I have always had the desire to help others find a way to end suffering in their life. This desire helped motivate me to return to college as an adult learner. I graduated from Suffolk County Community College’s notable honors college. From there, I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Stony Brook. Then I went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Advanced Standing Master’s program.
My passion and specialty are working with couples. I strive to help people achieve satisfying, loving, close-connected lasting relationships and individuals do more than just survive but thrive.
My approach is a blend of Eastern philosophy and Western theory to give clients a whole person (mind-body-spirit) approach to therapy. Through lectures, publications, and seminars, I keep myself current with the latest psychology, neurology, biology, and pharmacology findings, learning how these affect a person’s well-being. I have advanced training in Emotional Focused Couples Therapy, Critical Crisis Intervention, Positive Parenting, and ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics}. Certified Hypnotherapist. OASAS provide # 6955
I am a psychotherapist that has been practicing for over 25 years. As a young practitioner, I began as a generalist ; seeing kids, adults and families. But like everyone else, life has its twists and turns and right after I began my practice, my husband and I decided to start our own family. Easy, right? Turned out not to be as simple as we (or the world tells us!) envisioned. We began our roller coaster ride of fertility treatments that involved changing my schedule almost daily; seeing doctors and undergoing invasive treatments and having disappointing outcomes. Nothing really prepared me emotionally. Although I was trained in psychology and counseling, I was taken aback by the long, arduous trip.
After our daughter was born four years later, I knew where I wanted to go with my career. As a “wounded warrior”, I became a support group leader for Resolve ( a national organization that educates, advocates and supports fertility patients) and began seeing individuals and couples that were undergoing the same hell I just got out of. I listened carefully to what my clients were saying and realized that the anxiety and depression they all experienced was a normal response to have when you go through fertility treatments. So, when a friend asked me if I wanted to write a book with her, I said yes. I hoped we could be others ‘ voices who needed guidance and coping skills to get through the crisis of infertility. We succeeded and WWNorton published our book . “Experiencing Infertility” that was the number 1 best seller on Amazon’s infertility books in the early 2000s. It was later translated into Spanish!! I could not have been prouder.
Today I continue my work with individuals and couples by providing psychotherapy and psychosocial evaluations, mandated by my client’s doctors before entering treatment using a third-party (donor, surrogates, gestational carriers) to create their families.
My research on post traumatic growth in infertility has appeared in the Journal of Human Reproduction (October, 2009). I was the 2009-2010 chair of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's MHPG education committee. In 2020, I co-led a research study on the effectiveness of mindfulness on women experiencing infertility. As a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher and daily TM meditator, I am able to incorporate stress management skills into my practice.
Currently, I am the clinical director of Transformations Counseling group, supervising therapists that provide psychotherapy to individuals and couples searching for better ways to manage their anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress and relationship issues.
Have you ever felt like nobody was there?
Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?
Have you ever felt like you could disappear?
As you could fall, and no one would hear?”
Dear Evan Hansen, You’d be surprised how many others, including me, have felt this way. I understand the decision to seek help can be difficult. The lyrics from Dear Evan Hansen remind me how important it is to have someone in your corner to validate your feelings. My goal has always been to provide this to anyone who truly needs someone to hear them.
Growing up, I always knew I was fit to help others, which is why I decided to study family dynamics in college. I noticed how many people around me had experienced loss, divorce, or trauma. I kept wondering how I could make an impact and help people experiencing this turmoil. I decided to set my sights on becoming a family therapist to provide support and bring change to those in need. Now as a licensed marriage and family therapist, I aim to build a trusting, open relationship with clients that encourages them to be honest about their thoughts, feelings, and dreams. I believe each person has the potential to make positive changes that will lead to more fulfilling relationships and contentment in their life.
I believe every situation is unique. I have experience working in multiple environments, including in-home family services, school settings, supporting children and families in the foster care system, and working with LGBTQ+ community members. These experiences have provided me with knowledge, insight, and cultural competency, which I draw upon to build my practice. The above lyrics continue to say: “There’s a place where we don’t have to feel unknown, And every time that you call out, You’re a little less alone…You will be found.” My approach is compassionate, direct, and non-judgmental, which helps create an environment where you feel supported in your counseling journey. I currently focus my practice on helping individuals and couples overcome anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, relationship struggles, family changes, and LGBTQ+ issues.
