MEET OUR TEAM
WE’RE HERE WHEN YOU’RE READY
OUR THERAPISTS
Claire Burnham, LCSW
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Claire (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 6 years of experience providing mental health treatment for adolescents and adults.
She is a person-centered, strengths based therapist who also uses evidence based interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), and trauma informed approaches. By implementing these different techniques, Claire is passionate about helping others find meaning and fulfillment in their lives.
With a prominent focus on establishing compassionate and supportive therapeutic relationships, Claire hopes to foster a new sense of growth and self-esteem with her clients. Recognizing the profound impact of racial, economic, and social injustices on mental health, Claire strives to help her clients cope with these issues in the best way possible.
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Jacquelyn (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, and families.
Having worked in a variety of mental health settings, she is dedicated to creating a safe, culturally sensitive space where individuals can explore their experiences and navigate their healing journeys meaningfully.
Jacquelyn takes a person-centered approach to therapy, empowering clients to achieve their counseling goals and grow into their best selves. As a native Spanish speaker, she is also able to provide therapy sessions entirely in Spanish upon request.
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Jacquelyn Genus, LMHC
Meg Grandy, LCSW
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Meg (they/she) is a New York Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with diverse experience across social work and therapy settings.
Their work includes supporting individuals transitioning from houselessness to community living, guiding people in recovery toward self-defined success, and assisting individuals and families as they navigate mental health diagnoses.
Meg uses a variety of therapeutic approaches, such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and person-centered therapy to create a supportive and collaborative healing space.
Deeply aware of how societal systems create different experiences and mindsets for each individual, they work to dismantle the systems of injustice that create inequity in their community and beyond.
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Briana Gruspier, LCSW-R
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Briana (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) and Certified Grief Counselor with over 9 years experience working with adolescents, adults and the families of individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders.
She specializes in addiction and recovery, grief and loss, codependency, and depression, as well as anxiety, interpersonal conflicts, life transitions, and self-esteem concerns. During sessions, Briana integrates a variety of treatment modalities into her practice, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), strengths-based therapy, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy.
As a therapist, Briana is dedicated to providing a judgment-free space where clients feel supported in working toward their goals. She focuses on helping clients recognize their existing strengths while developing new skills to manage emotions in healthier, more positive ways.
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Natalie Capasse Modasra, LCSW
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Natalie (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with experience supporting adults facing anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, and life transitions.
She creates a warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental space where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions openly. Taking an integrative, person-centered approach, Natalie utilizes acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing to meet the unique needs of each client.
With all of her experience, Natalie is passionate about helping individuals build on their strengths to navigate challenges and achieve meaningful growth.
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Gia Recco, LMSW
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Gia (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with experience supporting school-aged children, families, and adults.
She meets clients where they are on their unique journeys toward mental well-being, guiding them as they work toward meaningful progress. By helping individuals who currently feel stuck, Gia believes that everyone has the capacity for growth and personal transformation.
Through all of her efforts, Gia offers a compassionate and non-judgmental space for clients to process emotions, develop coping skills, and foster personal development. She specializes in CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well as Exposure and Response Based Prevention Therapy (ERPT) for OCD.
* Supervised by Claire Burnham
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Kelly Lefsyk, LMSW
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Kelly (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who is experienced in helping adults, caregivers, and families.
As a therapist, she is passionate about empowering clients to learn healthy coping and communication skills to manage stress and anxiety, address traumatic experiences, and improve relationships with themselves and others
Kelly’s approach values the importance of building and maintaining a supportive and collaborative therapeutic relationship with her clients. To do so, she uses a combination of person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approaches.
* Supervised by Claire Burnham
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Hannah Christopher, LMSW
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Hannah (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with experience supporting adolescents and adults in outpatient therapy.
She utilizes person-centered and strengths-based practices, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other evidence-based interventions to support individuals navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, trauma, and more.
With a strong focus on how trauma and oppression can impact well-being, Hannah emphasizes building self-worth and helping her clients develop positive coping skills to overcome the challenges they face.
