It's Really Not About Us

Katy (she/her) is a licensed acupuncturist who believes in empowering others to find their healthiest self through a holistic approach to healthcare. She is passionate about providing a safe empathetic space that allows for people of all different backgrounds and health histories to feel heard.  

Katy specializes in working with complex chronic illness and autoimmune disease, digestive disorders, gender inclusive sexual and reproductive health care, women’s health, pain and injury, substance use disorder, supporting emotional well-being and mental health through trauma-informed care. Katy knows that trauma is often expressed somatically in the body and believes in the power of acupuncture, along with therapy, to help ease that expression. She has experience working with diverse populations and ages including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and persons with disabilities. Her approach uses gentle needling, palpation, herbal therapy and patient education along with her knowledge of Western medicine to provide collaborative care. She strongly supports the right to quality, inclusive healthcare.  

Katy graduated with a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) of CIIS in San Francisco. She started her private practice in San Francisco at Ume Acupuncture learning Kiiko Matsumoto style acupuncture, a style that focuses on the root cause of disease. Katy started Root and Stem Integrative Chinese Medicine’s Sliding Scale acupuncture practice in Oakland, California doing private and community treatments. She has worked in private internships, at DeHaro auricular clinic, and Glide community acupuncture clinic. She studied Western herbalism with herbalist Matthew Woods, Erica Fargione and Cynthia Thomas. She is also a certified yoga instructor and loves to incorporate her knowledge of these systems into her practice.   

Katy’s own discoveries of healing and learning through holistic modalities led her to the study of Chinese medicine. Katy loves yoga, biking, traveling with friends and family, learning French and exploring everything city life has to offer. 

Samuel Gilbert is a licensed psychotherapist based in New York City, earning his Master of Social Work degree magna cum laude from Columbia University. His award-winning scholarship, published in the Columbia University School of Social Work Review, focuses on LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence. He has extensive experience working with individuals with a variety of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, substance use disorder (SUD), addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He also has experience—and specific training—to work with individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Samuel takes a holistic approach with his clients. In addition to utilizing evidence-based mental health interventions (e.g. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, etc.), he believes quality sleep, a well-balanced diet, consistent exercise, and one’s spirituality are paramount to the therapeutic process. He is steadfast in working alongside his clients to help each individual, couple, and group develop tools and strategies to achieve their specific goals.

Cristina is a licensed psychotherapist practicing in New York, with a primary focus on emotional, social, and behavioral challenges faced in early adulthood, adolescence, and childhood. Her client-centered approach is grounded in attachment and cognitive behavioral theories. Cristina is passionate about helping her clients find comfort with everyday thoughts, emotions, and experiences that contribute to living a full life.

Whether coming to her in a time of crisis or beginning therapy to maintain a healthful state of mind, Cristina takes a gentle and holistic stance with each client, developing a treatment plan that is unique to their needs. Her approach caters to varying client needs, including, but not limited to, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, eating disorders, neurodivergence, trauma, and gender and sexuality struggles and exploration. She is always eager to learn more and is frequently engaging in opportunities to learn and expand her knowledge.

Outside of her practice, Cristina is an adjunct lecturer, a 200-hour registered yoga teacher, and an avid runner.

Cristina received her graduate degree in social work from New York University and her undergraduate degree in psychology from Marymount Manhattan College.

Rachel is a graduate of the master’s in mental health counseling program at Brooklyn College and currently has her MHC-LP. She is dedicated in her work to foster a safe space for all clients to speak openly about life and all that comes with it. Compassionate and patient, she takes on a person-centered approach to ensure clients are being heard and accepted as they are. Rachel also uses evidence-based treatments in her work. She believes that everyone has the potential to grow, to learn, and to flourish already inside of them.

During her free time, she enjoys baking, knitting, listening to Broadway cast recordings, and spending time with her pet dog and parakeet.

Therapy is unlike any relationship and this can be intimidating, but you have taken a brave first step by researching and reaching out. I look forward to hearing from you!