Inova Kellar Center Team

Rick Leichtweis, PhD, serves as Executive Director for Inova Kellar Center and joined the organization in 1991. His responsibilities include the executive level oversight for the strategic direction and general operation of Inova Kellar Center and the Kellar School, including all clinical, educational and administrative functions in partnership with a leadership team of content experts. Additionally, Dr. Leichtweis is active in providing education and increasing awareness of the specific mental health and substance use disorder needs of children throughout the community. During his tenure he has partnered with senior Inova leadership and community partners to raise millions dollars in philanthropic support to provide direct services to children and families who have limited or no resources for treatment.

A leader in the educational and mental health field, Dr. Leichtweis has extensive experience in developing mental health and substance use disorder treatment and special education programs. In his role in the community, he represents private providers, serving as the co-chairman of Fairfax County Community Management and Policy Team, is a board member of the Successful Child and Youth Policy Team of Fairfax County and a board member on the Community System of Care Team and the Virginia Coalition of Private Providers Association. Additionally, Dr. Leichtweis serves as a Board Member of Community Not-for-Profit agencies dedicated to the improvement of the health within our community.

Dr. Leichtweis has worked closely with Fairfax County and Fairfax County Public Schools in the development of education, prevention and early identification of issues surrounding adolescent suicide. He has represented Inova Health System and private providers on local and state committees advocating for appropriate cost effective mental health, substance use disorder and special education services to all children.

Dr. Leichtweis holds a bachelor's degree from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, a master’s degree in special education from Radford University, a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology in Washington DC, and a PhD in education from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

Dr. Saili Kalaskar is a psychiatrist board certified in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry at Inova Health System. She joined Inova in 2021 and provides child and adolescent outpatient care individually and within the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). Her clinical areas of interest include depression, anxiety disorders, autism and childhood trauma.

Prior to joining Inova Kellar Center, Dr. Kalaskar provided treatment to children, adolescents and their families in the PHP and Intensive Outpatient Program at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living in Hartford, CT, and in the behavioral health emergency room at Connecticut Children’s hospital. Dr. Kalaskar was also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine and was on the teaching faculty at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living.

Dr. Kalaskar earned her medical degree from Grant Medical College and JJ Group of Hospitals in India. She completed her general psychiatry residency in 2013 then completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry in 2015 at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living, where she was named chief resident.

Dr. Stephanie Mayrant is a graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. She completed a psychiatry residency at Georgetown University Hospital and a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, where she was named chief resident.

Dr. Mayrant is board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. At Inova Kellar Center, she provides psychiatric evaluations, medication management, developmental guidance and psychotherapy. Her clinical areas of interest include autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders, anxiety disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She also has extensive experience in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma focused CBT and exposure response prevention therapy.

Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD, joined Inova Kellar Center in 2018. He provides psychiatric evaluations, medication management, therapy and partial hospitalization services.

Dr. Mirza earned a master's degree in healthcare management at Union Graduate College, NY and his medical degree from St. Matthew’s University, Cayman Islands. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, VA and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at University of Maryland Medical Center, MD.

Dr. Mirza was recognized as Loudoun's Favorite Psychiatrist (2018). His areas of interest include: ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, substance abuse and sports/performance psychiatry.

Dr. Tolulope "Tolu" Peters is a specialty care physician board certified in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at Inova Health System. She joined Inova Kellar Center in 2023.

Prior to joining Inova, Dr. Peters was the Service Chief at Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore. At Sheppard Pratt, she oversaw a child and adolescent inpatient unit following service as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Birmingham in Alabama. Dr. Peters' focus is on partial hospitalization programs for adolescents and medication management services with clinical areas of interest in trauma and mood disorders in adolescents.

Dr. Peters received her medical degree in Nigeria. Afterwards, she completed her residency in general psychiatry at the Metro Health Medical Center, a Case Western Reserve University affiliate, in Cleveland, followed by a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Birmingham. Outside the office, Dr. Peters enjoys traveling, cooking, reading and spending time with family.

