Questions? Suffolk DBT Roslyn (516) 714-4707 | Babylon Suffolk DBT (631) 403-4719 | Mt. Sinai (631) 828-2264 | NYC (646) 939-5210
Questions? Suffolk DBT Roslyn (516) 714-4707 | Babylon Suffolk DBT (631) 403-4719 | Mt. Sinai (631) 828-2264 | NYC (646) 939-5210
home / Mental Health Team
Our team of licensed DBT therapists provides comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for children, teens, adults, and families, available in-person across Long Island and New York City, and via Telehealth throughout New York.
At Suffolk DBT, we take the time to understand who you are, where you’ve been, and what you’re struggling with now. When emotions feel overwhelming or progress feels hard to see, we help you reconnect with your strengths and the work you’ve already done.
Our team provides evidence-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for children, teens, and adults across Long Island and New York City, guiding you step by step toward what Marsha Linehan described as “a life worth living.”
Comprehensive DBT Program • Individual Therapy • Skills Training • In-Person & Telehealth Across New York
At Suffolk DBT, our mission is twofold. First, to create an environment that supports those who struggle with emotion regulation. Second, to provide support and space for clinicians to do quality work.
Many clients and their families report feeling frustrated with a mental health system where they feel misunderstood. Some even report feeling hopeless. At Suffolk DBT, we welcome complex cases and offer the community something unique. When clients walk through our doors, we welcome their sensitivity, offer hope that strength can be found in vulnerability, and invite them to practice the paradox of being both brave and afraid at the very same time.
DBT is a therapy of balance, where acceptance meets change, and where compassion is paired with accountability. We teach practical skills, such as using diary cards to track urges, emotions, actions, and coping strategies, while guiding clients toward new behaviors that support long-term growth.
As DBT therapists, we strive to be warm, genuine, and empathetic, while also being direct, honest, and, at times, using humor or metaphor to highlight difficult truths.
Our work extends beyond the therapy room. As a team, we dedicate time outside of our workday to reading, ongoing education, and attending multiple trainings each year. Every clinician at Suffolk DBT participates in weekly supervision and consultation team meetings, provides daily skills coaching when needed, and, most importantly, practices what we teach. We apply DBT skills in our own lives, ensuring that the support we provide is grounded in authenticity and lived experience.
From the very beginning, it has been my priority as owner and the priority of our team to foster a culture of learning, growth, and support for a group of clinicians whose commitment is truly exceptional. We stand firm in our belief that by having exceptional trained clinicians our clients will benefit.
This work is deeply meaningful to each of us. As our clients grow, we grow alongside them. At Suffolk DBT, healing and learning are a shared journey. We feel honored to walk it with you.
Suffolk DBT proudly provides quality dialectical behavior therapy, a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, at their offices in Manhattan and Long Island, New York and online.
Their experienced therapists specialize in serving teens, children, adults, and college students struggling with depression, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, self-harm and disorders of emotion regulation.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills and treatment can help you to manage emotions and work through life’s challenges. Our therapists all participate in consultation team and offer skills coaching between sessions.
Completely confidential. Only takes 10-15 minutes.
Get Started Today
Suffolk DBT proudly provides quality dialectical behavior therapy, a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, at their offices in Manhattan and Long Island, New York and online. Their experienced NYC counselors specialize in serving teens, children, adults, and college students struggling with depression, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and self-harm. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills and treatment can help you to manage emotions and work through life’s challenges.
LCSW- R - Owner of Suffolk DBT
“There are two kinds of suffering. There is the suffering you run away from,
which follows you everywhere. And there is the suffering you face directly,
and so become free.”
Ajahn Chah
My philosophy about therapy is that we can talk about the past until doomsday. Understanding where we came from matters, and our experiences help explain why we think, feel, and behave the way we do. But insight alone is rarely enough to create lasting change.
Without a clear plan for how to regulate emotions, how to recognize when we’re heading toward behaviors we may regret, how to ask for what we need, how to say no, and how to see situations from multiple perspectives, we often find ourselves repeating the same patterns and traveling down the same road.
That is why DBT makes so much sense to me. It is not just a therapy model I practice—it is the foundation of how I approach treatment and, in many ways, how I live my own life. DBT provides practical skills for navigating life’s challenges while helping people build a life that feels meaningful, purposeful, and worth living.
One of the things I love most about DBT is the structure of the treatment. It helps both you and me stay organized and focused on what matters most.
