Showing Up First
A Group for First Responders
MONDAY'S AT 6PM (NoMAD) Manhattan
Group Description:
First responders hold an important and necessary role in our community. They provide critical aid and support when others are facing some of the most vulnerable and intense moments of their lives. This helper role can feel more like a calling than a job, supporting the burden of other’s trauma. However, the often challenging experiences they encounter can profoundly impact their mental well-being. This group is focused on bringing first responders together so they have a space to support each other and discuss experiences in the way only they can. By coming together we hope to create an opportunity where those who give to others can put their needs first.
This dedicated group extends its support to firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical services members (EMS), search and rescue teams, military personnel, doctors, nurses, mental health clinicians, 911 operators/dispatchers, and all those who bravely serve in high-stress and demanding roles.
Our Showing Up First Group Leaders
Sophia Berlin, MS, MHC-LP, CRC
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Sophia (she/her) is a mental health counselor with a Master of Science degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After enjoying many years in the south, she recently made the exciting move back to her home state of New York!
Sophia uses clinical experience and insight to inform her practice and engage meaningfully with her clients. Her concentration in psychiatric disabilities and rehabilitation counseling offered opportunities to gain experience working in various settings with diverse populations. Her experience in hospitals, specialized mental health clinics, and the VA Health Care system provided opportunities to develop her counseling skills and knowledge. She has experience working with developmental disabilities, chronic illnesses, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use, self-injurious behaviors, anxiety, and mood disorders. While working with Veterans, she developed her interest in trauma-informed care and addressing co-occurring disorders. Over the last several years, she collaborated on evidence-based psychotherapy research and publications to advocate for access to informed mental health care.
As a therapist, she strives to develop trusting relationships and offer a unique space for authenticity and support. She believes in the importance of recognizing individual strengths, while empowering self-awareness and growth. Her approach is relation-centered and integrative to incorporate modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed Care. Sophia uses an eclectic approach, which creates space to recognize different experiences and ensure therapy is accessible and effective.
Sophia could be described as an introverted extrovert. While she enjoys spending time with others and getting lost in conversation, she always carves out time to retreat to the comfort of reading a book on the couch. She is happiest near a body of water and swimming is her favorite form of exercise. Dog time is a staple in her life, and she enjoys the outdoors and exploring new places.
MICHELLE CASTELLANOS, MSW, LMSW
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Michelle (she/her) is a New York City based psychotherapist and licensed social worker whose focus is building trusting relationships with her clients. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY before she headed off to study Psychology and Spanish at Swarthmore College. She returned to New York where she graduated with a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University in 2019. Michelle can conduct sessions in English and Spanish. She is passionate about providing quality care to people of all backgrounds. She has gained a wide array of experience working with many diverse types of clients working in agencies, nonprofits, hospitals, and community mental health.
Michelle is enthusiastic about creating strong therapeutic relationships with clients. She knows that the relationship between client and provider is one of the building blocks to achieve a client’s goals and that the vulnerability developed during the session is a sacred thing. She partners with her clients to strive for meaningful change. She has worked with different types of people, including children, teens, birthing people, domestic violence survivors, immigrants and refugees, families, and more. She is particularly focused on the impact of trauma on a person’s life and how the process of healing can create new opportunities for someone. With her social work background Michelle is aware of the effect systems have on a person and a group and uses a social justice approach to help clients reach their goals. She aims to empower her clients to gain self-awareness and to develop effective coping strategies.
An enthusiastic reader, Michelle is always happy to get book recommendations of all genres. She is also a happy pet mom to her cat Chicharron. In her free time Michelle also enjoys baking cakes and pastries, crocheting blankets and sweaters, and watching TV with her husband and her cat on her lap.
