Associate Biographies
Alisa Samuels-Stein, PhD.
Dr. Stein supervises mental health counselors. She has been practicing as a psychologist since 2002. Dr. Stein has provided both individual and group counseling as well as conducted psycho-educational evaluations. She has presented at parent and teacher workshops about topics such as social and emotional development, transitioning from one school to another, test anxiety, bullying, ADHD, and depression. Dr. Stein completed her PhD in School Psychology at Fordham University. In her spare time, she enjoys running, travelling and spending time with her 2 children.
Jihane (Gigi) Khachab, M.S., Limited Permit
With a genuine passion for helping others, Jihane, who also goes by Gigi, is a compassionate and dedicated therapist, committed to empowering her clients on their journey towards self-discovery and growth. Her own experiences have instilled in her a deep sense of empathy, open-mindedness, and the unwavering belief in the transformative power of therapy. Jihane's empathic, non-judgmental, and empowering approach helps foster an environment in which clients feel genuinely heard and understood. Having earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University, Jihane employs an integrative approach including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Person-Centered Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic, and Mindfulness therapy, to address her clients' unique needs and goals and promote optimal change. Jihane worked in an outpatient setting specialized in offering individual and group treatment for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety-based disorders, and personality disorders. Her passion for advocacy and helping underprivileged populations shines through in her previous volunteer work in West Africa and her experience assisting individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder in a Canadian residence. Outside of her counseling practice, Jihane enjoys cooking and baking, traveling, photography, and spending time with loved ones or in nature.
Crystal Alvarado, M.A., Limited Permit
Crystal follows the idiom “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” and believes that therapy should not be theory driven, but relationship driven. Crystal focuses on ensuring her clients receive empathy, support and genuineness. She uses an interpersonal and cognitive behavioral approach to focus on and improve one’s thoughts and personal relationships. Crystal earned her bachelor’s degree at Stony Brook University in psychology and her master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Old Westbury. She has focused on working with those who have become HIV infected as a result of sexual assault as well as children, adolescents, and young adults within the LGBTQ+ community. When Crystal is not counseling she enjoys hiking, weightlifting and caring for her reptiles.
Christina Mortimer, M.S., Limited Permit
I am a Mental Health Counselor with a limited permit working under the supervision of licensed psychologist, Dr. Sheila Chiffriller, at Psychological Counseling with Compassion. Counseling is a collaborative process that works towards change by exploring your emotions, thoughts, values, the mind-body connection, and behavior patterns. I strive to provide a curious, nonjudgmental, and empathic counseling environment. This type of environment creates a safe space for exploration and curious inquiry. I believe that you are the expert of your life, and it is you who makes decisions about changes that you do or do not want to make.
I work with people of all ages experiencing a variety of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and emotional dysregulation. I specialize in working with men experiencing obstacles related to self-esteem and performance anxiety in sports and social settings. I offer practical tools to increase confidence and mindfulness.
My approach to therapy is integrative, catering to your unique needs and experiences. I integrate useful aspects from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Together, we will work towards the relief, change and growth that you desire.
Cassandra Muldoon, M.S., Limited Permit
Cassandra believes in empowering clients through an individualized approach that allows the uniqueness of each client to be highlighted. Through various techniques from cognitive behavioral, humanistic, and solution focused perspectives, Cassandra will ensure to provide sessions that focus on your specific needs and goals. Cassandra has graduated from Pace University with her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling. Cassandra has experience working in an outpatient setting where she provided treatment for those with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety-based disorders, through the use of exposure response prevention (ERP) and cognitive behavioral therapy. During her free time, Cassandra enjoys weightlifting, swimming, painting, drawing, and listening to music.
Leandrew Aponte, M.S, Limited Permit
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Leandrew is a mental health counselor with a limited permit working under the supervision of licensed psychologist, Dr. Sheila Chiffriller. He earned his Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University. Leandrew employs a combination of cognitive behavioral, strength-based, and solution focused approaches when working with his clients. With a familiarity in working with adolescents from diverse backgrounds, he understands the importance of creating space where one can feel heard and comfortable enough to start the path of growth into their actualized self. Apart from working, Leandrew enjoys using his time to delight in his wide range of interests: collecting and reading comic books, enjoying a movie with family, socializing with friends, and playing a variety of sports.
Alexandra (Alex) Milak, M.S, Limited Permit
Alexandra provides psychotherapy to a diverse client population of individuals, couples, and families. Her mission is to provide a warm, non-judgmental, empathic, and welcoming approach to treatment to meet clients where they are, define their concerns, and work toward improving their lives and committing to change in accessible, meaningful, and empowering ways. Alexandra takes a specific interest in understanding each individual's perspective, values, and history and assists clients in developing a better sense of relating to themselves and others. Alexandra earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University. Alexandra's practice is rooted in principles of identify affirmation, intersectional justice, harm reduction, pleasure, embodiment, and intentionality, and strongly holds the position that social oppressions such as racism, sexism, ableism, heterosexism, cissexism, and so on operate as traumas and stressors and thus, are of clinical concern as systemic barriers to wellness. Alexandra specializes in working with people who are adulthood and childhood survivors of trauma, the neurodiverse population, and those experiencing issues related to borderline personality disorder, depression, family issues, couples' issues, bipolar disorder, chronic illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), grief and bereavement, LGBTQIA+ issues, and family issues. Alexandra's approach includes culturally competent therapies tailored to each individual patient, drawing from Psychodynamic, Narrative, Existential, Dialectical-Behavioral, Cognitive-Behavioral, Attachment-Based, and Family Systems therapies, and is a committed student of how mindfulness and somatic experiencing practices impact the therapeutic process. Alexandra strives to ensure that her clients feel welcome, respected, understood, and supported on their path to healing. Alexandra is an avid lover of the Arts; after a 10-year career as a working actor and singer in roles across television, film, and theatre, she feels that the role of the therapist is the only one that has allowed her to have the most positive and connective impact on the world. It is also her favorite role yet.