Together, we identify what needs attention according to DBT’s treatment hierarchy: first, life-threatening behaviors; next, behaviors that interfere with therapy, such as missing appointments, arriving late, or not completing diary cards; then quality-of-life issues, such as relationship conflicts, yelling at others, eating concerns, substance use, or other behaviors that are getting in the way of the life you want to build.
At the same time, I make sure we have space to talk about what is important to you. My goal is to help you learn something new each week, practice skills between sessions, and work toward creating a life that feels meaningful, fulfilling, and worth living.
I have been practicing DBT for over 17 years, and I genuinely love this work. Watching people learn new skills, make changes they never thought were possible, and build lives they are proud of is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
When I founded Suffolk DBT, my dream was to create a practice filled with like-minded professionals who are passionate about helping others while continuously challenging themselves to grow, learn, and improve. I wanted to build a team of people who value collaboration, support one another, and view this work not simply as a job, but as a meaningful career.
Creating a workplace that feels safe, accepting, kind, and welcoming has always been important to me. At the same time, I believe that structure, accountability, and commitment matter. Some of the most meaningful growth happens when we are willing to do difficult things, stay the course, and continue learning even when it feels uncomfortable.
I feel incredibly fortunate to wear many hats that I genuinely love. I am a business owner, a clinician, a supervisor, and most importantly, the mother of two adult sons. Love, connection, and family are at the center of my life. My passion for DBT is at the heart of my work with clients and their families. I believe deeply in the transformation this treatment can provide because I have witnessed it countless times throughout my career. Watching people build lives worth living, even after years of suffering, continues to inspire and motivate me every day.
I also share my home with two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels who keep me company and bring plenty of joy and laughter to my life. I treasure time spent with the people I love and the relationships that matter most.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me near the water. I love swimming, boating, fishing, and spending time outdoors. One of my favorite hobbies is refinishing old furniture. There is something deeply satisfying about taking something worn, neglected, or overlooked and helping it become beautiful again. In many ways, that process reminds me of the work we do in therapy. It is not about changing who someone is. It is about helping people uncover the strengths, resilience, and possibilities that may have been there all along, waiting to be rediscovered.
The clients I am most passionate about working with are those who are suffering deeply, those who, at times, wonder if life is worth living, who struggle with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, cutting, burning, or other behaviors that reflect just how much pain they are carrying. I am drawn to working with people who feel lost, alone, misunderstood, or like a burden to those around them.
These are the clients who inspired me to do this work. They are the reason I dedicated my career to learning, practicing, and teaching DBT.
What I love about DBT is that it offers more than hope, it offers a path forward. I am not afraid of this work because I believe in the treatment. The solutions are built into the model itself. Over the past 17 years, I have watched people who felt hopeless learn how to build lives they never imagined possible. I have seen individuals move from merely surviving to truly living.
Some may call the changes I have witnessed miraculous. I see them as the result of a treatment that works, combined with the dedication of many people, the client, their family, their therapist, and the consultation team working together toward the same goal.
What I know for certain is that people are far more capable than they often believe. When they are given the right support, the right skills, and a therapist and team who refuse to give up on them, remarkable things can happen. Hope returns. Suffering begins to lessen. And little by little, a life worth living becomes possible.
To pursue this goal, she attended SUNY Potsdam for her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. One year later, Jeanette arrived at Stony Brook University to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work to better understand complex mental health support.
“There are two kinds of suffering. There is the suffering you run away from, which follows you everywhere. And there is the suffering you face directly, and so become free.”
Ajahn Chah
LMSW
Jonathan wholeheartedly believes in the power of DBT to decrease suffering and help clients move towards a life worth living.
With clients, Jonathan strives to take an in-depth look at recurrent behavior patterns, explore their origins, and discover how to break free of them. With compassion, and the use of DBT skills, Jonathan seeks to guide clients to a life free of suffering.
During the first year of his doctoral program in Neuroscience, three of Jonathans colleagues were hospitalized due to suicidal behavior. Each one was treated with Intensive Outpatient DBT. John witnessed firsthand their rapid transformation and improvement. Seeing the positive impact that therapy had on his peers inspired him to change career paths, leading him to pursue a career in mental health counseling.
LMHC
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice
at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.”
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.”
I believe that as a therapist it’s super important for us to understand who we are, not only as therapists but as people. This includes our own thoughts and emotions that we experience each day. One of the most difficult and vulnerable parts of therapy is to better understand ourselves so we can be the best we can.