Dr. Ravinderpal Singh is a child psychiatrist who is board certified in adult psychiatry and board eligible for child psychiatry. Dr. Singh serves as an outpatient medication provider at Inova Kellar Center. He joined Inova Health System in 2017 and has been practicing since 2017.

In practice, Dr. Singh takes a comprehensive approach to treatment utilizing medication management along with therapy. His clinical interests include ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD and autism spectrum disorders.

Prior to joining Inova, Dr. Singh worked as a Chief Fellow at Virginia Treatment Center for Children at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Dr. Singh is on the teaching faculty at Virginia Mental Health on the Access Project (teaching child psychiatry with the REACH course as well as Project ECHO programs).

He is a member of the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

He lives in Fairfax, VA, and is married with three children. His hobbies include race car tracking, exercise, sports, listening to music, and playing the sitar and tabla instruments.

Dr. Shruti Tewari is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who is board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Tewari serves as an outpatient medication management provider at Inova Kellar Center.  She joined Inova Health System in 2011 and has been practicing medicine since 2006.

Dr. Tewari sees patients at Inova Kellar Center in the Fairfax, VA, location. She treats patients with a a variety of mental health issues including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, ADHD, PTSD, mood disorders and autism spectrum disorders.

She has an interest in working with families from different cultural backgrounds to help address their needs in an individualized and culturally sensitive way. During her residency, Dr. Tewari partnered with the family medicine department at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia to provide mental health services to refugees from Iraq and Myanmar.

Prior to joining Inova, Dr. Tewari completed her general psychiatry residency in 2009 at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, in 2011. She received her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, in 2006. She recently completed a certificate program through Georgetown University in infant and early childhood mental health, with a focus on culturally sensitive and equitable treatment.

Dr. Tewari has been involved in numerous presentations including presentations in the Northern Virginia area to pediatricians, healthcare groups, the Washington International Club, InsideNova Magazine, Inova team members and Inova Institute. Additionally, she has traveled abroad to present at Bermuda hospitals for World Mental Health Day.

She is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

She lives in Fairfax County, VA, and is married with two children. Her hobbies include running, including an upcoming marathon, as well as baking, drawing, painting and reading.

Sonia Thomas, MD, was appointed Medical Director for Inova Kellar Center in 2014. She is board certified in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. Since joining the Inova Kellar Center team in 2005, Dr. Thomas has provided treatment to children, adolescents and their families in the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Family Services. In this role, she provides medication management, developmental guidance and preschool consultation to children with sleeping, feeding or behavioral difficulties.

As Medical Director, Dr. Thomas partners with the senor director to provide overall direction to the organization and actively participates in developing and implementing strategic direction. In this leadership role, she provides clinical supervision, instruction and direction to the therapists and supports staff throughout the organization. She also provides support, guidance and leadership to the physician team. In addition to her role with Inova Kellar Center, Dr. Thomas is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at George Washington University, Washington, DC.

A graduate of Goa Medical College in Goa, India, she completed her psychiatry residency at Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, where she was named chief resident. Dr. Thomas's clinical areas of interest include adolescent substance-related disorders and childhood affective and anxiety disorders.

Dr. Allison Tweedie is a specialty care physician board certified in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at Inova Health System. She joined Inova Kellar Center in 2020.

Prior to joining Inova, Dr. Tweedie worked as an outpatient child and adolescent psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente in Burke, VA.

Dr. Tweedie provides psychiatric evaluations, medication management, therapy and partial hospitalization services. Her clinical areas of interest include mood and anxiety disorders. She takes a family-centered approach when she works with children and adolescents.

Dr. Tweedie earned her medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She then completed her residency in psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, followed by a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Prior to medical school, she studied nutrition, receiving her bachelor’s degree in human biology, health and society at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

Kyle C. Averill, M.Ed., joined Inova Kellar Center as the Kellar School Director in 2015. He obtained his bachelor's degree in history from Appalachian State University and his Master of Education degree in special education from George Mason University. Kyle is a Certified Educator in History and Special Education (K-12) from the Virginia Department of Education. As Principal, Kyle partners with the Senior Director to guide the direction of the Kellar School. Other responsibilities include providing direct supervision for all aspects of the student population and to the staff of the Kellar School.