Remember the last time you had your heart broken? Have you ever felt not good enough? Of course, you have. We all have. Someone close to me severely broke my heart at 17 years old, and although it hurt deeply, it propelled me to look further into psychology, asking why humans do what they do. I initially took an advanced placement psychology class in high school while simultaneously researching and listening to motivational speakers. Sparking my curiosity in personal development. One concept I learned that stuck with me today is that your “mentality creates reality.”
I majored in applied psychology in college and continued to receive my Masters in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling from NYU. My academic studies and pursuit of self-discovery in searching for the meaning of the human experience led me to specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I assist clients in discovering, understanding, and implementing change in their thinking, emotions, and behaviors.
In addition, my journey led me to sub-specialize in Christian Counseling for those seeking a therapist with a solid foundation in their relationship with God. My experiences have led me to understand how we can implement our faith into everyday life.
I take my time to understand my clients, and together, we figure out ways to help them achieve their goals and improve the quality of their lives. I consider myself patient and kind and want my clients to feel they have a safe place to express themselves each week where we can work on life goals, centering on them, without the critical outside world stepping in.
In my walk, I have integrated knowledge, understanding, and application of psychotherapy practices with a faith-based perspective to manage everyday anxiety, depression, and stress and improve relationships. I want to encourage you to face your challenges and meet you on your journey to achieve healing, freedom, hope, and love.
Have you ever felt like no one understands you? Or you thought, "This isn't normal or am I normal?" I get it, me too. Or maybe you felt alone. I get it, me too. Have you ever heard "You need to change? Or "Slow down!!." Yup, me too!
My philosophy is not changing people but supporting them in shifting themselves to create the life that they want. No one should entirely change who they are, but turn the negative attributes they believe about themselves or the situations they find themselves in, while identifying negative behavior patterns and moving them into more positive ones.
I use exploration, positivity and laughter in my sessions to establish a strong respectful rapport with my clients, build a trusting relationship, and provide a safe space for them to become vulnerable and supported.
I received my Bachelor's in Psychology and Master's in Social Work from Sacred Heart University. Currently, I am working on my Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy, specializing in children and adolescents, from Northcentral University. I am currently working on my dissertation on how Narcissistic Parents affect Child Development. I have experience working with individuals, children, couples, and families using a collaborative approach to help clients feel supported and understood. I have worked in psychiatric settings, substance abuse programs, and within the school system working with special needs children. I seek to understand the client's anxieties, fears, daily stressors, self-doubts, and other underlying emotions. I use a strengths-based perspective to encourage and empower clients to truly understand that they are in control of themselves. I support clients in identifying negative attachment patterns and reframing these negative patterns into more positive ones.
I say, "The ball is in your court. It's up to you to pick it up (take chances) , dribble and take a shot (takes courage!). However, I firmly believe that every person and situation is unique; help me, help you put the ball in your court and support you in taking action in your precious life.
I have been counseling clients in private practice for over 10 years and specialize in the areas of anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. After gaining degrees from the University of Florida (Go Gators) and then Adelphi University, I quickly immersed myself in the field and gained experience with many demographics - police officers, marines, adults in quarter-life/mid-life crises, senior citizens, adults with disabilities, and more. I've learned and utilized many different modalities throughout my career, specializing in Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness-Based Therapies, Solution-Focused Approaches, and Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches. I've also obtained a certification in Hypnosis in order to effectively bring creative visualization and meditation to my work.
Over the last decade, I've learned not to be afraid to share my own experiences in pain, growth, and healing, and will often use them to connect, empathize, teach, and inspire. After all, if I can turn my pain into power, anyone can! My clients quickly see that I am an LMHC by trade but a motivational speaker at heart. I can confidently say that I will have you believing in your growth and greatness by the end of the first or second session. I'm eager to work with you, laugh with you, cry with you, and walk with you however you need me to.
Sometimes someone just needs a friendly and helpful person to assist them in their search for the right support. Taking the first steps is always scary but it is manageable when you have a helping hand to meet you in the middle.
As part of the front office, I will help guide the beginnings of your journey with us. I act as a bridge between you and our therapists. Compassion and understanding are the best traits when it comes to helping others and I am here to provide that through our support. I have many friends and family members that have gone through similar experiences, and I know it can be a hard and difficult process that is why I want to help and make it a great experience overall.
I have quite a few years of experience working with people in customer service however I am always learning and improving to do better. Every moment is something to learn from and I strive to provide the best customer service experience.
