United Psychological Services Staff

Carl Eric Alsterberg, Ph.D.

Dr. Alsterberg, a fully licensed psychologist, has been in practice for 25 years.  He has specialized in working with the aged population, promoting the concept of graceful aging from a spiritual perspective, and providing emotional relief for both the patient and their families.  Dr. Alsterberg has been a tremendous help to patients in nursing homes understanding the process of dementia from both a psychological as well as spiritual point of view.  He also specializes in working with families who are divorced or in process of divorce, providing parenting plans and custody evaluations for the courts, and is highly skilled in working with parents in conflict helping them to work towards the best case scenario for their children.

Dr. Alsterberg has a wealth of experience as a director of clinical services with expertise in chemical dependency and substance abuse. He is dedicated to living life gracefully and with ease, keeping the larger perspective in mind, espousing the view that every day we are provided with a new opportunity for a learning adventure.  On staff at UPS, Dr. Alsterberg provides consult and therapeutic intervention for parents and children, (custody evaluations and parenting plans) diagnosis and treatment for dementia, and consult services for patients undergoing or recovering from major surgeries or life threatening illness.

Dr. Alsterberg is the author of two books: Healing and Transformation: Moving from the Ordinary to the Extraordinary, Elequent Books, New York, NY, 2009, and Life is an Adventure: A Guide to the Path of Joy, Aegina Press, 1999. You can order Dr. Alsterberg’s books by clicking on the following link: Suggested Books.

Shannon L. Cranston, Psy.D.
Limited Licensed Psychologist

A Michigan limited license permits practice under the supervision of a Michigan licensed psychologist.

Supervised by Dr. Carl Eric Alsterberg/psychologist

Dr. Cranston holds a doctorate in psychology from the Michigan School of Professional Psychology with an MA in Humanistic and Clinical Psychology and is a limited licensed psychologist. Her clinical experiences have brought her in contact with patients of all ages with concerns such as substance abuse disorders, eating and personality disorders, anxiety and depression.

At United Psychological Services, Dr. Cranston provides psychotherapy and administers neuropsychological testing across the age continuum, with a special focus on teens. She specializes in the Brain Training program; an individually designed program proven successful in improving memory, language, visual perceptual skills and executive reasoning in children, adults and the aged population affected by disorders such as TBI, dementia, stroke, reading problems and learning difficulties. She is very innovative in her approach to this program using her trained skills and creativity to help struggling individuals attain improved functioning measured on neuropsychological testing.

Arthur J. Lewandowski, Ph.D.

Dr. Lewandowski received his doctorate in clinical psychology in 1979 after having received a master’s degree in clinical psychology as well four years earlier. In addition to his more than thirty years of private practice, Dr. Lewandowski has served his profession in many significant ways including published research, service on a number of boards and committees, speaking and as an educator. In 2001, he was recognized by his peers at the Michigan Psychological Association with the Distinguished Psychologist Award.

At United Psychological Services, Dr. Lewandowski provides therapy and counseling for patients and their families.

Deborah A. Rich, Ph.D.

Dr. Rich is a fully licensed psychologist practicing for almost 20 years with a specialization in the field of neuropsychology.  She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.  Her pre-doctoral internship was in Neuropsychology for both children and adults.  Dr. Rich has an excellent reputation teaching graduate and undergraduate students, psychology interns, medical students and residents at local universities and colleges for over ten years in psychological and neuropsychological assessment.

Dr. Rich has maintained a private practice as a neuropsychologist offering treatment and diagnosis for all ages, although specializing in children and adolescents.  More recently she has provided consult services for an alternative high school in the area, identifying and providing treatment services for children "at risk".  Highly published in peer reviewed journals Dr. Rich has presented research at regional and national conferences.   On staff at UPS, Dr. Rich provides neuropsychological assessment, diagnostic and treatment services for all ages ranges with a specialization in pediatrics.

Christina Isaacs
Limited Licensed Psychologist

A Michigan limited license permits practice under the supervision of a Michigan licensed psychologist

Supervised by Dr. Carl Eric Alsterberg/psychologist

Christina Isaacs has worked with children, adolescents, adults and families as a Limited Licensed Psychologist for 16 years. She has a Master of Arts Degree in clinical psychology from The University of Dayton, with a specialty in child and adolescent services. Throughout her career she has assisted individuals and families by identifying issues and providing therapeutic intervention. She has extensive experience working with individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders and their families both in outpatient practice, school settings and as a group therapist for a local parent support group. She also enjoys providing individual therapy for children, adolescents and adults including marital therapy.

At United Psychological Services, Mrs. Isaacs provides psychotherapy for children especially those diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome or some form of autism. She works with the children and their families on social skills, developing social emotional intelligence and also conducts cognitive training to address executive reasoning, visual perceptual and memory deficits. Mrs. Isaacs works with the neuropsychological team at United Psychological Services in the testing and diagnosis of disorders falling on the autism spectrum.

Janice Zajac
Limited Licensed Psychologist

A Michigan limited license permits practice under the supervision of a Michigan licensed psychologist

Supervised by Dr. Carl Eric Alsterberg/psychologist and Dr. Deborah Rich/neuropsychologist

Janice Zajac has more than twenty-five years of experience as a school psychologist. She is particularly skilled in testing and evaluating school aged children relating to various learning and developmental disabilities as well as the diagnostic tools that the school and state use to evaluate eligibility for academic accommodations. This depth of experience and understanding is an invaluable resource for parents of students struggling in school. She provides an essential resource at United Psychological Services for parents unaware of or confused by school accommodations and will act as liaison at school meetings with parents and school staff to work toward the best result for the student.

Ms. Zajac has a broad depth of therapeutic experience with school children of all ages including but not limited to crisis intervention, behavior modification plans and social skills training. At our clinic, she provides these services in addition to participating in neuropsychological testing.

At United Psychological Services, Ms. Zajac also provides therapy for females working through grief processes such as divorce, empty nest syndrome and the loss of a loved one.

She is a limited license psychologist and received both her bachelor’s degree in education and Specialist in School and Community Psychology from Wayne State University.

Christina Johnson
Limited Licensed Psychologist

A Michigan limited license permits practice under the supervision of a Michigan licensed psychologist

Supervised by Dr. Carl Eric Alsterberg/psychologist

Christina Johnson’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy. She is experienced in substance abuse issues as well as general mental health.

She is an adjunct faculty member at Macomb Community College, teaching a variety of psychology courses.

At United Psychological Services Ms. Johnson provides general therapy to all age categories with a special emphasis on the development of study skills and addressing motivation issues associated with the ADD/ADHD child, adolescent or adult; grief counseling and therapies relating to issues in gay relationships and depressed males.

Ms. Johnson is active in our cognitive training non-medication treatment program that addresses issues associated with ADD/ADHD and anxiety as well as our behavior modification program for insomnia.

Danielle Garges
Temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist

A Michigan limited license permits practice under the supervision of a Michigan licensed psychologist

Supervised by Dr. Deborah Rich/neuropsychologist

Danielle Garges is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she obtained a master’s degree in clinical health psychology. She has a specialty in health psychology as well as specialized training and interest in neuropsychological testing and evaluation. In addition, Ms. Garges has research experience in clinical psychology and psychoneurocardiology.

At United Psychological Services, Danielle is involved with neuropsychological testing and evaluation. She is also participating in ongoing research projects at the clinic relating to the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and the efficacy of the cognitive training programs.