Nicole L. Gonzalez, LCSW (she, her, hers)
Nicole is a psychotherapist with a history in business leadership roles, who passionate about enabling individuals and couples to overcome the effects of trauma and mental health challenges. Her clinical focus includes survivors of trauma, interpersonal challenges (including couples), and professional growth . She partners with her clients to better understand themselves, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals. She feels privileged to be present with her clients in dark moments and creates an authentic connection and safe, warm, empathetic environment. Nicole uses an eclectic approach to therapy drawing from EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization Response), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), Gottman Couples Therapy, Object Relations, AEDP, Attachment Theory, and Motivational Interviewing.
Nicole is a certified Trauma Counselor and was the Director of Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Initiative for Safe Horizons where she: lead and coordinated activities of an Interdisciplinary Domestic Violence (DV) High Risk Team charged with ensuring effective protective actions and strategies for clients, provided short term counseling, crisis intervention and advocacy for DV survivors identified as high risk, developed risk management plans with clients, reflecting each client’s unique situation and facilitated team meetings with and training/presentations for law enforcement and social service organizations, In addition, Nicole's interned at the Crime Victims Treatment Center at Mt. Sinai West & St. Luke’s Hospitals where she provided individual therapy to survivors of violent crime to prevent, reduce or eliminate symptoms of PTSD and other mental health disorders using various evidence-based techniques. Before entering private practice work full-time, Nicole worked in the Psychiatric Emergency Room and Outpatient Clinic at Kings County Hospital.
EDUCATION
EMDRIA Trained
DBT Certified by DBTNCAA
New York University
Master of Social Work
Clinical Focus in Trauma
CUNY Queens College
Bachelor of Art in Psychology
Minor: Student Services and Counseling
AREAS OF FOCUS
Trauma
PTSD
Couples Therapy
Dating, Friendship and Relationship Challenges
Assertiveness
Issues of Identity
Somatization
Career or educational challenges
Dissociation
Anxiety
Depression
Life Transitions
Stress Management
DBT Skills Training::
- Mindfulness
- Emotional Regulation
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Distress Tolerance
Courtney Bass, MHC-LP (she, her, hers)
Courtney is a trauma-focused mental health counselor. She works collaboratively with her clients to foster growth, self-acceptance, and fulfilling interpersonal relationships. Courtney believes in every client’s natural propensity towards self-actualization and believes it is her job as therapist to help her clients identify obstacles to growth. She is honored to enter each client’s world and treats every client with respect and empathy. Courtney promotes a safe and validating environment in which clients can explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors through a combination of psychoeducation, skill building, and talk therapy. She centers her practice on evidence-based approaches including EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization Response), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing using an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed lens.
Courtney has a background working on a shelter-based Assertive Community Treatment team with adults with serious mental illness, criminal justice involvement, and complex trauma where she provided crisis-intervention, case management, and advocacy. She also interned at a partial-hospitalization and intensive outpatient program for adults with eating disorders and trauma where she provided individual and group therapy. Courtney is a Nationally Certified Counselor, EMDRIA Trained EMDR Therapist and has post-graduate training in Complicated Grief Therapy.
EDUCATION
EMDRIA Trained
University of Memphis
Master of Science: Mental Health Counseling
Hendrix College
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and English/Creative Writing
AREAS OF FOCUS
Trauma
PTSD
Anxiety
Depression
Grief
Healthy Eating
DBT Skills Training::
- Mindfulness
- Emotional Regulation
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Distress Tolerance
Vanessa Williams, LMHC (she, her, hers)
Vanessa is a mental health counselor who nurtures a genuine connection with her clients with her warm, accepting presence, contagious smile and wonderful sense of humor. Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing the untold story inside you.” Each person’s story shapes who they are, and there are stories that are a burden to carry alone that is relieved when met with empathy. Vanessa considers it to be an honor to be with clients as they share their untold story, gain greater self-knowledge, and manifest the story that is yet to come. Vanessa incorporates a wide range of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Therapy and Narrative Therapy. Vanessa welcomes the opportunity to work with clients of all races, genders, sexualities, religions, nationalities/ethnicities, and all relationship types.
Prior to joining Roots and Branches, Vanessa worked in another private practice with individual adults and couples. While in practice there she supported couples experiencing challenges with sex, pre-marital concerns, separation/divorce, and general communication and conflict. Vanessa also worked at CityLink Psychological services where she gained experience with adolescents and knowledge of this crucial period of development. Currently, Vanessa is an active member of the American Counseling Association and the American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA).
EDUCATION
New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development
Master of Arts: Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
CUNY City College of New York
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Penn State
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting
AREAS OF FOCUS
Adolescence
Couples’ Therapy
Trauma
PTSD
Issues of Identity
Anxiety
Depression
Family Dynamics
Relationship Building
Coping skills
Sophie Desnoyers, MHC-LP (she, her, hers)
Sophie is a mental health counselor who sees each clients potential for growth within a safe and honest therapeutic space. She appreciates the risk clients take when sharing their struggles and stories. In honoring that risk, Sophie reminds clients every step of the way of their power. Pain, distress and discomfort can inform us about the ways we see, move through, and live in the world. Sophie encourages clients to explore these pain points and move forward with a new perspective: more in alignment with their values and goals.
