Nicole L. Gonzalez, LCSW (she/her), Founder & Psychotherapist
xNicole is a psychotherapist with a history in business leadership roles, who is 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.
EMDRIA Trained
DBT Certified by DBTNCAA
RATES & AVAILABILITY
- Rates for out-of-network/full fee $300/session
- Click here for Availability & Next Steps to Book
EDUCATION:
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
- Career Challenges
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Life Transitions
- Stress Management
DBT Skills Training::
- Mindfulness
- Emotional Regulation
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Distress Tolerance
Vanessa Williams, LMHC (she/her), Supervising Psychotherapist
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
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
Anxiety
Coping skills
Couples Therapy
Depression
Family Dynamics
Issues of Identity
PTSD
Relationship Building
Trauma
RATES & AVAILABILITY
– Rates for out-of-network/full fee $200/session
– Click here for Availability & Next Steps to Book
Sophie Desnoyers, MHC-LP (she, her, hers) , Psychotherapist
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
RATES & AVAILABILITY
– Cigna in-network
– Rates for out-of-network/full fee $190/session
– Sliding scale available
– Click here for Availability & Next Steps to Book
Adam Hallers, MHC-LP (he, him), Psychotherapist
Adam is a mental health counselor who fosters partners with his clients using empathy, compassion, and acceptance as guiding principles. As someone who navigated the sometimes rough waters of understanding his own asexual, biracial identity, he seeks to be a guide and ally to those exploring their own identity. Adam also defines as a sex and trauma therapist. For better or worse, few things have as much impact on us as our interpersonal relationships and traumas. Through the idea that we cannot change what has happened to us, but we can change what we do with it.
Adam aims to empower clients and help them to overcome the obstacles in the past and present to aid them in achieving the goals and desires they have for themselves. Adam uses an eclectic approach to therapy centered around a person-centered, existential approach, and incorporates psychodynamic techniques, DBT, narrative reconstruction, and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) skills.
Adam has a background working with a diverse population of clients. Prior to joining Roots and Branches Adam worked as a counselor for a wide variety of settings, including private practices, schools, community counseling centers, and non-profit organizations. Through these experiences Adam has worked with children, teenagers, and adults of all ages and backgrounds. He has provided support to people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, identity exploration, life transitions, phobias, sexual dysfunction, and relationship struggles.
DBT Certified by DBTNCAA
AASECT certification in process
EDUCATION
Brooklyn College
Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling
Virginia Commonwealth University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Physics
AREAS OF FOCUS
Anxiety
Depression
Dating, Friendship, and Relationship Challenges
Grief and Loss
Issues of Identity
LGBTQIA+
Life Transitions
Sex Therapy
Stress
Trauma
RATES & AVAILABILITY
– Cigna in-network
– Rates for out-of-network/full fee $180/session
– Sliding scale available
– Click here for Availability & Next Steps to Book
Dilara Akpinar, CAT-LP (she, her), Psychotherapist
Dilara is a somatic psychotherapist, who cultivates an environment that fosters curiosity, growth, and radical acceptance of self. Working with Dilara will show you the profound transformative impact of connecting with your body. Often clients have, through therapy or introspection, acquired an intellectual knowledge of themselves and their desired world, but find that they are still feeling stuck in painful memories, cyclical experiences, or emotional dysregulation. This can be tiresome loop, often resulting in disconnection from both self and others. Dilara can help you embody your authentic selves and values. Through integration of mind, body, and soul, Dilara will be your guide on a journey to enhance your self-awareness, map behavior patterns, release emotional blockages, nurture a serene connection to the present moment, and transform traumatic stagnancy into growth-oriented energy.
Dilara uses an eclectic therapeutic approach through a blend of psychoeducation, somatic awareness, mindfulness skills, and talk therapy. Grounded in evidence-based methodologies like Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing, She applies these approaches through a person-centered lens, emphasizing social justice framework and trauma-informed perspectives in her practice. Dilara embraces the chance to collaborate with clients of every race, gender, age, sexuality, religion, nationality/ethnicity, and relationship type. She encourages you to come as you are.
Dilara carries experience in working with individuals across various age groups, addressing a diverse range of inner challenges including trauma, depression, anxiety, pain management, grief and loss, conflict, identity, self-esteem, as well as relationship and intimacy concerns. Her background includes working at a domestic violence shelter, where she facilitated group and individual therapy for children, adolescents and adults. She additionally facilitated group therapy sessions at a suicide prevention center for Latinx teenagers. Furthermore, Dilara creates embodied wellness workshops for communities incorporating an earthly, ancient movement modality known as belly dance, to delve into the emotions within the body, particularly focusing on the exploration of divine feminine energy.
EDUCATION
Sarah Lawrence College
Master of Science: Dance/Movement Therapy
University of Greenwich
Bachelor of Arts: Media and Communications
AREAS OF FOCUS
Teens and Emerging Adults
Global Majority
Somatic Awareness
Wholeness/ Self-actualization
Trauma
Depression
Oppression
Couples Therapy
Sex Therapy
Relationship Challenges
Life Transitions
DBT Skills Training:
– Mindfulness
– Emotional Regulation
– Interpersonal Effectiveness
– Distress Tolerance
RATES & AVAILABILITY
– Cigna in-network
– Rates for out-of-network/full fee $180/session
– Sliding scale available
– Click here for Availability & Next Steps to Book
Olivia Chen MHC-LP (she, her) Interning Psychotherapist
As a multifaceted mental health intern with a background in business leadership and executive coaching, Olivia collaborates with clients to help them identify and move through the root issues that stand between them and the lives they hope to live. Grounded in a belief that everyone possesses unique strengths that can catalyze healing and growth, Olivia creates a space characterized by warmth, positivity, and a genuine respect for the courage required to heal. In her mind, the therapeutic experience should not only address clients’ needs, but should also celebrate their inherent capabilities.
Olivia brings a unique approach that blends practical, solutions-oriented strategies with somatic techniques that aim to help clients reconnect with themselves and their emotions. Together, you will work with her to release the emotional charge tied to past hurts and traumas while learning tools to manage anxiety and ground in the present moment. Ultimately, Olivia aims to cultivate a deeper sense of self-love and self-confidence in her clients that empowers them to build a life aligned with their goals and values.
In her previous career, Olivia worked in tech as a director of product and growth. She has managed large teams and provided executive coaching to startup CEOs and senior executives, with an emphasis on supporting women in business. While completing her undergraduate at Duke University, Olivia focused on the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and business, researching cultural influences on economic policy and decision-making.
EDUCATION
NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
In Progress: Master’s Degree: Mental Health Counseling (expected 2025)
Occidental College
Bachelor of Arts, English and Comparative Literature
AREAS OF FOCUS
Anxiety
Career Counseling
Coping Skills
Depression
Family conflict
Life coaching
Life transitions
Peer Relationships
Racial Identity
Relationship Issues
Self-Esteem
Spirituality
Stress
Trauma & PTSD
Women’s Issues
AVAILABILITY & RATES
– Rates $50/session
– Interns are not eligible for insurance reimbursement
– Olivia has In-Person Availability on Fridays
