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Jacqueline Yashayev, MA, is a mental health counselor serving patients at Hudson River Care and Counseling. Jacqueline works virtually and in the Hoboken office. Jacqueline provides counseling services virtually and in the Hoboken office. 

Jacqueline obtained her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Pace University in New York, New York. Shortly after graduating, she decided to further her education, earning a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey.

Jacqueline specializes in individual therapy with various ages and genders. She has experience working with individuals with anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, stress management, DID, and stressors from transitional periods. Jacqueline takes a holistic and wellness approach and uses an integrative model, specifically working through the psychodynamic theory and CB.

Jacqueline is bilingual in English and Russian, enabling her to treat a diverse population of patients. She looks forward to working with you at Hudson River Care and Counseling.

Georgia Lavey, LCSW, is an experienced psychotherapist seeing patients at Hudson River Care and Counseling. She offers mental health services via teletherapy. Georgia holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from Rutgers University in New Jersey. Georgia utilizes evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Existential Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy.

Her practice is informed by her work over the last ten years with individuals experiencing abuse and neglect, depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, ODD, bipolar disorder, and challenges faced by the LGBTQ community. In addition to her work with HRCC, Georgia is a Mental Health Consultant for the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Additionally, she serves as the program Data Analyst for Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates in Jersey City.

Soo Kim is a Licensed Associate Marriage & Family Therapist at Hudson River Care and Counseling (HRCC). Soo counsels virtually and in person in the Teaneck office.

Soo is deeply passionate about equipping couples and families with clinical counseling skills. Seeing the vast need for counseling for couples and families, especially after the pandemic, Soo is called to meet people where they are and equip them with the perspective and skills to grow in their lives.

Soo is also certified in Prepare/Enrich, a pre-marriage and marriage enrichment counseling program. As a husband himself, Soo knows the importance of establishing a strong base of communication for any marriage. By conducting premarital counseling, Soo recognizes that couples greatly benefit from discussing topics of family history, sex, finances, relationships, and other critical areas that they need to share so that they can know how the other perceives these matters.

In addition, he enjoys working with individuals of all ages, supporting them through various mental health issues. He has counseled clients who have worked through depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, anger issues, and other issues within mental health. He takes an individual approach to each client and will do his best to work with them in their respective journeys.

Soo recognizes that there may be a need for more access to clinical counseling for various people, and he hopes to make his passion and experience available to people from both religious and non-religious backgrounds.

Ellenie Torres, LSW, is an experienced social worker at the Teaneck, New Jersey office. She also sees patients virtually. Ellenie attended Caldwell University for her undergraduate education. There, she earned a bachelor's degree in Applied Language Helping Professions and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Ellenie received her master’s in Social Work from Nyack College in New York City. 

Ellenie is certified in the Nurturing Parenting Program in New Jersey and in the ASIST Suicide Prevention Program. She has worked with young parents and families in the past as a case manager, doing home visits, supervised visitation, parenting classes, and connecting them to community resources.

She uses evidence-based psychotherapy approaches while working with adults, couples, and children of all ages. She also works from a strengths-based approach to help empower her clients to accomplish their goals. Ellenie also offers a faith-based approach when the client would like it incorporated into the sessions.

Ms. Torres is bilingual in Spanish and in English.

Jinwon Yeo, LPC, is a clinical mental health counselor at Hudson River Care and Counseling. Jinwon offers services for patients remotely and in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Jinwon received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, from Yonsei University located in Seoul, South Korea. She also earned a Master Degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, located in Virginia.

After she achieved her NJ license, LAC (Licensed Associate Counselor), Jinwon expanded her practice through various counseling services, including individual counseling, couple and family therapy, group counseling, psycho-education, bibliotherapy, and anger management program at the counseling centers throughout Bergen County.

She was trained to use the CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), DBT (dialectical behavior therapy), and TBCT (trial-based cognitive therapy), positive psychology, and motivational Interviewing. Areas of her work include depression, anxiety, traumatic experiences, anger control issues, conflict and stress on relationships and academic performance, divorce, domestic violence, parenting, loss, religion, perfectionism, fear of failure/rejection, excessive worry, and so on. She specialized in family issues, mental health challenges in immigrants, and Christian counseling.

