Dominika Sekulska, LCSW

Beth Folks is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and a Certified Co-Occurring Disorder Diplomate. She has 25 years of experience helping clients recognize their inner strength. Her style of therapy utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Beth tailors each treatment plan to fit the client's individual needs and encourages them to take an active role in every step of the journey. She strives to create a safe environment where the client feels they can speak openly. Beth most recently worked in a private practice for a psychiatrist as a psychotherapist via tele-health serving adults diagnosed with mental health issues. She has also worked in a residential setting where she supervised the care of clients with mental health and addiction issues. Bath worked closely with Psychiatrists and is familiar with most types of medications used currently. Beth obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in psychology from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. She then earned a Master of Science Degree at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA. In addition, she obtained a post-master's certification in forensic treatment at Chestnut Hill College.

Alaina Ables is a Manhattan-based mental health counselor with a wide range of experience with different populations and diagnoses. She has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and couples in both addiction and traditional mental health settings. Alaina is also licensed in Virginia and is available for virtual sessions. Alaina specializes in working with teenagers, college students, and the LGBT Community. Alaina also focuses on treating Anxiety, BPD, ADHD, Trauma, and General Life Stressors.

Alaina operates from a Person-Centered Lens which means the client is the expert in their own life, therefore, she will collaborate with you to find the best possible approach.

Alaina provides a comfortable, non-judgmental, and multicultural lens to ensure the ability of tacking each issue in a safe and healthy way.

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Meet Alex Starmer, LMHC, your friendly mental health counselor here at Talkiatry. She's not just a counselor; she's your partner on your mental health journey. Alex earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Syracuse University in 2020 and has been in the field since January 2021, working closely with clients facing mental health and substance use challenges. Alex believes in the power of the mind-body connection, and she loves to share polyvagal exercises and mindfulness techniques to help you better understand yourself. She's always learning and growing, with ongoing training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Her go-to tools for therapy are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). With her, you can expect a compassionate and comprehensive approach to your mental well-being. You're in good hands with Alex.‍

Renee LaRock-Gary is a licensed mental health counselor in New York State. She has extensive experience working in an array of settings from crisis to office settings; with children to adults; and with individuals to groups. She graduated magna cum laude with a masters from SUNY Plattsburgh and has a current certification as an Integrative Sex and Couples Therapist and several past certifications in a variety of areas including anxiety, grief, and substance abuse. Renee's specialty is trauma and she worked for a decade exclusively with survivors of sexual trauma. Overall, she has over 30 years of experience in the human and social services field and has held a variety of positions, including LGBTQ Teen outreach worker, domestic violence counselor, and manager at a halfway house, to name a few. As an eternal learner, Renee regularly participates in ongoing training in a variety of areas in order to keep abreast of the most up-to-date knowledge in the mental health field. Primarily, she utilizes CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and/or DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) to help people reach their goals, and she often brings in other modalities to fit a person's individual needs.

Jessica Vassallo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in the area of mental health. She has worked with patients of various demographics including World Trade Center responders, college students, patients with severe and persistent mental illness, dually diagnosed patients, patients who have or have had cancer, and patients with impoverished backgrounds. She received her Master's Degree at Adelphi University in 2003, became certified that year and received her license in clinical social work in 2008. Jessica has been practicing in social work for 20 years, focusing on anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She uses an eclectic approach in therapy with a foundation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness therapy, and supportive psychotherapy. She develops an individualized treatment plan for all patients to focus on their goals. She believes that the person is impacted by all the larger systems they are in (family, workplace, community, larger society) and is committed to providing a non-judgmental, warm, and empathetic space to help clients feel understood and comfortable exploring the roots of their issues.

Jessie Gordon, LCSW, earned her Master of Social Work from the NYU Silver School of Social Work in 2020. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience practicing in private practice and community mental health settings. Jessie brings a broad understanding of therapeutic needs and is committed to helping clients navigate a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges.

Jessie offers a compassionate, friendly, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel safe to explore their experiences. She meets clients where they are and tailors her approach using a variety of therapeutic modalities. Her style is collaborative and supportive, focusing on client goals while working at a comfortable pace.

In the first session, Jessie spends time getting to know the client’s history, reasons for seeking therapy, and their goals. Together, they develop a personalized treatment plan. She regularly checks in throughout the process to assess progress and make adjustments, always moving at a pace that supports lasting growth.