Nicole Estevez, LMHC

Rutanya Simon, LCSW, earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma and has over eleven years of experience supporting children, families, and couples. She has worked with the courts, including mental health and substance abuse programs, and with families involved in child protective and adoption services. Rutanya integrates Gottman techniques to strengthen communication between couples and applies family systems theory to help families identify and improve maladaptive patterns and behaviors.

Rutanya is a solution-focused therapist who has worked with diverse populations throughout her career. She provides insight from a non-biased and compassionate perspective, helping clients create practical solutions for life transitions and personal healing. Her approach encourages introspection and self-compassion, empowering clients to focus on what is within their control while fostering growth and resilience.

In the initial session, Rutanya works to build rapport and trust while gaining a clear understanding of each client’s needs. She collaborates with clients to identify small, achievable steps toward their goals and uses these to guide the development of individualized treatment plans that promote meaningful progress and lasting change.

Melissa Medina, LCSW, began her journey in mental healthcare with a Bachelor’s in Psychology followed by a Master of Social Work degree. From 2015 to 2018, she completed her clinical hours at a community mental health agency in Los Angeles, where she gained experience working with diverse populations facing complex challenges. Melissa’s therapeutic approach integrates psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, strengths-based, dialectical behavioral, and EMDR modalities. She is dedicated to providing culturally sensitive, neurodivergent-friendly, person-centered care to support individuals and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, panic attacks, grief, family conflict, and life transitions.

Melissa believes therapy is both a journey and a destination. She takes an eclectic approach, tailoring interventions and communication to best fit each patient’s needs and preferences. Patients can expect an atmosphere of warmth, empathy, and collaboration. Through motivational interviewing and narrative techniques, Melissa helps individuals articulate their stories, identify strengths, and reframe challenges as opportunities for growth. She is committed to meeting patients where they are while supporting them in reaching their goals.

Melissa’s process begins with building rapport, listening to each patient’s story, and understanding their unique needs and hopes for therapy. Early sessions focus on creating a safe, supportive space while developing a treatment plan tailored to the individual. Patients can expect to gain fresh perspectives, practical coping strategies, and deeper self-awareness. Melissa’s goal is for patients to feel heard, understood, and empowered as they strengthen relationships, build resilience, and move toward a greater sense of fulfillment.

Tekisha Norwood, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience supporting adults navigating mental health challenges, chronic illness, trauma, life transitions, and aging-related concerns. She has an extensive background in inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings, including roles at the VA community outpatient program, skilled nursing homes, and as a crisis and behavioral health therapist in private practice. Tekisha earned her BSW (2010) and MSW (2012) from the University of Southern Mississippi and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She is passionate about empowering clients through individualized, compassionate care that meets each person’s unique needs.

Tekisha offers a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment centered on compassion, cultural awareness, and mutual respect. She ensures that every client feels seen, heard, and valued without judgment. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and flexible, designed to align with each individual’s goals for growth and healing.

During the first session, Tekisha conducts a thorough psychosocial assessment to understand each person’s background, challenges, and goals. Together, she and the client create a personalized treatment plan that guides the therapy process. Follow-up sessions focus on working through the plan collaboratively, with ongoing support, reflection, and adjustments as progress unfolds.

Brittiny enjoys helping patients reach their full potential and helping them navigate through life, especially during difficult times. Brittiny believes in achieving high-quality work as a therapist, which means meeting an individual where they are. This looks like listening to someone, without judgment, to understand/analyze their wants and needs. This also means understanding where they are on their journey and trying to find ways in which she can assist them in reaching their goals.

Brittiny's therapeutic focus includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Holistic Therapy, and Mindfulness. Brittiny utilizes a collaborative and holistic approach with patients.

She's here to meet you where you are in your journey and looks forward to helping you reach your goals.

In your first session together, you and Brittiny start by getting to know each other and getting some background information. You'll then discuss what brings you to therapy and your goals, which will help you and Brittiny create a treatment plan, customized for you. Depending on the client, she might assign homework in between session. Which can include worksheets, journaling exercises, a little research on different disorders, or self-help books to help you better recognize and manage your diagnosis. However, it is always up to the client.

‍

Adam Banks, LCSW, earned his MSW from Fordham University in 2010 and became a licensed clinical social worker in 2016. He also holds a Master’s in Psychology from Queens College and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Brandeis University. With over 12 years of clinical experience across community mental health, home-based family therapy, and outpatient substance abuse programs, Adam specializes in anxiety, adult ADHD, and infertility/family building. He is passionate about supporting clients navigating reproductive challenges and transitions to parenthood, often integrating narrative therapy to help families envision their future.

Adam uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and reframe unhelpful thinking patterns, as well as Motivational Interviewing to address ambivalence and guide clients toward meaningful change. He incorporates mindfulness, grounding, and coping strategies to improve emotional regulation and distress tolerance. His approach helps clients navigate difficult emotions and life challenges while fostering growth and resilience.

Adam practices active listening to understand client needs and collaborates to set personalized goals. His style is warm, affirming, strength-based, and can be both humorous and direct as appropriate. He believes that meaningful change takes time and that therapy, though sometimes challenging, is a powerful tool for cultivating a more satisfying and purposeful life.

Veronica McKnight received her Master's degree from the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York. She holds clinical social work licenses in Florida, Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin. Ms.McKnight's key areas of practice include depression, anxiety, trauma, communication in relationships, parenting challenges, compassion fatigue and grief and bereavement. Ms. McKnight specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a strength based, solution focused approach. Ms. McKnight integrates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing techniques.  Ms. McKnight has been certified as a Compassion Fatigue Educator and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Ms. McKnight has held leadership and clinical roles in community mental health centers, housing programs, hospitals and non-profit organizations.

I am proficient in assisting clients to navigate transitions in all aspects of the life span. Over the past 30 years, my experience has taught me that the most important aspect of therapy is the connection and comfort you feel with the person with whom you choose to share your personal struggles.

I like to listen to what patients are telling me about what is important to them and what they would like to address in therapy.  We can then start to set goals together and work towards the outcomes they want.  We always go at a pace that is comfortable to the client.