Meet All Of Our Therapists
Natalie Buchwald, LMHC (License #4643)
Midtown West Location
Natalie Buchwald is the founder and clinical director of Manhattan Mental Health Counseling. As a practitioner of holistic psychotherapy, Natalie’s treatment approach places an emphasis on the mind-body relationship and is both experiential and pragmatic. Natalie specializes in the treatment of eating and mood disorders as well as culture-based identity conflict. She works with individuals and couples to help them develop deeper connections to themselves, and stronger more fulfilling relationships with others, resulting in increased vitality, liveliness and joy.
Following the completion of her undergraduate degree in psychology from Towson University, Natalie participated in research at Maquarie University in Australia before going on to complete her graduate work in mental health counseling at Brooklyn College. She is a graduate of the Center of Anorexia and Bulimia in New York City and received advanced training from the Hakomi Institute. Natalie completed a fellowship at the Karen Horney Institute. In addition to her clinical work, Natalie is also an accomplished public speaker in the field of psychotherapy. Her most recent talk, “Spirituality and Eating Disorders” was presented at the National Eating Disorder Conference.
Carol Black, LMHC (License #7387)
Midtown West Location
Carol Black, LMHC, sees counseling as a gentle collaboration that moves individuals along the path to their most energetic and purposeful selves. When the path is blocked by “stories” imposed by culture or influential others, retelling those stories with a compassionate counselor can illuminate one’s own passions and strengths. Carol has worked with adults of all ages, as well as families, to find and address the emotions, thoughts and behavioral patterns which block this process of discovery. Using both evidenced based practices such as CBT, DBT, REBT, and creative approaches. Carol collaborates with clients who struggle with many facets of the human experience from life transitions to anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, or a lack of connection with others.
Carol Black is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College. Carol has been credentialed as a substance abuse counselor (CASAC-2) and holds a primary certificate in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy from the Albert Ellis Institute. She has obtained specialized training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness interventions and is a Smart Recovery® facilitator.
Sylwia Misiewicz, LMHC (License #7003)
Midtown West Location
Sylwia Misiewicz is a warm and compassionate Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is deeply committed to helping clients focus on their goals and build on existing strengths to cope with life's challenges in a safe, open and non-judgemental environment. As we all encounter hardships throughout our lives, facing them with someone you trust and who provides emotional and psychological support is essential. Sylwia’s approach to therapy is collaborative and adapts techniques from different schools of thoughts to meet individual needs. She has experience working with adults and adolescents with a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, interpersonal issues, low self-esteem, trauma, substance use, and schizophrenia.
Sylwia received a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Columbia University, a Master of Arts in Psychology from City College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Baruch College. Born and raised in Poland, Sylwia speaks Polish fluently.
Mary Beth Aubry, LMHC (License #8757)
Midtown West Location
Mary Beth Aubry is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor who strives to create a warm, accepting, and judgment-free atmosphere in her practice. Mary Beth believes in working collaboratively with individuals to identify desired goals and the blocks that may hold us back from living a fulfilling life. From managing daily hassles to major life transitions and processing persistent stressors, Mary Beth focuses on meeting the individual where they are on their journey. She works alongside her clients to foster curiosity and exploration towards thoughts, feelings, and actions within a safe environment to help them build a higher sense of awareness and increase empowerment.
Mary Beth is a native New Yorker and received her degree in Mental Health Counseling from Brooklyn College. She draws elements from the humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and gestalt frameworks in her clinical approach, and adapts to fit each individual’s needs. She has a wide range of experience with individuals coping with anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions, and sexuality. She is an LGBTQIA affirming ally.
Debbie Merav, LMHC, CRC (License #7085)
Midtown West Location
Debbie Merav is a licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Debbie incorporates a variety of counseling techniques into her work including Psychodynamic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She works with both individual clients and couples experiencing difficulties that negatively impact their lives. Debbie is experienced in treating many issues, including anxiety and depression, and specializes in addictive disorders, specifically substance abuse and eating disorders. Her approach is to treat individuals according to their needs and is not limited to a particular counseling genre. She works collaboratively with clients to discover the underlying conflicts that influence their behaviors.
