Dr. Michael Gruttadauria is an internationally renowned clinician who has been serving his profession and patients from around the world since 1992. Dr. Gruttadauria began his quest to be the best clinician he could be as a Doctor of Chiropractic. This training coupled with his lifelong pursuit of sports and bodybuilding allowed him to gain a holistic perspective on health which he brings to each and every patient. He holds Board Certification in Chiropractic Neurology through the American Chiropractic Neurology Board and is on the Advisory Board of Functional Medicine University.

Dr. Gruttadauria has blended his background in nutrition, neurology and sports medicine with years of advanced postdoctoral training in Functional Medicine and lifestyle management. He cross-trains his studies to provide a comprehensive and unique approach to his patients’ care. He has most recently taken courses in bio and neurofeedback in Princeton, NJ. He has participated in the postdoctoral program for Traumatic Brain Injury, and has completed advanced studies in the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular disorders through the Carrick Institute for Postdoctoral Education. He is able to assist in the non-pharmaceutical treatment of these conditions in all age groups. He has worked with numerous high school, college and professional athletes in their quest to maximize their neuromusculoskeletal system and has assisted in their recovery from injuries.

He has worked alongside an integrative psychologist and neuropsychiatrist to develop a comprehensive approach to treating patients with chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression which has been incredibly successful.

His role as CEO and Director of The Optimum U, allows him to take people from wherever they are in their healthcare journey to a place of vibrant health and happiness through lifestyle modification, diet, functional medicine, exercise and positive thinking.

Dr. Mike has appeared numerous times in television interviews on healthcare topics such as MTHFR, migraines, depression and autism.

Webb Black Garrison III, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist who has been practicing and teaching for over 30 years and supervising for over 20. He earned a BA in Religious Studies at Davidson College. During this time studying world religions and philosophies, he became particularly interested in mysticism and meditative practices.

His experiences in meditation are what led him to pursue a graduate degree and career in Psychology. Dr. Garrison went on to get his Masters and Doctoral Degrees in Clinical Psychology at the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University. Subsequent to obtaining his graduate degrees, Dr. Garrison has maintained clinical, supervisory, and teaching dimensions in his work.

Dr. Garrison completed his internship at South Oaks Hospital. From here, while getting licensed, he worked within a private practice that focused on work with those who had suffered various forms of trauma. Once licensed, in addition to starting his private practice, Dr. Garrison was the Senior Supervising Psychologist at MercyFirst, a child welfare agency that worked with children at various levels of need. In this capacity, he supervised Psychology interns, maintained direct clinical responsibilities in three group homes, and supervised the Clinical Coordinators of 11 group homes, located from
Brooklyn to Suffolk County. Dr. Garrison later worked within nursing homes as a staff clinician and Supervising Psychologist.

In terms of his teaching and academic career, while in graduate school, Dr. Garrison worked for Princeton Review, where he taught test preparation (PSAT, SAT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT) and became a Master Teacher, where he trained other teachers. Dr. Garrison has taught at a number of colleges, including St. Joseph’s, SUNY Old Westbury, and Adelphi University. He additionally taught and served as Academic Dean at Southwestern College, a graduate institution for offering Masters Degrees and training Mental Health Counselors and Art Therapists in Santa Fe, NM. He currently teaches undergraduate and graduate classes at Adelphi University and graduate courses online at Meridian University.

Dr. Garrison’s clinical approach and his overall approach to life is integrative. While his graduate studies were focused on Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic work, his clinical experiences have expanded into other realms, including Humanistic, Cognitive Behavioral and Somatic approaches. Throughout his career, Dr. Garrison has also been deeply interested in spirituality, functional and holistic medicine, and the arts.

Dr. Garrison’s basic teaching approach is Socratic and intuitive. He strongly believes that education is about awakening a passion and an inner wisdom which is not simply conveyed, or transmitted, by the teacher. Rather, the teacher serves as a facilitator of a student’s growth and development by asking questions and following curiosities and intuitions, while bringing the subject matter to the light of inquiry.

In addition to his work as a Psychologist, Dr. Garrison is avidly committed to family life. Beyond his involvement with family, he plays and composes music for the piano, does leather work, carves wood, and engages in other random creative acts as opportunities present themselves. He also enjoys retreating into the arms of nature, as time and circumstances allow.

Web Garrison Resume

Dr. Liam Alvarez-Gonzalez graduated from Hofstra University’s School-Community PsyD program in 2025. His undergraduate experience at Fordham University included a double major in psychology and theology with a minor in Disability Studies. They are a member of APA, ABCT, NASP, NYASP, and NYSPA.

Trained in CBT modalities, Dr. Alvarez’s therapeutic experience focuses on fostering post-traumatic growth in those who have experienced a variety of trauma(s). Dr. Alvarez is also trained in assessments, including autism diagnostic assessments. Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Alvarez looks to bring therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking populations. As of 2022, Dr. Alvarez has experience in conducting forensic evaluations for Spanish-speaking clients.

His research passions lie in resilience, identity formation, and testing interventions. Their undergraduate research included understanding stigmas’ role in the segregation of disabled students in schools and the role religion plays in the sense of belonging during the pandemic. Dr. Alvarez’s dissertation tested the effectiveness of an original intervention titled Family CARES Skills. Understanding the various challenges in research, Dr. Alvarez consults with others to bring their research ideas to life!

Robert Czepiel, Esq., is the CEO of Resilient Minds on the Front Lines, a company that conducts national resiliency/wellness, chaplaincy, and leadership training nationwide. The Institute of Psychological Resilience is proud to partner with Resilient Minds on developing our resiliency assessment and corresponding resiliency programing and curriculums.

Rebecca Caron is a recent graduate with a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. With a strong foundation in psychology and a passion for advocacy, Rebecca currently supports a private practice by assisting with court-ordered reports and conducting in-depth research. She brings two years of experience as a case manager at a non-profit, where she provided compassionate care and support to vulnerable populations.

What truly drives Rebecca is her deep empathy and unwavering commitment to helping others navigate challenging circumstances. She is especially passionate about using her training in forensic psychology to bridge the gap between mental health and the justice system.

Outside of her professional work, Rebecca is an active advocate with the Long Island Chapter of the Tourette Association of America, where she serves on the executive board. Through her advocacy, she empowers others to find their voice and promotes awareness, inclusion, and understanding in her community.

Rebecca is dedicated to making a meaningful difference—in the courtroom, in clinical practice, and in the lives of those she serves.

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