Picking up the phone to make a call to receive mental health services for yourself or a loved one is scary. You want someone to answer the phone or return your call. Then, you want someone to help support and guide you through the initial process to get started.
As the Practice Manager, I have the unique opportunity to help build and support our group practice by marrying my business and professional experience with my passion for advocating for families. Our front desk staff is here to support you through the first step of your transformational journey.
Professionally, I have over 20 years of experience working for Big 4 consulting firms, providing business management consulting and project management services for global Fortune 500 companies. Consulting work required extensive travel, so when my husband and I decided to start a family, I shifted to the staffing industry. After working for other staffing providers for seven years in 2011, I started my WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council) certified staffing business. During this time, I was accepted and graduated from the Goldman Sachs/Tory Burch 10,000 Small Business program.
My child/family advocacy work started via a traditional route once our daughter started school by volunteering with the PTA. When our family experienced trauma, it deepened my passion for supporting children and families. It is important to me to let our clients know they aren’t alone and others understand the subsequent mental and behavioral impacts trauma has on the family.
The past eight years provided me with the experience of creating the best possible environment for my child by navigating multiple “systems,” whether it was the educational system or the mental health system. These children need a comprehensive environment that supports them mentally and behaviorally while healing from trauma. Therefore, I come to our clients from both a personal and professional understanding and want to help them find the right match with the therapist who can assist them while you take their journey to healing.
There are so many good reasons to come to therapy, but one theme that seems to be the constant is change. Change is uncomfortable, and admitting we need help is hard, but once you’ve taken the step to start therapy, you’re recognizing that something needs to change and I hope to work with you to help make this a more comfortable process, help you understand more about yourself, and make the changes you need to move towards creating your best life.
I’ve always wanted to help people, and after years of working in higher education and encouraging people to pursue their passions every day, I decided to pursue mine. I currently hold my M.S.Ed. In Clinical Mental Health Counseling from St. Bonaventure University, and my MHC-LP. I have worked with several different populations during my internships in graduate school and early professional career, and currently, I see adolescents and adults for a range of issues including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and more. I have found a recent passion for working with members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as other underrepresented groups.
My focus as a clinician starts with a humanistic lens, as I believe in focusing on meeting you where you are and not judging you. I also rely heavily on cognitive therapies (CBT, REBT), and further go on to explore emotions in a safe way, addressing them in the moment, bringing in elements of Gestalt, and working through problems using Solution-focused techniques. Despite the jargony beginning to this, the punchline is much more simple: there is no ‘one size fits all’ therapy, and whatever technique is the best fit for you and what you’re facing. I believe in using evidence-based treatments because I want you to have the best outcome.
Whoever you are or whatever you are coming in to talk about, I strive to provide a welcoming and safe environment and work with you to set and achieve goals. Ultimately, I believe that everyone can make changes in their life and impact themselves and others for the better, and I’d welcome the opportunity to help you on your journey.
“You can’t keep it unless you give it away” (Anonymous). We cannot truly or fully enjoy our victories, successes, or blessings in life unless we share them with others. We are all on a journey together.
I am a bilingual (English-Spanish) clinical social worker. I work closely with my clients to create a safe and therapeutic environment where individuals, family members, or couples can discuss anything. This leads to real and raw conversations crucial to relationships' healing, growing, and transforming process. I guide my clients through a journey of discovering self, inner resilience, vulnerable accountability, and exploring any unhealthy communication methods to create a better understanding of self and others. As a result, they begin to learn how to apply healthy and more effective communication and boundary-setting skills that create a foundation for stronger and deeper relationships. I also work with couples and families that feel disconnected from one another due to polarizations in their characteristics, personalities, temperaments, trauma history, personal needs, and other lived experiences that can give rise to misunderstandings or chasms in relationships.
I received my degree from the Advanced Standing Program, a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and a master's in Social Work from Long Island University. I have been helping adolescents, parents, families, couples, and individuals for over 10 years. My approach is holistic and tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, family, or couple. I integrate a range of therapeutic modalities, including emotion-focused therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, strength-based person-centered therapy, couples therapy, intergenerational family therapy, and family systems theory. Much emphasis is given to the client’s interactive portion of the process, including practical therapeutic exercises and “cycle-breaking” activities, during many sessions.
You are the expert of your life. Let's work together to help you start living your best life.