During my initial sessions with clients, I believe that building strong working relationships is vital to this treatment. If we are unable connect with one another than it can be difficult to work through the behaviors that they are living with on a day-to-day basis. Honesty is also important for clients, but I also hold myself accountable to be as transparent as I can be with my clients. DBT treatment has been effective in ways where I can hold myself accountable as well as help my clients achieve a life that’s worth living.
Growing up I was constantly told I was an emotional and sensitive person, which up until recently I held the belief that this was a “bad thing” and needed to quiet my emotions for the benefit of others. This was extremely hard growing up being a sensitive person, ultimately leading to other problems later in life with my relationships and my own ability to regulate my emotions. When I went away to college this was something that became more apparent as my main source of support were not in the rooms next door. Unfortunately, this was not when I sought out therapy for myself. It took me another two years and a rejection letter from my school’s nursing program that I was hoping to get into before I realized that I could no longer continue to suffer and began seeing a therapist. After learning this was something that was actually really helpful I realized that so many others can benefit from therapy. I then decided to pursue my own journey to become a Mental Health Counselor once I completed my bachelor’s degree.
During my graduate studies I fell more and more in love with counseling and the profession I would begin. It brought me back to when I was growing up and how a younger version of me would have benefited from counseling services. I threw myself into my work and made a promise to the version of me who needed it most that we were going to make a difference in someone’s life. When I was introduced to DBT during this time I honestly wasn’t a fan and if you told me that this is where I would end up, I would have said you were lying. When I was in my internship and soon to be first job after graduation, I would do my own research on CBT and behavioral therapy which inevitably led me to an interest in DBT as a career. I have been granted such a wonderful opportunity at Suffolk DBT and cannot wait to see how much I can grow here.
LMSW
Christopher believes that everyone is trying their best and can do better. An example of this is someone who currently runs a mile in ten minutes and cannot run faster at the moment. With the right training, this person is able to run a mile in seven minutes. This person was doing the best they could when they were running the mile in ten minutes and they could also do better as they were able to later run a mile in seven minutes.
Christopher creates a safe and comfortable environment through empathy and compassion. He can provide sessions in English or Spanish. During the first few sessions, he gets to know his clients and asks them about their goals in therapy. He collaborates with his clients to determine the best therapy goals and treatment interventions. He believes that the best outcomes happen when the client and therapist are able to form an alliance. Christopher supports his clients through all the ups and downs. He understands that therapy can be a difficult yet rewarding process.
Christopher is a bilingual clinician who strives to help clients in both English and Spanish. Since a very young age, he has wanted to help people. He initially wanted to help people improve his physical health to become a doctor, but as he studied more and experienced his own mental health journey, he realized his calling was to help people improve their mental health. During his time at UCLA, he joined a club to help fight against mental health stigma and volunteered as a mental health coach. Christopher later completed his Master’s in Social Work at Columbia School of Social Work where he completed a year-long DBT training program in which he learned about DBT under professor André Ivanoff and internship supervisor Jeanette Lorandini.
LMHC
“It’s OK to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do
something really, really brave “
Mandy Hale
“It’s OK to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave “
Mandy Hale
The hardest part of change in therapy isn’t taking the first step—it’s pushing through when things get uncomfortable. I want my clients to know that I see them, hear them, and genuinely want to help them realize their worth. My goal is to create a safe space where clients feel supported and understood as they work toward positive change.
In the beginning of therapy, we focus on getting to know each other and establishing a commitment to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Once we have that foundation, we explore the behaviors that may be hindering you from creating the life you desire. Together, we will develop a personalized treatment plan, formulate a diary card, and discuss what skills coaching entails, as well as the structure of the DBT skills group.
From the start, we will practice skills together during sessions, and outside of therapy, you will be encouraged to complete homework assignments to reinforce your learning. If you are a parent of a child in DBT-C, we will also work on preparing the environment to support your child’s growth and success.
I have been extensively trained in DBT-C by Dr. Francesca Perepletchikova, and I am dedicated to guiding you through this transformative process. I take great pride in being a part of a fantastic team at Suffolk Dbt where we meet weekly and discuss our cases to provide the best care possible.
DBT has profoundly changed both my approach as a therapist and my perspective on life. It has helped me learn to manage my emotions and view the world—and myself—in a more balanced way. My passion for working with children stems from my experience with at-risk adolescents and their families in residential settings. I am committed to helping children, adolescents, adults, and families overcome challenges and build better lives.
