It’s not about us
We still feel it’s important for you to know who we are and what we do
Meet The Team
We believe it “takes a village” for a community to thrive. Our team took their experiences in education and life and created Collaborative to tackle even the most toughest of challenges.
Please feel free to search for your service, location or insurance provider. You may also book with a provider on their profiles below.
Victoria Cavaliere, MA, MHC-LP
Victoria (she/her) is a compassionate and driven psychotherapist. She was born and raised in Queens, NY, and has a passion for providing mental health services. She attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and earned her master’s in forensic mental health counseling with a victimology certificate. Victoria is motivated to make a change in the mental health community.
Victoria’s values are rooted in empathy, respect, and collaboration. She works to create a non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. She has experience doing both groups and individual therapy. Victoria has focused on addressing key problem areas such as anger management, problematic sexual behavior, relationship challenges, academic challenges and much more. She is eager to extend her support to adults, young adults, couples, and adolescents.
Victoria employs a relational approach, while also being flexible to meet each client’s unique needs. She has worked with various concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, stress management, family issues, and career/life challenges. Her interest in attachment styles and childhood upbringings allows her to adapt to each client’s unique experience. By using multiple approaches and skill building exercises, she encourages for a deeper understanding of the self and ability to self-reflect.
Victoria strives to empower clients to tap into their strengths and resources to promote personal growth and positive change. She places emphasis on building a strong therapeutic alliance and strives to make a meaningful change, so her clients feel heard, valued and empowered during therapy.
Victoria loves to cook and has been on her own journey to create more recipes she could use for family gatherings. She also enjoys spending time with friends, family, her partner and German Shepherd, Xena. On her free time, she enjoys shopping, listening to music, spending time in the sun and finding new restaurants to call her “new favorite”.
Victoria Cavaliere, MA, MHC-LP
Psychotherapist
Victoria (she/her) is a compassionate and driven psychotherapist. She was...
Sophia Berlin, MS, MHC-LP
Sophia: (She/Her) completed her Master of Science degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After enjoying many years in the south, she is excited to move back to her home state of New York. Sophia uses experience and insights to inform her work and feels fortunate to work with and learn from her clients.
Sophia’s concentration in psychiatric disabilities and rehabilitation counseling offered opportunities to gain experience working in various settings with diverse populations. Her experience in hospitals, specialized mental health clinics, and the VA Health Care system provided opportunities to develop her counseling skills and knowledge. She has experience working with developmental disabilities, chronic illnesses, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use, self-injurious behaviors, anxiety, and mood disorders. While working with Veterans, she developed her interest in trauma-informed care and addressing co-occurring disorders. Over the last several years, she collaborated on evidence-based psychotherapy research and publications to advocate for access to informed care.
As a therapist, she strives to develop trusting relationships and offer a unique space for authenticity and support. She believes in the importance of recognizing individual strengths, while empowering self-awareness and growth. Her approach is relation-centered and integrative to incorporate modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma-Informed Care. Sophia uses an eclectic approach, which creates space to recognize different experiences and ensure therapy is accessible and effective.
Sophia could be described as an introverted extrovert. While she enjoys spending time with others and getting lost in conversation, she always carves out time to retreat to the comfort of reading a book on the couch. She is happiest near a body of water and swimming is her favorite form of exercise. Dog time is a staple in her life, and she enjoys any chance to get outside and explore new places.
Sophia Berlin, MS, MHC-LP
Psychotherapist
Sophia: (She/Her) completed her Master of Science degree in Clinical...
Michelle Castellanos, MSW, LMSW
Michelle (she/her) is a New York City based psychotherapist and licensed social worker whose focus is building trusting relationships with her clients. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY before she headed off to study Psychology and Spanish at Swarthmore College. She returned to New York where she graduated with a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University in 2019. Michelle can conduct sessions in English and Spanish. She is passionate about providing quality care to people of all backgrounds. She has gained a wide array of experience working with many diverse types of clients working in agencies, nonprofits, hospitals, and community mental health.
Michelle is enthusiastic about creating strong therapeutic relationships with clients. She knows that the relationship between client and provider is one of the building blocks to achieve a client’s goals and that the vulnerability developed during the session is a sacred thing. She partners with her clients to strive for meaningful change. She has worked with different types of people, including children, teens, birthing people, domestic violence survivors, immigrants and refugees, families, and more. She is particularly focused on the impact of trauma on a person’s life and how the process of healing can create new opportunities for someone. With her social work background Michelle is aware of the effect systems have on a person and a group and uses a social justice approach to help clients reach their goals. She aims to empower her clients to gain self-awareness and to develop effective coping strategies.
