Yushi Wang joined Columbia Health in 2021 as a licensed clinical social worker. Prior to Columbia, Yushi worked as a bilingual psychotherapist at Rutgers University Counseling Center. Yushi has also worked in the psychiatric emergency room at Rutgers University, where she provided psychiatric evaluations and crisis counseling to children, adolescents and adults. She has also worked in other settings including psychiatric hospitals, prison, and intensive in-home therapy.
Yushi believes in a strengths-based and person-centered approach in working with her clients. She has experience working with a variety of issues, including first-generation immigration issues, multiculturalism, depression, anxiety, OCD, relationships, adjustment issues, crisis counseling and intervention. She is passionate in serving ethnic minority students, first generation immigrants, and international students. Yushi is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Dr. Yaniv Phillips joined Columbia Health in 2004. Prior to Columbia, he was a senior clinical psychologist and supervisor at North Central Bronx Hospital, where he worked with HIV patients and their families, men with sexuality concerns, and couples. Yaniv earned his B.A. at Tel Aviv University, Israel and his M.A. and Ph.D. at Adelphi University Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies. He completed his internship at the Karen Horney Clinic. He continued on to complete specialized training at the advanced couples and family therapy program at the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.
Dr. Phillips’ professional interests include couples therapy, the psychology of immigration, relationship issues, and men’s experience of intimacy and sexual health. He sees individuals and couples for psychotherapy, and conducts experiential workshops for couples on enhancing relationships, as well as offering ongoing intensive workshop on procrastination. A member of the Counseling and Psychological Services' Outreach Team, Yaniv is bilingual, fluent in English and Hebrew.
Dr. Weiyen Chung joined Columbia Health in 2019. She received her Psy.D. from William James College, M.Med.Sc. from The University of Hong Kong, and her B.A. in Biology from Boston University. Prior to joining Columbia Health, Weiyen completed her pre-doctoral training at Astor Services for Children & Families in their outpatient and day treatment programs located in the Bronx. She also completed clinical externships at a public high school as well as both outpatient and residential settings, treating patients with adjustment issues, family and relationship conflict, depression, anxiety, self-harm behaviors, survivors of physical and sexual abuse, and veterans with substance use issues.
Weiyen’s clinical interests include neurodevelopmental disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), trauma, anxiety, depression, and acculturation. In her clinical work, Weiyen strives to create a safe and collaborative environment while integrating mindfulness and cognitive behavior therapy strategies.
Wardeh Hattab is a second-generation Arab-American clinical social worker. Prior to joining Columbia Health in 2020, Wardeh worked in psychiatric emergency rooms at Kings County Hospital and Bellevue Hospital. She has also worked in the inpatient detox and inpatient adult psychiatric units, and medical emergency room at Bellevue Hospital and at community mental health clinics where she treated children, couples, and families as well as adult patients. Wardeh served as a mental health volunteer with The Syrian American Medical Society in 2016 providing consultations to clinical staff working with Syrian refugees in Jordan.
Wardeh’s professional interests include cross-cultural counseling, Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) communities, Muslim communities, trauma work, LGBTQ+ students, sex therapy, students managing chronic medical conditions, and grief and bereavement.
Dr. Vincent Kiefner is a licensed psychologist at Columbia Health. Vincent earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Pennsylvania State University and his M.Ed. in College Counseling from the University of Delaware. He completed his B.A. in Psychology at Temple University where he also participated in the Honors Psychology program.
Vincent has a keen interest in college student mental health having served in different roles at four institutions of higher learning since 2003. He has experience in a broad range of counseling center activities, including, among others, crisis intervention, administrative evaluations, and outreach.
Vincent works from a psychodynamic framework but also incorporates multicultural, client-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and motivational interviewing approaches into his practice. He feels it is a privilege to work with college students as they represent a unique population with special interests and challenge. While Vincent is comfortable with a wide variety of client populations and presenting concerns, he has particular expertise working with first generation students, artists, architectural students, students who identify as GLBTIQ, international students, relationship issues, trauma, and body image concerns.
Dr. Sunita Mohabir joined Columbia Health in 2023. She received her Ph.D. from the City University of New York and her B.A. from Columbia University School of General Studies. Prior to Columbia, Sunita worked as a supervising psychologist at North Central Bronx Hospital and was co-director of the psychology externship program at NCB. Her roles included working on adult/geriatric inpatient psychiatric units, emergency room, and supervising/mentoring doctoral students. She completed her doctoral internship at North Central Bronx Hospital. Her graduate training included work in Behavioral Health at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Sunita’s professional interests include acculturation, diversity issues, first generation issues, professional development, and women’s issues. As a graduate of the School of General Studies, she has a keen interest in working with students in the program.
Dr. Steven Carter joined Columbia Health in August 2021. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, he completed a pre-doctoral internship at Pace University’s Counseling Center. Throughout his doctoral training, he engaged in clinical externships at NYU Counseling and Wellness Services, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, and New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center’s Adult Outpatient Unit. His dissertation research focused on exploring the frequency and severity of discrimination experienced by multiracial individuals by developing and piloting the Multiracial Microaggressions Scale (MMS).
Steven has extensive experience working with college-aged students, as well as children, adolescents, and adults. His training has primarily concentrated on psychodynamic theory with focuses on interpersonal and relational approaches. He has also received dedicated training in dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and multicultural theory. He is committed to using these approaches when working with a diverse student population to address stressors such as adjustment, racial/ethnic identity development, depression, anxiety, acculturation, and interpersonal challenges.
Dr. Sowmya Kshtriya (she/her/hers) is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia Health. She conducts intakes, individual psychotherapy, co-leads group therapy, and partakes in drop-in hours for undergraduate and graduate students across campus.
Sowmya earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics and Psychology from the University of Toronto, her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College Columbia University, and her Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology from Montclair State University.
Prior to joining CPS, Sowmya was trained in a variety of clinical settings and worked with diverse populations including children, adolescents, and young to older adults with trauma, depression, anxiety, and chronic and persistent mental illness. Sowmya completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Manhattan Psychiatric Center working with acutely traumatized adults with severe mental illness. In addition, she completed three clinical externships working with incarcerated individuals with PTSD and other mental disorders at Rikers Island Correctional Facility, provided treatment for young adults with attachment and relationship issues at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, and worked with adolescents with acute and chronic mental health issues at the SCO Family of Services.
