At The Pines at Shrub Oak International School, exceptional care begins with exceptional people, and we are fortunate to benefit from a deeply experienced leadership team that shapes the care and experience of every student.
The Pines is a specialized therapeutic program serving neurodiverse children, adolescents, and young adults—with or without an autism diagnosis—who require intensive behavioral health support and stabilization before transitioning to a less restrictive environment. Delivering this level of care requires not only a strong clinical model but also leadership with the experience, expertise, and compassion to guide it.
Laura Meyers, LCAT, ATR-BC, Director of The Pines, leads the program with a focus on collaboration, consistency, and clinical integrity. With advanced training in trauma-informed care, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and creative arts therapy, Laura brings years of experience in residential treatment settings, working with individuals navigating complex emotional and behavioral challenges. Her leadership emphasizes a cohesive, student-centered model where therapeutic skills are embedded throughout the day and every student’s voice is central to care. As she shares, “Our goal is to create a therapeutic environment grounded in safety, collaboration, and shared goals, where each student feels supported and understood.”
Working alongside her is Deb Brass, MS, ATR-BC, LCAT, Assistant Director, whose career spans residential treatment, community-based programming, and educational settings. In addition to her expertise in trauma-informed care and evidence-based therapies such as trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and CBT, Deb has developed innovative programs across schools and communities and contributed to broader initiatives supporting both youth and families. Her leadership emphasizes crisis management, systems navigation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that care is both responsive and comprehensive. As she notes, “We focus on individualized treatment planning and strong interdisciplinary collaboration so that every student receives coordinated, comprehensive support.”
Together with a broader team of clinical, academic, and residential leaders—each bringing specialized expertise in areas such as education, clinical services, health and wellness, and residential life—The Pines reflects a truly interdisciplinary, safe, and highly structured approach to care. Within this integrated model, therapy is not only clinically grounded and individualized but seamlessly woven into each student’s daily experience, across classrooms, residential life, and every moment in between.
A defining feature of The Pines is its integrated clinical model, where clinician offices are embedded directly within classroom spaces, ensuring immediate access to support, strengthening communication across teams, and reinforcing a consistent, therapeutic presence throughout the school day.
Through the leadership of Laura and Deb and the dedication of the broader Pines team, the program continues to set the standard for integrated care, where safety comes first, relationships drive the work, and every student is supported not just to stabilize, but to truly move forward with confidence, resilience, and purpose.
To learn more about The Pines at Shrub Oak or to discuss whether this program is the right fit for a student, contact Tracey Gerlach, MAPP, CTRS, Director of Business Development, at tgerlach@shruboak.org. Tracey can provide additional information and guide you through the next steps.
Located on the campus of Shrub Oak International School, The Pines at Shrub Oak is a specialized therapeutic program designed to address the unique needs of neurodiverse children, adolescents, and young adults—with or without an autism diagnosis—who require intensive behavioral health support.
About Shrub Oak International School and The Pines at Shrub Oak:
The mission of Shrub Oak International School is to improve the lives of autistic children, adolescents, and young adults. Through individualized, strengths- and passion-based learning, we help students form meaningful relationships, navigate their communities, and maximize their potential.
Located on the campus of Shrub Oak International School in Mohegan Lake, NY, The Pines at Shrub Oak is a specialized therapeutic program designed to address the unique needs of neurodiverse children, adolescents, and young adults—with or without an autism diagnosis—who require intensive psychiatric support.
Shrub Oak International School is accredited by:
- The National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA), Level III Therapeutic Certification, Academic Accreditation, with an Autism Endorsement;
- The Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), a globally recognized leader in school accreditation and improvement, and
- Cognia, signifying that the school meets or exceeds rigorous standards of educational quality and effectiveness.
For more information about Shrub Oak International School, visit www.shruboak.org or contact Lauren Koffler, Head of Admissions and Organizational Growth, at lkoffler@shruboak.org.