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.

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!

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.

Erin Miller, LMSW, is a licensed psychotherapist practicing in New York City, as well as via telehealth. Her therapeutic style is warm and nonjudgmental. She is devoted to providing a safe space for clients to work through both past and present issues.

Erin is passionate about working with anxiety disorders, depression, personality disorders, eating disorders, trauma, identity confusion, and relationship issues. She also works with couples including those in nontraditional, polyamorous, and non-monogamous relationships.

Erin finds the inner beauty within all her clients, and through her belief in them, she guides them to see the inner beauty within themselves.
When she is not working with clients, Erin enjoys practicing yoga, drawing, cooking, and connecting with loved ones.

Her graduate degree is from New York University and she has a B.A. from Indiana University-Bloomington.

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.