Staff

Dr. Ziffer, Director of Clinical Services, is a clinical and school psychologist with a Diplomate in assessment psychology from the American Board of Assessment Psychology. With over 30 years experience, he has served as a senior psychologist at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic (1979 - 1988), holding the positions Director of Outpatient Psychological Services, Director of Psychology Training, Director of Evaluation Research, and, Supervisor in the Family Therapy Training Center. Dr. Ziffer has also been a consultant to the Children's’ Hospital of Philadelphia, the Crossroads School, the Haverford School, and a clinical affiliate in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His first book, Adjunctive Techniques in Family Therapy, was reviewed in the professional literature as “An extraordinarily valuable contribution to the field”. Dr Ziffer is also the founder of Psychological Assessment Services which developed and publishes the Childrens’ Self-Report and Projective Inventory, and, Facets of Success assessment materials for psychologists, counselors and schools working with children and adolescents. His general clinical practice includes both evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. He has had a career-long interest and specialty in attention disorders.

Debbie Flaks, M.Ed., Director of Educational Services, holds two Masters’ degrees in Education, and is triple-certified in Pennsylvania as a special education teacher, reading specialist, and teacher of the visually impaired. She has worked with students, parents and teachers in schools and colleges for over 20 years. During this time she has specialized in working with students with special needs, especially attention disorders and learning disabilities. Ms. Flaks started her teaching career in South Africa. After moving to the United States, she taught adolescents who were visually impaired from non-English speaking countries in the International Program at Overbrook School for the Blind. Before moving into independent practice, Ms. Flaks worked for 11 years at The Crefeld School, a progressive college preparatory school for students who have struggled in more traditional school settings. While there, she served as a teacher, learning specialist, Assistant Head of School and Acting Head of School. As an administrator, Ms. Flaks provided extensive professional development for teachers that focused on curriculum development, and developed support-based programs that serve students who are bright, creative non-traditional learners. In addition to her work at The Center for Attention Disorders and Student Success Services, Ms. Flaks teaches a course in special education in the Education Department at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges.