<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/news/a-brief-history-brenner-center-psychological-assessment.html" dsn="news"><title>[Almost] Two Decades Deep: A Brief History of the Brenner Center</title><item_date>07/26/2024 10:29:07 AM</item_date><author>Hannah Van Sickle</author><image><img src="/news/images/lionel-joseph-sam-moncata.jpg" alt="two men sitting together"/></image><image_caption>Dr. Lionel Joseph and Dr. Sam Moncata</image_caption><thumbnail><img src="/news/images/lionel-joseph-sam-moncata.jpg" alt="two men sitting together"/></thumbnail><summary>The article outlines the history and development of the Dr. Leon O. Brenner Center for Psychological Assessment and Consultation at William James College. Founded in the late 1990s by Samuel J. Moncata PsyD with a vision to serve marginalized communities, the center has grown from a small teaching tool into a significant provider of psychological assessments for underserved populations. Initially offering pro bono services to children from low-income families, the Center expanded rapidly, increasing referrals due to community awareness. It remains the only site in Massachusetts accepting MassHealth, highlighting its commitment to accessibility. With a focus on trauma-informed care, the Brenner Center now handles over 3,200 cases and offers services in multiple languages. Under the leadership of Kelly Casey PhD, the Center continues to provide high-quality, culturally responsive assessments and training to future clinicians, while addressing systemic disparities in mental health diagnosis and care.</summary><category>Around Campus</category><featured/><tags><tag>50th Anniversary</tag><tag>Around Campus</tag></tags></item>