Sowmya identifies as a Global Citizen and her research interests include investigating psychological trauma in the context of natural/human-made disasters, trauma resilience, recovery, meaning-making, post-traumatic growth, spirituality, and global mental health. Her clinical interests include working with PTSD/trauma survivors, young adult mental health, attachment, relationship, adjustment, and existential issues. Her treatment approach is primarily integrative, and she utilizes a modality that best suits her clients including psychodynamic, gestalt, cognitive behavior therapy/CBT, recovery-oriented cognitive therapy/CTR, and dialectical behavior therapy/DBT-based interventions.
Sophia Savory joined Columbia Health in 2003.
Shirley Matthews joined Columbia Health in 2009. Prior to Columbia, Shirley was the director of counseling services at Seton Hall University. She received her B.A. from Hamilton College, M.A. in organizational psychology from Teachers College at Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from New York University. Shirley completed her doctoral internship in psychology at Gouverneur Hospital and Bellevue Hospital in New York City.
First and foremost, Shirley sees herself as a generalist who is deeply interested in the developmental issues of young adults. Additional areas of focus include community level mental health interventions, positive psychology, and the development of intuitive eating strategies as a means of developing optimal weight, health and fitness. Shirley also has a strong interest in developmental and acculturation issues, especially those of professional women of color. She also specializes in the treatment of individual, group and relationship counseling.
Dr. Sherina Persaud is a clinical psychologist at Columbia Health. Prior to joining as full-time staff, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Counseling and Psychological Services. Sherina completed a pre-doctoral internship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel with rotations in neuropsychology, child and adolescent psychology, inpatient and outpatient treatment for adults. She has also completed clinical externships working with women’s perinatal mental health, crisis intervention, substance use disorders, and community mental health in both Spanish and English.
Sherina earned her B.A. in psychology at Barnard College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The New School for Social Research. She has comprehensive research and clinical experience in sexual and gender identities, trauma-related disorders, substance abuse, attachment theory, and with families who have used assisted reproduction to conceive.
Working from a primarily psychodynamic perspective, Sherina aims to approach treatment in an open, nonjudgmental way to integrate various techniques to best fit the needs of the patient. At Counseling and Psychological Services, Sherina is on the trauma team as well as the sexual and gender identity issues team and the multicultural concerns team. Her professional interests include multicultural and racial issues, sexual and gender identity, women’s health, trauma-related disorders, mindfulness and substance abuse.
Sara Kaplan joined Columbia Health in 2022. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, she completed her pre-doctoral internship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Throughout her clinical training, Sara gained clinical experience through clinical externships at New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis, Bellevue Hospital Center, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and Long Island University’s Psychological Services Center.
Clinically, Sara works primarily from a relational psychodynamic perspective, and she believes that the trust and safety of the therapeutic relationship is essential for therapy to be successful. Sara also has received training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based approaches to treatment. She believes that flexibility is key in therapy and works to individualize treatment to fit each of her patient’s unique needs. Sara is interested in helping students navigate a variety of issues, including those related to identity and self-esteem, disordered eating and body image difficulties, relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Sara Berger joined Columbia Health in 2005. Prior to Columbia, Sara was an administrator of outpatient and residential treatment programs. She also provided administrative and quality assurance consultation to a variety of mental health agencies, including the New York State Office of Mental Health.
Sara's professional interests include the administration of clinical programs to ensure that they remain responsive to the populations they serve and provide their client populations with highest level of clinical care. While Sara is licensed to practice social work, she uses her training to enhance her role as a full-time administrator at Counseling and Psychological Services.
Dr. Richard J. Eichler has a long affiliation with Columbia, having earned his BA, MS, MPhil, and PhD at Columbia. He joined what was then the Columbia College Counseling Service in 1986 as a staff psychologist. Since 1992, Richard served as director and subsequently executive director of the Counseling and Psychological Services division of Columbia Health.
While completing his PhD, Richard trained at a Veterans’ Administration clinic and at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he completed his internship in clinical psychology. Among other professional activities early in his career, he worked on a research project on sex role socialization in nursery schools and day care centers, reflecting a long-standing interest and commitment to gender equality. Prior to joining the Columbia Health team, he provided psychotherapy to a culturally diverse population at Bronx Municipal Hospital Center and concurrently studied the delivery of health care services for disabled and chronically ill children at the Preventive Intervention Research Center for Child Health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Richard has taught numerous undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral courses in psychology and psychotherapy, including classes in human development at Columbia College and classes in psychodynamic psychotherapy and developmental psychopathology at Teachers College. He has also taught courses and seminars in adolescent development and college mental health practice at the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program of the William Alanson White Institute.
Dating back to his time at the Veterans Administration, he maintains an ongoing interest in the welfare of military veterans. Other areas of particular professional interest include: psychological opportunities and pitfalls of adolescence and young adulthood; early intervention and prevention strategies; the impact of cultural variables on personal development; evolving relationships through the lifespan; social injustice and trauma; psychological obstacles to academic and career success; and the application of psychoanalytic thinking to brief therapy.
Richard is also especially versed in helping students with learning disabilities navigate university life, and helping young adults and their parents renegotiate their evolving relationships. He is a frequent speaker at professional conferences and community events, addressing various topics such as transitioning to college, the social and emotional concomitants of learning disabilities, improving access to mental health care, and suicide prevention.
Richard has served as a consultant to the College Mental Health section of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry, and in collaboration with its membership, co-authored a paper in response to mental health crises on college campuses. He has also served on the Clinical Advisory Board of the Jed Foundation. He is currently on the Editorial Board of the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy.
Renee Gibbs joined Columbia Health in 2020 after nine years of psychology practice in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Gibbs provided treatment and led program development efforts in eating disorder treatment and training, including serving as the national lead trainer and consultant for the Eating Disorder Initiative. In addition to eating disorder treatment, Dr. Gibbs's work has included multidisciplinary therapy for gender transition and gender dysphoria, program development for severe and persistent mental illness, and delivery and adaptations of dialectical behavior therapy. Her primary career goals are to improve multidisciplinary care and psychotherapeutic outcomes for eating disorder patients and increase access to eating disorder treatment in public health settings.