Sophie primarily works through an integrated, eclectic approach, incorporating acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, and mindfulness in her work with clients. She helps clients to reflect on the role of early life experiences in current behavior. Sophie also believes laughter is therapeutic, and will find appropriate moments for the occasional corny joke or overly specific metaphor.
Sophie approaches therapy from a social justice framework and trauma-informed lens, acknowledging the structures at play in our broader society. She aims to understand how social inequities and injustice inform the narratives clients bring into therapy. Her experience centers around individuals who struggle with identity conflicts, life transitions, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal urges. She is LGBTQ+ affirmative and racial justice allied. Prior to joining Roots and Branches, Sophie has worked as a Mental Health Counseling Intern at a Brooklyn-based counseling center. She has worked as a Crisis Counselor with the Crisis Textline, and worked as a Program Assistant at Johns Hopkins University.
EDUCATION
NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
Master of Arts: Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
Mount Holyoke College
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
AREAS OF FOCUS
Identity Work
Trauma and PTSD
LGBTQI
Anxiety
Coping Skills
Depression
Self-Esteem
Self-Harm
Relationship Challenges
Life Transitions
Women's Issues
Chardonnay Badckham, MHC, CASAC (she, her, hers)
Chardonnay Badchkam (pronounced Batch-Kam), also known as Char, is a mental health counselor who serves her clients as both an ally and advocate with her warm, steady presence. Char empathizes, from personal experience, with how difficult it can be to ask for help and how overwhelming it can be to find a counselor who feels like the right fit. Through years of experience as both client and the counselor, it is Char’s firm belief that each client deserves a trusted guide who lets you set the pace and direction on your path towards mental wellness.
In addition to concrete tools and evidence-based practices Char utilizes, she is currently engaged in the study of the psychodynamic school of thought. Of particular interest to Char is the unconscious motives behind thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Perhaps you aren’t certain what is driving thoughts, feelings, or behaviors you’d like to change? Perhaps you’re even uncertain of what brought you to this webpage today? Char looks forward to helping you find clarity, set goals, and take the steps necessary to achieve them.
EDUCATION
Walden University
Master of Mental Health Counseling
South University
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology
AREAS OF FOCUS
Addiction
Anxiety
Anger Management
Coping Skills
Depression
Emotional Regulation
Low self-esteem
PTSD
Stress
Substance Abuse
Trauma
Angel Suarez, LMFT, MSEd, MA (all pronouns welcome)
Angel is a marriage and family therapist who is honored to empathetically guide all types of clients on their journey of growth to their highest potential and achieving their authentic self. By creating a collaborative nonjudgmental space, Angel validates adults and adolescents to become empowered by their unique individual identities and supports couples and families in navigating relational conflict. Angel’s specializations include adolescents and families undergoing trauma, gender-affirming therapy, LGBTQI+ community, alternative relationship models, sex therapy (kink-aware). Angel has also partnered with clients to support them with a broad range issue, including: anxiety, depression, suicidality, Bipolar Disorder, sexual dysfunctions, eating disorders, identity issues, life transitions, and trauma.
Angel is currently undergoing national AASECT Sex Therapy certification and uses an eclectic approach to therapy drawing from FFT (Functional Family Therapy), Narrative Therapy, Gender Affirming Therapy, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and Imago Relationship Therapy. Angel’s approach to supporting parents and families is informed by his 10-years of experience in education and child welfare. Their resume includes, but is not limited to, being an English Teacher and ELA department chair at the NYC Department of Education, a SUNY Adjunct Professor, a High-Risk Family Therapist at Children’s Aid, and a staff therapist at another private practice. In addition to their work at Roots and Branches Therapy, Angel is pursuing a remote PhD in Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
EDUCATION
Touro University Worldwide
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling
Saint John's University
Master of Science in Education
Brooklyn College
Master of Arts in English
Florida Gulf Coast University
Bachelor of Arts in English
AREAS OF FOCUS
Adolescent Therapy
ADHD
Anxiety
Coping Skills
Depression
Desire/Arousal/Orgasm Disorders
Gender Affirming Therapy
Gender Dysphoria/Euphoria
Gender Exploration,
Gender Social/Medical Transitioning
Identity and Intersectionality
Life Transitions
PTSD
Sexual Abuse
Sex Therapy
Trauma
Meghan Murtaugh, CAT-LP (she, her, hers)
Meghan is a Creative Arts Therapist who is attuned to the honor of hearing someone’s story, and seeing how each client evolves with that story. She understands the privilege it is to witness clients grow, heal, and branch out into the most authentic version of themselves. She creates a warm, non-judgemental space, where clients can feel safe to explore their emotions in a creative way. Meghan recognizes each client’s potential to connect, grow, and heal, and it is her goal to help clients to recognize their own resilience along their journey. She integrates traditional talk therapy with creative arts therapies to facilitate an environment that encourages the client to water their “roots" with intention to create, express, transform, and heal. She understand that sometimes feelings are too heavy to put into words alone, so she invites clients to express themselves through painting, collage, drawing, and writing poetry. She also incorporates nature into her art therapy practice, and encourages clients to explore and connect with the natural world to foster a sense of peace and wellbeing. Meghan believes that creative expression, along with compassionate guidance, can initiate transformation, where one may experience relief from overwhelming emotions, challenging thoughts, and trauma.
