It's Really Not About Us

We don’t act like we know it all. Our team maintains a curious and collaborative approach to understand exactly what is going on, through integrated communication strategies. But we feel it’s still important for you to know who we are.

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OUR PEOPLE

Meet The Team

We believe it “takes a village” for a business to thrive. Our Founders took their experiences in life and profession and built Collaborative to solve the problems they had encountered before. It’s new, it’s fresh, its humanity at its peak.

Please feel free to search for your service, location or insurance provider. You may also book with a provider on their profiles below

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Ellen Recker, MSEd, LMHC

Position: Psychotherapist

Phone: (929) 368-5931

Email: ellen.recker@collaborative-therapy.com

Areas of Work: Out of Network, 12- Step Friendly, Adaptive Mentalization based integrative treatment, Addiction Counseling, Adjustment Disorder, Adult Psychotherapy, Adults (25-64), Anxiety Disorder, Attachment Theory, Bereavement / Grief Counseling, Biofeedback Treatment, Body-Focused Therapy (ex: Tapping), Chemical Dependency Assessments, Children (<13), Christian, Client Centered Therapy/Rogerian Therapy, Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) , Confidence Issues, Depression, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Elderly Persons Disorders, Emotional Abuse, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Family Planning, Female Identifying, Fertility / Infertility, Fertility Counseling, Fidelis Care of New York, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Gestalt Therapy, Gottman Method, Grief and Loss, Group Therapy, Imago, Individual Therapy, Internal Family systems (IFS), Jewish, Lesbian, Level 3 Clinician, Life Transitions, Life Transitions, Low Self Esteem, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Malaise, Male Identifying, Mentalization Based Treatment, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Narrative Therapy, Neurofeedback Training, Nonreligious, Open Relationships/Non-Monogomy, Parenting, Perinatal Mental Health, Postpartum, Postpartum Anxiety, Postpartum Depression, Pre-College Fears, Pregnancy, Pregnancy-Related Stress, Premarital / Marital, Prenatal, Psychodynamic Therapy, Relationship Struggles / Issues, Self Esteem, Seniors (65+), Straight, Teaching, Teenagers/Adolescents (13-17), Walk and Talk Therapy or OutdoorTherapy, Women's Issues / Obstacles, Women's Issues Therapy, Young Adults (18-24)

Location: Tele-Health/Virtual

I am a licensed mental health counselor with almost 10 years experience working with adults at various stages of life, from their post-high school years through retirement. As a result, I’ve helped them navigate a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief/loss and life transitions. I have extensive training and experience working with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and am passionate about supporting women (and men!) through this overwhelming and intense period of transition.

I believe in being a partner in your therapy — my role is to create a safe place for you to explore the thoughts and emotions you’re struggling with and to help you clarify and implement changes that bring you a sense of peace and self-fulfillment. To do this, I utilize a variety of approaches: cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic and supportive therapy; and tools: meditation, writing, body awareness and interactive feedback, among others.

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Ellen Recker, MSEd, LMHC

Psychotherapist

I am a licensed mental health counselor with almost 10 years...