Allow me to share my love for DBT with you.
LMHC
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice
at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.”
Mary Anne Radmacher
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.”
Mary Anne Radmacher
Starting your therapeutic journey can be extremely challenging. At the same time, creating a foundation of trust and mutual respect with your clinician can make all the difference. As a clinician, I see myself walking along side my clients through their journey. I strive to make everyone who walks into my office feel comfortable, accepted and understood.
At the beginning of treatment, we will focus on building rapport and commitment to the treatment. With that as the foundation, we will explore the different behaviors that are interfering with you living the life that you desire. From there, we will learn and practice new skills together so you have the support to build mastery and thrive. I am well aware that we do not always show up to every session as committed as we would like and I will partner with you to keep you motivated even on days where that is wavering. In addition to my training in DBT, I have been trained in DBT Prolonged exposure and EMDR. If you have experienced trauma, we will discuss utilizing these treatments as needed.
DBT has truly changed my life. As an emotionally sensitive person, I was never aware of how to truly manage my emotions and this typically resulted in me feeling out of control in my day to day life and relationships. Since adopting DBT skills into my daily routine, I have grown to love my emotional sensitivity and see it as a strength and I hope to show you that it can be a strength for you as well! Before I became an LMHC I completed my training as a registered yoga instructor. My work as a yoga instructor provided me with a strong foundation of mindfulness prior to becoming a DBT therapist and I am so grateful to be able to incorporate that in my work at Suffolk DBT.
MHC-LP
I believe that everyone deserves a safe, compassionate space where they can truly be themselves—without judgment or shame. Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, and my hope is to create an environment where you feel deeply heard, seen, and valued. I hold a core belief that growth is a lifelong journey, and that each day offers an opportunity to learn, heal, and become a little better than the day before.
I am especially passionate about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based approach that has profoundly transformed my understanding of emotion regulation and resilience. I love DBT because it recognizes the complexity of human emotions and offers practical tools to manage intense feelings, build healthy relationships, and find stability amid chaos. I see so much strength in clients who struggle with emotional regulation—your courage to face those challenges is something I deeply admire. My goal is to walk alongside you, providing support, understanding, and skills that can help you navigate life’s storms with more confidence and compassion.
This past year has been especially meaningful for me as I’ve turned my focus to Suffolk DBT. Being part of a practice that truly values ongoing education, training, and the faithful practice of the DBT model has been incredible. It’s inspiring to be part of a team that prioritizes growth, learning, and fidelity to the principles that make DBT so effective. This experience has only deepened my love for DBT and my commitment to helping clients find their strength and resilience through this powerful approach.
Together, we will create a warm, trusting space where your feelings and experiences are honored. Our initial sessions will focus on understanding your goals—what you want to achieve and how we can work together to get there. Therapy is a partnership, built on mutual commitment, and I will meet you exactly where you are—whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply seeking a better way to handle life’s ups and downs. My hope is to support you every step of the way as you work toward a life that feels more balanced, more meaningful, and truly worth living.
Before becoming a Mental Health Counselor, I spent eight years working in schools as a school psychologist, which gave me a deep appreciation for the unique challenges and strengths of children and adolescents. My journey into mental health has always been driven by a genuine desire to help others find their voice and their path. During my undergraduate studies at St. John’s University, I explored the powerful connection between sleep and social justice, which sparked my ongoing passion for social justice-oriented work.
I earned my master’s degree at Brooklyn College, where the themes of social justice and our shared humanity were at the heart of my learning. I believe that everyone is acomplex, beautifully imperfect human being, and I strive to approach each person with openness, empathy, and curiosity. Outside of work, I love taking care of myself through cooking, exploring new hobbies, and continuing my own growth journey.
I feel privileged to be part of your healing process and to help you discover the strength and resilience within yourself. Whether you’re struggling with intense emotions or simply seeking a more fulfilling life, I am here to support you with kindness, patience, and hope.
LMHC
“Being highly sensitive does not at all rule out being, in your
own way, you are a tenacious survivor.”
Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.
“Being highly sensitive does not at all rule out being, in your own way, you are a tenacious survivor.”
Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.
I believe that people do the best they can with the skills they have, while also having the capacity to learn new ways of coping and responding.
Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I help clients better understand intense emotions, difficult patterns, and behaviors that may be getting in the way of the life they want. Together, we work to increase self-awareness, build practical coping skills, improve relationships, and develop greater confidence in managing challenging situations.
My approach balances acceptance with change. Therapy is a place to understand yourself more clearly while also learning concrete strategies that can help you move forward.
Sessions with me are collaborative, supportive, and active. I want clients to feel heard and respected while also knowing that we are working toward clear goals.
We may look at situations from your week, identify patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and explore what contributed to difficult moments. We also practice DBT skills that can help with emotion regulation, distress tolerance, communication, and making more effective choices.
I bring warmth and compassion to the work while also helping clients challenge patterns that may no longer be serving them. My goal is to help you build practical skills you can use outside of therapy and create meaningful, lasting change.
I’m a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor who enjoys helping people make sense of intense emotions, relationship difficulties, and patterns that can feel hard to change.
Before joining Suffolk DBT, I spent two years working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, where I gained experience helping individuals manage significant emotional and behavioral challenges. That experience reinforced my interest in helping clients develop effective coping strategies and build greater stability in their everyday lives.
At Suffolk DBT, I work as part of a collaborative treatment team and help clients build skills they can use both during treatment and in their everyday lives.
I know starting therapy can feel intimidating, so I focus on creating a genuine, comfortable therapeutic relationship where clients can be themselves while working toward greater confidence, emotional balance, and a more fulfilling life.
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active, reading, and taking time to recharge.
Director Of Operations
Denise is a long-standing and invaluable member of the Suffolk DBT team. She joined the practice in 2012 and, through her dedication, reliability, and unmatched work ethic, was quickly promoted to Office Manager. Today, as Director of Operations, Denise oversees the many moving parts that keep Suffolk DBT running smoothly each day.
Her responsibilities include payroll, employee onboarding, office operations across all locations, vendor coordination, purchasing and maintaining office supplies, facility needs, administrative workflows, scheduling systems, human resources support, day-to-day business operations, and helping implement new policies and procedures. Behind the scenes, Denise is often the person solving problems before anyone else even realizes they exist.
Denise’s down-to-earth nature helps everyone who visits Suffolk DBT feel comfortable, supported, and at ease. She is passionate about creating an environment where clients, families, and staff feel welcomed and cared for from the moment they walk through the door.
Denise is often the first person team members and clients turn to when challenges arise. She helps resolve client concerns, navigate complex scheduling and administrative issues, support families in finding solutions to barriers to treatment, and ensure concerns are addressed promptly and professionally. Her ability to listen, problem-solve, and find practical solutions helps both clients and staff feel supported during difficult situations.
More than a Director of Operations, Denise is Jeanette’s trusted right hand, a friend and resource to every member of the team, and an integral part of Suffolk DBT’s success. Her dedication, loyalty, and commitment to both staff and clients have helped shape the culture of the practice for more than a decade. Denise is the person who keeps everything running smoothly, allowing the clinical team to focus on what matters most: providing exceptional care to the individuals and families we serve.
LMSW
I believe that everyone is doing their best to move through life with the tools currently at their disposal. My job as a clinician is to be honest, non-judgmental, and accepting of those who are seeking support in self-discovery and healing and to support individuals in learning new tools to navigate the challenges that arise in both crisis and day-to-day life.
When beginning our work together, we will focus on establishing rapport and your commitment to and understanding of the treatment model of DBT. Our work together will involve establishing goals, exploring the roots of behaviors that interfere with your ability to reach those goals, and creating a mutually agreed upon plan to create new behaviors that will support you on your life-long journey. We will work together as a team to use your ingrained strengths along with the strategies and principles of DBT to learn different ways of navigating the world around you.
From a young age, I supported those around me in managing crises by being honest and non-judgmental, by acknowledging where an individual’s personal choices meet the uncontrollable circumstances of life and how to do better where those roads meet. It was these experiences that led me to pursue higher education, in hopes that I could learn how to support people in their healing journeys.
As an emotionally sensitive person myself, I’ve had my own personal challenges and ways of dealing with life that did not serve my personal and professional goals. Using the principles of DBT, especially skills related to emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance, has benefited me substantially in all aspects of my life.
After graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2013 with a Bachelors in psychology with a minor in cognitive sciences and a certification in victim advocacy, I moved back to my home state of New York to further pursue a Masters degree in Social Work from Stony Brook University. After graduating, I worked for almost eight years in the NYC child welfare system, supporting children with disabilities and their families through impossible situations where often the only thing they could control was how they responded to the world around them.