I understand how vulnerable it can be to begin your search for a therapist. It takes courage to sift through so many options and find the one who feels right for you—whether the therapist is for yourself, your relationship, or a family member. I genuinely cherish your courage in starting or continuing your journey in therapy. What do you want to work on? Past, present, or future?
Allow me to share my journey with you first. My career began as an individual mental health therapist with a psychodynamic-trained background, which allowed me to explore the profound relationship between the past and the present. Over time, working with diverse clients has shown me the profound influence of a person's response to their familial and societal background. This realization led me to transition into a broader perspective. I studied marriage and family therapy, and I now focus on the intricate dynamics within relationships and family systems, considering a person's past, present, and future.
My academic journey spans eight years of continuous learning. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University. I have integrated various therapeutic approaches tailored to each client's unique needs throughout my career, including Couple and Family Systemic perspectives, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamics, Mindfulness, and Art Therapy techniques. I am fluent in English, Hakka, Cantonese and Mandarin.
During our time together, I will accompany you through current challenges, walking alongside you with empathy and understanding. Along this journey, you may discover new ways of approaching situations, find new balance, and achieve greater harmony within yourself. Gradually, we will cultivate habits of exploration and empowerment to help you navigate various life situations with resilience—to cry, laugh, and live fully.
My passion lies in working with relationships and recognizing their profound impact on our well-being. Whether you're seeking to mend a relationship, navigate family dynamics, or improve your connection with yourself, I am here to support you. Let's embark on this journey together, embracing growth and transformation every step of the way.
At Transformations Counseling Group, we believe in the power of change and transformation. We understand that mental health struggles do not occur in isolation; they are influenced by a multitude of systems that include family, jobs and our environment.
Throughout our lives, we carry patterns and beliefs we learned in childhood and that impacts every relationship we have and decisions we make. Developing awareness of these patterns, as well as those of the people around us, is crucial for understanding our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This awareness allows us to identify and resolve conflicts in a healthy manner.
As a marriage and family therapist, I explore these influences with you, with the goal of helping couples, families, and individuals. By improving communication and fostering deeper connections, I hope to assist you and those you care about in developing a compassionate atmosphere that encourages empathy and understanding. This is a vital step toward breaking free from negative cycles and creating more fulfilling and harmonious relationships.
Please allow me to assist in your mission to better meet each other's needs, reduce suffering, and build stronger, more satisfying relationships. Together, we can work towards transformation and positive change
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Throughout our lives, we hold onto experiences from our childhood that were shaped by our parental figures, our peers, and our environments. Even today, we are being shaped by the systems we surround ourselves with. When we are able to recognize the cycles that have been formed and critically think about them, we can start to understand ourselves better. Together, we can begin to address the aspects that you wish to change by bringing about this awareness. To best assist my clients, I incorporate different therapeutic approaches that are based on their needs and preferences.
I grew up on Long Island, where I earned my Bachelor's in Psychology at Stony Brook University. I am currently enrolled at Hofstra University, where I am getting my Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy. I worked with adolescents, families, and couples at Hofstra's mental health clinic, the Saltzman Center.
In my work, I have observed that when you feel alone, you do not have to be alone. Reaching out for help is a hard, challenging, and brave step. Working towards change can be a scary process, and I strive to be there with you through your journey every step of the way.
Together, we will help you build better relationships within yourself, partners, friends, and family.
A common misconception of psychotherapy is that only those who are “different” or somehow“ divergent” from the norm of society, attend therapy. Sessions are not about striving to get to an arbitrary level of “normal”. Sessions are about growing and learning to become YOUR best self, particularly in the realms of thinking, feeling, and acting. It is a process that helps you understand yourself better and be motivated to respond, rather than react, to situations that are troublesome. In turn, our relationships with ourselves, friends, partners and the society around us, benefit.
My journey into psychotherapy started long before I even knew the word. What I have known for as long as I can remember, however, are two things - that I wanted to be my best self, and that I liked being there for others. As an athlete in high school, I hung out with a crowd that was less focused on looking inward and more focused on not showing strong emotions – especially ones that we thought would dub us as “weak”. There was no room for sadness, frustration, and anxiety – it was just the status quo. At the same time, however, I couldn’t help feeling compassion and empathy towards my friends who were experiencing anger, sadness, grief and sometimes trauma. Their feelings weren’t overt, of course, they were either hidden or cloaked in another type of behavior, but they were there, and it simply didn’t feel good to me that my friends were struggling. After a while, I became the person that “you could go talk to”. Following this desire to help others, I went to college to get a deeper understanding of the psychology of humans before continuing my education at the master’s level, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am now an MFT-Intern at Transformations Counseling Group and my mission is still the same as it was when I started this journey: to be there for you.
