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
Ellen Recker, MSEd, LMHC
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.
Ellen Recker, MSEd, LMHC
Psychotherapist
I am a licensed mental health counselor with almost 10 years...
Maria Pietruszka, MS, LMHC, CASAC-T
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.
Maria Pietruszka, MS, LMHC, CASAC-T
Psychotherapist
Maria was born in Poland and migrated to NYC at...
Cristina Shea, MS, LMSW
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.
Cristina Shea, MS, LMSW
Psychotherapist
Cristina is a licensed psychotherapist practicing in New York, with...
Artur Lebiedzinski, MA, MHC-LP
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.
Artur Lebiedzinski, MA, MHC-LP
Psychotherapist
Artur has been working in the mental health field for...
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