An enthusiastic reader, Michelle is always happy to get book recommendations of all genres. She is also a happy pet mom to her cat Chicharron. In her free time Michelle also enjoys baking cakes and pastries, crocheting blankets and sweaters, and watching TV with her husband and her cat on her lap.
Michelle Castellanos, MSW, LMSW
Psychotherapist
Michelle (she/her) is a New York City based psychotherapist and...
Taiwo Majekodunmi, MA, LMHC
Taiwo (She/Her) was born and raised in New York City, specifically in Queens and Brooklyn. She is a licensed mental health counselor and holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling from CUNY Brooklyn College. As someone who is voraciously curious and naturally empathetic, Taiwo has always had an ardent desire to understand the inner workings of the mind, which has allowed her to have vast experience in working a diverse demographic. As a first-generation Nigerian American woman, it has been Taiwo’s mission to provide access to those who are underrepresented with the tools they need to overcome their obstacles and heal from their pain. It has been her pleasure to serve those who need it and may not have the resources to access that help, especially because she has experience dealing with financial, racial and emotional hardships. She has provided adolescents and young and middle-aged adults with complex trauma, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns in diverse clinical settings.
In treatment with Taiwo, she utilizes an eclectic approach utilizing methods from EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), interpersonal psychodynamic therapy, CBT (Cognitive Based Therapy), somatic approaches, ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) and MBT (Mentalization Based Treatment). She believes that one must be present with their inner experiences without shame or judgment to heal from past or present trauma, which is the proactive of mindfulness. Taiwo employs a collaborative and relational approach to treatment, ensuring that the client’s needs are in the forefront of the treatment process. She expels authenticity and warmth that allows the client to feel safe and attended to. Taiwo will work with the client to help them reach their goals, but it will be at a pace that is up to the client as she believes the session is about the client and their emotional safety.
When working with Taiwo, she will challenge you to assist you in getting out of your comfort zone because discomfort, but with a safe space, is needed to grow and heal. She will also remind you to be kind and compassionate to yourself, as the practice of self-compassion is essential in her treatment process and to one’s healing in general. She hopes that the client will utilize these tools for the rest of their healing journeys.
Taiwo Majekodunmi, MA, LMHC
Psychotherapist & Supervisor
Taiwo (She/Her) was born and raised in New York City,...
Sam Prabhudesai, MS, MHC- LP
Samruddhi, who goes by Sam (she/her), was born and raised in India. She holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University. With experience in working with children, teens, and adults, Sam comprehensively addresses clients’ diverse and intricate needs. She has provided counseling for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health concerns in settings including a substance rehabilitation program, juvenile remand home, and an orphanage.
Sam’s broad life experiences endow her with a unique capacity to integrate evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Art-based interventions. She believes in tailoring treatment plans to suit each client individually. Additionally, Sam ensures that clients’ expectations and needs from their therapeutic journey are met.
Employing a relational approach to therapy, Sam cultivates a secure and supportive environment where clients can authentically explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with vulnerability. She empowers her clients to foster resilience, enhance self-awareness, and develop effective coping strategies for managing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health concerns. Sam’s sessions are not merely clinical interactions, but warm conversations held in a safe space. At the heart of this space lies unwavering support, empathy, connectedness, and tranquility.
In her pursuit of advocacy and community engagement, Sam applies her expertise in a manner accessible to diverse audiences. She started an online channel where she teamed up with other mental health professionals to discuss various mental health concerns. During the pandemic, she conducted these live sessions where people could join in, ask questions, access, and connect with mental health providers. Sam is also certified in CBT, DBT, and Art-based therapy in Holistic development for children. She is especially interested in marital therapy and is Level 1 certified in The Gottman Method.
Sam’s ability to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and public understanding contributes to a more informed and empathetic society. With each opportunity to educate and empower, she advocates for equitable access to mental health resources, ensuring that no individual is left behind in their journey toward healing and resilience.
In her free time, Sam enjoys engaging in art, dancing, listening to music, taking walks, and reading. Her natural inclination towards connecting with people and engaging in meaningful conversations is advantageous for building a strong rapport with clients as a psychotherapist. Sam offers therapy sessions in English, Hindi, and Marathi.
Sam Prabhudesai, MS, MHC- LP
Psychotherapist
Samruddhi, who goes by Sam (she/her), was born and raised...