Dr. Gibbs completed her doctoral degree at Seattle Pacific University in 2011 and training experiences in public mental health and VA settings. Her interests outside of work include her family, international travel, and dance.
Dr. Regina Lara joined Columbia Health in 2008. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, and her Medical Degree at the University of the East – Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, also in the Philippines. She came to New York City for her residency in general adult psychiatry at Beth Israel Medical Center. Afterward she completed her two-year fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine/Mount Sinai Hospital.
Lara worked as an attending physician on the child/adolescent inpatient unit, as well as medical director for the Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic and Integrated Family Care Program at the Mount Sinai Hospital. She also worked for two years as a child psychiatrist with the Staten Island Mental Health Society.
Lara enjoys the opportunity to engage with young adults who are discovering and developing their identities while also navigating the challenges of an exacting academic institution. She is as interested in working with issues of adapting to a new country or culture while remaining steadfast in holding important traditions and beliefs. While working with her will usually entail the use of medications, whether for anxiety, or depression, or ADHD, she always emphasizes that incorporating non-pharmacologic practices and cultivating meaningful and healthy relationships are essential for anyone to achieve true mental and psychological health.
Rachel Turkel (she/her) joined Columbia Health in 2023. Prior to joining Columbia, she worked for several global health non-profit organizations, which included work in mental health, malaria prevention, and digital health technologies. Rachel earned her Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.) from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, with a focus on Social and Behavioral Interventions.
Rachel’s professional interests include behavior change communications, health systems, bioethics, and cultural competency. She is passionate about the need for continuous quality improvement in healthcare settings to provide recipients with quality care.
Rachel Rush joined Columbia Health in fall 2016. Prior to Columbia, Rachel worked as a social worker at Bellevue Hospital in both the Psychiatry Walk-in Clinic and the Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, where she assisted individuals in getting connected to mental health resources. She also provided triage and crisis management services, conducted individual and group psychotherapy, and supervised graduate social work and psychology students.
Prior to Bellevue Hospital, she worked at the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice, where she provided individual and group psychotherapy to individuals with primary substance use disorders. She received her M.S.W. in clinical social work from New York University and her B.A. in religious studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Rachel also received her seminar in field instruction certification from the Hunter School of Social Work in 2014, and her certificate in relational psychotherapy/psychoanalysis from the Stephen Mitchell Center for Relational Studies in 2015.
Rachel’s professional interests include assisting individuals in connecting to mental health services that match their clinical and financial needs, as well as the intersection of spirituality and psychotherapy, identity development, mindfulness for stress reduction, and group psychotherapy.
Dr. Nonso Enekwechi joined Columbia Health in 2016. Nonso completed his residency in psychiatry at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center. He also completed his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital of Cornell and Columbia Universities, with a focus on child and adolescent public psychiatry.
Nonso earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, and masters of public health degree from the University of Iowa College of Public Health. In addition to his position at Columbia Health, he is also a child and adolescent psychiatrist at New York City Children’s Center.
Nicole Vigoda Gonzalez, Psy.D., joined Columbia Health in 2017. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, Nicole completed a pre-doctoral internship at Jacobi Medical Center with rotations in neuro-pediatric developmental psychology, medical rehabilitation, and inpatient and outpatient treatment for adults. She has also completed clinical externships working with survivors of trauma, cross-cultural issues, crisis intervention and community mental health with English- and Spanish-speaking populations.
Nicole earned her B.A. and M.A. in anthropology from the Universidad de los Andes in her hometown of Bogota, Colombia. Later, she completed an Ed.M in psychological counseling at Teachers College, and a Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Rutgers University. In her clinical work, Nicole uses a primarily psychodynamic approach, yet strives to create an individualized treatment that best fits the needs of the patient. As a bicultural and bilingual woman, Nicole pays particular attention to aspects related to cultural identity that may impact the treatment. In addition to English, she is fluent in Spanish.
Ngozi Okezie joined Columbia Health in 2007. Prior to Columbia, Ngozi was a staff psychiatrist in outpatient mental services and the director of child and adolescent outpatient services at Saint Vincent's Hospital, Westchester. She was also an assistant professor of psychiatry at New York Medical College.
Ngozi attended Bryn Mawr College and Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and went on to do further advanced training in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. She then completed a research fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry, concentrating on child mental services delivery. Ngozi's professional interests include ADHD, mood disorders and cultural issues.
Dr. Motoni Fong Hodges joined Columbia Health in 2015. Prior to Columbia, Motoni taught at Teachers College as a lecturer and adjunct assistant professor. Motoni completed her doctoral internship in counseling psychology at the University of Oregon Counseling Center, a postdoctoral fellowship on feminist psychodynamic psychotherapy at Stony Brook University Wo/Men’s Center, and psychoanalytic training at the William Alanson White Institute.
Motoni’s professional interests include acculturation and marginalization, and working with international students, students of color, and LGBTQ students.
Michele Goldman joined Columbia Health in 2020. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in traumatic stress from Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. Prior to joining Columbia, Michele completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Hampton Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, VA. She then accepted a full time staff psychologist position at Veteran’s Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus.
Michele has also worked in a variety of settings including residential treatment programs, schools, prisons, and rehabilitation/medical units. Her clinical interests have focused on issues related to trauma, relational patterns, anxiety, depression and Veteran specific issues. Due to the fact that she has worked with individuals across the age span and from multiple settings, Michele approaches treatment in a nonjudgmental way, focused on meeting the individual where they are, integrating techniques to best fit the needs of each person. She will often incorporate a mindfulness-based approach in her work with students.
Dr. Michael Perez Sosa is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Counseling and Psychological Services of Columbia Health. Prior to joining CPS, he completed his pre-doctoral internship at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx. Michael received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the City University of New York and his B.A. in Psychology and Religion from Columbia University School of General Studies.
Michael has clinical experience in a variety of treatment settings such as community mental health, college counseling, consultation liaison, partial hospitalization, and psychiatric inpatient and outpatient units. He is interested in working with all students and particularly those suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, chronic stress, relationship challenges, difficult family dynamics, severe mental illness, and multicultural/acculturation challenges.
