Our Counselors

Cristina Perera, LMFT

Philosophy of Care 

Education

Southern Connecticut State University
Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy

Specialties

• Couples therapy
• ADHD
•  Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Bipolar 
• Mood Disorders
• domestic violence victims 
• Learning disabilities
• LGBTQ

Elina Flit, Resident in Counseling

Philosophy of Care

Elina Flit is a nationally certified Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who is experienced in providing diagnostic assessments and counseling to clients with diverse concerns including substance use, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, emotional regulation, career, interpersonal challenges, and LGBTQ+ issues. She attained her Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern Connecticut State University.

Elina utilizes strength-based, person-centered, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness based, and dialectical behavioral approaches to therapy, which she tailors to the unique needs of each client. She is fluent in English and Russian.

Elina focuses on building an accepting and caring relationship with you. She will collaborate with you on ways to enhance your strengths and apply them toward creating positive and meaningful changes in your life.

Education

Southern Connecticut State University
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Specialties

• Alcohol Use/Addictions/Substance Use
• Anxiety
• Depression
• ADHD
• Anger
• Behavioral Issues,
•  Stress
• Trauma and PTSD
• Women’s Issues/Men's Issues

Eshe Hamilton, Resident in Counseling

Philosophy of Care

Eshe Hamilton is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) who specializes in working with school-aged children, adolescents, and adults experiencing difficulties such as stress, anxiety, trauma, behavior issues, and inter-relational conflicts. Eshe completed her Master of Science (MS) in Counseling and Human Service at Post University. \

Eshe offers an unbiased and integrative counseling approach that is supportive in helping you feel secure and empowered to create changes in your current circumstances and generate feelings of happiness. Understanding that challenges and difficulties present for us all, Eshe’s goal is to help you become inspired to create positive change and confidence in the ability to make those changes.

Education

Post University
Master of Science in Counseling and Human Service

Specialties

• Anxiety
• Depression
• ADHD
• Anger
• Behavioral Issues
• Coping Skills
• Family Conflict
• Grief
• Life Transitions
• Parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum
• Racial Identity
• School Issues
• Self Esteem
• Stress
•  Trauma and PTSD

Naina Rana, Supervisee in Social Work, LMSW

Philosophy of Care

Naina Rana is a Licensed Masters Social Worker who specializes in trauma, substance use disorders, disabilities, multicultural perspectives, domestic violence, and geriatric populations. With her technology background working as a Lead Training Coordinator in a SaaS startup, Naina also brings years of experience from the field of workplace and occupational wellness and counseling.

Naina completed her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Sociology at Southern Connecticut State University and her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Fordham University while simultaneously completing a certification in Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counseling from Gateway Community College.

Naina seeks to establish a safe therapeutic relationship with you in order to make sure you are comfortable and feel open to sharing any and all of your underlying concerns. She will create a personalized treatment plan that meets your specific needs, utilizing trauma-focused, strength-based, person-centered, cognitive behavioral, psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, and interpersonal-focused approaches to therapy. By maintaining a collaborative approach and working one on one with clients, Naina uses her experience to best meet the needs of each unique individual and couple.

Education

Master of Social Work
Fordham University

Specialties

• Anxiety
• Anger
• Coping Skills
• Family Conflict
• Life Transitions
• Mental Stress
• Racial Identity
• Relationships
• Self Esteem

Christina Cano, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Philosophy of Care 

Christina Cano is a bilingual board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a passion for patient centered, culturally diverse and holistic care. Christina began her journey into the mental health care field working for Fairfield County’s top Behavioral Health Centers; including Stamford Hospital, Hartford Healthcare and Yale New Haven Hospital, in which she was the charge nurse of several inpatient psychiatric units. Over the years, Christina has had the opportunity to provide treatment for individuals who suffer from a wide variety of acute and chronic mental health illnesses in multiple psychiatric settings amongst long-term care, dual-diagnosis, outpatient, home care, and case management. 

With Christina coming from a family of health care professionals specializing in the field of psychiatry, education and mental health care has always been a great passion of hers. In 2013 she obtained her bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart University and through her years of experience at the bedside, she became aware of the immense need for mental health clinicians. Christina also discovered the heavy impact of psychiatric providers in healthcare, which lead her to pursue a master’s degree at Fairfield University as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in 2018. 

Christina believes in affording her patients with dignity, compassion, and respect by offering coordinated and personalized care, support, or treatment. She takes pride in supporting her patients in recognizing and developing their own strengths and abilities to enable them to live an independent and fulfilling life. Christina emphasizes individuality, independence, privacy, partnership, choice, dignity, respect, rights, equality, and diversity in providing treatment for every individual. This bilingual mental health clinician has experience working with Spanish-speaking patients and is proficient and fluent with providing treatment in this population’s native language. Se habla español!

