Counseling and Psychological Services Staff and Trainees 2023-2024

Jeffrey Ng, Psy.D.
Director, Rose Hill/Lincoln Center/London
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology/NYS Licensed
Rutgers University

Dr. Jeffrey Ng (he, him, his) is a licensed clinical psychologist and has served as CPS' Director for the past 11 years. He is currently the co-chair for the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors’ Elements of Excellence committee. Dr. Ng received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Rutgers University and his undergraduate degree in human development from Cornell University. Prior to joining Fordham in 2008, he worked at New-York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

Dr. Ng’s professional interests include collegiate mental health, multicultural and liberation psychology, psychodynamic psychotherapy, mindfulness based interventions, interpersonal neurobiology, and masculine identity development. As an immigrant and first generation HEOP college student, he is especially interested in reducing identity based mental health and educational disparities, and working with students from low income, under-represented and marginalized populations. Dr. Ng's clinical approach is informed by a phenomenological, social justice, Buddhist and systems focused framework, and privileges the exploration of depth, meaning, context, and subjectivity in the therapeutic process.

Dr. Ng is fluent in Spanish and Cantonese, is an avid sports fan, and lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and 18 year old son and 2 cats. 

Yael Uness, Ph.D.
Associate Director and Coordinator of Counseling, Lincoln Center
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology/NYS Licensed
The University of Connecticut

Dr. Yael Uness (she, her, hers) is the Associate Director of Fordham University’s Counseling and Psychological Services office, Lincoln Center campus. Her responsibilities include coordinating all counseling services for this office, consulting with members of the community, and organizing and leading our group therapy program at the Lincoln Center office.

Dr. Uness received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut in 2008 and is licensed in New York State. Her research interests and areas of publication center around providing support and clinical services for women, international students and people with backgrounds involving immigration. She is also passionate about supervision of clinical services, group psychotherapy and use of expressive writing and journaling to benefit emotional health.

Finally, Dr. Uness is a candidate at NYU’s Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. This helps her to develop a deeper ability to understand the individuals with whom she works, both at CPS and in her private practice, where she treats individuals and also runs a group psychotherapy program.

Miriam Burt, Psy.D.
Associate Director and Coordinator of Counseling, Rose Hill
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology/NYS Licensed
Rutgers University

Dr. Miriam Burt (she, her, hers) is the Associate Director for the Rose HIll Campus and has been at CPS for 9 years. Prior to arriving at CPS, she was a staff psychologist for Counseling & Psychological Services at Princeton University, where she specialized in serving students with eating disorders as well as students with a history of self-harm. She received her undergraduate degree from Boston University and her Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers, The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. Her research interests center around native language use in therapy and its implications on the therapeutic relationship. Dr. Burt practices from the use of self within a psychodynamic framework and has also been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Her professional interests include identity development, eating disorders, diversity and multicultural issues particularly around the use of mother tongue, supervision and training, and she thoroughly enjoys working with college student populations. Her preferred pronouns are she/her/hers and she is fluent in Spanish, being of South American descent. Outside CPS, Dr. Burt enjoys spending time with her immediate and extended family, traveling, the theater, and yoga.

Samantha Mahr, Psy.D.
Supervising Psychologist and Training Director, Lincoln Center
Doctorate in  Clinical Psychology/NYS Licensed 
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University

Samantha received her Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. Prior to joining Fordham CPS, she completed her pre-doctoral internship at North Central Bronx Hospital where she worked on an acute inpatient unit treating adults with chronic mental illnesses. Samantha has worked in a college counseling setting and outpatient clinics in Manhattan and the Bronx. Her research has focused upon the use of the couch in psychotherapy and the relationship between the patient's position and psychoanalytic process. Samantha's professional interests include psychodynamic psychotherapy and social justice in the mental health field. Samantha is particularly interested in working with young adults, but has experience working with adults across the lifespan. 

Erika Greene, LMSW
Supervising Counselor/Coordinator for the Group Therapy
Program and Graduate Student Services, Rose HillMasters in Social Work
Fordham University 

Erika Greene (she/her/hers) worked with underserved people living with AIDS and HIV at the Family Health Center of Harlem before coming to CPS. Her clinical approach integrates psychodynamic principles, acceptance and commitment therapy, attachment theory, family systems therapy, and trauma-informed care. Erika's clinical interests include identity-formation, anxiety, learning differences, trauma, and personality disorders. She works with clients through a biopsychosocial-spiritual lens, and she believes that the exploration of intersecting identities is critical in the therapeutic process. Erika is a champion of group therapy as a uniquely transformative treatment modality, a safely held space in which clients can experiment with seeing and being seen differently, connecting more deeply with their peers, and cultivating more meaningful, authentic relationships with others, and with themselves.