Diana Benjamin Rodriguez, LCSW, CAADC, joined Inova Kellar Center in 2015 as Program Manager, Clinical Programs and is today Director, Outpatient Treatment Programs for Inova Kellar's clinical programs.

She is a licensed clinical social worker and certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor in the states of Virginia and Georgia, with more than 25 years of experience in behavioral health and chemical dependency treatment. As a program director, Diana partners with the medical director to guide the direction of the outpatient partial hospitalization program and the intensive outpatient program. In this role, Diana provides administrative and programmatic direction as well as clinical supervision for the therapists in these programs. She is an approved clinical supervisor for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Diana completed her master's degree in social work at the Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College in New York, NY. Diana became a certified clinical trauma professional. She has also been trained in attachment-based family therapy. Diana's passion is providing a cohesive, integrated, person-centered treatment program, where all patients and their families receive individualized care. Currently, Diana is pursuing a doctorate in counseling psychology focused on trauma treatment and addiction at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA.

Beth Brocato, LCSW, joined Inova Kellar Center in 2007. She is a therapist in the Outpatient Family Services Program. She completed her undergraduate studies in family and child development at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, followed by her master’s in clinical social work at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. Post-graduate experience includes providing therapy for adults with chronic mental illness, providing in-home therapy for at-risk adolescents and foster children in Los Angeles County and managing a day rehabilitation program for severely emotionally disturbed children.

Beth initially served as a program anchor in the Partial Hospitalization Program. Since 2008 she has worked in the outpatient department, providing individual and family therapy for children, adolescents and adults. She co-facilitates a DBT group for adolescents and currently participates in an advanced psychotherapy training program at the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. Clinical interests include trauma, self-injury, relationship struggles, depression and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and attachment related issues. 

Clinton "Clint" Brogdon, MA, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor at Inova Health System. He joined Inova Kellar Center in 2020. Clint provides individual and family therapy to children, adolescents and their families.

Prior to joining Inova, Clint was a family therapist at Newport Academy in McLean, VA. He brings more than 20 years of working with adolescents and families and more than 10 years of delivering direct mental health services. Clint has worked in both residential and outpatient care facilities. His areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and attachment-based family therapy.

Clint holds a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, and a bachelor’s degree in music from the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Outside the office, Clint enjoys working out, hiking, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.

Rebecca Charneco, PhD, joined Inova Kellar Center in 2012 and is a licensed clinical psychologist. In her role, Dr. Charneco provides psychological and learning assessments to children and adolescents as well as individual, family, and group therapy. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the College of William and Mary and a doctorate from the University of Virginia. She also completed a pre-doctoral internship at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children at the Medical College of Virginia.

Dr. Charneco provides evaluation and treatment for a broad range of emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties, including ADHD, learning problems, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, family difficulties and mood/behavior dysregulation. She provides parent guidance and individual, group and family therapy for children and adolescents.

Terra Garrett is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), therapist and senior clinician at Inova Kellar School within Inova Health System. She initially joined Inova in 2006, serving as an outpatient therapist at Inova Kellar Center. Then in 2007, she served as a therapist for Inova Kellar School. Terra has also been working in a community mental health practice since 2000.

Prior to joining Inova, Terra worked with children in therapeutic foster care settings in Oklahoma and Virginia, in private practice, and in community mental health.

Terra’s specialties include adolescents, children and families, with a particular emphasis in school-based therapeutic services. She has extensive knowledge of the Individualized Education Program process and enjoys working with children identified with emotional and learning disabilities within the school system. She is on the Virginia Board of Social Workers approved supervisors list since 2006, and she provides clinical supervision for professionals seeking licensure.

Terra earned her bachelor’s in clinical social work in 1999 and master’s in clinical social work in 2000, each from the University of Arkansas. Then in 2003, she became an LCSW in Virginia. She serves on several different committees in the Virginia Association of Independent Special Education Facilities.

Terra lives with her husband and son. Her hobbies include watching movies, traveling, going to music concerts, entertaining friends in her home, reading (or more realistically listening to) her book club’s books and attending her son’s copious soccer practices and games.