Maria Pietruszka, MS, LMHC, CASAC-T

Position: Psychotherapist

Phone: (862) 329-6826

Email: maria.pietruszka@collaborative-therapy.com

Areas of Work: Out of Network, 12- Step Friendly, Abstinence Based Psychotherapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Addiction Counseling, Adjustment Disorder, Adolescent / Teen Issues, Adolescent Addiction / Substance Use, Adoption, Adult Psychotherapy, Adults (25-64), Affirming Therapy, Aging Parents, AIDS - HIV, Alcohol Use, Alcoholism, Anger, Anger Management, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD), Anxiety Disorder, Artist-Related Stress, Asexual, Attachment Disorder, Behavior Modification, Behavioral Issues / Problems, Behavioral Therapy, Bereavement / Grief Counseling, Betrayal Trauma, BIPOC Mental Health Issues, Bisexual, Bisexual, Body Positivity/Health at every size, Body-Focused Therapy (ex: Tapping), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Buddhist, Bullying, Burnout, Canabis Use disorder, Career-Related Stress, Caregiver Burnout, Chemical Dependency Assessments, Childhood Trauma, Children (<13), Christian, Christian Counseling, Chronic Relapse, Client Centered Therapy/Rogerian Therapy, Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors, Codependency, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBT), Commitment Obstacles, Community Violence, Compassion Fatigue, Confidence Issues, Coping Mechanism Development, COVID-19 Stress, Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, Cultural Competence, Cultural Diversity Issues, Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT), Dating, Depression, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders, Drug Addiction, Drug Use, Dual Diagnosis, Early Childhood Trauma, Emerging Adulthood, Emotion Regulaton Therapy (ERT), Emotional Abuse, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Emotional Disturbance, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Family Conflicts / Issues, Family constellations, Family Dynamics / Systems, Family Planning, Family Systems, Fear of Failure, Female Identifying, Feminist, Fidelis Care of New York, Forensic Psychology, Gambling / Crypto Addiction, Gay, Gay, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Group Therapy, Group Therapy, Harassment, Harm Reduction Therapy, Health at Every Size, Health-Related Concerns, Humanistic Therapy, Immigration, Immigration Psychological Evaluation, Imposter Syndrome, Impulse Control Disorder (ICD), Indecision, Individual Therapy, Intergenerational Trauma, Internal Family systems (IFS), Internet Addiction, Intersex, Intervention, Intimate Partner Violence, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Trauma, Intrusive Thoughts, Irrational Fears, Jewish, Lesbian, Lesbian, Level 3 Clinician, LGBTQIA+, Life Transitions, Life Transitions, Loneliness, Low Self Esteem, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Male Identifying, Marijuana Disorder, Marriage Counseling, Masculinity-Related Stress, Medication Management, Medication Management, Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder, Mental Health Problem / Illness, Mental State Opinion, Mentalization Based Treatment, Mid-Life Crisis, Migraines / Chronic Headaches, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Money-Related Stress, Mood Disorder/Mood Swings, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Multicultural Therapy, Music Therapy, Muslim, Natural Disasters, Non-Binary, Non-suicidal Self-Injury, Non-Traditional Romantic Stress, Nonreligious, Open Relationships/Non-Monogomy, Parenting, Peer Relationships, Perfectionism, Performance Anxiety, Positive Psychology, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Counseling, Pre-College Fears, Premarital / Marital, Premenopausal Symptoms, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Procrastination, Psychedelic Integration Therapy, Quarter-Life Crisis, Queer, Queer, Queer-Competent, Questioning, Race-Related Stress, Racial Justice Framework, Racism Issues, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Reality Therapy, Recently Moved, Refugee Trauma, Relapse Prevention Therapy, Relationship Struggles / Issues, Romantic Life, School Phobia, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self Esteem, Seniors (65+), Separation Anxiety, Sex Positive/Kink Friendly, Sex Worker Positive, Sexual Identity, Sexuality, Sibling-Related Stress, Social Anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Justice, Social Life, Social Therapy, Spiritual Crisis or Transition, Spirituality, Straight, Strength-Based, Strength-Based Therapy, Stress, Stress Management, Teaching, Teenagers/Adolescents (13-17), Trans-Competant, Transgender, Transitioning, Trauma / Trauma Focused, Trauma Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Vegan, Vulnerability, Women's Issues / Obstacles, Women's Issues Therapy, Work-Related Counseling, Worry, Young Adulthood, Young Adults (18-24)

Location: Tele-Health/Virtual

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.

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Maria Pietruszka, MS, LMHC, CASAC-T

Psychotherapist

Maria was born in Poland and migrated to NYC at...