Jacob Nacheman, Ph.D.
Supervising Counselor/Outreach Coordinator, Lincoln Center
PhD in Clinical Psychology
New School for Social Research

Jacob Nacheman (he/him/his) is staff therapist and outreach coordinator at Fordham University CPS Lincoln center. After completing a BS in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and MS in Education with a specialty in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at the University of Rochester, Jacob completed a MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology at the New School for Social Research. He has worked with adolescents and emerging adults in various domestic and international settings, teaching English language and literacy in Latin America and Europe and elementary through high school general and special education in New York. Jacob is deeply interested in young adult mentorship and completed his doctoral dissertation with a comparative study of arts-infused and traditional mentorship programs among NYC youth and young adults. Beginning at CPS in 2018, Jacob approaches psychotherapy from a psychodynamic orientation, integrating mindfulness and acceptance based practices with an understanding of cognitive/behavioral principles. Jacob is driven to work from a perspective of multicultural and pluralistic awareness and the intersectionality of identities, LGBTQAI+ and queer theory, adjustment, and trauma-informed care to support clients in the development of self-love, patience, and greater adaptability to subjective life stressors.

Alessandra Avallone, MA, LMHC
Supervising Counselor/Coordinator for Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Initiatives, Lincoln Center
Master’s in Mental Health Counseling/NYS Licensed
Baruch College

Alessandra Avallone (she, her, hers) is a licensed mental health counselor. She received herMaster’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Baruch College and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Italian Language from St. John’s University. Alessandra trained at the Karen Horney Clinic where she received her postgraduate certification in psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Alessandra has an inclusive, compassionate, and culturally affirming counseling approach. She is well-versed in working with culturally diverse adults with a wide range of issues. She specializes in supporting clients through life transitions, grief, trauma, multicultural issues, and interpersonal difficulties. Alessandra utilizes an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens by placing thoughtful attention on historical trauma and social realities that shape the human experience.

Alessandra believes in the healing nature of a strong therapeutic bond. She works to create a therapeutic relationship grounded in empathy and provides a safe space for clients to feel accepted and heard. She guides clients through self-exploration to help them achieve a more authentic way of life. Alessandra is fluent in English and Spanish and has intermediate proficiency in Italian. In addition, she provides services in both English and Spanish or her favorite, Spanglish.

Brittany Blecher, M.Ed, MHC-LP
Supervising Counselor, Rose Hill
Masters of Education in Mental Health Counseling
Teachers College, Columbia University

Brittany Blecher (she, her, hers) is a Supervising Counselor at CPS Rose Hill campus. She received her Masters of Education in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. Upon graduating, she completed a postgraduate fellowship with Fordham CPS.

Brittany hopes to assist clients in achieving a life of satisfaction, pleasure, and meaningful relationships. She is dedicated to supporting individuals' growth and development by providing a space to be heard and addressing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, emerging adulthood, and identity. Brittany uses an integrative approach of psychodynamic, relational, and trauma-informed techniques through a multicultural feminist lens.

Alice Feng, LMSW
Supervising Counselor/Coordinator for Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Initiatives, Rose Hill
Masters in Social Work
Fordham University

Alice Feng (she / her / hers) is a graduate of Fordham University’s Master of Social Work program. Upon graduating, she completed a postgraduate fellowship at CPS. Prior to her time at Fordham, Alice worked with NYC public school students in afterschool programming.
Alice's clinical approach is rooted in relational psychodynamic therapy. This means that she believes that early developmental experiences are central to emotional development and to shaping responses to problems in life. It also means that she sees the therapeutic relationship as a mutual process of discovery. Alice is passionate about working with clients and helping them cope with life transitions and navigate interpersonal relations. She strives to be sensitive to the needs of clients while fostering their existing strengths.
Outside CPS, Alice enjoys exploring the five boroughs, cooking and eating, and being in nature.

Dina Stella, M.Ed, LMSW
Staff Counselor, Rose Hill

Dina Stella (she/her/hers) is a licensed social worker and psychotherapist  trained in trauma systems and cognitive behavioral therapy. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Psychology from Temple University and a Master's in Social work from Lehman College.  Dina has extensive experience  in child welfare, working in foster care and with court adjudicated youth.     