Michael identifies as a contemplative psychotherapist grounded in a psychodynamic relational approach. He incorporates insights gleaned from neuroscience, polyvagal theory, and Madhyamika philosophy interwoven with contemplative methods such as mindfulness and compassion meditation practices, skill building, psychoeducation, breath work, and imagery.
Dr. Mercedes J. Okosi joined Columbia Health in 2023. She received her Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) at The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University. She completed a doctoral internship at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and West Hospitals. Prior to joining Columbia, she held a position as clinical director of the Safe Mothers, Safe Children Initiative at New York University’s McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research where she led a program for women in the child welfare system experiencing PTSD. Dr. Okosi has experience in a variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient hospital settings, schools, community organizations, and private practice.
Much of Dr. Okosi’s work has been focused on the impact of trauma on marginalized populations including those within the African diaspora, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Dr. Okosi also uses an integrative and patient-centered approach to work with patients managing a range of issues including mood disorders, anxiety, difficult relationship patterns, and identity.
Mengpin Zhang joined Columbia Health in 2023. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, she completed her pre-doctoral internship at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Throughout her clinical training, Mengpin gained clinical experience through clinical externships at Psychiatric Institute of Washington, the George Washington University Center Clinic and Culpepper Gardens.
Clinically, Mengpin works primarily from a psychodynamic perspective, and she likes to explore the relationship between a person’s internal world and external world of significant others. Mengpin also has received training in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), Lacanian and feminist therapy. She believes that flexibility is key in therapy and works to tailor the treatment to each of her patient’s unique needs. Mengpin is interested in helping students navigate a variety of issues, including those related to childhood and relational trauma, relationship concerns, multicultural issues, as well as disordered eating and body image difficulties.
Dr. Melanie Kressel is a Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow. She conducts individual and group psychotherapy with undergraduate and graduate students. She also conducts drop-in hours, intakes, and outreach events across campus.
Throughout her doctoral clinical training, Melanie has worked in a variety of settings including university counseling centers, hospitals, as well as psychoanalytic institutes. Prior to her doctoral training, she also completed a masters in mental health counseling, earning a specialization in working with individuals experiencing eating and weight concerns.
Melanie has extensive experience working with college aged students as well as adults. She primarily approaches her work from a relational psychodynamic framework, providing a warm supportive space and valuing the importance of the therapeutic relationship. She also believes in collaboration and flexibility in order to tailor treatment to meet the unique needs of each individual. Melanie’s clinical interests include anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, interpersonal and relationship difficulties, eating disorders, as well as weight/body image concerns.
Dr. Marina E. Mazur (she/her) is a clinical psychologist who joined Columbia Health in 2024. Previously she worked as a staff psychologist at the Center for Intensive Treatment of Personality Disorders (CITPD) at Mount Sinai, where she provided individual and group psychotherapy and supervised psychology interns and externs. Prior to joining CITPD Marina served as an Associate Director of Mental Health at Correctional Health Services on Rikers Island.
Marina received her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University and her B.A. in psychology from Hofstra University. During her graduate training she completed a pre-doctoral internship at Kings County Hospital and externships at Coney Island Hospital and the Child and Family Institute at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Marina believes in working collaboratively with clients and strives to provide a warm and nonjudgmental environment to anyone joining her in the therapy room. She utilizes a relational psychodynamic framework, incorporating aspects of cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral techniques to address individualized needs. Her professional interests include multicultural issues, acculturation, relational difficulties, perinatal and postpartum wellness, identity development, and spiritual and religious concerns.
Maria Narimanidze (she/her) is a clinical psychologist who joined Columbia Health in 2023. Prior to joining as full-time staff, she spent 5 years working at Mount Sinai West’s Center for Intensive Treatment of Personality Disorders (CITPD), where she conducted individual and group psychotherapy, as well as supervised psychology externs, interns, and psychiatry residents.
Maria earned her B.A. in psychology from New York University, her M.A. in psychology from Adelphi University, and her Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Long Island University (LIU) – Post. During her training at LIU, Maria completed clinical externships at Jamaica Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, and her pre-doctoral internship at Manhattan Psychiatric Center (MPC). Following her internship, Maria stayed on to work at MPC for 2 years as an inpatient psychologist.
Maria believes in working collaboratively and holistically, providing care that is trauma-informed and culturally responsive through a psychodynamic lens, incorporating aspects of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and mindfulness skills as needed. She is also a certified group psychotherapist and particularly enjoys running structured and process groups on a variety of topics, including mindfulness, intimacy and interpersonal relationships, and conflict, as well as DBT skills.
Her professional interests include multicultural and racial issues, acculturation, trauma, interpersonal conflict, struggles with identity and sense of self, and ADHD. As an immigrant herself, she is particularly interested in helping international students and those recent to the U.S. adjust to life at Columbia and in NYC more broadly.
Margaret B. Walker joined Columbia Health in 1986. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The Derner Institute at Adelphi University, M.A. in French Poetry and Counseling Psychology from Tufts University, and B.A. from Boston University. While at Tufts, she taught French to undergraduates and worked for two years as an intern at the Tufts University Counseling Center. She completed her doctoral internship in clinical psychology at The Bronx State Psychiatric Center.
Maggi's interests have always focused on late adolescent development. She is particularly interested in the issues associated with leaving home for college and forming a separate identity from parents, which was the subject of her doctoral dissertation. She specializes in individual, couples, and group counseling, ADHD screening, body image issues and relationship issues.
Marcia Stern joined Columbia Health in 2019. Prior to joining Columbia she worked as a Military Sexual Trauma Counselor for the Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Service, providing individual and group therapy. Marcia has supervised numerous treatment and clinical research projects including a treatment effectiveness trial for children and adolescents exposed to the events of 9/11 at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Jewish Board of Children & Family Services, assessment of a school-based suicide prevention screen at the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University, and training student law guardians in mental health issues at the Hofstra University School of Law.
Marcia received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University and her B.A. in Psychology from Brooklyn College. She completed her internship training in clinical psychology at Hillside Hospital,
Long Island Jewish Medical Center and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
Marcia enjoys working with a wide range of students including those concerned with issues of adjustment, anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, and interpersonal problems. Her professional interests include the impact of exposure to trauma, veterans, and women’s issues.