Michelle Pinel, MS
Michelle (She/Her) is a master’s level counselor-in-training who approaches the counseling process from an integrative medicine lens, exploring concerns of mind, body, and spirit. She uses a client-centered approach to care, believing that all human beings possess an inner wisdom and innate capacity for personal growth. Michelle fosters a safe and supportive space to meet clients where they are and guides them forward in their journey of self-healing. She promotes the development of awareness, skills, and coping strategies that improve wellbeing. She lovingly empowers individuals to take control of their life and achieve self-determined goals.
Michelle is in her final year in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Saybrook University. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Mind-Body Medicine—an interdisciplinary field that examines healthcare through the lens of humanistic psychology, biology, and anthropology—from Saybrook University’s College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences. Her research focused on the effectiveness of mind-body therapies in treating chronic health disorders, with special focus on functional gastrointestinal conditions. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, graduating with honors. Prior to entering the health and healing space, Michelle was a corporate executive with 15+ years of experience leading high performing teams.
Michelle Pinel, MS
Clinical Intern
Michelle (She/Her) is a master’s level counselor-in-training who approaches the...
Frances Zhang, BS
Frances (she/her) holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and child-Adolescent Mental Studies from New York University. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Psychological Counseling and an Ed.M. in Mental Health Counseling at Columbia University.
Her counseling style is client-centered, with a touch of humor and passion. Frances celebrates the courage of her clients and deeply values the intersectional complexities of our lived experiences. Tailoring treatment plans to each unique individual, she works from an eclectic framework, including Cognitive-Behavioral, Emotion-focused and mindfulness approaches.
Frances is comfortable addressing a wide range of concerns, including assisting those grappling with anxiety, depression, family or romantic relationship issues, career burnout, life adjustments, and other specific challenges faced by AAPI Queer individuals.
Born in China, Frances brings an international perspective to her work and is fluent in both English and Mandarin. She offers Mandarin counseling services upon request. Her curiosity and open-mindedness have driven her to study, research and work within both East Asian and U.S. communities.
Frances aspires to be a therapist who walks alongside her clients, sharing in their laughter, tears, and moments of growth. In her leisure time, she enjoys listening to music, walking her furry friend “Chips”, and traveling to islands with abundant sunlight!
Frances Zhang, BS
Clinical Intern
Frances (she/her) holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and child-Adolescent...
David Díaz, MS, LMHC
David’s (he/him) practice incorporates knowledge and techniques from various therapeutic modalities. Fluent in both English and Spanish, David has extensive experience in supporting individuals navigating attachment styles, family conflict/communication styles, trauma work, infidelity, identity issues and issues related to sexuality. Trauma work can incorporate people’ experience with sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and intergenerational and racial trauma.
He specializes in working with individuals within the Queer and LGBTQIA+ community, offering a supportive and affirming environment. David’s therapeutic approach is rooted in narrative therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy and evidenced-based practices like CBT and DBT. David draws from various interventions such as experiential therapy, family systems, Gottman’s Method, psychodynamic and structural family therapy.
He aspires to undergo training in EMDR and offer Ketamine-Assisted Therapy. Over the last several years, David’s couples counseling experience has involved many different themes such as infidelity, coparenting, Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM), Poly Relationships, Erectile Dysfunction Disorder (ED), supporting families with life transitions, improving communication skills, mixed families and more.
In his leisure time, they enjoy biking to various restaurants with friends, hosting dinners and gatherings, engaging in painting or pottery, dancing in nightlife scenes, and traveling to new countries. David has a preference for sunny weather and delights in lounging on grassy areas, beaches, and spending time on the floor of living rooms with friends. They have aspirations to learn woodworking, master swimming against currents, surf, and enhance their dance choreography skills.
David Díaz, MS, LMHC
Supervisor & Psychotherapist
David’s (he/him) practice incorporates knowledge and techniques from various therapeutic...
Zackary Forrest
Zack (He/Him) is our dynamic millennial who uses his seven years’ experience in the airline industry to capitalize on logistics and systems. He also uses his expertise in building financial and operational processes in the mental health industry to develop our business as well as that of our clients. He helped grow a startup company into a $5M venture over the course of two years. Zack’s niche is system integrations as well as risk mitigation, propelling us to grow organically and efficiently.
Zackary Forrest
Founder & CEO
Zack (He/Him) is our dynamic millennial who uses his seven...
Michele New
Michele (She/Her) brings a wide variety of experience and expertise to our team. She has over 20 years experience in bookkeeping, medical billing, office management and medical records. She has worked in public accounting and for-profit medical facilities. Her passion is to use her expertise in healthcare to help businesses gain a sense of financial peace within their daily operations.
