About NEST Psychology
NEST was co-founded by Dr. Allyson Hentel-Koplin and Dr. Annette Zygmunt, who first connected while pursuing advanced training in the School Neuropsychology Post-Graduate Certification Program through the American Board of School Neuropsychology.
Drawing on their specialized training and extensive experience across school settings and hospital-based clinics, Drs. Hentel-Koplin and Zygmunt founded NEST to provide comprehensive, strength-based neuropsychological assessment and thoughtfully integrated treatment planning.
At NEST, our philosophy centers on understanding each child as an individual learner. We develop recommendations that are tailored to a child’s unique profile, highlighting strengths while addressing specific areas of need. We are committed to delivering clear, actionable feedback and practical interventions that translate meaningfully into a child’s everyday academic, social, and emotional life.
Our combined expertise, collaborative approach, and dedication to high-quality care position NEST as a trusted resource for families and professionals alike.
Bringing together decades of experience and specialized expertise to provide exceptional care.
Our Team
Dr. Allyson Hentel-Koplin, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Allyson Hentel-Koplin is a New York State–licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families in New York City. She is an adjunct professor at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and is Level 1 Certified in Internal Family Systems (IFS).
Dr. Hentel-Koplin earned her bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and completed her master’s and doctoral training in clinical psychology at the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University. She completed her clinical internship at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine on the Child/Adult Track and holds a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology from the American Board of School Neuropsychology.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hentel-Koplin has developed a strong specialty in supporting children, adolescents, and families navigating developmental, learning, and social-emotional concerns. Her clinical work integrates a range of evidence-based approaches, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and Internal Family Systems, allowing her to tailor treatment to each individual’s unique needs.
In her private practice, Dr. Hentel-Koplin provides psychotherapy, psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations, parent guidance, school consultation, and social skills groups. She is deeply committed to collaborating with families and educational teams to create supportive environments in which children and adolescents can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Dr. Hentel-Koplin’s professional background includes work with the Educational Review Bureau, where she conducted early childhood admission assessments and consulted with preschools and independent schools throughout New York City. She also served for ten years as a school psychologist at the Horace Mann School, providing psychological assessment, intervention, and program development in close partnership with students, families, and faculty.
As a mother of three daughters, Dr. Hentel-Koplin brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She offers families empathy, practical guidance, and a collaborative approach as they navigate developmental transitions, educational decisions, and the complexities of raising children in New York City.
Dr. Annette Zygmunt, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Annette Zygmunt is a New York State–licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center. She also holds a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology from the American Board of School Neuropsychology.
Dr. Zygmunt earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University and completed advanced postdoctoral training in the Columbia University Parent-Infant Psychotherapy (PIP) Program. Through this program, she received specialized training in early childhood development, assessment, and parent-infant psychotherapy. For more than fifteen years, she has continued to develop deep expertise in clinical work with young children, particularly from birth through age five.
Since 2008, Dr. Zygmunt has served as the head psychologist of the Neonatal Follow-Up Program at Columbia University Medical Center, where she provides comprehensive developmental and psychological assessments and parent-infant treatment for children born extremely premature and for those with complex genetic or medical conditions. She also has over a decade of experience as an early childhood psychologist within the New York City Early Intervention Program and the Committee for Preschool Special Education.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Zygmunt has been involved in research at Columbia examining the long-term cognitive, academic, and emotional outcomes associated with early medical and developmental risk factors. Through this work, she has conducted comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations of school-aged children and adolescents with learning differences, language disorders, attention and executive functioning challenges, and developmental disabilities. Her evaluations include careful assessment of social-emotional functioning and co-occurring psychiatric concerns, with a focus on translating findings into clear, practical recommendations for families and educators.
Dr. Zygmunt has also developed a sub-specialty in working with adopted children and completed postdoctoral training in Adoption Therapy at Hunter College. She lives and works in New York City with her husband, two daughters, and a spirited parti poodle, and brings both clinical expertise and genuine warmth to her work with children and families.