Our Counseling & Wellness Team

CWS counselors are psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, mental health counselors, nurse practitioners, and advanced trainees in those professions. Our counselors are diverse in background and expertise. They are well equipped to work with students confronting a broad range of issues including, but not limited to, substance use, LGBTQ+ concerns, eating disorders, interpersonal conflicts, identity issues and a host of other concerns. We also have counselors embedded in various schools and programs across the University: CAS, Gallatin, Law, Dental, Social Work, Steinhardt, Tisch, Stern, Silver, CMEP, Islamic Center and Athletics.

Executive Director

Zoe Ragouzeos, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, Sexual Misconduct Support Services
Assistant Vice President, Student Mental Health
Executive Director, Counseling and Wellness Services

Credentials

Education
Ph.D., NYU School of Social Work

License
NY State Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Certifications
SIFI - Seminar in Field Instruction - Certified Field Instructor
Certificate in Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, NYS Department of Education, 1999

Area of Expertise
College mental health, emergency response, sexual assault prevention and response, provision of global mental health services

Gender
Female

Languages
Greek

LGBT Safe Zone Trained

Counseling Team

Stefanie Allister, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist

Bassem Badr, MD
Psychiatrist, NYU Abu Dhabi

Kathleen Bahan, LMSW
Social Worker

Credentials

Education
Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW)
Master of Public Health (MPH)

Gender
Female

Nicholas Baitoo, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker

Mara Baldwin, LMSW
Clinical Social Worker

Sanam Bamshad Alavi, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist & Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Paris

Credentials

Education
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology- Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
M.A in Clinical Psychology- Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
M.A in General Psychology- City University of New York
Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Cinema Studies- University of Toronto, Canada

Training
Post-Doctoral Fellow in Couples and Family Therapy- Ackerman Institute for the Family, New York
Pre-Doctoral Internship- Pilgrim Psychiatric Institute, Brentwood, New York

Board Certification(s)
New York State License in Clinical Psychology- License #: 021791
Registered Clinical Psychologist in France
Registered Clinical Psychologist in Switzerland
Registered Clinical Psychologist in Iran

Areas of Expertise
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Couple and Family Therapy

Gender
Female

Languages
English, Persian

Mariel Bazil, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker

Sarah Bees, MSW
Crisis Response Counselor

Amy Beleckas, LMSW
Care Manager

Credentials

Education
Florida State University

Credentials
Master of Social Work

Gender
Female

Sofia Berne, LMSW
Social Worker

Matthew Blanchard, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist

Credentials

Education
University of Pennsylvania BA 1997, Columbia University PhD, 2017

Training
Manhattan VA Hospital, Queens Hospital, Hunter College Counseling & Wellness

Certification
NYS Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Areas of Expertise
Eating Disorders, Substance Use

Gender
Male (he/his)

Languages
English

Regine Bruny-Olawaiye, MD, MBA
Associate Director of Wellness Emergency Response

Credentials

Education
New York University BA 1996
SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Training
Albert Einstein North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System (Northwell)

Certification
MD/MBA

Areas of Expertise
Adult Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Gender
Female

Languages
English, Haitian Creole

Sian Caisey, LMHC
Clinical Psychotherapist/ Wellness Counselor

Credentials

Education
New York University, MA Counseling and Guidance

Gender
Female

Maisie Chou Chaffin, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist

Credentials

Education
Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Yeshiva University
B.A., Psychology, Rice University

Training
Clinical Internship: NYU/Bellevue Hospital Center
Post-Doctoral Fellowship: NYU Counseling & Behavioral Health

Certification
NYS License, HCPC-Registered (UK)

Area of Expertise
Cross-Cultural Psychology

Gender
Female

Languages
English, with some knowledge of Chinese Mandarin, French and Dutch

Lauren Cona, LCSW
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Los Angeles

Credentials

Credentials
LCSW

Education
BS, Applied Psychology, New York University
MSW, Fordham University

Areas of Expertise
Depression & mood disorders, trauma, relationships, grief, life transitions, early adulthood, addiction, gender & racial trauma

Gender
Female

Genny Cuocci, LCSW
Social Worker

Theresa Decker
Wellness Counselor, NYU Shangai

Ounkar Dhami
Wellness Counselor, NYU Abu Dhabi

Credentials

Education
Master of Social Work

Training
Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW)