Michele New
Founder & Insurance President
Michele (She/Her) brings a wide variety of experience and expertise...
Rachel Moses, MA, LMHC
Rachel (She/her) is a licensed mental health counselor dedicated to providing a safe space for each client. Compassionate and patient, she fosters authentic therapeutic relationships with clients. The cornerstone of Rachel’s practice is meeting each client where they are and accepting them as they are. She utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy, recognizing that no two clients are exactly alike. She pulls from a variety of modalities, such as Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (CBT), Mentalization-Based Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, and person-centered therapy.
Throughout her career, Rachel has found that she works well with many clients, particularly those experiencing anxiety, depression, avoidance, and life transitions. She maintains a curious and non-judgmental stance with all clients. She holds an understanding that each client is an expert of their own experience.
While studying at Brooklyn College, Rachel took classes that delved deep into various modalities such as psychodynamic therapy, CBT, and experiential/humanistic therapy. Rachel is always eager to learn from others, whether in a classroom setting, attending to other clinicians’ experiences, or actively listening to clients during sessions.
Born and raised in NYC, Rachel appreciates finding more peaceful moments amidst the city noise. She takes walks, bakes, reads, embroiders, and listens to Broadway cast recordings to clear her mind. On a daily basis, you can find her spending time with her pet dog named Link and parakeet named Pesto.
Rachel Moses, MA, LMHC
Psychotherapist
Rachel (She/her) is a licensed mental health counselor dedicated to...
Hanni Flaherty, PhD, LCSW-R, CASAC
Hanni (She/Her) is a New York City-based Clinical Social Worker specializing in adolescents, young adults, and families. Over the past 10 years, she has worked with clients who struggle with a wide range of issues. Her areas of expertise include treating adolescents and young adults with family conflict, substance use, high-risk behaviors, self-harming behaviors, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, trauma, bullying, gender, and sexuality struggles.
Her practice uses a Cognitive Behavioral Treatment approach that takes into consideration each person’s strength and experience. She has a Ph.D. in clinical social work, an LCSW-R, and a CASAC. She is also trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Family Structure Therapy. In addition, she is a Certified Addiction and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) and New York State DUI evaluator.
Her treatment style encompasses open and honest communication to help clients achieve their goals through short-term treatment, long-term treatment, family therapy, and group treatment. Through the development of a strong therapeutic alliance, they work together to develop effective coping skills. In treatment, she strives to create a safe, understanding, and collaborative atmosphere where her clients can share their emotions and explore their struggles. They all have the ability to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Therapy should be a helpful force in achieving life goals and overcoming life struggles.
Hanni Flaherty, PhD, LCSW-R, CASAC
Founder & Social Work President
Hanni (She/Her) is a New York City-based Clinical Social Worker specializing...
Kyle McEvoy, MS, LPC, LMHC, CCMHC, NCC
Kyle McEvoy (He/Him) is the Founder and President of Collaborative, a multidisciplinary clinical community focused on establishing effective, evidence-based treatment founded on an adaptive mentalization-based treatment model.
Kyle holds advanced training in mentalization-based (MBT) and adaptive mentalization-based integrative treatment (AMBIT) through the Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families. He specializes in complex attachment and identity-related disorders such as borderline, avoidant, antisocial, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personalities, along with gender-diverse individuals.
He focuses on understanding the individual to engage in a comprehensive execution of a person’s desires, wants, and needs. Kyle has participated in the client’s long-standing change from maladaptive behaviors, thoughts, and feelings through these scientific approaches. Kyle will implore you to participate in your treatment and discuss the techniques actively. He has helped people struggling with substances, explore individual identity (LGBTQIA+), cope with psychological/cognitive/developmental disorders, accept medical diagnoses, and overcome sexual abuse/intimate partner violence.
In addition to Kyle’s direct clinical work, he is a prominent national speaker, writer, and educator of the mental health community in efforts to deepen provider and patient understandings of mentalization, identity formation, and clinically challenging circumstances. In addition, Kyle continues to bolster his clinical approach through continued education and research of personality development from a psychoanalytic perceptive as a student of the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies.
Kyle believes practical and engaging clinical support has the power to invoke change. Therefore, he goes beyond the typical therapeutic approach when working with you.
Kyle McEvoy, MS, LPC, LMHC, CCMHC, NCC
Founder & Therapy President
Kyle McEvoy (He/Him) is the Founder and President of Collaborative, a...
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