Debbie received a bachelor of science in Psychology from Brooklyn College, a master in Rehabilitation Counseling from Hunter College, an advanced certificate in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Buffalo and an Eating Disorder Certificate from the William Alanson White Institute. As part of her commitment to continued education, Debbie is currently pursuing advanced training from the Institute for Psychoanalytic Education affiliated with the NYU School of Medicine.
Susana Lucero, LMHC (License #7418)
Midtown West Location
Susana Lucero is a native New Yorker who embraces multicultural counseling and therapy. Susana values the courage it takes to seek therapy and works with clients to co-create a safe and supportive environment. She sees therapy as a place to discuss difficult issues and explore ways to positively reframe ones view of themselves and their relationship with others. She has experience working with individuals struggling with a broad range of issues including cultural identity, life transitions, loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, bipolar, borderline personality, and schizophrenia. Susana works through empowering clients from a strength based approach while using eclectic therapy to address the needs of the individual.
Susana is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Master’s degree in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University, Teachers College. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies from Pace University.
Jennifer Guinta, LMHC (License #7071)
Midtown West Location
Jennifer Guinta is a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor with experience working with a wide array of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder as well as schizophrenia. While working with Jennifer, you can expect a warm, welcoming and empathetic environment. She believes that the initial phase of therapy is similar to that of a teacher-student approach that develops into a collaborative nature until the client is able to fully and independently manage the trials and tribulations of their lives. Jennifer believes that all clients possess the ability to successfully navigate their own lives, in spite of the mental health challenge they face.
Jennifer prides herself in her work with individuals suffering from substance use disorders as she has been in the recovery process for over 12 years. Her empathic nature and personal life experience in this area, provides clients with the evidence that they too can change their lives and overcome the debilitating effects of drug addiction. Jennifer applies a humanistic/existential approach to psychotherapy at the same time utilizing a positive psychology methodology. She also relies on psychodynamic and CBT methods.
Jennifer possesses a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from St. John’s University and a bachelor’s degree from the College of Staten Island (CUNY). She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University. Jennifer is also an Adjunct Professor in the Psychology Department at the College of Staten Island.
Frank Ledda, LMHC (License #9538)
Midtown West and 14th Street Locations
Frank works at both the 14th and 38th Street locations.
Frank is a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor. He recently returned to NYC, where he was born and raised, after spending his career working as a psychotherapist and Certified Addictions Professional in Florida and Washington State. He has many years of experience and is passionate about helping individuals, couples and families who are dealing with depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD and other trauma related difficulties, substance use, grief and loss, gender and sexual identity, interpersonal relationships and life transitions. He values the mind/body connection and is grounded in a strength-based, multicultural and social justice approach to helping people. He has experience working with people of culturally diverse backgrounds. In Florida, half of Frank’s practice was dedicated to serving people in the LGBTQPIA+ community in therapy and also by providing outreach and consultation to community providers of substance abuse and mental health treatment.
Frank’s mindful presence and empathic listening skills help create an ideal space that support an opportunity for clients to increase personal awareness, cultivate compassion toward the self, gain clarity about their personal struggle and develop a plan to work toward their stated goals. He understands the importance of matching clients with theoretical approaches to therapy that resonate with them. Frank has experience and skills in the use of Gestalt Therapy, Interpersonal Process Therapy (IPT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered and Psychodynamic Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and The International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP) approach to trauma therapy.
Alicia Leporati, LMHC (License #5253)
Midtown West Location
Alicia Leporati, LHMC, is a thoughtful and creative client-centered psychotherapist. Seeing counseling as an endeavor where the client and therapist work collaboratively to find sources of healing, Alicia hopes that counseling can be a place for clients to learn more about themselves and discover ways to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. Adopting an eclectic style that incorporates different frameworks and ideas, Alicia grounds her work with a foundation in psychodynamic and family systems approaches. Her background in feminist theory has helped her understand gender roles and how they intersect with clients’ lives. her work as a therapist has deepened her respect for the struggles that accompany life. Alicia is a culturally competent therapist and an ally to the LBGTQ+ community.
In addition to a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Brooklyn College, Alicia has received advanced training in family systems therapy and eating disorders. Her areas of special interest include working with clients who feel stalled in reaching new goals or with creative endeavors, such as overcoming writer’s block, and using a feminist lens to work with clients on eating problems. During her career, she has worked extensively with clients who experience chronic illness and clients whose lives have been touched by another’s illness. Anyone who comes to Alicia for counseling will be treated with respect, understanding, and empathy.
