ALLY NEKTALOV,
LCSW, MASTER CASAC
Director of Mind Therapy
Ally is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist with an MSW (Master’s of Social Work) from New York University and holds a certificate from New York State as an Master CASAC (Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor). She also completed Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training at the Alanson J. White Institute; which uses an interpersonal psychoanalytic model.
Ally is an Adjunct Professor at New York University and Touro College teaching Clinical Practice for social work graduate students.
Prior to Mind Therapy Ally was the Director and Clinical Supervisor of an outpatient clinic treating substance use operating under a Federal Grant. Clients in this program participated in individual and/or group psychotherapy addressing triggers to substance use and past trauma. She was responsible for program operations, administering the grant, and supervised staff while ensuring quality care and compliance.
In her free time, Ally enjoys practicing yoga, boxing, and playing tennis. She likes to cook and explore vegan restaurants with friends and family. Ally is a dog mom to baby Capri, a toy poodle.
GEORGIA KIRIAKIDES, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Georgia is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor passionate about helping individuals navigate everyday life and difficulties that arise. She provides an empathetic and warm environment where you can share comfortably.
Georgia specializes working with individuals who are going through life changes, anxiety, depression, and substance use. She uses Solution Focused and Strength Based approaches to assist in decision making and improving self-confidence. Georgia also works with her clients to explore actionable skills that can be implemented in daily life to improve emotional wellbeing.
During her free time Georgia enjoys baking and spending time with family, friends, and her Dachshund, Hunter.
ABRILLE BROWN, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker
Abrille has earned an MSW from New York University Graduate School of Social Work. She has years of experience in providing psychotherapy to adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, gender dysphoria, substance use, racism, LGBTQ+ related issues, and trauma related symptoms. Abrille is currently working toward receiving her clinical social work license.
Abrille provides an open and affirming space for people where she utilizes a strengths-based approach to build confidence and self-awareness. She has experience in using evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to provide concrete tools based on the needs of each person. She encourages clients to utilize tools learned in each session to support emotional healing and to cope with daily life stressors.
In her free time, she enjoys meditation, time with family, and watching new television shows.
BARBARA HOFFMANN, LCSW-R, PHD, CASAC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Barbara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist; dually licensed in New York and Florida; with an MSW (Masters of Social Work) from Hunter College School of Social Work; and holds a credential from New York State as a Master CASAC (Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor). She also has a Ph. D. from John Jay (CUNY) in Criminal Justice; is a certified Mindful Eating coach; and a Registered Yoga Teacher. She has completed training in Child Abuse and Trauma; Social Media-based Interventions; End Of Life Doula training; and Using Deliberate Practice to Improve Effectiveness.
Throughout her more than 15 years of practice, Barbara has sought to blend compassion with pragmatism; understanding that the root cause of most adjustment issues (i.e substance abuse and eating disorders) is the need, to both understand and forgive. Barbara’s particular expertise is connecting clients’ past to their present; guiding them through their history of trauma through group and individual therapy. Throughout her career, Barbara has addressed the needs of women; minority women, substance abusers; LGBT particularly gay men; and the formerly incarcerated; working with both Parole and Probation clients to prevent reoffending. Barbara has also been an Adjunct Professor at the City University of New York; Brooklyn College; and St. Francis College.
In her free time, Barbara has begun playing guitar; is exploring song writing; dabbles in photography; and is a yoga practitioner.
SOPHIA ALAN, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker
Sophia holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from NYU. She specializes in working with teens and young adults struggling with anxiety, depression, traumatic symptoms, self-esteem, coping skills, and relationship issues.
Sophia believes in the importance of an integrative technique base to best suit the individual’s needs and goals. Her experience is grounded in CBT, mindfulness-based, creative art and play therapy, and trauma-informed approaches. Above all, she prioritizes the therapeutic relationship to create an environment of trust, allowing healing to take place at the client’s own pace, so they may feel seen, heard, and understood. She is highly empathic to guide and empower you towards growth and well-being.
Sophia has experience with children, adolescents, and young adults from various walks of life, including psychiatric social work as well as children exposed to domestic violence and abuse. She has also worked with parents as part of the treatment plans to build on strengthening supportive parenting strategies.
In her free time, Sophia enjoys being in nature, reading, and spending time with friends and family - especially her rescue pup, Otie.
SARAH KITT, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker
Sarah Kitt is a licensed therapist with a Master's in Social Work from the University of Southern California and a Master's in Applied Psychology from Yeshiva University. She also completed additional postgraduate training at the Ackerman Institute for the Family and is certified in Internal Family Systems (IFS).
Her diverse professional background includes individual, couples, and family therapy (for clients dealing with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, attachment/interpersonal struggles, and family discourse) across a variety of settings (hospital, school, and foster care systems).