Cristina Shea, MS, LMSW

Position: Psychotherapist

Phone: (929) 374-2696

Email: Cristina.Shea@collaborative-therapy.com

Areas of Work: Out of Network, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Adjustment Disorder, Adolescent / Teen Issues, Adult Psychotherapy, Adults (25-64), Affirming Therapy, Afflictions, Aging Parents, Anger, Anorexia Nervosa, Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Artist-Related Stress, Asperger's Syndrome, Attachment Disorder, Attachment Theory, Attachment-Based Family therapy (ABFT), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Behavior Modification, Behavioral Issues / Problems, Behavioral Therapy, Bereavement / Grief Counseling, Binge Eating Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Bisexual, Bisexual, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Body Image, Body Positivity/Health at every size, Body-Focused Therapy (ex: Tapping), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bulimia Nervosa, Bullying, Burnout, Career-Related Stress, Child, Child and Parent Interaction Therapy, Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Childhood Trauma, Children (<13), Christian, Chronic Pain, Client Centered Therapy/Rogerian Therapy, Codependency, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) , Commitment Obstacles, Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Focused, Complex Trauma, Confidence Issues, Coping Mechanism Development, COVID-19 Stress, Creative Blocks, Crisis Intervention, Crisis Intervention, Culturally Sensitive, Dating, Depression, Developmental Disorder, Dialectical, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Early Childhood Trauma, Eating Patterns or Eating Disorders, Emerging Adulthood, Emotion Regulaton Therapy (ERT), Emotion-Focused Family therapy (EFFT), Emotional Abuse, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Emotional Overeating, Emotionally Focused, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Existential Anxiety, Existential Therapy, Family, Family Conflicts / Issues, Family Dynamics / Systems, Family Systems, Family Therapy, Family Therapy, Fear of Failure, Female Identifying, Feminist, Food-Related Stress, Gay, Gay, Gender Dysphoria, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Group Therapy, Harassment, Health at Every Size, Health-Related Concerns, Humanistic Therapy, Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), In-Home, Indecision, Individual Therapy, Integrative Psychotherapy, Intellectual Disability, Intergenerational Trauma, Interpersonal, Intervention, Intrusive Thoughts, Jewish, Learning Disabilities, Lesbian, Lesbian, Level 2 Clinician, LGBT Care, LGBTQIA+, Life Transitions, Life Transitions, Loneliness, Low Self Esteem, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Male Identifying, Medical Trauma, Men's Mental Health Issues, Mental Health Problem / Illness, Mentalization Based Treatment, Mindful-Based Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Money-Related Stress, Mood Disorder/Mood Swings, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Muslim, Narcissistic Personality, Narrative Therapy, Neuroscience, Non-Binary, Non-suicidal Self-Injury, Nonreligious, Open Relationships/Non-Monogomy, Panic Disorder, Pansexual, Parenting, Peer Relationships, Perfectionism, Performance Anxiety, Perinatal Mental Health, Person Centered (Rogerian), Personality Disorders, Play Therapy, Positive Psychology, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Counseling, Postpartum, Postpartum Anxiety, Postpartum Depression, Pregnancy, Pregnancy-Related Stress, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Prenatal, Procrastination, Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), Psychodynamic Therapy, Psychological Trauma, Quarter-Life Crisis, Queer, Queer, Queer-Competent, Questioning, Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), Reality Therapy, Recently Moved, Relationship Struggles / Issues, Romantic Life, Rumination, Safety Planning, School Phobia, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self Esteem, Self-Harm / Injury, Self-Reflection, Seniors (65+), Separation Anxiety, Sex Positive/Kink Friendly, Sex Worker Positive, Sexual Identity, Sexuality, Sibling-Related Stress, Sleep Disorder, Social Anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Life, Social Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD), Special Needs, Straight, Strength-Based, Strength-Based Therapy, Stress, Stress Management, Structural Family Therapy, Suicidal Feelings, Suicidal Ideation, Suicidal Tendencies, Teenagers/Adolescents (13-17), Trans-Competant, Transgender, Transitioning, Transitioning, Trauma / Trauma Focused, Trauma Therapy, Traumatic Grief, Veteran-Related Stress, Vulnerability, Women's Health, Women's Issues / Obstacles, Women's Issues Therapy, Work-Related Counseling, Worry, Young Adulthood, Young Adults (18-24)

Location: Tele-Health/Virtual

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.

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Cristina Shea, MS, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Cristina is a licensed psychotherapist practicing in New York, with...