Dina has a special interest in supporting clients during life transitions and working to increase self awareness, develop healthy behaviors and increase emotional well-being.  Dina focuses on understanding the challenges and pressures of being a student and ensuring every person is seen and understood; aware that each individual responds differently based on their life experiences.

Dave Cazeau, LCSW
Staff Counselor, Rose Hill

Dave Cazeau is a PhD candidate in the social welfare program at GC. He is also a licensed clinical social worker and practicing psychotherapist in NYC. Dave’s current research interests include improved access to mental health care for BIPOC spectrum clients, as well as culturally competent and supportive modalities in providing mental health care to individuals who are socially marginalized. In addition to having his MSW, Dave has also earned his Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Pace University, and completed a fellowship with the CUNY Graduate Center’s Wellness Center, where he further developed his clinical skills as a therapist.

Sanjidah Chowdhury, MA/Ed.M
Staff Counselor, Lincoln Center

Sanjidah Chowdhury (she,her,hers) is a staff counselor at Fordham University CPS Lincoln Center. She received her MA/Ed.M in Mental Health Counseling  from Teachers College, Columbia University. She got a Bachelors of Science in Applied Psychology at New York University- Steinhardt . She has been a part of research involving the analysis of adolescent language patterns and communication at NYU.

Sanjidah is passionate about providing service to the diverse individuals of NYC. Her approach is to understand the nuances of your intersectional identity by engaging in grounded dialogue. Utilizing a mixture of multicultural, relational, cognitive, and dialectical behavioral interventions, to emphasize authenticity and curiosity. Sanjidah conducts therapy in English. 

Liz Woods, MA
Student Counselor, London campus
Masters in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
Univerisity of Roehampton

Liz (she, her, hers) obtained her Masters in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Roehampton, London. She has broad experience working with students and staff in the University sector. In her clinical practice, Liz focuses on emotional and psychological awareness and wellbeing, personal fulfillment, finding meaning, attachment and mindfulness practice including mindful self-compassion. Liz works relationally with clients, placing them at the centre of the work, and strives for a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Rosalie Cirillo
Office Manager
Rose Hill

Rosalie Cirillo is the Office Manager of CPS’ Rose Hill Office and a FCRH alumna. She worked as an insurance underwriter for 15 years and as a substitute teacher for 5 years. Rosalie joined Fordham University’s Enrollment Services Group in 2010 and has been working at CPS since 2015. Languages:  Limited working Spanish and professional working Italian. Rosalie enjoys hiking, yoga, gardening and cooking in her free time. Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers.

Jazenda Garcia
Office Manager
Lincoln Center

Jazenda Garcia is the Office Manager for the CPS Lincoln Center office. She is also a Fordham University alumna. Jazenda is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She enjoys being a part of a great team and staff. 

Daniel Stern

Daniel Stern, LMSW (he, him) received his Master's from Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Services and did his specialist clinical placement at Fordham CPS. He studied philosophy and anthropology as an undergraduate at Seton Hall University after which he spent many years attempting to answer the age-old question, “What will you do with a philosophy degree?” As a post-graduate fellow, his area of focus is group work.

His views on the therapeutic process have been particularly shaped by Eastern influences like yoga, of which he has been a dedicated practitioner for over 20 years. Daniel also focuses on the social determinants of health and views healing within the context of political, historical, and systemic contexts. He sees the client as the expert of their own experience and seeks to compassionately guide them through their unique and courageous process toward self-love and empowerment.

Mengtian Dong

Farah Khuzouz 

Jeb Bunting

Jeb Bunting (he/him/his) is a masters student in Social Work at Fordham University. He received his Bachelors of Science at Southern Methodist University in 2017, and is currently in his second year at Fordham. His clinical interests include working with young adult and college-age populations, as well as a specific interest in treating mood disorders and substance abuse with psychodynamic therapy. In addition to his studies, he has spent the last year working on a research project exploring suicidality in young adults in inpatient settings. Outside of work, he is a musician and spends much of his free time writing, arranging, and performing original music.

ADRIANA BRUGES-BOUDE, MD
Psychiatry Intern and Resident
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai Morningside - Mount Sinai West
Doctor of Medicine
Universidad de los Andes
Bogota, Colombia

Anastasi

Sade Henriquez