Sarah’s practice is based on her belief in the value of authentic human connections and the power of the therapeutic relationship. She’s especially interested in reshaping attachment patterns by working through past experiences, and supporting clients to use more effective coping skills in all stages of life. She incorporates a variety of evidence-based interventions according to each client’s needs which include Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mentalization (MBT), and Emotion-focused couple’s therapy (EFT).
In her free time, Sarah is an avid reader of mystery novels, enjoys gardening, and spending time with her family- especially her Maltipoo, Charlie Pepper.
ALEXIA SPINNEY, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker
Alexia is a Licensed Master Social Worker/Psychotherapist with an MSW (Master’s of Social Work) from Columbia University School of Social Work. Alexia is also a Registered Yoga Teacher and integrates aspects of mindfulness and body-based healing practices into her therapeutic work. She specializes working with adolescents, teen and young adults struggling with anxiety, traumatic symptoms, self esteem, transitions, and social support.
At Mind Therapy, she seeks to support those who have or are currently experiencing both acute and chronic trauma. Through relationship-based work, Alexia can help you identify and recover from the myriad of ways traumatic experience influences our lives - from navigating related health concerns, developing positive self-concept and esteem, and building the tools to deal with distress and contribute to a satisfying life. Alexia has a particular interest in women's health, reproductive journeys, and the pathways towards and throughout the parenting process.
Alexia has experience in psychiatric social work, implementing evidence-based-practices (DBT, & CBT) and a specific expertise in first-episode psychosis. Prior to studying social work, Alexia supported individuals of all ages with learning challenges, worked as a nature based preschool teacher, and designed and implemented individualized curriculum for elementary and middle school students. She has an in-depth understanding of human development across the lifespan.
In her spare time, Alexia enjoys skiing, hiking with her dog Alma, and creating music with friends.
MARY MARKS, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Mary is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters Degree from New York University's Silver School of Social Work and over 10 years experience working with children, adolescents, young adults and seniors in various mental health settings. She is fully Bilingual and is able to engage her clients in Spanish whenever they prefer.
Mary operates from a strengths and humanistic perspective and treats clients dealing with issues ranging from chronic stress and relationship issues, to anxiety and depression and related mental/emotional conditions. Employing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy as her main modalities in teaching new coping skills and transforming negative thought patterns while reinforcing positive feelings and behaviors about themselves.
Her style focuses on helping clients incorporate and reframe the narrative and history of their lives through a more compassionate lens.
Mary is also a Board Certified TeleMental Health and enjoys connecting with her clients in the comfort of their homes, with their pets, and at their convenience.
She enjoys spending time with her children and friends when she is not working. And is a dog lover and enjoying her 2 dogs as well as reading, bicycling, traveling, and dancing.
BLAIR LIEBERMAN, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker
Blair holds a Masters degree in Social Work from New York University and has experience working with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, transitions and getting unstuck.
Blair operates from a position that a rich life depends upon us knowing our own minds and that having access to a wider range of our thoughts and feelings is the key to that process. Her goal is to foster an authentic connection with her clients that is free of judgment and centered on individual needs to help access their inner world.
She is interested in helping people both explore and tolerate challenging feelings through self acceptance and develop coping strategies to better manage life’s hurdles.
She has a passion for dancing, painting, cooking, being in nature and spending quality time with friends and family.
MICHELLE BIALECK, LMSW, PHD
Licensed Master Social Worker
Michelle holds an MSW (Master’s of Social Work) and a Certification in Trauma from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and a Master's of Science from Columbia University. She is an Adjunct Professor at Wurzweiler School of Social Work, teaching Advocacy and Policy, Social Work Values and Ethics, and Clinical Practice to graduate students in social work and teaches Social Justice at Guttman Community College, CUNY.
Michelle has two decades of experience in the helping profession. She has served as director and provided counseling services in programs serving pre-teens, teens, family systems, and clients struggling with substance use disorder.
Michelle has worked closely with mixed-legal status families for two decades. She has also worked closely with clients facing grief, loss, depression, and anxiety.
Michelle is truly honored to have a career she cares about so deeply. When she is not working, Michelle enjoys Yoga, Salsa (the dance style and the food), and, most of all, making authentic human connections.
ALAN MACKIE, LCSW, PHD
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Alan earned his MSW degree from Yeshiva University. His love for humanity motivated him to complete Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training at The Metropolitan Institute and later a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
With over 30 years of experience in providing individual and couple therapy specializing in trauma, LGBT, anxiety, depression, anger management, addiction (substances, sex, porn, food), and bereavement. Alan utilizes a combination of Psychodynamic, Client-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral techniques to help people resolve their internal and external conflicts in a holistic manner.