Gender
Male

Brooke Donatone, Ph.D., LCSW
Staff Social Worker

Credentials

Education
SUNY Stonybrook, MSW

Training
Training Institute for Mental Health - Psychoanalytical training
International Trauma Studies Program, NYU
NY State Ericksonian Hypnotherapy Institute

Areas of Expertise
Clinical Hypnosis: Hypnosis for chronic pain and chronic illness symptoms; LGBTQ Liaison and Gender Team Leader

Gender
Female

LGBTQ Safe Zone Trained

Fiona El Bassuni, MSc
Wellness Counselor, NYU Abu Dhabi

Credentials

Education
MSc in Clinical Psychology
Executive Master in Coaching & Consulting, LLB

Training
Emotion Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Board Certification
DOH licensure

Areas of Expertise
General Mental Health difficulties

Gender
Female

Danielle Elleman, LCSW
Associate Director, Sexual Misconduct Support Services

Jude Elysee, PhD
Psychologist

Credentials

Education
Psy.D, Kean University - Combined School and Clinical Psychology

Gender
Male

LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Certified

Thiago Fernandes, Psy.D
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Florence

Credentials

Education
Licensed Psychologist, Master Degree in Counseling Psychology, Post graduate Specialization in Psychotherapy, Post graduate Completion Course in Career Counseling

Training
Transactional Analysis Counseling and Psychotherapy
CFT (Compassion-Focused Therapy)

Board Certification
Ordine degli Psicologi della Toscana

Areas of Expertise
Psychotherapy for teenagers, adults and groups; Counseling and psychological support in international universities for expat students and staff; HR consultancy, assessment of potential and training for international organizations; Meditation and workshops

Gender
Male

Languages
English, Italian, Portuguese

Silvia Fiammenghi, Psy.D
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Florence

Credentials

Education
University of Pavia, Italy – BA & MA in Psychology
Long Island University, C.W. Post – PsyD.

Training
Pre-Doctoral Internship at Bronx Psychiatric Center

Certification
Licensed psychologist in Italy and NY State

Areas of Expertise
Integrative Psychotherapy; Mindfulness; Severe and Persistent Mental Illness; Trauma; College Mental Health; Intercultural Psychology

Gender
Female

Languages
English, Italian, Spanish, French

LGBTQ Safe Zone Trained

Lindsey Foster, LMSW
Crisis Response Counselor

Melissa Franklin, LCSW
Social Worker

Nadya Friedman, MD
Staff Psychiatrist

Xiao He
Counselor, NYU Shanghai

Liqun Hu, PhD
Psychologist, NYU Shanghai

Credentials

Education
Doctoral degree in clinical psychology

Board Certification
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (California, U.S.)

Area(s) of Expertise
Assessment, testing, therapy, training, consultation

Gender
Female

Languages
Mandarin, English

Brooke Hunter, LCSW
Clinical Manager

Grace Hwang Hudson, LCSW
Staff Social Worker

Credentials

Education
BA, New York University
MSW, Hunter College School of Social Work

Training
Psychotherapy and case management for patients with AIDS at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center of New York
Patients with substance abuse and chemical dependence at Greenwich House Counseling Center, New York

Certification
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Areas of Expertise
Liaison role to Asian/Pacific/American Studies Program and Institute, Gallatin School of Individualized Study and Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). Provides clinical supervision to graduate students in Social Work.

LGBTQ Safe Zone Trained

Veronica Jarrett, LCSW
Social Worker

Sonja Johansson, PsyD
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Washington, DC

Tara Jordan, LMSW
Crisis Response Counselor

Lindsey Keck, LMSW
Care Manager

Constanza Keisel, LMSW
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Buenos Aires

Credentials

Education
Psychology Degree, University of Buenos Aires
LMSW, New York University

Training
Clinical internships at Gouverneur Hospital and Blanton Peale Counseling Center

Board Certification
NYS License, Buenos Aires License

Areas of Expertise
Cross-cultural psychology, depression, anxiety

Gender
Female

Spoken Languages
English, Spanish, Portuguese

Meghan Kelley, LCSW-R
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU London

Credentials

Education
Master of Social Work, University at Albany, 1997
BA, Psychology, University at Albany, 1993

Training
Certification in Psychoanalysis, Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy, 2006

Certification
New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Area(s) of Expertise
Psychodynamic and cognitive-behaviorial therapies, disordered eating, depression, anxiety, relationships, self-harming behavior, suicidal ideation, substance abuse