Manali Roy joined Columbia Health in 2022. Prior to Columbia, she worked as a staff psychologist at the North Central Bronx Hospital where she also completed her pre-doctoral internship. At the hospital, she worked in various clinical settings including inpatient psychiatric unit, psychiatric emergency services, and consultation-liaison psychiatry services. She has previously trained at the University of Toledo Psychology Clinic and the Zepf Center in Ohio, and at community mental health centers in India. Dr. Roy received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toledo and Master’s in Psychology from Adelphi University. She also earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology and Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Calcutta, India.
Dr. Roy works primarily from acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches while integrating psychodynamic perspectives as clinically indicated to meet the person where they are at. She aims to create a trauma-informed, empathic, collaborative, and non-judgmental space in therapy with the goal of fostering wellness. Her clinical interests include experiences of anxiety, depression, psychosis, emotional dysregulation, and interpersonal difficulties. Addressing intersectionality, multicultural concerns, immigrant experiences, and issues affecting international students (such as acculturative stress) are important in her clinical work. Dr. Roy is a part of the Counseling and Psychological Services' Outreach Team. She is fluent in Bengali and Hindi.
Dr. Laura Gonzalez (she/her/hers) is a Psychologist at Columbia Health. She conducts individual psychotherapy with undergraduate and graduate students. She also conducts drop-in hours, co-leading group therapy, and participates in outreach events across campus.
Dr. Laura Gonzalez received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College and completed her doctoral internship at the University of Miami Counseling Center, where she was a part of the Sexual Assault and Response Team. Before joining CPS, Dr. Gonzalez was trained in various clinical settings, including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, community mental health centers, outpatient clinics, and college counseling centers.
Laura has extensive experience working with adolescents and young adults experiencing depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, family conflict, body image concerns, acculturation issues, and coping with traumatic experiences. She approaches her work from a psychodynamic and relational cultural framework, valuing the importance of relationships and the impact of one’s environment on their life. Laura also brings a social justice orientation to her work with students, working to understand the role of systems on students’ mental health. Her clinical interests include working with students facing interpersonal relationship challenges, survivors of trauma and violence, and first-generation students. Laura is bilingual (English/Spanish) and appreciates working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Latisha Culley is a health services assistant at Counseling and Psychological Services.
Dr. Kwame Akowuah joined Columbia Health in 2017. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, Kwame was director of the Continuing Day Treatment program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute’s Audubon Clinic, where he also worked as a staff psychiatrist. Additionally, he was an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Kwame completed his residency training at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Cornell Medical Center. He then went on to complete a fellowship in psychiatry and the law at New York University Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital.
Kwame's professional interests include mood disorders, psychosis, and perceptual disorders, drug and alcohol use, medicolegal ethics, and questions surrounding religion and spiritual identity.
Kori Bennett joined Columbia Health in 2015. Ze received hir doctorate of clinical psychology at the University of Indianapolis and completed a doctoral internship at Wichita State University’s Counseling and Testing Center. Prior to joining Columbia, ze completed postdoctoral fellowships at University of California, Merced Counseling and Psychological Services, and Stanford University’s CAPS in the Gender and Sexual Identities Track. Much of Kori’s clinical and outreach work has focused on the wellbeing of students who are gender expansive, sexual minority, international, and first generation.
Ze is also interested in working with students to explore issues relevant to identity intersectionality, gender and sexuality, perfectionism, mindfulness, and relational patterns.
Dr. Kim Nguyen joined Columbia Health in 2021. She received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco. She completed her doctoral internship at the National Asian American Psychology Training Center at RAMS Inc., where she worked with survivors of trauma, provided psychotherapy addressing cross-cultural issues, carried out crisis interventions, and conducted therapeutic work with English and Vietnamese-speaking individuals. She completed her postdoctoral training at CUNY Brooklyn College. There, she was the therapist liaison for the LGBTQ Resource Center, and worked with students from diverse backgrounds, including students who were first in their family to attend college. Prior to joining Columbia, she worked in the inpatient unit at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and CUNY The City College of New York Counseling Center.
As a bicultural, bilingual clinician, Kim values one’s cultural identities in therapeutic work and collaborates with individuals to create psychological care that meets the needs of the patient. In addition to English, she is fluent in Vietnamese.
Keesha Miller is a licensed clinical social worker who received her M.S.W. from New York University in 2018. In addition to her work at Columbia Health, Keesha works as an Adjunct Instructor for the online M.S.W. program at Simmons University and is a course instructor for Dynamics of Racism and Oppression.
Prior to joining Columbia Health in 2023, Keesha worked at Harlem Children's Zone and held positions as a School Social Worker, Social Services Team Manager, and Education Coordinator for M.S.W. and M.H.C. Internships. She has also worked at Children's Aid, where she provided home-based individual and family therapy to families at risk of youth out-of-home placement.
Keesha is interested in working with students seeking support around racial identity development, navigating experiences of racism and oppression related to intersecting identities, general anxieties, or life transitions. Keesha believes in providing holistic, affirming, non-judgmental spaces to promote a sense of safety and strength to allow for the exploration of thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Dr. Kasia J. Garland (she/her/hers) joined Columbia Health in 2022. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from George Washington University and her B.A. in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University. She completed her doctoral internship at Kings County Hospital. Prior to joining Columbia, she was an attending inpatient psychologist at Bellevue Hospital and a Clinical Instructor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She also previously served as an Associate Director of Mental Health at Rikers Island, working with a justice-involved population.
Kasia practices from a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and social justice-oriented lens. She is committed to providing a safe, collaborative, and non-judgmental environment for students of all backgrounds in order to promote understanding and well-being. She utilizes a tailored integrative approach that combines a psychodynamic framework with cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral techniques to meet the specific needs of each individual.
Kasia has a broad range of experience working at the intersections of race, gender and sexuality, and identity development. She has particular expertise in treating interpersonal difficulties, mood disorders, anxiety, complex trauma, and unusual experiences often known as “psychosis”. Kasia enjoys working with many common challenges that lead people to therapy and helping her patients achieve their goals.