In addition to creative arts therapies, Meghan's approach focuses through the lens of acceptance commitment therapy (ACT). She also utilizes mindfulness, and other somatic techniques to illicit a sense of balance and grounding. Meghan has experience interning at Clementine Programs, a residential treatment center for adolescents with eating disorders, where she provided group art therapy, and taught a trauma informed, restorative yoga class. She also completed her field placement at Rockland Psychiatric Center, where she facilitated art therapy with adults with serious mental illness in the outpatient program, The Living Museum. Meghan is a 200 hour certified yoga teacher, and teaches with a trauma-informed lens.
EDUCATION
Roger Williams University
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing / Focus in poetry Core Concentration in Anthropology & Sociology
Hofstra University
Master of Arts in Creative Arts Therapy Counseling
Areas of Focus
Adolescents
ADHD
Anxiety
Coping skills
Depression
Eating disorders
LGBTQIA+
Life transitions
Self-esteem
Self harm
Trauma
Frank Veltri, Mental Health Counseling Intern (he, him, his)
Frank is a mental health counseling intern who is currently completing his Master's in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. He strives to provide his clients with a warm and welcoming environment that is marked by curiosity, familiarity, and, whenever appropriate, bit of humor. He hopes to meet clients where they are and tailor treatment to their unique goals and personality, since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the therapeutic process. He thoroughly appreciates the honor and opportunity to gain insight into his client’s stories, as well as the chance to work collaboratively with them to determine how to overcome those obstacles that have interrupted their progression into the next chapter.
Frank takes an eclectic approach to therapy that combines insight-oriented and goal-directed interventions. He chooses tools appropriate to each client from narrative, psychodynamic, strengths-based, and Cognitive-Behavioral modalities.
Frank welcomes emerging adults and adolescents who are struggling with transitions into high schools, college and/or the working world. His focus also includes issues related to relationships, self-concept, and the overall stress that often coincides with any significant transition. Frank has had experience and interest in working with neurodiverse clients including folks living with ADHD and Asperger’s/high-functioning autism. He is currently employed as a Direct Support Professional at the Nicolas Center working with adults with autism focusing on promoting interpersonal skills and emotional regulation practices. He has interned in client support roles at The Arc of Centre County as in In-Home and Community Supports Professional, at St. Christopher’s Animal Assisted Therapy Intern. He also interned as a mentor at LifeLink PSU.
EDUCATION
NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
In Progress: Master’s Degree: Mental Health Counseling (c 2023)
Penn State University
Bachelor of Science, Rehabilitation and Human Services
AREAS OF FOCUS
Anxiety
Depression
Emerging Adults
Adolescents
Identity Work
Stress
Social Anxiety
Relationship issues
Career Counseling
Education and Learning Disabilities
Life Coaching
Life Transitions
Betsy Carlson, Mental Health Counseling Intern (she, her, hers)
Betsy is a Mental Health Counseling Intern attending New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Betsy sees herself as a facilitator of change supporting clients in making real-life transformations. Through non-judgmental exploration, she empathetically collaborates with her clients to identify opportunities for growth. Together you will journey through the recent and distant past to define and clarify triggers, emotions, relationships, and patterns that shape your life. Betsy fosters clients’ strengths and tailors her approach to each client’s comfort with a focus on intersectional identities, and cultural background.
Betsy draws from a range of trauma focused modalities in her work with clients. She will be co-facilitating our DBT Groups this fall and thereby will be well versed in DBT skill building.
Before beginning her clinical training, Betsy was an account executive and manager in public relations, where she learned firsthand about the demands imposed on today's business professionals. Betsy also serves as a Crisis Line Advocate for a non-profit dedicated to helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. On the crisis line, she listens without judgment and advocates on behalf of each person. Through her clinical training, she believes that learning to non-judgmentally recognize and accept your current reality for what it is the first step toward growth.
NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
In Progress: Master’s Degree: Mental Health Counseling (expected 2023)
Penn State University
Bachelor of Science, Rehabilitation and Human Services
AREAS OF FOCUS
Anxiety
Coping Skills
Depression
Domestic Violence
Identity Work
PTSD
Stress
Relationship issues
Career Counseling
Sexual Assault
Trauma
Life Transitions