Arij Abdul holds an MA Degree in Psychology/Mental Health Counseling (2014). She has worked with non-profit/non-sectarian organizations and has experience in the Child Welfare System since 2014. She has over 8 years of experience working city-wide with, but not limited to, strengthening family dynamics, addressing domestic violence, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, psychological disorders, homelessness, and a vast amount of knowledge relating to child abuse, maltreatment, and neglect. She has provided clinical casework support, therapeutic, and mental health care for seriously disturbed youth, adults, couples, and traumatized families. She has been exposed to multiple populations, cultures, religions, legal/socioeconomic statuses, with a focus on the AMEMSA population (Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian), immigrants, refugees, and the underprivileged while applying trauma and culturally informed skills.

She has worked in case management and served as a Director of Program Operations for family shelters in NYC, assisting families to triumph over homelessness, locating services to aid them and their children, and supporting staff in their roles. Mrs. Abdul has over 9 years of experience in program management, supervising staff, collaborating and maintaining partnerships with stakeholders such as the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), Administration of Children’s Services (ACS), and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). She has played a role in program implementation and strategic planning as it relates to launching family shelters, Solution-Based-Casework (SBC), and a Functional Family Therapy (FFT) program. She also served as the Deputy Director for a Functional Family Therapy Program serving NYC, was the Director of  Parent Engagement in Putnam County for a residential school, and the Behavioral Clinic Director at a Mental Health and Substance Use Urgent Care Clinic in Poughkeepsie, NY.

She utilizes the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), which focuses on bringing awareness to the biological and neurophysiological parts of trauma and stress on our bodies, as well as how to utilize biologically based wellness skills to strengthen one’s resiliency. She is currently continuing her education to obtain a PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision. She also aims to continue to work with culturally sensitive populations, delivering services to meet client/funder needs, overseeing program management, sustainability, and ensuring the fidelity to the models is being practiced. She is an extremely passionate and compassionate counselor.

She is dedicated to helping and empowering anyone during stressful times, dealing with past traumas, feeling “stuck,” or wanting to set goals. She is committed to working together to bring out the therapist and expert within to reach an appropriate state of mind, body, and spirit that is unique to the person. 

“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination. The direction which constitutes the good life is that which is selected by the total organism, when there is psychological freedom to move in any direction.” Carl Rogers

Additional Information: Speaks Arabic 

Makenzi holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Touro University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in the field. With a background in theatre, she brings a unique ability to foster safe, supportive spaces rooted in authenticity, storytelling, and empathy. Makenzi specializes in working with adolescents, families, and couples, addressing a wide range of concerns including trauma, abuse, infidelity, and developmental disabilities.

She is highly trained in The Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, and Yoga Therapy, providing a versatile and compassionate approach to healing and personal growth.

Lindy is working on her degree as a clinical mental health counselor through Liberty University. Her Bachelor’s degree is from Empire State University. Lindy has two years of experience in the field of domestic violence crisis counseling prior to working on her clinical mental health counseling degree.

Lindy’s theoretical orientation is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a trauma informed and person-centered lens. She works with adolescents and adults providing both in-person and teletherapy sessions.

Zaray Dratch (She/Them) is an MFT student intern dedicated to supporting clients through life’s transitions, addressing issues related to substance use, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. With a passion for holistic healing, Zaray employs an integrative approach that incorporates modalities such as Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Somatic Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gottman Method, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), all grounded in systemic models. 

Zaray is particularly committed to serving couples, families, and individuals who are neurodivergent, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those who identify as BIPOC, immigrant, or first-generation.

Zaray does not accept insurance at the moment and offers a sliding scale rate.

Mark Friedman is currently pursuing a masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT).  After a successful career in the corporate world, he is now following his passion for helping those in need of mental health care.  As a father of three, with two daughters in college and a 9 year old son, he is well versed in family dynamics throughout the life cycle and brings a unique voice from a neo-paternal perspective– one with an understanding of how to apply classic family values in today’s modern world.

Mark takes an existential humanistic approach to therapy, rooted in family systems theory, which is guided by the exploration of each individual’s own personal experience.