His experience and training affords him the opportunity to empathize and relate to a broad range of individuals and their families. While helping people achieve long-lasting change, he tries to make counseling pleasant and enjoyable by empowering clients. Alan is inspired to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. He achieves this by providing a neutral safe space, and listening to their concerns. The goal being to help individuals grow from their struggles, heal from their pain, and move forward to where they want to be in their life.
He strongly believes that one's mind, body and spirit must be strong, healthy and in sync for one to be happy and feel fulfilled.
BIANCA E. ORTIZ, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Bianca is trained to work with parents of children ages 0-6; who have experienced trauma including generational trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, poverty, losses, and transitions. She helps parents learn new ways to bond with their children, develop secure attachments, and practice age-appropriate communication styles. A big part of her work focuses on helping parents cope with parental distress and promote optimum well-being.
Bianca is also trained to work with adolescents, and teens in improving symptoms of trauma related anxiety, and depression. She has extensive experience educating adolescents/teens on mental health and helping them develop new skills to manage life stressors. Bianca understands the importance of assisting families heal from difficult experiences individually and as a family unit.
She has experience with diverse populations and incorporates multiple parts of culture into the work.
In her spare time, Bianca enjoys spending time with family, taking long walks, and likes to write. Her goals are to travel and learn a new language.
ALESSANDRA SCALIA, LMHC, NCC, CASAC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Alessandra is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor; specializing in anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, addictions/substance use, trauma, and life transitions.
Alessandra is dedicated to empowering clients through education and by developing healthy coping skills. She follows the concept that therapy can heal emotional pain, improve relationships and increase self-understanding.
In your work together, unresolved or present barriers in life will be examined. Alessandra utilizes a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach to uncover undesired thoughts and feeling by changing perception and managing stress.
She encourages clients to explore their inner world through the lens of compassion, mindfulness, and self-care to help promote mental and emotional healing.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
SARA DALY, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Sara has a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Sara has worked with adolescents and young adults struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, life transitions, coping skills, family conflict, and interpersonal relationships.
She also has experience as a family therapist focused on helping to build parenting skills and has used evidenced-based practices to create interventions and treatment plans.
Sara is also a certified yoga instructor and has used movement, breathwork and mindfulness in her practice as a therapist to address anxiety and depression with clients. She incorporates positive self talk and mantras alongside breath work while moving mindfully through poses in sessions.
Sara believes there are many different ways to approach therapy and therapy is not one size fits all - and uses a mix of movement therapy, person-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy - providing interventions that best suits the individual.
Aside from work, Sara enjoys taking or teaching yoga classes, hiking, watching movies or spending time with friends and family.
MARIA CICCHILLI, LMHC, PHD
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Maria has a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling in New York and is Licensed Psychologist in Argentina. She is a fluent in Italian, Spanish and English.
Maria has over 20 years of experience providing individual and couples therapy; specializing in teenagers and adults for anxiety, depression, family conflicts, self-esteem and personality disorders with diverse backgrounds.
She views each client as unique and individual while implementing specific interventions with culture awareness. Maria assists clients with empowerment, upliftment, and self- discovery toward their treatment goals using a psychodynamic approach with her clients but also is aware of the importance of integrating both mind and body.
Maria’s main goal is to establish a trustworthy and engaging environment and highlights the importance of creating a safe space while providing acceptance and unconditional positive regard.
Maria also has experience working as drama teacher with children, teenagers and adults. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga and doing theatre. Maria has performed in a number of different plays as an actress and singer. She also loves spending time with her friends and family.
JENNY VOLKERS, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Candidate
Jenny received her Masters in Mental Health Counseling and is working toward achieving her Certification in Rehabilitation Counseling.
In addition to Mind Therapy, Jenny is currently working as a Supported Education and Employment Specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital.
She is experienced in working with all ages from children to adults in individual and group sessions. Jenny employs a person-centered approach as the foundation, with the style of being integrative and collaborative. She engages clients through active listening and empathy to help become comfortable in participating in therapy. Jenny specializes in working with people with a disability, attention difficulty and transition planning. Jenny guides people by adapting to their difficulties, collaborating to build skills, and developing a transition readiness plan. As a clinician, she is dedicated to empowering clients through introducing and enhancing skills to gain self-awareness, adaptive coping, and decision-making for their own life journeys and the overall wellness.
When Jenny isn't working, she enjoys playing video games, painting, pottery or photography.
CONSTANCE GREY, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Constance is an LCSW; has accredited postgraduate training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center. And is also an active member of the Society for Modern Psychoanalysis.
She has over 40 years of experience working with adults and couples; treating people who suffer with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, trauma and relationship issues.
Constance employs a person-centered approach as the foundation, with a focus on ALWAYS meeting clients’ needs. She is an insightful listener and strongly believe in working with people in order to attain their goals and live a more contented life. As a clinician, Constance is dedicated in providing support, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral techniques and insight oriented interventions.
She strongly believes it is never too late to change and grow.