Education 

Fairfield University
Master's Degree

Specialties

• Anxiety Disorder
• Depression Disorder
• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Eating Disorder
• Adjustment Disorder
• Addictive Disorder
• Adolescent Psychiatry 
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Dual Diagnosis
• Conduct/Disruptive Disorder
• Acute Stress Disorder/Management
  
• Panic Disorders

Dorothy Washington, PMHNP-BC

Philosophy of Care

Dorothy Washington is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) who has over 20 years of experience working with individuals of all ages who are suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, ADHD, chronic illness, anger, OCD, bipolar disorder, and much more.

Dorothy completed her Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) at Sacred Heart University and went on to obtain her Doctorate of Nursing (DNP) at Chamberlain University. Dorothy’s approach is collaborative, patient-focused, and evidenced-based, with an empathetic awareness of the patient's needs.

Dorothy will seek to maintain a collaborative, caring, trusting, and professional rapport with you. She looks forward to helping you meet your emotional and mental health needs so that you can live your life with the sense of normalcy that you deserve.

Education

Sacred Heart University
Master of Science in Nursing

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety Disorders
• Sleep Disorders
• Stress
• ADHD
• PTSD

Furne Carrier-Valentine, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

I have been a Registered Nurse for 15 years and in psychiatry for 13 of those years, serving young people who have experienced trauma, including neglect, physical, and/or sexual abuse, and as a result, may suffer from associated symptoms.

As a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and very soon, doctorally prepared, my specialties include the treatment of childhood trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and ADHD in adolescents, young adults, and older adults. I provide mental health exams, treatment of uncomplicated episodic mental health issues, continuing care for persons with stable chronic mental health conditions, minimizing the need for frequent hospitalizations. I also enjoy an alternative, holistic approach to pharmacology.

Through a trauma sensitive and client centered approach, I look at psychiatry through non-judgmental, existential and holistic lens, always connecting the mind and the body. My goal is to work alongside you, helping you to meet your personal goals to wellness in whatever way it looks like to you. I have a warm and informal approach. I listen with compassion, kindness and respect. I hope you will allow me to guide you to a better understanding of your own strengths and abilities, leading to your fulfilling life.

Education

University of Saint Joseph
Master of Science in Nursing

Specialties

• 18+ Medication Management
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Relationships
• ADHD
• Coping Skills
• Grief
• Life Transitions
• Parenting
• Self Esteem
• Stress
• Trauma and PTSD

George Ramos, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Education

Eastern Kentucky University
Master of Science in Nursing

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress Management
• ADHD
• Obsessive compulsive disorders
• Sleep disorders
• Self-esteem
• Life transitions

Ismaila Musah, LPC

Philosophy of Care

Ismaila Musah is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and has extensive experience working with children. He has a broad base of counseling experience with; children, adolescents, adults, and families in different settings such as outpatient, community setting, and residential. He believes in creating an open, safe, and judgement free environment with clients clients; and is multiculturally competent as well. 

His therapeutic approach include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems, Solution Focused, and also an Eclectic Approach based on the needs of his clients.

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety 
• Mood Disorders 
• ADHD 
• Behavioral issues 
• Family issues 
• Anger Management
• Trauma

Kate Hanselman, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Kate Hanselman is a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of professional experience working with adults and seniors who are dealing with a wide variety of issues, including family conflict, transgender issues, grief, sexual orientation issues, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger issues, dysfunctional relationships, ADHD, behavioral issues, women’s issues, and more.

Kate earned a Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Science from King’s College London. With over a decade of experience in mental health as a nurse, a first responder in New York, and a health professions educator, she is particularly passionate about working with health care workers, educators, and those in the helping professions. She has a unique familiarity with the challenges particular to these roles. Especially now, with the pandemic increasing stressors and diminishing opportunities for coping, everyone needs and deserves a little extra help.

As a PMHNP, Kate prioritizes a collaborative, creative approach. She offers honed clinical expertise, a dynamic set of tools including medication and therapy, and a firm belief that each person is the expert on their own life. Kate provides thorough, holistic care by using CBT, trauma-informed, solution-focused, and mindful approaches to better understand and target the root causes of distress. You do not have to struggle alone. Whether you’re looking for support with an ongoing issue, or this is your first time seeking help, Kate will meet you where you are, and together you’ll decide on a plan that fits your needs.