Sheila Mashack, LMHC (License #1396)
Midtown West Location
Sheila Mashack is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor. She has extensive experience helping those experiencing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anger, substance use and relational concerns. Sheila works with individuals using a holistic approach taking into account mental and social factors as they relate to health and wellness. Counseling is person-centered; trauma informed and integrates motivational interviewing with cognitive-behavioral therapies. She received her Master of Arts from New York University in Rehabilitation Counseling with a specialty in mental health and substance use.
Steven Sabella, LMHC (License #5413)
Midtown West Location
Steven Sabella is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor with years of experience treating individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar, trauma, attachment, substance use and relationship issues, among others. His approach is person centered, and not only uses process to address current internal barriers to change, but looks at environmental factors, historic experience and connection to others in order to effectively facilitate positive change. Stylistically, Steven draws from several Theoretical orientations including, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Psychodynamic Therapy. He draws from a background working with individuals managing both chronic and acute symptoms of serious mental illnesses.
Steven has a Master in Mental Health Counseling from NYU and brings extensive experience in individual, group and de-escalation in crisis situations. He has worked with patients with diversity in culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion and socio-economic status. A warm, comfortable and empathic environment is what you can expect in working with Steven. He will meet you where you are with your challenges. He will assist and guide you in your journey for improved functioning and well-being.
Caitlin Ferrer, LMHC (License #6974)
Midtown West Location
Caitlin Ferrer is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in helping her clients navigate life’s challenges using both mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy and relational-cultural therapy. A person-centered practitioner, Caitlin provides clients with a space in which they can openly reflect on and explore their lives. She meets clients where they are at and helps them marshal inner resources to resolve the issues blocking them from living fully and achieving their goals. Caitlin has experience helping individuals dealing with mood and anxiety disorders, LGBT issues, women’s issues, psychosis, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors.
Caitlin received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College, followed by a primary practicum certificate in Cognitive Behavior Therapy from the Albert Ellis Institute in NYC. Caitlin has completed internships with NYU’s Upward Bound program and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Prior to joining the practice, Caitlin provided group and individual therapy to adults at the Mental Health Association of NYC, where she remains a clinical supervisor. Committed to lifelong learning, Caitlin is currently pursuing a PhD at Fordham University in Counseling Psychology. As part of her doctoral training she is currently completing an externship at NYU’s Center for Counseling and Community Wellbeing.
Mechelle Turner, LMHC (License #9940)
Midtown East Location
Mechelle Turner a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, is a relationally-focused, trauma-informed therapist. She deeply appreciates the diversity of the human experience and how that shapes one’s identity. She integrates holistic care including mind-body connection, with a multifaceted approach consisting of mindfulness, insight-oriented psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Her collaborative approach focuses on unearthing the root-cause of current emotional distress and gives a voice to the internal pain that has been unmanaged. She is passionate about helping others find their individual truths while establishing interpersonal autonomy and self-advocacy. Her clinical expertise includes utilizing a multicultural framework for treating individuals who have depression, anxiety, panic, biracial/interracial issues, cultural identity issues, complex trauma, PTSD, bereavement, self-esteem, life-transitions, work-life balance, partner-relational problems, and family conflict. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Intercultural Studies from the University of Northwestern-Saint Paul. Shortly after, she obtained her Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree from Wheaton College.
Jessica Steinmetz, LMHC (License #9938)
Midtown East Location
Jessica Steinmetz, LMHC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor with a Gambling Specialty Designation. She has worked with various populations, ranging from children to elders. Jessica has extensive training and experience helping individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, traumas/post-traumatic stress, substance use and gambling addictions, and other mental health challenges. Jessica strongly focuses on the biopsychosocial factors as they relate to the individual’s health and wellness. She uses modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and supportive psychotherapy.
Jessica received her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, and continued her education to obtain a certification in the substance use domain.