Artur Lebiedzinski, MA, MHC-LP

Position: Psychotherapist

Phone: (929) 930-2082

Email: artur.Lebiedzinski@collaborative-therapy.com

Areas of Work: Out of Network, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Adaptive Mentalization based integrative treatment, Adjustment Disorder, Adlerian Psychotherapy, Adolescent / Teen Issues, Adult Psychotherapy, Adults (25-64), Aerophobia (flying), Afflictions, Agitation, Alcohol Use, Anger, Anger Management, Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Artist-Related Stress, Asexual, Asexual, Attachment Disorder, Attachment Theory, Attachment-Based Family therapy (ABFT), Behavior Modification, Behavioral Issues / Problems, BIPOC Mental Health Issues, Bipolar Disorder, Bisexual, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Burnout, Canabis Use disorder, Career-Related Stress, Caregiver Burnout, Childhood Trauma, Children (<13), Christian, Chronic Pain, Client Centered Therapy/Rogerian Therapy, Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors, Codependency, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) , Commitment Obstacles, Community Violence, Compassion Fatigue, Complex Trauma, Confidence Issues, Coping Mechanism Development, Couples (Relationship Therapy), COVID-19 Stress, Creative Blocks, Cultural Competence, Cultural Diversity Issues, Culturally Sensitive, Dating, Depression, Developmental Disorder, Dialectical, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Dissociative Disorder, Dream Analysis, Dreams, Drug Use, Dual Diagnosis, Emerging Adulthood, Emotion Regulaton Therapy (ERT), Emotional Abuse, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Emotional Disturbance, Emotional Overeating, Emotionally Focused, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Existential Anxiety, Existential Therapy, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Family Conflicts / Issues, Family Dynamics / Systems, Fear of Failure, Female Identifying, Gaslighting, Gay, Gay, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Grief and Loss, Health at Every Size, Health-Related Concerns, Hoarding Disorder, Humanistic Therapy, Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Immigration, Impulse Control Disorder (ICD), Indecision, Individual Therapy, Insomnia, Integrative Psychotherapy, Intergenerational Trauma, Internet Addiction, Interpersonal, Intrusive Thoughts, Irrational Fears, Jewish, Jungian Psychotherapy, Learning Disabilities, Level 2 Clinician, LGBTQIA+, Life Coaching, Life Transitions, Loneliness, Low Self Esteem, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Malaise, Male Identifying, Marijuana Disorder, Masculinity-Related Stress, Men's Issues, Men's Mental Health Issues, Mental Health Consultation, Mental Health Problem / Illness, Mental State Opinion, Mentalization Based Treatment, Mid-Life Crisis, Mindful-Based Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Money-Related Stress, Mood Disorder/Mood Swings, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Munchausen Syndrome, Muslim, Narcissistic Personality, Narrative Therapy, Non-Binary, Non-suicidal Self-Injury, Non-Traditional Romantic Stress, Nonreligious, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Open Relationships/Non-Monogomy, Pansexual, Perfectionism, Performance Anxiety, Personality Disorders, Physical Abuse, Porn Addiction, Positive Psychology, Pre-College Fears, Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Psychodynamic Therapy, Psychological First Aid, Psychosis, Psychotic Disorder, Psychotic Features, Quarter-Life Crisis, Queer, Queer, Queer-Competent, Questioning, Recently Moved, Relational Therapy, Relationship Struggles / Issues, Romantic Life, Rumination, Schizophrenia, Self Esteem, Self-Harm / Injury, Self-Reflection, Seniors (65+), Separation Anxiety, Sexual Addiction, Sexual Dysfunction, Sexual Identity, Sexuality, Sleep Problems, Social Anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder, Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD), Spiritual Crisis or Transition, Spirituality, Straight, Strength-Based, Strength-Based Therapy, Stress, Stress Management, Suicidal Feelings, Suicidal Ideation, Teenagers/Adolescents (13-17), Thought Disorders, Transgender, Transitioning, Transitioning, Transpersonal Therapy, Trauma / Trauma Focused, Validation Therapy, Video Game Addiction, Voices, Visions, or Perceptual Disturbances, Vulnerability, Work-Related Counseling, Worry, Young Adulthood, Young Adults (18-24)

Location: Tele-Health/Virtual

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.

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