* Supervised by Claire Burnham
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Michael Longhini, LMSW
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Michael (he/him) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with experience supporting adults in various settings.
He is passionate about empowering individuals to seek meaningful change by harnessing their strengths, knowledge, and self-determination to collaboratively establish stability, safety, and success.
Michael specializes in managing depression, anxiety, trauma, impulsivity, emotional distress, and substance use. Using evidence-based tools, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), parts work, and motivational interviewing, he helps clients work toward becoming the best version of themselves.
* Supervised by Douglas Roest-Gyimah
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Sarah Randall, LMSW
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Sarah (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with experience helping individuals navigate challenges such as depression, anxiety, substance use, personality disorders, relationship difficulties, anger, low self-esteem, grief, trauma, and more
Her goal as a therapist is to provide a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore life’s challenges. From this foundation, Sarah adopts a non-judgmental, affirming, collaborative, trauma-informed, and attachment-based approach to guide her clients toward meaningful progress in their mental health journey.
Additionally, she also utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, emotion focused therapy (EFT), motivational interviewing, among other interventions.
* Supervised by Claire Burnham
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Kaylin Pafumi, LMSW
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Kaylin (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who has experience supporting individuals facing anxiety, depression, grief, and major life transitions.
She is passionate about helping her clients foster personal growth while regaining balance and reliance within their lives.. By using a compassionate and collaborative approach, Kaylin wishes to uncover the patterns that may be holding her clients back and equip them with tools to face challenges with clarity and confidence.
With a strong emphasis on self-discovery, Kaylin supports her clients every step of the way. By working together, she strives to create a life for her clients that feels balanced, meaningful, and authentically theirs.
* Supervised by Douglas Roest-Gyimah
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Shianne Cooke, MHC-LP
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Shianne (she/her) is a Mental Health Counselor-Limited Permit (MHC-LP) who provides therapy for individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in working with people of color and those navigating challenges related to depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD.
Shianne takes a trauma-informed approach, incorporating evidence-based interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She believes in the importance of creating a space free of expectations, where clients can explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences authentically.
With a strong focus on building a genuine and supportive therapeutic relationship, Shianne empowers her clients to embrace their individuality and take control of their healing journey. She is passionate about helping people leave the roles and pressures of daily life at the door so they can focus on what truly matters—themselves.
* Supervised by Jacquelyn Genus
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Nick Pastizzo, MHC-LP
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Nick (he/him) is a Mental Health Counselor-Limited Permit (MHC-LP) who provides therapy for adolescents and adults navigating a wide range of emotional and interpersonal challenges.
Nick takes a person-centered, strengths-based approach to therapy, drawing from evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based techniques, and trauma-informed care. He works collaboratively with clients to better understand themselves, develop practical coping skills, and create meaningful change.
Nick is committed to building a supportive and nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship where clients feel safe to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. He brings warmth, compassion, and curiosity to each session, with the goal of helping clients feel empowered and more connected to their values and goals.
* Supervised by Jacquelyn Genus
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Bernadette Alarage, LMSW
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Bernadette (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with a strong foundation in working with children and adolescents, particularly middle school-aged clients and younger.
Bernadette draws from a range of therapeutic approaches, including Person-Centered Therapy, Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Interventions. Her practice is informed by key psychological principles such as Humanistic Psychology, Attachment Theory, Developmental Psychology, the Strengths-Based Approach, and Ecological Systems Theory.
She is especially experienced in supporting clients with school-related challenges, stress management, emotional regulation, identity development, peer relationships, motivation, and adjustment to life changes. With a warm and supportive presence, Bernadette strives to create a safe, collaborative space where clients can build skills, gain confidence, and explore personal growth with compassion and curiosity.
* In-person and online sessions available
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Cheyanne Mack, LMSW
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Cheyanne (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with experience providing mental health support to adults.
She is a person-centered, strengths-based therapist who incorporates evidence-based interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and trauma-informed approaches. Cheyanne is passionate about helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, perfectionism, and life transitions with greater self-awareness and resilience.