Michael Glaz, LMHC (License #10208)
Midtown East Location
Michael Glaz, LMHC is passionate about helping his clients create meaningful and lasting changes. Michael has a warm, reassuring, and genuine demeanor that promote a strong therapeutic alliance. He specializes in the treatment of addiction and related mental health issues and has experience with anxiety, depression, spirituality and self-esteem, among others. Michael takes a highly empathic and interpersonal approach to therapy and integrate many techniques from the psychodynamic, behavioral, existential, and spiritual traditions. He strives to work collaboratively with each client by tailoring treatment that is suitable to their needs. Michael is skilled at increasing positive outcomes by implementing individualized strategies culled from a variety of empirically supported treatment modalities.
Sara Fry, LMHC (License #4888)
14th Street Location
Sara Fry is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor whose warm caring energy creates a safe space for a collaborative therapeutic experience. Utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness practice, psychodynamic techniques, humanistic and client-centered influences, Sara’s approach is integrative and holistic, adapting to fit each person’s unique needs. She specializes in helping individuals with mood and anxiety disorders, life transitions, sexuality, interpersonal relationships, trauma and stress-related issues, and substance-related disorders. Through emotion-focused therapy, Sara nurtures individuals to be fully present, find life balance, strengthen emotional health, and develop effective coping skills. Recognizing the light in each individual Sara helps people overcome barriers and build resilience for a healthy body and mind.
Sara Fry received her Masters’ Degree in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University. She also studied abroad focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention and clinical treatment in London, England. Sara published scholarly articles in The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies as well as the American Psychological Association. She holds a certification in Advanced Clinical Practice from the NYU Silver School of Social Work. Sara is also an adjunct instructor at Fordham University, teaching a graduate level course in Advanced Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis.
Calli Kosch, LMHC (License #8055)
14th Street Location
Calli Kosch is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who brings authenticity, humor, and non-judgement to her practice. She firmly believes in meeting clients where they are at, in their process toward managing life's joys and hardships. Calli infuses a blend of clinical and theoretical approaches into her work, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Most importantly, she believes that forming a strong therapeutic relationship is the most important element in creating a challenging yet fruitful experience in therapy. Calli has experience working with adolescents and adults who are experiencing life transitions, managing depressed mood, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders.
Calli is a licensed counselor in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and California. Originally from Michigan, Calli has personally experienced many life transitions, including adjustment to living in New York City. Calli received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. There is an element of tough love that she incorporates into the therapeutic relationship. Honesty and willingness to try something new are all that she asks from her clients in order to foster greater insight and effect change.
Samantha Sudano, LMHC (License #6970)
14th Street Location
Samantha Sudano is an intuitive and creative Licensed Mental Health Counselor who supports clients in the healing process. Applying her natural sense of connection and energy, she guides her clients to a higher state of awareness, openness, and fullness in being. Samantha meets clients where they are while making space for each individual journey toward a desired future. She is aware that each person carries unique struggles and the focus of treatment is determined by the blocks and curiosities of each individual. Samantha has experience working with people who suffer from depression; anxiety; addiction and friends/family of those who are addicted; relational issues; life transitions (such as moving), job stress and grief; transgender/gender spectrum concerns and sexuality. Trust, honesty, respect, safety, acceptance, commitment, consistency, and a dose of humor are essential elements of the therapeutic process, according to Samantha.
Samantha graduated from Purchase College with a B.A. in Sociology and Gender Studies. After moving to NYC, Samantha assisted individuals with developmental disabilities. Samantha received a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Brooklyn College and is a Certified Gestalt Therapist. Previously, she worked in a substance abuse outpatient program and as part of an ACT team, she made home visits to the severely mentally ill, working alongside medical professionals, and conducted individual therapy with adolescents, adults, and elders. Samantha is currently exploring body-related therapies, including reiki, cranial sacral, as part of her commitment to continued education.
Jenny Kim, LMHC (License #7570)
14th Street Location
Jenny Kim, a Florida native, is a culturally competent Mental Health Counselor now living in New York for 10 years. Jenny has a passion to help people reach emotional and mental well-being using a client-centered approach and an eclectic approach in counseling. She is experienced working with children, adolescents, and adults who have struggled with depression, anxiety, interpersonal struggles, self-esteem, domestic violence, and trauma. Jenny’s approach is genuine, empathetic, and perceptive. With the collaboration of the client, she hopes to provide a safe environment to build a positive experience for self-development and self-awareness for the client.
