I have the pleasure of introducing Dr. DeFilippo as a featured panelist and member of the PDA therapy collaborative. Julie has been a trusted colleague and friend in our home state of Massachusetts.

I’ve grown to rely on her for her keen intellect and sharp insightful advocacy.

We frequently collaborate and support the other’s projects and growing edges. She is a highly experience social work teacher who is now immersed in clinical practice, and I am a highly experienced relational psychodynamic clinician and professional clinical mentor who is now immersed in teaching.

I have the greatest respect for her perspectives, and I benefit enormously from her wisdom. I think participants will find her engagement stimulating and serve to activate their own ideas.

Julie joined my local case consultation group in the Spring of 2023 and in the Spring of 2025, she joined the PDA Therapy Collaborative adding her knowledge base, and vital clear thinking.

She and I are often visioning partners looking at what we want to see for the PDA professional community and saying to ourselves, well, why not! Research studies, journal articles, presentations, professional collaborations, professional mentoring, clinical study and practice groups, applied practice trainings and more.

If you think it Julie and I probably have too.

Spend some time with us and the collaborative and I think you’ll be excited too, and, say your own why not! Maybe, even pick up some pieces and accomplish them.

More about Julie:

Julie (she/her) is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Massachusetts, where she works with neurodivergent and PDA individuals of all ages as well as their caregivers in her private practice, JMBD Therapy & Consultation.

In addition to her clinical work, Julie also serves as a full-time high school social worker, supporting adolescents and families within the public school system.

Her clinical and academic interests lie at the intersection of disability, trauma, and systemic marginalization, with a strong focus on neurodivergent and PDA affirming care. A passionate advocate and educator, Julie provides consultation to IEP teams, schools, and professionals on PDA-informed supports. She also brings lived experience as a parent of children with high caregiving needs, which informs her compassionate, relational approach to working with families.

Julie holds a PhD in Social Work from Simmons University and has served as a professor at Schools of Social Work across the Greater Boston area, including Boston College, Simmons University, Salem State University, and Merrimack College and is also a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences.

Don’t forget to register for the PDA Institute here: https://pdatherapycollaborative.com/institute-for-pda-best-practices-may-30-2026-12pm-to-5pm-est/

Registration is 150 dollars per person, and registration comes with a video recording of the event. Rate adjustment’s available on request. Submit payment using the payment button on the registration form which is found at the top of the page.

You can also use this stripe link: https://buy.stripe.com/aFafZiacO6Sk6e09vPgjC07

Hope to see you there!

Kindly,

Elise Jacobson, LICSW, Founder, PDA Therapy Collaborative