Erin Ellis, LMHC

Keren Salcedo graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2019 with a degree in Mental Health Counseling. While in school she interned at an outpatient addiction treatment center which sparked her interest in working with adults. After graduation she moved back to New York City. Keren continued her work in addiction by working at a rehab facility. She later transitioned to an outpatient clinical where she had the opportunity to work with clients across a wide of diagnosis for three years. This experience has made her more comfortable and confident supporting individuals with diverse mental health needs.

It is important to Keren that every client feels safe, heard and supported. She is passionate about creating a comfortable and friendly environment where you can speak openly and feel at ease. Keren is easygoing and approachable, and she believes in meeting clients where they are. Her goal is to build a trusting relationship where you feel comfortable to explore your thoughts, feelings, and goals at your own pace.

In the beginning, Keren's approach would be Person Centered Therapy to help build a strong therapeutic relationship and for clients to feel supported. Once we’ve established a foundation, she would tailor her approach based on the clients' presenting concerns. Keren often incorporated techniques that she has experienced and feels comfortable using, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Motivational Therapy. She also believes in being flexible and adapting her methods to fit each client's situation.

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Gretchen attended James Madison University for her undergraduate studies and graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University and Boston University. She has practiced for three years in various settings, including residential facilities for children, acute care facilities, and private practice, where she successfully supported clients with neurodiversity in improving executive function, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships. Recognizing the complexities of neurodiversity beyond traditional clinical frameworks, Gretchen collaborates with medical professionals, educators, and families to create inclusive environments that foster success for individuals with neurodivergent traits.

Clients can expect to gain a deeper understanding of their thought patterns and uncover the underlying meanings behind their reactions. Through a collaborative and reflective process, they’ll develop greater self-awareness, challenge limiting beliefs, and gain clarity in their personal growth journey. This approach empowers clients to make more informed, intentional choices in their lives.

Gretchen takes a direct yet supportive approach, evident from the very first session. She integrates psychoeducation, somatic techniques to enhance body awareness, and strategic reframing to help clients uncover core beliefs that may be contributing to their challenges.

Katrina Myers has 20 years of education experience in elementary education with behavioral children, children with special needs and ADHD issues. She has been a behavioral interventionist for children and helped parents and educators come up with ways to help children with emotional disturbances turn their lives around. She has 5 years’ experience as an LPC with treating such disorders as bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD issues, post-partum, past trauma issues, depression issues, social anxiety issues, divorce and family therapy issues.

Clients looking for a professional counselor will find that Katrina Myers uses a gentle but open communication approach in her counseling techniques. She believes in a varied therapeutic modality approach with uses of Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness approaches, positive psychology, psychodynamic approaches and humanistic therapy. Katrina Myers has genuine care for helping people find their true happiness and joy in life.

Kristen Soukup, LCSW is a mental health therapist at Talkiatry. Kristen completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester where she studied Psychology and Brain & Cognitive Science. She then went on to pursue her Master's degree in Social Work at the State University of New York at Buffalo. After completing her Master's degree, Kristen began working at an outpatient cancer center where she provided care coordination and therapeutic support to patients and their families enduring cancer diagnoses, treatments, and end of life. She then worked to pursue her clinical license in working with adults with significant and persistent mental illness in an outpatient setting. Kristen functioned not only as a primary therapist but also as the crisis team leader, providing supervision to other clinicians and assisting clients both in the clinic and the community. Kristen believes in looking at the whole person in their environment when working with her patients. She comes from a nonjudgmental and empathetic standpoint and genuinely wants to put the patient's goals and values first. Kristen has experience in treating patients with anxiety, depression, OCD, Bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. Kristen is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and tends to utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques in treatment. She has knowledge and interest in human motivation and performance related issues, and utilizes Motivational Interviewing and mindfulness skills to assist her patients with these concerns. Kristen also has training in treating anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive disorders and uses exposure therapy to assist patients in overcoming these struggles.‍

Karina Eugenio Vargas, LMHC, LPC received a Master of Science in Education and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from St. John's University of New York. She has completed training at Yale's Child Study Center specializing in Child and Adult abuse and has worked in community mental health and outpatient based settings. For the past 5 years, Karina has dedicated her career to trauma-informed care, specifically using CBT. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults treating anxiety, depression, family and relationship issues, and other mental health issues. Karina practices from a Psychodynamic framework and integrates other modalities depending on the needs of each client.

Helen Fitzpatrick, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and families through life’s challenges. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University–Chicago and has worked in diverse settings, including crisis centers, hospitals, senior services, and the VA. Helen has extensive experience with adults and children with disabilities, caregivers, and veterans, as well as those managing trauma, medical recovery, or ongoing health issues.

Helen believes that therapy should be a collaborative and supportive process. She takes time to truly listen and understand her clients’ experiences, helping them identify goals that feel meaningful and attainable. Helen creates a space where clients can speak freely—especially when it feels difficult to open up to family or friends—and she brings compassion, patience, and understanding to every session.

Helen begins by exploring what her clients would like to focus on and works together with them to develop realistic and personalized goals. She values open communication and mutual respect, adjusting her approach to meet each person’s unique needs and pace. Her process emphasizes healing, empowerment, and helping clients build confidence as they move toward greater emotional well-being.