Education

King’s College London
Master’s in Science

Specialties

• Anxiety
• ADHD
• PTSD and trauma
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Depression
• Stress management
• Life transitions
• Grief & Loss
• OCD
• Insomnia/sleep issues
• Coping skills
• Women’s Issues
• Relationship Issues
• Stress
• Medication Management
• School Issues
• Transgender
• Parenting
• LGBTQ+

Mekessia Richards-Carby, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Philosophy of Care

Mekessia is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (APRN) who is dedicated to treating mental illnesses  and relieving mental distress through an integrative and holistic approach. She works in partnership to help each client attain their individualized goals.

Recognizing that treating psychiatric illnesses requires a comprehensive approach, Mekessia focuses on the bio-social model of care. Mekessia prescribes medication to treat a variety of mental disorders in a judicious manner and with careful consideration of the patient as a whole. She is experienced in treating Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Trauma, psychosis, Eating disorders, ADHD and substance abuse as well as other conditions.

Mekessia is an experienced clinician who carries with her, the insight into the challenges and stressors that many of her patients experience. Mekessia offers compassionate care and is dedicated to helping patient live their healthiest lives. 

Education

Walden University
Master of Science in Nursing 

Specialties

• Medication Management
• Mood Disorders
• Anxiety
• ADHD
• Bipolar Disorder
• Coping Skills
• Depression
• Divorce
• Eating Disorders
• Emotional Disturbance
• Grief
• Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
• Relationship Issues
• School Issues
• Self Esteem
• Sleep or Insomnia
• Trauma and PTSD
• Women's Issues

Jeffrey Harris, LPC

Philosophy of Care

Jeffrey Harris is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a wealth of knowledge connecting with adolescents, adults, and couples seeking help with depression, anxiety, life transitions, and relationship issues. Jeffrey has 10 years of experience in the mental health field. He completed his Bachelor of Science (BS) at SUNY-Oneonta and his Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Bridgeport.

Jeffrey takes a client-centered, strength-based approach to meet the needs of each client. Utilizing cognitive behavioral, mindfulness-based, solution-focused, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT) approaches, Jeffrey’s therapeutic style has supported him in connecting with every unique individual. He is creative, caring, flexible, and works to collaborate with each of his clients towards client meeting their treatment goals.

Education

University of Bridgeport
Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress management
• Self esteem
• Life transitions
• Anger management
• Men’s issues
• LGBTQIA+ 
• Substance Abuse

Joseph Seele, LPC

Philosophy of Care

Joseph Seele is a Licensed Professional Counselor with thirty years experience. Joe has a comprehensive understanding of mental health and substance abuse systems of care. HE received his BA from ECSU and received his MS in community mental health, specializing in clinical psychology with adults, from Trinity College of Vermont. Joseph is a Cognitive Behavioral based therapist. It is Joe's firm belief that through the use of best practice models and solution focused approaches, positive outcomes will be achieved. Strengths based perspectives allow for all talents and skills of the individual to be part of the solution. Joe's a firm believer that the key to success is a strong therapeutic relationship. He utilizes a holistic approach in developing strategies that best address client needs.

Education

Trinity College of Vermont
Master's in Community Mental Health

Specialties

• Substance abuse issues
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Couples issues/relationships

Kate Hanselman, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Kate Hanselman is a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of professional experience working with adults and seniors who are dealing with a wide variety of issues, including family conflict, transgender issues, grief, sexual orientation issues, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger issues, dysfunctional relationships, ADHD, behavioral issues, women’s issues, and more.

Kate earned a Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Science from King’s College London. With over a decade of experience in mental health as a nurse, a first responder in New York, and a health professions educator, she is particularly passionate about working with health care workers, educators, and those in the helping professions. She has a unique familiarity with the challenges particular to these roles. Especially now, with the pandemic increasing stressors and diminishing opportunities for coping, everyone needs and deserves a little extra help.

As a PMHNP, Kate prioritizes a collaborative, creative approach. She offers honed clinical expertise, a dynamic set of tools including medication and therapy, and a firm belief that each person is the expert on their own life. Kate provides thorough, holistic care by using CBT, trauma-informed, solution-focused, and mindful approaches to better understand and target the root causes of distress. You do not have to struggle alone. Whether you’re looking for support with an ongoing issue, or this is your first time seeking help, Kate will meet you where you are, and together you’ll decide on a plan that fits your needs.

Education

King’s College London
Master’s in Science

Specialties

• Anxiety
• ADHD
• PTSD and trauma
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Depression
• Stress management
• Life transitions
• Grief & Loss
• OCD
• Insomnia/sleep issues
• Coping skills
• Women’s Issues
• Relationship Issues
• Stress
• Medication Management
• School Issues
• Transgender
• Parenting
• LGBTQ+