Dr. Jung Rok Shin joined Columbia Health in 2023. Dr. Shin graduated from the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University where he received both a Master's degree in psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He completed his internship at the Baruch College Counseling Center where he worked in college counseling for over 10 years. Dr. Shin’s clinical interests include issues of identity development, culture/ethnicity, as well as trauma, grief, and spirituality. As a psychodynamically-trained psychologist, Dr. Shin helps people to see their issues in the context of their life experiences to better understand themselves and make healthier choices.
Julie is a Licensed Clinical Social worker who joined Columbia Health in Fall 2022. She received her M.S.W. in 2012 and began her career with experience in substance abuse disorders and emergency mental health at both the Stratton VA Medical Center and Columbia-Memorial Hospital in Hudson, NY. She has spent the last seven years conducting counseling and crisis work with adolescents in the NYS public school system, as well as Harlem Children’s Zone.
Julie believes in a holistic and non-judgmental approach to counseling that emphasizes both mind and body techniques, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her professional interests include working with anxiety disorders, relationship difficulties, ADHD, and addressing complex trauma.
Dr. Jorge Alvarenga (he/him) is a clinical psychology postdoctoral fellow at Counseling and Psychological Services at Columbia Health. He conducts intakes and provides psychological services for both undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Alvarenga provides individual therapy as well as co-leading group therapy groups.
Jorge gained experience working in numerous large urban hospitals in the city where he often worked with high-risk patients to ensure their safety and achieve treatment goals. Jorge has experience working with adults, children, and families as well as leading groups focused on Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Music Therapy, and general process groups. Jorge also has experience working with individuals with substance use disorders as well as traumatic experiences.
Jorge works from a psychodynamic perspective with a focus on interpersonal and relational dynamics as well as attachment theory. He also believes that it is important to be flexible in approaching treatment and can integrate more structured interventions when necessary and appropriate for treatment.
Dr. Jennifer Liu joined Columbia Health in 2020. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, Jennifer was the Deputy Director of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital. She has also been the Associate Director of Training for the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program and the Pediatric/Psychiatry/Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Triple Board) Program at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine. She earned a B.S. in Psychology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and received her M.D. from Drexel University. She completed her residency and fellowship in the Triple Board Program at Mount Sinai. Jennifer’s professional interests include mood and anxiety disorders, psychopharmacology, and the use of psychotherapy to optimize outcomes.
Javier Cordova joined Columbia Health in 2007. Prior to Columbia, Javier worked as an administrative assistant at a nursing and rehabilitation center in New Rochelle, New York. Javier has eight years' experience working as support staff in a clinical setting. Javier's interests include movies, dining, sports, and traveling. He plans to pursue a degree in computer science.
Dr. Helene Keable joined Columbia Health in 2004, while continuing as a psychiatrist at the Columbia University Medical Center Student Health Service. Prior to joining Columbia, she received her M.D. from Laval University in Canada and completed residencies in internal medicine at McGill Hospital Center, as well as in pediatrics and psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Hospital Center in New York. She went on to further advanced training in consultation-liaison at Long Island Jewish Hospital and psychoanalysis at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute.
Helene's professional interests include the impact of gender, trauma and culture on the development of young adults, the optimal integration of psychotherapy and medication, learning problems in young adults, and systems of delivering health care. In addition to her work at Columbia, she teaches and supervises the faculty of the New York Psychoanalytic Institute and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Hospital. She has written and lectured on the impact of medical illnesses on the psychological development of teenagers and young adults, and on the integration of psychotherapy and medication.
Dr. Heather O’Leary (she/her) joined Columbia Health in January 2024. She earned a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University, an M.A. in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University, and a B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. She also obtained post-graduate training in psychoanalytic theory and practice at the William Alanson White Institute.
Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, Dr. O’Leary practiced as a psychologist and director of Counseling Services at LIM College. She also has experience working with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings, including private practice, community mental health centers, and outpatient clinics. Dr. O’Leary has taught extensively in the Counseling Psychology program at Fordham University. Her clinical interests include cross-cultural issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, and difficulties with relationships or family conflict.
Dr. O’Leary primarily uses a psychodynamic approach tailored to the unique needs, history, and intersecting identities of each individual. She focuses on working collaboratively to help individuals gain insight into the challenges they face and increase their ability to manage difficult emotions.
Outside of work she enjoys exploring new restaurants, biking, theater, and walks in Central Park with her dog.
After completed her postdoctoral training at Counseling and Psychological Services, Dr. HangYi Chen (she/her/hers) came on as a staff member in 2023 as a licensed psychologist. She provides individual and group psychotherapy, crisis mental health counseling, and intake evaluations. She works primarily from a psychodynamic-relational perspective, believing in the value of refining the understanding of the client's emotional landscape in the client-therapist dyad. She also honors the trauma-informed and culturally responsive sensibilities and integrates behavioral therapy strategies into her practice.
HangYi received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Fordham University. Prior to joining Columbia Health, HangYi completed her pre-doctoral internship at Harvard Medical School-Cambridge Health Alliance. She also received clinical training at various externship sites including VA and general hospital outpatient and inpatient settings. Before returning to school for psychology, HangYi worked as a licensed clinical social worker providing services to immigrants and refugee survivors of trauma. HangYi is interested in working with students to explore topics relevant to trauma, attachment, immigration and acculturation stressors, depression, anxiety, relational dynamics and concerns, and racial identity development.
Dr. Elizabeth Mirabello (she/her) joined Columbia Health in 2015. Prior to Columbia, Elizabeth was chief of psychiatry at Northern Westchester Hospital. She has worked also as a staff psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in various clinical settings including inpatient, emergency room and the intensive outpatient program. She was also an assistant clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.
Mirabello attended Barnard College and Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. She completed her psychiatry residency at the New York Hospital Payne Whitney Clinic (now New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center). Her professional interests include mood and anxiety disorders as well as women’s issues in psychiatry.
Dr. Eduvigis Cruz-Arrieta joined CPS in February 2018. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with 20 years of experience in health psychology. Prior to Columbia, she was a supervising psychologist at Lincoln Medical Center, part of the NYC Health & Hospital/Physicians Affiliates Group of NY. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of medical psychology at the CUNY School of Medicine.