Jenny completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from New York University and received a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has a New York State license in mental health counseling. She has experience in the non-profit sector and community organizations providing counseling and administrative services.
Fatema Badawy, LMHC (License #9579)
14th Street Location
Fatema Badawy, LMHC, is a warm and empathic client-centered psychotherapist. She is a native New Yorker, and is fluent in Arabic. She believes in meeting the client where they are as they embark on their journey of healing. For Fatema, therapy is a road to self-realization and she feels honored to guide her clients along the way. Working collaboratively with clients to reach their personal goals, Fatema is a multicultural therapist with experience in providing marriage and family therapy. Fatema has also worked extensively with clients who are on the autism spectrum and have learning/behavioral disabilities. She has extensive experiences working with individuals struggling with a broad range of issues including anxiety, depression, cultural identity issues, life transitions, loss, trauma and OCD.
Fatema has earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Adelphi University and a Bachelor of Art degree in psychology from Saint Francis College. She also has extensive training in Multisystemic therapy (MST). Though Fatema works with an eclectic style that incorporates different frameworks and ideas, Fatema draws most from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing. She also received training in psychodynamic and incorporates elements of mindfulness and dialectic behavior therapy (DBT) into her practice. Fatema has a non-judgmental stance and a grounding presences.
Erin Wolfe, LMHC (License #8628)
14th Street Location
Erin Wolfe, a licensed mental health counselor, is a devoted and compassionate therapist committed to enhancing her clients’ lives. Whether it is processing difficult topics, navigating through a recent change, or confronting possible life barriers, she strives to create a safe and exploratory counseling relationship that fosters growth, sense of empowerment, and emotional well-being. Her work as a primary therapist in outpatient substance abuse clinics has granted her extensive knowledge and understanding of the treatment of addiction, something she recognizes as an underlying symptom of something typically much greater. She served as the primary adolescent counselor in one of such clinics. Erin has experience treating a wide range of issues, including anxiety, mood disorders, trauma/PTSD, personality disorders, and relationship and family issues.
Erin obtained her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Long Island University. She draws techniques from psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and expressive art frameworks. Previously, she was a member of the American Psychological Associations Division 35: The Society of the Psychology of Women, where she initiated and installed professional talk panels in various Universities highlighting issues related to gender studies and female empowerment.
Samantha Prestano, LMHC (License #9062)
14th Street Location
Samantha Prestano is an intuitive and compassionate Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is committed to helping individuals overcome life challenges in a collaborative, nonjudgmental, and safe environment. Samantha is passionate about understanding the whole being and meeting each client where they are on their journey. She strives to work together with her clients towards their desired goals and greater emotional wellbeing to live more authentic, fulfilling, joyful lives. Samantha believes in blending empirically-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness skills, with relationally-based treatments to connect with her clients in a meaningful way.
Samantha is experienced in treating eating disorders, substance use/addictive disorders, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, relationship difficulties, and women psychological issues. Samantha received a Master’s Degree in Counseling for Mental Health & Wellness from New York University. She is certified in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and is currently enrolled in a Yoga Teacher Training program. Samantha is also a Clinical Supervisor to graduate level students and continues to further her education and knowledge through trainings and conferences.
Rene Gonzalez, LMHC (License #6391)
14th Street Location
Rene Gonzalez is a Texan turned New Yorker, drawn to the city by his passion for people watching, food, architecture, and multiculturalism. Rene cites several of Woody Allen’s most neurotic characters as inspiration for becoming a psychotherapist, and believes it was (partly) his films that planted the seeds of inspiration that compelled him to eventually move to the city. Rene’s early 20s were spent studying Spanish and teaching English in Spain and Latin America, and his encounters with people from diverse backgrounds solidified his intense curiosity about people, and prompted him to return to college to pursue a career as a psychotherapist. Today, Rene works in both private practice and the non-profit sector, and provides services to people from all walks of life.
Rene’s approach is inquisitive, empathic, and collaborative, and he draws from several theoretical frameworks, including humanistic, existential, cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic. Rene is a clinician with experience treating depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, bi-polar disorder, trauma related disorders, substance abuse, personality disorders, and issues specific to members of the LGBTQ community.