Gender
Female

LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Certified

Bernadette Kerr, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker

Eunsung Audrey Kim, LCSW
Social Worker

Credentials

Credentials
LCSW

Education
Master of Social Work, Columbia School of Social Work

Training
CBT, DBT, Ackerman Relational Approach and Psychodynamic

Gender
Female

Languages
English, Korean

Brunhild Kring, MD
Associate Director, Counseling & Wellness Services

Credentials

Education
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany 1978

Training
Residency training in Psychiatry, Montefiore Medical Center
Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1979-1983

Board Certification
Psychiatry 1987

Areas of Expertise
Adjustment problems, gender issues, family conflict, psychopharmacological management of anxiety and mood disorders

Gender
Female

Languages
German

LGBTQ Safe Zone Trained

Jiyoon Lee, PhD
Team Leader

Credentials

Education
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Florida State University

Training
Pre-doctoral internship, Purdue University Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
Post-doctoral residency, James Madison University Counseling Center

Areas of Expertise
Mood and anxiety disorders, motivation, academic success, ADHD assessment and coaching, career development, diversity, immigration, and international students issues, multicultural identity development and counseling, cultural adjustment, AOD (Alcohol & Other Drugs) issues, supervision and training, and mentoring

Gender
Female

Languages
Korean

Tiffany Llewellyn DSW, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker

Credentials

Credentials
DSW, LCSW-C

Education
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
Master of Science in Social Work (MSW)
Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW)
Associates Degree

Training
Board Approved Supervisor

Areas of Expertise
Racial Trauma, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT, Narrative Therapy, Social Justice/Multiculturalism, EMDR, Interpersonal/Relational Therapy

Gender
Female

LGBTQ Safe Zone Certified

Hannah Levy, LCSW
Crisis Response Counselor

Yang Lu, LCSW
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Sydney

Credentials

Education
Master of Social Work at Washington University of St. Louis

Certification
LCSW

Gender
Female

Languages
English, Mandarin

Colleen Macphee, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker

Credentials

Education
Master of Science in Social Work, Columbia University
Bachelors of Arts in Sociology & Gender and Women's Studies, Connecticut College

Training
Internal Family Systems, Level 1
Clinical Practice with Adolescents, NYU Post-Masters Program

Board Certification
NYS LCSW

Areas of Expertise
Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence, Complex Trauma, Adolescents

Gender
Female

Tayiba Mahmud, LCSW
Social Worker

Talia Mandel
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Madrid

Joseph Manera, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist

Credentials

Department
Counseling & Wellness

Education
Psy.D. from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA

Gender
Male

Reji Mathew, Ph.D.
Staff Social Worker

Credentials

Education
B.S.W., Dominican College
M.S.W., New York University
Ph.D., New York University – Silver School of Social Work

Training
Albert Ellis Institute – (CBT/ REBT)
Behavioral Tech – (DBT);
Trail Based Cognitive Therapy Institute (TB-CT)

Certification
Licensed Clinical Social Worker – L.C.S.W.

Areas of Expertise
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Trail Based Cognitive Therapy, Coping Skills Training, Mind-Body Wellness, Life-Skills, Expressive Arts.

Gender
Female

Additional Information
Adjunct Assistant Professor, New York University

LGBTQ Safe Zone Trained

Paige McAdam, LCSW
Social Worker

Anne McEneaney, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist Team Leader

Credentials

Education
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Loyola University of Chicago
B.A., University of Pennsylvania

Licenses
Psychologist: New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (latter two inactive)

Board Certification
Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP)

Training
Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society

Areas of Expertise
Eating disorders specialist and leader of NYU Eating Disorders Team, group psychotherapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy

Gender
Female

Alexa Michl, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist

Lea Micic, MA
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Prague

Vedrana Mladina, PhD
Counseling Team Leader, NYU Abu Dhabi

Credentials

Education
Karl Franzens University of Graz, Austria - Masters in Psychology and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Training
Clinical and Health Psychologist, CBT Trained

Certification
Licensed Clinical and Health Psychologist in Austria with Austrian Ministry of Health and in UAE with Health Authority of Abu Dhabi

Areas of Expertise
PTSD, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Anxiety, Depression, Adjustment Disorders, Stress Management, Burnout

Gender
Female

Languages
English, German, French, Dutch, and Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian

Christopher Mooney, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker

Yvonne Negron, LCSW
Staff Social Worker

Credentials

Education
MSW, New York University, Ehrenkranz School of Social Work

Certification
Post Grad Certificate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from ICP. Currently working towards certification in EMDR

Areas of Expertise
LGBTQ Issues, HIV, substance use, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, adjustment disorders, relationship difficulties

Gender
Female

Colleen Phillips, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Kimberly Pinkney, LCSW
Crisis Response Counselor

Credentials

Credentials
LCSW

Education
Master of Social Work, New York University

Gender
Female

Luis Ramirez, LCSW
Associate Director of Clinical Services

Credentials

Education
NYU Ehrenkranz School of Social Work - MSW
NYU College of Arts and Science - BA in Political Science

Training
Institute for Human Identity, New York, NY
The Shield Institute, Bayside, NY

Certification
NY State Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Seminar In Field Instruction; Mandated Reporting

Areas of Expertise
LGBTQ Affirming Therapy, Cultural Competency, Crisis Intervention

Gender
Male

Languages
Spanish

Carolyn Ragosta, LMSW
Social Worker

Credentials

Credentials
Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW)

Education
MSW, Columbia University

Gender
Female

Wanda Ramos Duchatellier, LCSW
Staff Social Worker

Credentials

Education
MSW - Hunter College. Currently 4th year candidate in Psychoanalysis at the Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy Study Center

Areas of Expertise
Depression, anxiety, and trauma

Gender
Female

Languages
Spanish

Erika Richman, LMSW
Assistant Director, Counseling & Wellness Emergency Response

Delia Salem, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker

Hayley Schiller, LMSW
Social Worker

Linda Sheehan, LCSW
Staff Social Worker, Tisch School of the Arts

Credentials

Education
BA, Smith College
MSW, Columbia University

Training
Contemporary Psychodynamic Psychotherapy; Motivational Interviewing

Certification
LCSW

Areas of Expertise
Anxiety and depression, self-esteem, relationships, life transitions, trauma, substance abuse

L GBTQ Safe Zone Trained

Julia Shiang, Ed.D., Ph.D.
Director of Training

Credentials

Education
Harvard University, Ed.D.
Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Ph.D.

Areas of Interest
Development, time-limited dynamic psychotherapy, young adults, culture

Gender
Female

Language
Conversational Mandarin

Lauren Stahl, DPsych
Wellness Counselor, NYU Sydney

Credentials

Education
Bachelor of Behavioural Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, and Doctor of Clinical Psychology from La Trobe University, Melbourne Australia

Training
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

Certification
Licensed as a Clinical Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

Areas of Expertise
Psychological assessment, psychometric testing, facilitating therapy groups, clinical supervision, risk assessment and risk management, care co-ordination, bipolar disorder, depression, generalised anxiety disorder, stress management

Gender
Female

LGBTQ Safe Zone Trained

Eric Thurnauer, LCSW
Staff Social Worker
College of Arts and Science

Credentials

Education
BA, Cambridge University
MSW, New York University

Certification
New York State Licensed

Training
Certificate in Psychoanalysis - Training Institute for Mental Health, New York

Gender
Male

Varsha Vaidya MD
Staff Psychiatrist

Credentials

Credentials
MD
Board Certified in Psychiatry

Training
Georgetown University, Washington DC

Area of Expertise
College mental health

Languages
English, Hindi, Urdu

LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Certified

Kate Wheeler, LCSW
Counselor

Credentials

Credentials
LCSW

Education
MSW from Columbia University

Gender
Female

Wern How Yam, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist I

Sara Zeugmann, Ph.D.
Wellness Counselor, NYU Berlin

Credentials

Education
BA and MA in Experimental Psychology University of Oxford
MSc in Psychology Humboldt University Berlin,
Postgradual training in Psychotherapy at the German Society of Behavioral Therapy
PhD at the Department of Psychiatry, Charite-University Medicine Berlin

Training
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, schema-therapy

Board Certification
Approbation: German State license as psychological psychotherapist (focus: cognitive behavioral therapy)

Areas of Expertise
Affective disorders, multicultural concerns

Languages
English, German, Bulgarian

Gender
Female

LGBTQ Safe Zone Trained.

Clare Jinzhao Zhao
Global Wellness Counselor, NYU Shanghai

Credentials

Education
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, University of Denver
M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, Rutgers University

Board Certification
Licensed Psychologist

Gender
Female

Languages
Mandarin Chinese; English

LGBTQ Safe Zone Trained