

Dr. Giral founded BCCCAA in 2010, bringing a unique combination of legal expertise from Georgetown Law and clinical psychology training from Columbia University. Her expertise and research interests include traumatic memory, spirituality and wellbeing, attachment styles, the intersection of mental health and academic performance, and more recently, the power of AI to improve assessment accuracy for depression, anxiety and PTSD. She currently is working with Harvard University to develop an interactive AI tool for maternal mental health.
Licensed in both Maryland and Virginia, Dr. Giral serves on multiple nonprofit boards and integrates her understanding of legal issues to provide compassionate psychological care. She remains a licensed attorney in the District of Columbia.
Legal expertise

Dr. Lisa Tropez brings a dedicated approach to psychological assessment for adolescents and adults. With a PsyD from George Washington University, her expertise lies in unraveling complex cognitive and emotional profiles, providing clients with a deeper understanding of their unique strengths and challenges. She believes that accurate assessment is the first step towards effective intervention and personal empowerment.
Fighting for the resources your child needs
Learning differences
Comprehensive reports
A Washington DC native, Dr. Footer earned her Clinical Psychology doctorate from Adler University in 2015 and has dedicated her career to providing quality mental health services in her home community. Her experience spans infant mental health, private school settings, and outpatient behavioral health environments.
Dr. Footer specializes in treating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and adjustment disorders using Person-Centered and Solution-Focused therapeutic approaches. She is committed to accessible, compassionate care that reflects her belief that everyone deserves support in navigating life's emotional challenges.


Dr. Bush has devoted more than 15 years to supporting children and adolescents facing learning challenges, behavioral difficulties, and emotional struggles. Her extensive experience encompasses anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, and family and peer conflicts—addressing the full spectrum of issues that impact young people's development. Dr. Bush's holistic, strengths-based approach empowers youth to discover their inner resources and develop lasting coping strategies. She believes every young person has the capacity for growth, resilience, and healing.
Krisen Hayes brings extensive experience in child and adolescent psychology. Her career has spanned both school and clinical settings, allowing her to develop a deep understanding of the unique challenges young people face today. She specializes in early intervention and believes in a collaborative, strength-based approach that actively involves parents, educators, and the family system.
Her passion lies in empowering children and adolescents to develop strong emotional regulation skills, effective behavioral strategies, and robust communication abilities, helping them navigate developmental stages and thrive both at home and in academic environments.

Developmental Psychology
Holistic approach
Early intervention
Practical solutions
Dr. Mary Jane Boynton is an award-winning educational leader, special education advocate, and executive functioning coach with 34 years in public education and 19 years in school administration. She currently serves as Principal of Rappahannock County High School in rural Virginia—where she was named a VDOE Principal of Distinction—and as an Educational Consultant and Advocate with The Parents and Children Project (TPACP).
Dr. Boynton provides IEP advocacy, eligibility analysis, executive functioning coaching, and professional development for educators and families. She is the creator of two group EF coaching programs—Navigator and True North—designed to build self-regulation, organization, and goal-setting skills in adolescents. Her approach is rooted in unconditional positive regard, non-adversarial collaboration with schools, and bridging the gap between families, providers, and educational systems.s.

Education
Educational Advocacy
Specializes in neurodiverse learners
Self-regulation, organization, and goal-setting
Teresa Maria Giral, JD, PhD —