Jeffrey Wright, He/They, Director and Therapist
My role as your therapist is to help you rebuild your relationship with yourself so that you can live your best life. I use a two-pronged approach: psychodynamic therapy to focus on treating the root causes of what is troubling you, rather than the symptoms that come from it, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to target problematic behaviors and thought patterns that lead to depression, anxiety, and addiction. These approaches in tandem can deepen your understanding of who you are and how you relate to others while rooting out cycles that no longer serve you, so that you can become more confident, secure, and fulfilled.
I have been passionate about LGBTQ mental health since 2013, when I began volunteering with the Trevor Project as a instant-message counselor for queer youth in crisis. I followed this passion to Columbia University, where I completed two masters degrees in psychological counseling and received specialized training in multicultural counseling and bilingual therapy (English/Spanish). At Columbia I also received training in substance use, family therapy, and LGBTQ issues.
In addition to my work as a therapist, I am also an adjunct professor of counseling psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where I help train the next generation of mental health counselors. I recently completed a two-year post-masters program in psychodynamic psychotherapy at NYU School of Medicine’s PANY (Psychoanalytic Association of New York), a three-year advanced graduate certificate in gender studies and queer studies at SUNY Empire State College, and a 500-hour yoga teacher training through an internationally recognized studio.
My work as a therapist is informed by crisis work, trauma work, anti-racism, intersectionality, womanism, queer theory, mind-body connection, and person-centered therapy. I will meet you where you are and tailor my approach to your specific needs. Together, let's transform your relationship to yourself. Sessions can be held in English and Spanish.
"Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
-- James Baldwin
Charles Lovett, They/He, Therapist
My therapeutic approach is grounded in the knowledge that change begins with noticing- through nurturing trust between us, we will create the opportunity for your self-reflection, curiosity, insight, and compassion. I work from a highly individualized, person-centered approach where we center your feelings and internal sense of agency. Our objectives in therapy may be to mitigate difficult feelings of anxiety, solidify a sense of identity, improve self-esteem, expand capacity to work and love, or savor our experiences of pleasure and happiness.
My approach is influenced by a queer, multiracial, and liberatory position, fostering an environment where you can unreservedly bring your multifaceted self to our sessions. You can trust that here, your complexity will not only be validated but celebrated.
Before transitioning to psychotherapy, I earned my East Asian Studies B.A. from Harvard University and worked in education and crisis intervention in China for 5 years. I graduated from Columbia University with two masters in psychological counseling with a focus on LGBTQ mental health, multiracial identities, and understanding Whiteness. In my free time, I continue to hone my Japanese and Chinese language abilities, volunteer for the Trevor project hotline, and cook Korean food.
Julia Van Sickle, She/Her, Therapist
I view therapy as a collaborative and safe journey, emphasizing the importance of building a strong client relationship. My approach centers on warmth, empathy, and compassion, fostering an authentic and non-judgmental environment. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy, where healing encompasses all aspects of a client's life. My practice is grounded in mindfulness, focusing on the mind-body-spirit connection, with awareness and acceptance being crucial for growth.
I use insight and intuition to help clients gain new perspectives and enhance their self-awareness. It is essential that the client-therapist relationship feels natural and supportive, making sessions something clients look forward to. Having experienced fear and resistance to therapy myself, I understand these feelings and am committed to providing relief for issues like adjustment difficulties, depression, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, dissociation, codependency, relationship problems, identity struggles, addiction, stuckness, and grief.
My therapeutic approach integrates cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, acceptance-commitment, dialectical-behavioral, and existential perspectives, addressing past, present, and future concerns. I also consider external factors such as relationships, culture, environment, nutrition, physical health, and lifestyle. I believe in each individual's capacity to heal and aim to support clients in breaking stagnant patterns and fostering self-love while separating themselves from their struggles.
Before graduating from Teachers College, Columbia University with two master’s degrees in mental health counseling, I earned my B.S. in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University, along with a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis. I gained experience working with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder before transitioning into my internship at a psychotherapy private practice. I am a certified yoga instructor, and enjoy doing yoga, working out, reading, hiking, and traveling in my free time.