It's Really Not About Us

Maria was born in Poland and migrated to NYC at the age of 3.  She was raised in Brooklyn and carries that as a badge of honor.

Maria attended Hunter College where she graduated with a degree in Sociology.  She then attended LIU Brooklyn and obtained her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling in 2017.  During her time at LIU Brooklyn, she was the campus representative for the American Psychology Association Division 35 Society for the Psychology of Women. Maria was involved in hosting events that help spread awareness for feminist research, theory and education to understand and improve the lives of girls and women in all their diversities. This helped Maria develop her passion towards working with women and women’s issues.

After graduation, Maria was hired as a full time substance abuse counselor at Outreach, where she completed her internship for graduate school. She worked with adults to help them reach their goals in recovery. Maria implemented harm reduction techniques to help promote a more inclusive and realistic approach for treating substance use disorders.  She is determined to approach all her clients by meeting them where they are and empowering them to meet their treatment and therapy goals.

After 3 years, Maria was promoted to Program Coordinator where she was responsible for running Restart Academy, a Department of Education alternative high school for students with substance use and behavioral issues and an after school program for outpatient services for adolescents. Maria enjoyed working and advocating for adolescents and young people. She guided them through different life transitions like: finishing high school, coping with peer pressure and preparing for the next chapters of their lives like college or full time employment.

Maria also supervised new counselors and her approach was always to empower counselors and teach them listen to their “clinical gut”.

Maria is driven by social justice and participated in movements for Black Lives Matter, women’s rights and animal rights. Her approaches in therapy display her commitment to provide an empathic, compassionate and judgement-free space where people from all walks of life can address their emotional issues, life transitions and meet their therapy goals.

When she is not in session, Maria teaches as an adjunct lecturer at Hunger College. She teaches courses like Drugs and Society and the Sociology of Mental Health.  In her free time, Maria loves to re-watch “The Office”, spend time with her two cats Rajah and Stella and try new vegan recipes.

Elizabeth is a licensed psychotherapist working with adolescents and young adults providing both short and long-term therapy. Her goal is to help clients heal, grow, and aim to be the best versions of themselves. She believes that no one has the same story, therefore she meets clients where they are by cultivating a supportive, empathic, and non-judgmental space to listen and then determine what unique steps need to be taken in therapy. Elizabeth prefers to use a strengths-based and humanistic approach in her work and incorporates CBT and DBT techniques as needed.

Her background is in working with children and young adults who have struggled with a variety of difficulties. She offers knowledge and coping skills in anxiety, depression, grief, stress, life transitions, interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, school difficulties, insomnia, attachment, behavioral issues, domestic violence, and more. She earned her master’s degree in social work at NYU and her undergraduate degree at Manhattan College.

Elizabeth values connection, kindness, love, and strength. She believes that everyone has the ability to become the best versions of themselves and that there is always room for growth. Outside of her practice, she enjoys spending time outdoors, pilates, meditation, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

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.

I am a Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience working with adults with a broad range of mental health difficulties, including posttraumatic stress, loss and grief, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and more. My area of research and practice expertise has broadly focused on the field of trauma, which often entails working through associated grief, anxiety, mood, identity, and relationship difficulties concurrently.

I bring a down-to-earth, warm, and genuine approach to therapy. My style is open and supportive, committed to providing individuals with a safe space that honors their unique goals and expectations. Through a relationship built on trust, we’ll work together in a space where you feel comfortable to be who you are, helping you find ways to better understand, manage, or move forward from what challenges brought you to therapy. My hope is to make a difference in the life of every individual I work with, and I believe that therapy should not be a one-size-fits-all approach.

I use techniques from cognitive-behavioral, narrative, and relational models of intervention, including mindfulness, and while always incorporating a trauma-informed lens as I tailor the work to meet your unique needs. My clinical style is not to give advice but to support and empower individuals towards their goals with honesty and transparency. This can include developing healthy coping skills, processing grief or trauma from the past or present, exploring what you want in life both professionally and in relationships, and ultimately supporting you to reclaim your power and self-worth.

Artur has been working in the mental health field for several years and holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. He has worked with various populations such as those struggling with COVID-19 stress, personality disorders, adjustment disorder, anxiety, depression, body image, relationship issues, and more.

In practice, Artur considers personality, historical context, and the complexities of distress tolerance. His personal experience growing up in several countries has shaped his unbiased views and recognition of alternative perspectives. Everyone is different, and each client deserves the utmost level of attention, responsiveness, and uniquely personalized approach when engaged in treatment.

Artur believes in each person’s unique ability and capacity to overcome their challenges. He uses a person-centered and evidence-based approach to foster curiosity, safety, and openness to growth.

He enjoys spending time with friends, playing video games, basketball, cooking, hiking, and fishing. Artur is proficient at providing psychotherapy in English and Polish.

Kyle utilizes a client-centered based approach to therapy by adapting to individual needs. He focuses on the unique needs to support the person’s internal/external relational system healthily and clearly to reach overarching goals.

He believes everyone can better themselves if they are willing. Kyle studies the development of personality disorders from a psychoanalytic perspective. Kyle has advanced training in integrating complex psychological structures and fragmented mental health systems through the Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families.

Kyle has helped people with substance abuse issues, explore individual identity (LGBTQ), cope with psychological/cognitive/developmental disorders, accept medical diagnoses, overcome sexual abuse/intimate partner violence, and various maladaptive behaviors or modes of thinking. Throughout his career, Kyle continues to add his experience and knowledge into expanding mentalization-based treatments.

Utilizing an eclectic approach to therapy and his training in various evidence-based modalities, Kyle seeks for you to receive the most out of your treatment. Kyle will implore you to be an active participant in your treatment and discuss the treatment techniques. He encourages you to focus on your needs and what you think is best. Kyle is trained in Mentalization-Based Treatment for Adults, Adolescents, and children, along with Adaptive Mentalization-Based Integrative Treatment for complex systems. Kyle is adding to his educational arsenal by registering with the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies to pursue his license in Psychoanalysis. As a leader in the mental health field, Kyle is the founder and president of Collaborative Therapy, a group therapy practice dedicated to multifaceted psychological disorders.

For fun, Kyle loves spending time with friends, traveling, relaxing with his dog (Otis), lying on the beach, and listening to music.

Dawnmarie is a true believer in living as your authentic self. She is passionate about empowering people to become fully connected with who they are and who they can become. Dawnmarie advocates for you to use your voice and your talents to take steps forward. Dawnmarie utilizes her unique personality to create a secure connection with those she works with. She describes herself as positive, compassionate, empathetic, fun, creative, strong, intuitive, and passionate.

Dawnmarie is positive about life and encourages you to embrace a new perspective. She advocates for a “glass half full” mentality. Dawnmarie works with clients who want to embrace life, make changes, be heard, and find peace. Together you can achieve many things, develop a plan, and gain the tools to be successful. Whether it be your Professional or Personal life, together, we can master love, happiness, and a sense of SELF.