to train and lecture at BCW.

Development and Marketing

  • Janet Lyons

    Marketing and Development

Janet Lyons

Marketing and Development
914.787.6158

Whether it’s creating a new hopeful and inspirational mission-driven marketing campaign or planning memorable and profitable fundraising events, Janet injects creativity and breakthrough branding into everything she sets out to do for the center. Her co-branded events, Tree Chic with SAKS Fifth Avenue and Tree Meire with Amazon Films not only raised awareness but also raised the funds needed so that the Tree House can remain free of charge and continue to grow and expand.

Before joining NYP Lawrence Janet Lyons was Founding Partner of New Think Brand Marketing Group and a former Executive Creative Director and member of the Board of Directors at BBDO New York one of the world’s most creatively acclaimed advertising and marketing agencies. Janet has been the recipient of virtually every Marketing and Advertising industry award. Her influence can be felt throughout American culture with big branding ideas for clients like Pizza Hut, P&G, HBO, VISA and Frito Lay.

Since joining BCW, Janet’s developed a firm belief that the best way to raise funds is by attracting attention, raising awareness and touching the hearts and minds of her donor base.