J. Thomas Giroux, PhD, joined the Kellar team in 1991 and is a licensed clinical psychologist and Program Manager, Outpatient Psychological Services. In this role, he is responsible for the supervision and clinical leadership of psychologists and externs providing psychological and educational evaluations and assessments to children and adolescents.

Dr. Giroux received his doctorate in psychology from Michigan State University and completed his internship at the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents in Rockville, MD. His broad range of clinical experience includes working within public school systems to develop and implement an attention disorders evaluation program within a large national health maintenance organization. He has also been an adjunct professor of psychology at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.

Dr. Giroux provides psychological and educational evaluations, individual and family therapy, and parent guidance. His areas of interest include attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, autism spectrum disorders, learning disorders and cognitive-behavioral and family systems approaches to treatment.

Dr. George Harrington serves as Director of Outpatient Family Services at Inova Kellar Center. He joined Inova Health System in August 2022 and is a licensed professional counselor.

Dr. Harrington is a board-approved supervisor for residents in counseling working toward licensure in the state of Virginia. Previously, he was a licensed mental health counselor in Florida.

His specialties include addiction treatment and addiction medicine for adolescents and adults, dual diagnosis for adolescents and adults, and mental health treatment for adolescents and adults.

He utilizes the therapeutic approaches of cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, Gottman model and Bowen family therapy. He has extensive experience in individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy and couples’ therapy.

Dr. Harrington believes that every client has something to offer, and everyone is an expert in their own life. He believes in a warm, collaborative therapeutic relationship to help his clients dislodge their problem-saturated narratives or dominant stories, revealing the alternative, strengths-based subjugated narrative and empowering change.

Prior to joining Inova, Dr. Harrington worked as a clinical director for New Paradigm Recovery in Tysons Corner, VA.

He lives in Aldie, VA, with his wife and two kids. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, barbequing, outdoor activities, golf, and slow-pitch softball.

Shadi Kamrani-George, MA, NCC, LPC, joined Inova Kellar Center in 2005 as an intake therapist, providing comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder assessments to adolescents in need of services. In her current role, Shadi provides overall supervision and direction to the intake department, serving the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, she provides clinical supervision to staff pursuing licensure. Shadi has had many roles at Kellar Center throughout the years, including completing bio-psycho-social assessments, facilitating girls group, co-facilitating groups in both the IOP and PHP programs, providing clinical supervision, and as interim program manager for the PHP and IOP programs.

Shadi has a bachelor's degree in biology and psychology, a master's degree in counseling psychology, and a post-master's counseling licensure certificate. Shadi is also a National Certified Counselor. Her counseling approach is holistic and integrative with a foundation based in family systems theory. Shadi is bilingual and is fluent in both English and Farsi.

Katherine Kellam, LCSW, joined Inova Kellar Center’s Outpatient Services in 2014 and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In her role, she provides individual, family, and group therapy to children, adolescents, and their families. She obtained her bachelor's degree in social work at James Madison University and her master's degree in social work at the University of Pittsburgh. Katherine brings with her more than 18 years of experience working with children and adolescents in behavioral and mental health services. She has worked in residential facilities and was an assistant director of a crisis stabilization center for adolescents in acute mental health crisis. Katherine's expertise includes depression, anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, grief/loss, suicidal ideation, and self-harming behavior.

Jung Soo “Sarah” Lim is a licensed professional counselor at Inova Health System. Sarah joined the Inova Kellar Center in 2019 and began her practice in 2010.

Prior to joining Inova, Sarah worked as a Program Manager at Jaisohn Mental Health Services in Philadelphia.

In Sarah’s role, she provides individual and family therapy to children, adolescents and their families. She utilizes a blend of cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, solution-focused brief therapy and play-based therapy to support individuals in a whole-person, strength-based way, combining insight with action. Her specialties include anxiety, depression, ADHD, transitions and adjustments, and family communication.

Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Kyung Hee University in South Korea and her master’s in counseling from Missio Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.

Outside the office, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and friends, doing outdoor activities, and cooking.