With a focus on creating a compassionate, nonjudgmental, and affirming space, Cheyanne works to foster growth, healing, and confidence in her clients. She understands the unique challenges that individuals face and strives to support each client in finding their own path toward meaningful change.
* Supervised by Briana Gruspier⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Mary Aiello, MHC-LP
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Mary Aiello (she/her) is a Mental Health Counselor-Limited Permit (MHC-LP) who works with adolescents and adults navigating a wide range of concerns, including grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, ADHD, and LGBTQ+ issues.
Mary takes a creative, person-centered approach to therapy, recognizing that there is no single path to healing. She draws from Internal Family Systems (IFS), solution-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), adapting her work to align with each client’s unique needs and experiences. Her goal is to create a space where fear and discomfort are taken seriously, while also helping therapy feel more approachable, supportive, and even light at times.
To Mary, therapy is not just about managing what is difficult — it is about making those challenges feel a little less overwhelming and helping clients discover new ways to grow.
* Supervised by Jacquelyn Genus
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Learn more about Mary on Psychology Today
Elyse Fuerst, LMSW
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Elyse Fuerst (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who works with children, adolescents, and adults navigating a variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, life transitions, perfectionism, relationship challenges, self-esteem, stress, and coping skills.
Elyse’s approach to therapy is warm, person-centered, and rooted in the belief that healing happens through connection and trust. She draws from a range of evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Strengths-Based and Trauma-Informed practices, as well as Ecological Systems Theory and mindfulness-based techniques.
Elyse strives to offer a calm, supportive space where clients can explore life’s challenges with honesty and care while staying grounded in their strengths and working toward meaningful change.
* Supervised by Natalie Modasra
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Learn more about Elyse on Psychology Today
Margaret Green, LMSW
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Margaret Green (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who works with individual adults and couples navigating a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, trauma, grief and loss, family dynamics, women’s issues, and individuation.
Margaret brings a warm, flexible, and nonjudgmental presence to her work, supporting clients through experiences of growth, pain, and transformation. As a new mother herself, she is particularly passionate about helping parents — especially those in the postpartum period — as they navigate questions of autonomy, empowerment, and identity during major life transitions.
Her therapeutic approach is holistic and collaborative, integrating psychodynamic therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, and somatic experiencing. With curiosity and compassion, Margaret creates space for clients to slow down, explore what arises, and begin to rewrite the stories that no longer serve them.
* Supervised by Natalie Modasra
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Learn more about Margaret on Psychology Today
OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Douglas Roest-Gyimah, LCSW
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Douglas (he/him) is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and has over a decade of experience working in human-services settings.
His experience ranges from addiction treatment to therapy in both prisons and schools. From there, Douglas has had the pleasure of starting a mental health practice from the ground up. His new passion is to create a thriving counseling center where therapists provide excellent services.
In addition to running Upstate Counseling, Douglas is an avid woodworker, and also coaches other small business owners.
Liz Wilson
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Liz (she/her) is the Administrative Manager at Upstate Counseling, bringing over 20 years of experience in healthcare and leadership. She is passionate about leading a team committed to delivering exceptional customer service and compassionate care to clients.
Outside of work, Liz loves spending time with her family and friends, supporting her daughter at sporting events, and indulging in cooking and crafting.
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Jack (he/him) is the Marketing & Design Coordinator at Upstate Counseling who contributes to the company’s website upkeep, social media content, and advertisements. He assists the executive staff with website design and researching new marketing strategies.
As a senior attending University at Albany, Jack continues to further his education in Business Administration and Marketing while contributing to Upstate Counseling’s Mission.
In his free time, Jack is an avid drummer and loves creating video content on YouTube.
Jack Bruce
Shelly Hulett
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Shelly (she/her) is the Intake Coordinator at Upstate Counseling who has worked within various medical specialties for over a decade. She is a major advocate for mental health treatment and has seen first-hand how beneficial it can be. Shelly takes pride in being able to help people get the support they want or need.
In her free time, Shelly loves reading, hanging out with her dog, being creative, and being in nature.