She has been dedicated to providing quality care to underserved communities in NYC. As staff member of the CUMC Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood & Marrow Transplantation service, she served as Chair of its Diversity & Health Disparities Committee of the Children's Oncology Group. In her role, she participated in advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill representing the viewpoints of stakeholders about disparities in healthcare.
Dr. Cruz-Arrieta received her B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, followed by a M.A. in Clinical Psychology. She completed her clinical internship and pre-doctoral fellowship at NYU Bellevue Clinical Psychology Internship program, and received her doctorate from the City University of New York Graduate Center at City College. Her expertise and interests includes mood disorders, chronic illness, eating disorders, trauma and post-traumatic stress, life transitions (loss, grief, and end of life), multicultural concerns, as well as diversity and health disparity-related issues, complementary medicine (body/mind coping strategies; hypnosis; homeopathy), and psychology and the arts.
Eduvigis is originally from Puerto Rico and Spanish is her first language. She has resided in New York City since 1988, after retiring from professional classical ballet dancing and serving as an educator with Ballets de San Juan. Eduvigis believes in people’s capacity for continuous change and renewal, as they identify and fortify their inner strengths. Her goal is to help members of the Columbia University community to reach their goals.
Earmanese Granger joined Columbia Health in 1995. Prior to Columbia, Earmanese was an administrative assistant at The American Assembly, a public policy forum affiliated with Columbia University.
Dr. Doreen Han-Faver joined Columbia Health in 2015. Prior to Columbia, she worked as an attending psychiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital inpatient child/adolescent psychiatric unit and the psychiatric emergency room. She also worked in long-term outpatient treatment settings, including Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. She earned a B.A. in biochemistry at Columbia University and received her M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She then completed a psychiatric residency and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Doreen's professional interests include combined psychotherapy and psychopharmacology, mood and anxiety disorders, and cross-cultural issues.
Diana Morrobel, Ph.D., joined Columbia Health in 2013. Prior to joining Columbia Health, Diana worked as a psychologist and supervisor at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic for 11 years. In addition to her work at Columbia, she was an adjunct faculty member at Teachers College and supervised doctoral candidates in Clinical Psychology at City College. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Michigan State University and a B.A. from New York University. She completed her internship in clinical psychology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
Diana’s professional interests include acculturative stress and adjustment, multicultural and racial diversity, first-generation college students, developmental issues related to emerging adulthood, family and interpersonal conflicts, trauma and mood disorders.
Dr. Debra Domenech joined Columbia Health in 2001. Prior to Columbia, Debra was a supervising psychologist at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center. In addition to her degrees from Fordham University and The City University of New York, she completed advanced training at the New York University Postdoctoral Program, where she obtained a certificate in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.
Debra's professional interests include psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy, cultural diversity issues, treatment of affective disorders, and couples therapy. In addition to her work at Columbia, she is a clinical instructor at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center.
Dr. Deborah Ohm joined Columbia Health in 2021. She earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University – Post Campus. The majority of her clinical training has been within inpatient and outpatient hospital settings and community mental health clinics. Prior to Columbia Health, she was a supervising psychologist at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center where she helped coordinate the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program for adolescents, young adults, and their families. Dr. Ohm has extensive training and expertise in treating individuals with a wide range of difficulties including trauma, depression, anxiety, suicidality, intentional self-injury, struggles with identity and sense of self, and difficulties with relationships and family conflict.
Dr. Ohm uses an integrated approach in treatment focused on helping individuals gain insight into their patterns and increase adaptive skills to manage difficult emotions.
Dr. David Hittson joined Columbia Health as a psychologist in 2017. He also completed his post-doctoral fellowship at Counseling and Psychological Services. Prior to Columbia, David trained at the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses of the New York Harbor Veteran’s Administration Hospital, at Interfaith Medical Center, and at Barnard’s Furman Counseling Center. David attended New York University’s counseling psychology program and graduated in the summer of 2016. While there, his research interests focused on the relationship of acculturation to mental health. David’s professional interests include veteran’s issues, issues of acculturation, depression, anxiety, trauma, identity issues, relationship concerns, and adjustment concerns.
Dr. Dara Salem is a Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow at CPS, where she conducts intakes, provides individual and group psychotherapy, and holds drop-in hours.
Dara entered graduate school for psychology after having worked in various fields, including as a Corps Member with Teach for America, in academic publishing, and after obtaining a master’s degree in English (literature). She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University-Brooklyn. Dara completed her doctoral internship at Albany Medical Center, where she conducted individual and group therapy at the Veterans Administration, a state inpatient psychiatric hospital, and an outpatient clinic. Among other work at the VA, Dara held a rotation at the PTSD clinic.
Dara has also conducted individual and group therapy at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital; the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis; and several university mental health centers; including NYU, CUNY, and LIU-Brooklyn.
Dara believes in customizing therapy to the needs of the particular individual but is especially interested and extensively trained in psychodynamic, insight-oriented therapy. In particular, she enjoys working from a relational psychodynamic framework and using experiences arising in the “here and now” of the therapy process to inform the therapeutic work. Importantly, this includes the interpersonal dynamics between the therapist and client, and what implications these dynamics may hold for what may be occurring in the client’s relationships outside the therapy room.
In addition, Dara has particular interests in issues of identity, transition, interpersonal relationships, one’s relationship to society, and the experience of difference. As an immigrant herself, she is also interested in acculturation issues and the experience of international students. Among other characteristics, she appreciates the role of authenticity and humor in the therapeutic process.
Brittany (she/her/they/them) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who joined Columbia Health in February 2023. After receiving their M.S.W. in 2018, Brittany spent the next few years providing a wide range of services to adult professionals working in the entertainment and performing arts community through her work at The Actors Fund of America. Brittany has also worked at New York University’s Wellness Exchange providing crisis response and case management to students.
Brittany has a particular interest in working with students seeking support around eating disorders, body image, gender identity, sexuality, non-normative relationship structures, and general anxiety or life transition concerns.
Dr. Arthur Roh joined Columbia Health in 2022. Prior to Columbia, he worked as a licensed clinical psychologist at North Central Bronx Hospital in various settings including partial hospitalization program, adult inpatient units, and psychiatric emergency room. Dr. Roh also has trained at The New School Student Health Services, Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s Assertive Community Treatment Team, and Kings County Hospital’s adult inpatient units. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University and B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA.