I have always had a strong sense of social justice and working with children with disabilities in the NYC foster care system, some of the most vulnerable people in the United States, further solidified this commitment. I welcome working with individuals of any age, gender, race, or creed, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I am committed to the lifelong continuation of my education to understand perspectives and experiences different from my own.
I value all of the professional experiences and my own lived experiences that have brought me to where I am today. We all have strengths, just as we all have room for improvement in our lives. I truly appreciate how the DBT model provides space for those two ideas to live together and I am grateful to be able to bring the skills I have learned along my own journey to Suffolk DBT.
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 2013 – Bachelors of Science in Psychology, minor in
cognitive sciences, certification in victim advocacy
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 2017 – Masters of Social Work, Licensed Social Worker
Client Coordinator
As Suffolk DBT’s Client Coordinator, Rosie Colon is often the very first person individuals and families speak with when reaching out for help. Known for her warmth, compassion, and genuine desire to support others, Rosie helps guide prospective clients through the initial steps of exploring whether Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) may be the right fit for their needs.
Rosie is passionate about DBT and the life-changing skills it teaches. More than simply discussing the model, she actively applies DBT principles in her own life, giving her a unique appreciation for the challenges and growth that come with learning new ways of coping, communicating, and navigating difficult emotions.
Within Suffolk DBT, Rosie is a trusted source of support for both clients and team members. She approaches every interaction with validation, empathy, and a commitment to helping others feel understood. Whether she is assisting a family seeking services, answering questions about our programs, or supporting our clinical team behind the scenes, Rosie consistently goes above and beyond.
Her dedication, reliability, and collaborative spirit make her an invaluable member of our team. Rosie genuinely cares about every individual who becomes part of the Suffolk DBT community and works tirelessly to help create an environment where clients and families feel welcomed, supported, and hopeful from their very first contact with our practice.
LMSW
“Being highly sensitive does not at all rule out being, in your
own way, you are a tenacious survivor.”
Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.
“Being highly sensitive does not at all rule out being, in your own way, you are a tenacious survivor.”
Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.
I want to work closely with each client to create a space where you feel heard, respected, supported, and genuinely understood. I know that opening up can be difficult, especially during vulnerable or emotional moments. My goal is to meet you where you are, understand what feels hard for you, and help you move through life with greater confidence and a strongersense of control.
My own experience with therapy has shown me how meaningful it can be to have a place where you can talk openly, process what you are going through, and feel cared for without judgment. Growing up, there were times when I wished I had known more about the support and resources available to me. Those experiences are part inspired me to become a therapist and to help others feel less alone in what they are going through.
I believe therapy is not about changing who you are. It is about understanding yourself more deeply, recognizing your strengths, and learning new ways to cope with the things that feel overwhelming. Through DBT, we can work together to build practical skills that help you manage emotions, handle difficult situations, improve relationships, and create a life that feels more manageable and meaningful.
She firmly believes that genuine connection and acceptance are vital in helping clients achieve meaningful, lasting change.
Every person is different, and I do not believe therapy should feel one-size-fits-all. I want you to feel like you can come into session exactly as you are that day.
During our time together, I want to understand you — what you are experiencing, what has been difficult, what matters to you, and what you hope will be different. We may talk through situations from your week, look at patterns in your emotions or reactions, and figure out what might help you respond differently the next time something feels overwhelming.
We will also work on practical DBT skills that you can use outside of session. I want therapy to feel collaborative, not like someone is simply telling you what you should do. We will figure things out together and find skills that actually make sense for you and your life.
Hi, I’m Alissa! I am a Licensed Master Social Worker, and I genuinely love learning, growing, and connecting with people.
Over the past several years, I have made many intentional changes in my own life, and those experiences have taught me a lot about patience, perseverance, commitment, and giving yourself grace along the way. I believe meaningful change takes time, and sometimes the most important thing you can do is keep showing up for yourself, even when things feel difficult.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my four younger sisters, working out, cycling, reformer Pilates, and strength training. I also enjoy trying new restaurants, exploring new places, and finding ways to maintain balance in my own life.
I consider myself an epistemophile — someone who genuinely loves learning and gaining knowledge. I am always curious, whether that means learning something new professionally, trying something different personally, or getting to know the unique experiences of the people I work with. I bring that same curiosity into therapy because every person has their own story, strengths, and way of seeing the world.
