Richard States, LPC

Diamond Junior received her bachelor’s degree in arts & psychology 2007 & two master’s degrees in science, one in Community Mental Health Counseling and the second one in School Counseling Education, in 2011 and 2018. Diamond Junior now has her License in Mental Health Counseling, her Credentialed Alcoholic & Substance Abuse Counseling Certification-Trainee, and her Permanent Certification in School Counseling. Diamond is also currently in doctoral school for her School Psychology degree. Diamond is a former Alcohol and Substance Abuse Preventive Worker & Treatment and Therapeutic Foster Care Family Specialist. Diamond is now currently, an on-line therapist and has her own Mental Health Counseling Private Practice in Buffalo. Diamond's treatment styles & modalities include Trauma-Informed Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Grief Therapy.

When working with Diamond, a new patient should know that she is very down to earth and professionally direct. Diamond practices individualism and treat each patient as their own person. Diamond develops treatment plans with the patient, that tailors to each of their individual needs. Diamond is also the co-founder of an All-girls mentoring & educational program called, "Unique Sisters. Unique Sister was started in 2014 and is owned by my mother, Rhodesia Jackson.

Diamond's typical process when working with patients is to first establish a therapeutic rapport by asking open-ended questions. Diamond asks questions such as, "Have you been in therapy before, including as a  child or teen (if the patient is over 18)"? This helps Diamond starting point to build a trusting & individualized relationship with the patient. Diamond's next question would be, "Why did you first enter therapy & we're you diagnosed with any mental health disorders"? Diamond continues to go on and ask if the client is or has been on psychotropic medications and what brings them back to therapy. Diamond gathers all of this information during the first two session and then ask the patient if any skills were built during their therapy journey & if they still utilize the skills. Finally, Diamond would administer the ACE Questionnaire to assess for childhood trauma, if the patient is over 18 years of age.

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Mekayla Davila is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) who has been in practice for 6 years. She has experience working with many diverse populations and mental health conditions. Mekayla attended graduate school at Teachers College Columbia University where she received an M.A. and M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling. Her education and experience span both psychology and criminal justice fields as she has always been interested in their intersectionality. In previous roles, Mekayla has worked mostly with children, adolescents, and adults of minority populations, with focuses on treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and other stressor-related disorders. Mekayla strongly believes that every therapeutic interaction is unique, so she uses an eclectic approach, with foundations in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy, to tailor treatment to the specific needs of each individual. Mekayla puts emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and finds it important to provide a safe and comforting environment for all.

Jessica Brusgul is a LMHC with over nine years of experience working with individuals with a wide range of mental health challenges. She attended Oswego State and completed her undergraduate degree as an older, non-traditional student. She then pursued graduate school at SUNY Oswego, which she completed in 2016. During this time, Jessica has gained a great deal of experience with clients from various backgrounds who are faced with numerous life challenges. This includes anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and those in need of anger management. Jessica has also worked with those faced with substance abuse related problems, life transitions, career counseling, and parenting education. Her approach is to get to know her clients, their presenting concerns, and some history as well. Through these conversations, Jessica helps her clients feel comfortable in a non-judgmental setting and express themselves freely. Jessica also incorporates a sense of humor, when appropriate, as well as assisting people in identifying their inner strengths and skills. Jessica believes that everyone can overcome their obstacles and make positive changes for themselves. She incorporates such modalities as encouraging clients to maintain a journal and share entries during session, exercise regularly, and begin their journey towards overall wellness. Jessica has found that an eclectic approach, depending upon the needs of the individual, and the client's adherence to this between sessions, can be highly beneficial.

Lauren Mingle is an outpatient therapist at Talkiatry. She is dually licensed in Colorado as a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). Lauren earned her master's degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling/Therapy from the University of Northern Colorado. Before joining Talkiatry, Lauren held roles in a diverse array of settings including community mental health, crisis services, and outpatient therapy. Her previous specialty focuses included youth, adolescents, adults, and couples. Lauren uses a variety of evidence-based approaches including, but not limited to, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to meet people where they are at and work with them to best reach their personalized therapy goals.

Sebrina Cotton is a passionate advocate for mental health and holistic well-being. With over 7 years of experience in the mental health field, she has worked with diverse populations seeking support in managing various challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship/marital issues, grief/loss, and life transitions. Sebrina's approach is person-centered and collaborative. She will hold you accountable to the goals you want to accomplish through a combination of empathy, active listening, and skillful interventions. Sebrina welcomes you to a warm and safe space to bring all of who you are to each session. She will walk alongside you through your therapy journey towards a more fulfilling and meaningful life. In her time outside of sessions, Sebrina enjoys working out at the gym, teaching/practicing yoga, and traveling.

Robin Lawson is a LCSW with 14 years of clinical experience, who has extensive experience with adults ages 18 and older who are experiencing anxiety, depression, and grief/loss. Robin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina and her Master’s degree from the University of South Florida. Robin has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has specialized experience with those facing chronic or serious medical illnesses. Robin finds joy in connecting with her clients and creating a safe space for them to gain insight on themselves, their strengths and their opportunities for growth.

Robin has been practicing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 14 years, with an emphasis on Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Grief/Loss. Robin primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy in her practice as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.