Dr. Roh’s clinical interests include working specifically with young adults in acute crises who may be suffering from depression and anxiety in the context of trauma, relationship and adjustment issues, and the effects of marginalization on our personal, individual experiences that often intersect with our broader, social identities. Dr. Roh values working collaboratively to cultivate empathy and understanding of one’s self with the goal of moving towards healing and wellbeing. His professional interests include the impact of systems on marginalized communities, social justice advocacy in the mental health field, and Asian American issues.
Arielle Stein joined Columbia Health in 2023. She received her Psy.D. from Pace University and her B.A. in psychology from Barnard College. Prior to joining Columbia, Arielle practiced in a variety of settings, including the adult outpatient clinic and psychiatric emergency room at Elmhurst Hospital and a group private practice. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Jacobi Hospital, and has completed externships at a public elementary school, a public high school, and an outpatient clinic. In addition to working with individuals at many different life stages, Arielle has also received specialized training in couples therapy.
Arielle’s clinical work and interests include treating those in acute crisis and those suffering from anxiety and depression in the context of major life changes, relational issues, trauma, loss, and complicated family dynamics. Arielle prioritizes creating a safe and non-judgmental space, in which individuals feel supported as they work collaboratively towards well-being and understanding.
Dr. Annette Santiago-España joined Columbia Health in 2006. She became clinical team leader of the Eating Disorders Team in 2007. Prior to Columbia, Annette served as a psychologist at Princeton University Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services. She earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Indiana State University, M.A. at Andrews University, and B.A. at Rutgers University. She completed an internship in professional psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Counseling Center.
Annette's professional interests include eating disorders and body image, mindfulness and spirituality, acculturation and racial/ethnic identity development. In addition to individual therapy, Annette also facilitates the women of color support group. She enjoys helping students and communities identify strengths and resources that promote healthy development.
Dr. Anne Goldfield joined Columbia Health in 1994. She received her Ph.D. from the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research and her B.A. in Psychology at the City University of New York. Prior to Columbia, Anne worked as a clinical psychologist at North Central Bronx Hospital (NCB) and the Bronx Psychiatric Center and was director of the psychology externship program at NCB. She completed her doctoral internship in clinical psychology at The Bronx State Psychiatric Center.
Anne's professional interests include depression, anxiety, identity issues, first generation college students, the treatment of students with alcohol and other drug concerns, and developmental issues of emerging adulthood. In her outreach capacity, Anne works closely with many campus partners and student groups, and is committed to promoting mental health awareness on campus.
Andrew Colitz joined Columbia Health in 2014. Prior to Columbia, he completed a clinical psychology internship at North Shore Long Island Jewish-Lenox Hill Hospital, as well as clinical psychology externships at New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy, William Alanson White Institute, Maimonides Hospital and Mount Sinai Beth Israel. He also worked as a university mental health provider at Long Island University.
Andrew is interested in working with a variety of student concerns, including identity development, complicated relational issues and family dynamics, major life changes and adjustment, coping with traumatic experiences, as well as working with couples and students in group settings.
Dr. Allan Cassorla joined Columbia Health in 1997. He has served as associate director since 2001. Prior to Columbia, Allan was associate chief psychologist and director of training at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York.
Allan completed a clinical psychology internship at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and held clinical appointments at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology of The City University of New York, and St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center. Allan's professional interests include the diagnosis and treatment of a wide spectrum of psychological problems, as well as teaching and training mental health professionals.
Alexcia joined Columbia Health as a medical assistant in 2008. She is a patient services assistant at Counseling and Psychological Services.
Dr. Aisha Holder joined Columbia Health in 2015 as a postdoctoral psychology fellow. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, she completed her internship at Princeton House Behavioral Health, as well as clinical psychology externships at Rockland Psychiatric Center, Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia, and Iona College Counseling Center. Prior to pursuing a career in counseling, Aisha was a vice president at JPMorgan Chase in the corporate training group as a facilitator and project manager. During her tenure, she also served as a human resources business partner in the Investment Banking and Consumer Banking divisions, as well as a senior career advisor and project manager in the Career Advancement Program and as an associate in the Human Resources Associate Program.
Aisha received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Fordham University, her M.A. in psychological counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, and her B.A. in psychology from Spelman College. Aisha’s professional interests include multicultural counseling, racial microaggressions, career development, and eating disorders.
Dr. Addette Williams joined Columbia Health in 1999. Prior to Columbia, Addette completed a clinical psychology internship at North Central Bronx Hospital. She was also a therapist at the Brooklyn Center for Children and Families, and completed a graduate fellowship at the Psychological Counseling and Adult Development Center at The CUNY Graduate Center. She earned a B.A. in economics and political science from Yale University and a Ph.D. from The City University of New York. She has received professional training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and the Gottman Method for couples therapy.
Addette has a broad range of professional interests that include the psychological effects of trauma, the mental health of people of color, the integration of psychodynamically informed therapy with mindfulness-based practices, couples and gender issues. In addition, she facilitates a mindfulness group for those interested in learning how to meditate.
Adam Johnson joined Columbia Health in 2017. Adam received his doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in traumatic stress from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Ill. He also completed a fellowship in psychoanalysis with the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis in 2012.
Prior to joining Columbia, Adam completed his doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Veterans Affairs Caribbean Healthcare System in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has also worked in a variety of settings including private practice, community mental health and medical clinics. His clinical work and interests have focused on issues related to trauma, loss, bereavement, health psychology (e.g. smoking cessation, weight management, chronic and terminal illness), mindfulness, and relational patterns.
Adam is committed to the mental health of LGBTQ and veterans. He enjoys incorporating an individual’s creative talents (i.e. music, art) and spirituality into therapy. Adam also has extensive experience working with issues related to acculturation and cultural diversity. He has completed international psychology projects focused human rights, education and program development in Mexico, Costa Rica, South Africa and the Dominican Republic.
Aaron joined Columbia Health in 2021. Prior to working at Columbia Health, Aaron was a Patient Coordinator at Mount Sinai Hospital for almost 2 years. He also worked as a case manager at the Puerto Rican Family Institute for 1 year.
Counseling and Psychological Services Directory
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