Dr. Hitomi Makino is a licensed professional counselor who serves as an outpatient therapist at Inova Kellar Center. She joined Inova in 2018. Dr. Hitomi’s specialties include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Prior to joining Inova, Dr. Makino worked as a mental health counselor at Blue Ridge Psychological Center in Gainesville, VA. Before this, she was a senior counselor within the student counseling services department at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

Dr. Makino facilitates psychotherapy groups to equip children and teens with emotion regulation skills and interpersonal skills. She enjoys working with children, adolescents and young adults, and she uses her compassionate style to promote each individual's healthy bio-psycho-social development.

Dr. Makino earned her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Shizuoka in Japan. She obtained a master's degree in education and community counseling from the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS and earned her doctorate in professional counseling from Liberty University.

Dr. Makino is fluent in English and Japanese. Her hobbies include hiking, cooking, socializing with friends, volunteering, gardening, watching soccer, drawing and working on crafts.

Jharna Mallik, PsyD, joined Inova Kellar Center in 2011 and is a licensed clinical psychologist. In her role, Dr. Mallik provides psychological and learning assessments to children and adolescents as well as individual, family, and group therapy. Dr. Mallik has a doctorate in psychology from The George Washington University, Washington, DC, and completed an internship at NYU-Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation, New York City, NY, and a residency at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Dr. Mallik's broad range of clinical skills includes psychological and educational evaluations, individual and family therapy and parental guidance. Areas of interest include attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, autism spectrum disorders, learning disorders and mood disorders in children and adolescents.

Katherine Miller-Darras, LCSW, joined Inova Kellar Center in 2013. She completed her master's degree in social work from Columbia University, New York City, NY, and her undergraduate degree at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA. She is a licensed clinical social worker and as a member of Inova Kellar Center's Outpatient Family Services, provides individual and family therapy to patients coping with a range of issues.

Catherine Rathman, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who joined Inova Kellar Center in 2012. In her role, she provides psychological and learning assessments to children and adolescents as well as individual, family, and group therapy. She received her master's degree and doctoral degree in clinical psychology from The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. Dr. Rathman completed an internship at Virginia Treatment Center for Children through Virginia Commonwealth University health system, Richmond, VA. Her clinical areas of interest include ADHD, cognitive behavior therapy, social skills training, parent management training, and psychological and educational evaluations.

Narkia M. Ritchie, MS, is a licensed marriage and family therapist at Inova Health System. She joined Inova in 2011 after completing a doctoral clinical internship at Inova Kellar Center.

Narkia initially served as a programs therapist in the Inova Kellar Center’s partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Since 2017, she has also served as a therapist in the outpatient family services department at the Inova Kellar Center, where she provides individual, family and relationship, and group therapy to children, adolescents and their families.

She believes we all have the inherent capacity to change and improve our wellbeing. Within a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship, Narkia assists clients with leading more purposeful, safe and meaningful lives. Her therapeutic approach includes different modalities using what best serves the patient including evidence-based modalities such as family systems theory, mindfulness and relaxation, play-based therapy, trauma-informed therapy, solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Her specialties include anxiety and depressive disorders, self-awareness and compassion, family-couple dynamics and parenting skills, executive functioning skills, and mindfulness and stress-reduction practices.

Narkia holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. She has completed over 120 credits toward a doctorate in marriage and family therapy while at Virginia Tech.

During her doctoral training, she was awarded a three-year minority fellowship grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Narkia is also a minority fellowship award recipient from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Kimberly Thomas is a licensed professional counselor at Inova Health System. She joined the Outpatient Family Services team at Inova Kellar Center in 2023 and has been practicing in the mental health field since 2009. Kim provides individual therapy to children, adolescents and their families.

Prior to joining Inova, Kim worked as outpatient therapist in private practice in Alexandria, VA. Before this, she worked as the Forensic Services Therapist for the City of Alexandria. Kim has over 10 years of mental health experience working with different populations in various treatment environments. She takes a more collaborative eclectic approach to treatment and believes that change is a journey and progress is not always linear.

Kim completed her undergraduate studies at Old Dominion University and her graduate studies at Liberty University. She is a member of the Virginia Counselors Association.

Outside of the office, Kim enjoys traveling, music events and spending time with friends and family.