As an MFT, I believe that every individual from birth is inherently part of a system that they interact with. This system not only includes the family you were born into, your school and work, but also the system of your internal processes (like how your learned behavior and reactions from previous experiences affect your present day feelings and responses.)
I have had the privilege of traveling the world living and experiencing the daily lives of individuals and communities of different cultures, heritages, ethnic backgrounds and religions. These encounters have afforded me the ability to not only learn about aspects of life that are different from my own, but have made me proficient in challenging my own views of life. Likewise, continuous education and evidence-backed approaches are keystones to my practice. As psychotherapists we are often called the experts in therapy, but you will always be the expert in your own life! I look forward to learning from you and helping you build a calmer and stronger mind and spirit, in an environment where clarity of mind is just the beginning of the journey.
At a young age, I discovered my passion for understanding the human mind and behavior. While browsing through books at a garage sale, I stumbled upon an old psychology textbook. I asked my mom to get it for me, and I read it cover to cover. That moment sparked a lifelong fascination with how thoughts shape behavior. I began observing myself and others through this lens, often journaling my insights to deepen my understanding of the human experience. Eventually, this curiosity became my life’s work.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in creative writing, from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. During my studies, I began to unpack how the chaos and adversity of my own past had shaped my life. This realization inspired me to help others navigate their own challenges. I believe that exploring an individual’s past is a vital part of the healing process, as it often reveals what might be holding them back from becoming their best self. By facing our fears honestly, we unlock the potential to move forward and thrive. My goal is to empower those I work with to discover their true potential.
My career began in Florida, where I worked with youth aged 16-19 at a military-style alternative high school. I provided counseling to students who had dropped out of or been expelled from traditional schools. This experience solidified my desire to further my education, and I returned home to New York to earn my master’s degree in mental health counseling from Adelphi University. During and after my studies, I worked with adults in various settings, including a day program providing group and individual counseling, as well as home visits to assist clients with daily living activities.
Shortly after graduating, I began practicing yoga as a way to stretch and relax. I was unprepared for how deeply yoga and meditation would impact my mental health and connect me to my spirituality. This transformative experience led me to pursue yoga teaching while traveling abroad. For several years, I taught yoga and meditation, developed a health coaching practice, and participated in healing retreats around the world. I came to realize that this wasn’t a departure from counseling but rather a way to deepen my understanding of holistic healing. My yoga students often shared that my teaching made them feel safe, free to be themselves, and inspired. This feedback affirmed that I didn’t need to choose between teaching and counseling—I could integrate both.
I returned to counseling, first working at a group home for adults with severe mental illness and substance use disorders. I then transitioned to a long-term substance abuse rehabilitation center, where I discovered new passions for working with families and supporting individuals coping with grief and loss.
From all my experiences, my philosophy has evolved into this: Who we are is shaped by many factors—our past experiences, internal narratives, daily behaviors, relationships, and overall health. My goal is to help you make sense of these aspects of your being so you can live a life you look forward to each day.
Have you ever felt stuck, unseen, or like you’re carrying more than you know how to handle? You’re not alone. Life can feel overwhelming, and sometimes, we just need a space where we can be honest about what we’re going through—without judgment, without pressure.
I’m T’Yanna, a person-centered therapist, and what I love most about my work is creating that space for you. A space where you feel truly heard, supported, and understood. I believe healing starts with feeling safe enough to be yourself—because when you feel seen, you can start to make sense of your emotions, your patterns, and what you truly need. I have experience working with teens and young adults and understand how pivotal this stage of life is. It’s a time of growth, self-discovery, and change—but it can also feel overwhelming when you’re figuring out who you are, navigating transitions, and managing relationships. Having a space where you feel understood, heard, and supported can make all the difference. I focus on building a strong, trusting connection so you don’t have to go through it alone.
If you’re struggling with self-doubt, relationship challenges, heartbreak, or the weight of past experiences, we’ll work together to break through the patterns keeping you stuck. I use approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors so you can move forward with more clarity and confidence.
Healing and growth take time, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready to take the next step, I’m here to help.
Let our highly trained, compassionate therapists help you on your transformation.
Transformations… the path to unlimited possibilities.
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