Profiles in Success - Alumni Spotlights

Distinguished Alumni Award 2023:

Dr. Karen Starr is a licensed clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst. She was trained in CBT, but her orientation is primarily psychodynamic. She has offices in Manhattan and Great Neck. Dr. Starr is collaborative when working with her patients to help them identify patterns in their life so they can develop a clearer understanding of their life experiences and develop new, more satisfying ways of relating. Prior to earning her doctorate, she has more than 20 years of business experience and is well-equipped to work with clients on career issues and career change. Dr. Starr specializes in interview coaching, helping clients learn how to present themselves in a positive, polished, articulate, and professional manner. She is a clinical supervisor at multiple schools and a Scholar in Residence at the Training Institute of Mental Health, where she teaches Professional Psychoanalytic Writing to practicing mental health clinicians. Dr. Starr is a published author and editor and conducts writing and dissertation consultations for writers in all disciplines. She has written multiple articles and books, for example; Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Integration: An Evolving Synergy and

A Psychotherapy for the People: Toward a Progressive Psychoanalysis.

Distinguished Alumni Award 2022:

Dr. Pablo Perez, a graduate of the Long Island University Clinical Psychology Doctorate

Program, Class of 2008, is presently a professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro in Mexico where he teaches and conducts research seminars on the history and literature of psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic methods, and child and adult psychotherapy. He is a published author and has combined his passion for psychology and the arts by writing about psychoanalysis in film and literature, as well as psychoanalytic theory. His work includes “The Aesthetics of Shame: Psychoanalytic Reflections Regarding the Film ‘Shame’ by Steve McQueen” (2014,

Psyart) and “More Profound: The Narrative Configuration of ‘Underground River’ by Ines Arredondo from a Psychoanalytic Viewpoint” (in press). Other works include “Reflexivity and the Epistemological Framework of Postmodern Psychoanalysis” and the “The Problem of

Neutrality in Psychoanalysis.” He is also the editor of the books “Psychoanalysis and Literature: Selected Topics in an Interdisciplinary Dialogue” and “Writings of the Self.” He is the current president of ALIPSI (A Psychoanalytic Association in Querétaro), and one of the coordinators at CESECO (a health services clinic that provides psychological and medical treatment for the underserved).

Prior to his current academic appointment at the university, Dr. Perez completed an externship in the Bilingual Treatment Program at Bellevue Medical Center. He continued his training as an intern at Lutheran Medical Center and upon completion was promoted to the position of Staff Psychologist.

In addition to his faculty position, Dr. Perez conducts a private practice working with children and adults in the psychoanalytic orientation. Among his personal achievements, he is happily married and a proud father of a five-year-old. He is also dedicated to developing future psychologists and we are thrilled to have him join our Alumni Mentoring Program in the Fall.

Distinguished Alumni Award 2021:

Alexis Conason, Psy.D.

Alexis Conason, Psy.D., CEDS is a licensed psychologist and certified eating disorder specialist in private practice in New York City. Her group practice specializes in the treatment of overeating disorders, body image dissatisfaction, and sexual functioning using mindfulness-based interventions. She is the founder of The Anti-Diet Plan, an online mindful eating program to help people stop dieting and start eating with more attunement to their bodies.
She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Long Island University, C.W. Post. Following completion of her doctorate, Dr. Conason completed post-doctoral training at The Karen Horney Clinic and the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, in affiliation with Columbia University. She also earned a certificate in Eating Disorders, Compulsions, and Addictions from the William Alanson White Institute and a certificate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the American Institute for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Conason’s research has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals (including Journal of the American Medical Association’s JAMA Surgery) and she has presented at numerous scientific conferences. She is a peer reviewer for numerous scientific journals, including Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases and Obesity Surgery. She serves on the leadership committee of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals-NY Chapter as their Research Chair and on the board of The Center for Mindful Eating.
She is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and writes the “Eating Mindfully” blog for their website. She has been widely featured in the popular press including Oprah Magazine, Elle, Teen Vogue, CBS News, The Washington Post, The New York Post, and many more. Dr. Conason is a fierce advocate for helping people recognize and question the societal norms that encourage feeling not good enough about themselves so that they can live their most fulfilling lives-- at any size!
You can find Dr. Conason on the web at www.drconason.com as well as Twitter (@theantidietplan), Facebook (Alexis Conason, PsyD), and Instagram (@theantidietplan).
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Distinguished Alumni Award 2018:

Manuel Guantez, Psy.D.

Dr. Manuel Guantez is the Executive Director of Turning Point in Verona, Secaucus and Paterson, NJ.  Turning Point is a behavioral health treatment program that focuses on alcohol and substance abuse addictions as well as their co-occurring disorders.  Turning Point serves clients across the state of New Jersey.  Under Dr. Guantez’s leadership, Turning Point has expanded beyond residential treatment programs for men and women to include the recent acquisition of a significant portion of Barnert Hospital in Paterson, NJ, the opening of an outpatient program in Verona, New Jersey, and the launch of a new family program in Verona, NJ.

Dr. Guantez is an international speaker and consultant working with the United Nations to help other countries achieve the gains in combating addiction that we have seen here in the United States.  He has been singled out as an important contributor in shaping statewide policy and practices in mental health and substance abuse, and has served on the New Jersey Division of Addiction Services’ Residential Licensure Standards Revision Committee, the Residential Treatment Services Committee and the Quality Standards Substance Abuse Treatment Committee.  He currently serves as Chair of the State Professional Advisory Committee on addictions and is the co-chair of the state mental health association co-occurring disorders committee.  He was an Assistant Professor at Montclair State University and taught all core graduate and undergraduate courses in addiction and mental health.

In his very early career, Dr. Guantez worked in residential and outpatient addiction treatment conducting individual, group and family therapies, and coordinating programs for some of the more challenging treatment populations, including adolescents and persons with co-occurring disorders.

Dr. Guantez is an international speaker and consultant working with the United Nations to help other countries achieve the gains in combating addiction that we have seen here in the United States. A former U.S. Marine and Presidential Honor Guard, Dr. Guantez brings a wealth of diverse knowledge and experience to our field. Dr. Guantez received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Montclair State University.  He received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University, C.W. Post, as part of the entering Class of 1994 and graduated in 1999.  He lives with his wife and two children in New Jersey.

Distinguished Alumni Award 2017:

Bukky Kolawole, Psy.D.

Dr. Bukky Kolawole is a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Kolawole (or Dr. Bukky to her patients) completed her doctoral internship in clinical psychology at New York City’s renowned Bellevue Hospital, and received her doctoral degree (PsyD) in clinical psychology from Long Island University, Post Campus. She specializes in providing couple’s therapy and pre-marital counseling for all couples, including those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community.

Dr. Bukky’s clinical and research interests include the development and assessment of experiential learning events for the enhancement of intimate relationships; the application of Motivational Interviewing approaches in teacher consultation; and the application of Emotionally Focused Therapy with same-sex couples and polyamorous partners. She is a current member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), International Center of Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT), New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NYCEFT) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Dr. Bukky also maintains a voluntary faculty appointment at New York University Langone Medical Center’s Department of Population Health. Dr. Bukky is the founder of Dr. Bukky & Associates (now known as Relationship HQ).