Jinwon hopes people can accept themselves as they are. She helps people be empowered to face and overcome the challenges in their lives with confidence, change their lives, and cultivate a more meaningful life through effective and collaborative counseling.

Ms. Won is blingual in both English and Korean. 

Louis Pansulla, LCSW, is a skilled, experienced psychoanalytic psychotherapist at Harlem Family Services, located in the East Harlem community of Manhattan in New York City. He has over 35 years of experience providing clinical, community-based, and academic experience, working principally with LGBTQI+, BIPOC, and other ‘marginalized’ communities.

Louis is on the core faculty in the doctoral program at the Institute for Clinical Social Work (ICSW) in Chicago and also teaches in the analytical programs at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP) in New York, where he served as clinic director.

He has presented at both national and international conferences, with particular focus on Relational theories, psychoanalysis, sexuality and gender, and ‘othering’. Louis maintains a full-time private practice and clinical supervision in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

To schedule an appointment with Louis or another member of the team at Harlem Family Services, call the office or request an appointment online today. 

Ernest P. Smith, LCSW-R, is a seasoned psychoanalyst at Harlem Family Services, located in the East Harlem community of Manhattan in New York City. He has over 45 years of experience in mental health, criminal justice, education, and adolescent development. He holds a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and is a graduate of the prestigious Training Institute of the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis.

Mr. Smith specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and personality disorders, offering both short- and long-term therapeutic approaches for individuals, couples, and families. Utilizing techniques such as free association, interpretation, and clarification, he facilitates meaningful personality change and emotional growth.

In addition to his private practice, Mr. Smith serves as Clinical Consultant and Clinical Director at the Harlem Family Institute in New York City. In this role, he supervises candidates in psychoanalytic training, provides technical assistance to the administration, and ensures that the needs of the community remain central to the Institute’s mission.

Mr. Smith is particularly sensitive to LGBTQ+ issues and has a comprehensive understanding of multicultural concerns, ensuring his practice is inclusive and affirming. He is a member of the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis and has contributed to the field through clinical supervision and mentoring of professionals in training.

A licensed clinical social worker in New York State, Mr. Smith is committed to providing compassionate and insightful care tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Neil Altman, PhD, is a seasoned psychoanalytic psychotherapist at Harlem Family Services, located in the East Harlem community of Manhattan in New York City.

Dr. Altman has many years of experience in community-based work, in public clinics, and in private practice. He is currently co-chair of the section on Community Psychoanalysis of the American Psychoanalytic Association. He is a member of the faculty at the William Alanson White Institute in New York City and at the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis in Boston. He is an Honorary Member of the William Alanson White Society and Visiting Faculty at Ambedkar University of Delhi, India. 

Dr. Altman is Editor Emeritus and Associate Editor of Psychoanalytic Dialogues, and on the editorial staff of The Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy; The Journal of Child Psychotherapy; and The International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies. He is the author of Psychoanalysis in Times of Accelerating Cultural Change: Spiritual Globalization (2015), The Analyst in the Inner City: Race, Class and Culture through a Psychoanalytic Lens (2010), and White Privilege: Psychoanalytic Perspectives (2020). He is the co-author of Relational Child Psychotherapy (2002). Dr. Altman has published more than sixty articles in peer-reviewed journals.

At Heimberg Neuropsychology, we specialize in providing comprehensive neuropsychological and psychological assessments for a wide range of conditions. Led by Dr. Brandon F. Heimberg, a UCLA-trained and licensed clinical psychologist, our practice is dedicated to delivering thorough evaluations and personalized treatment plans. Whether you’re dealing with traumatic brain injuries, neurodevelopmental disorders, learning disabilities, or psychiatric conditions, we are here to offer expert and compassionate care. Dr. Heimberg’s extensive neuropsychology training includes an APA Division-40 neuropsychology internship at the VA Illiana Health Care System, advanced clinical practica, and a two-year fellowship at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. He currently holds hospital privileges at the Motion Picture & Television Fund, ensuring the highest standards of care in neuropsychology.

Every person has a story to tell. And every person’s story is unique. Sometimes sharing your story can feel overwhelming, intimidating and frightening. As your therapist, Margaret Castaldo offers a warm, welcoming space in which you can freely and safely reveal your present as well as your past—and craft your continuing story for the future.
Together, she will help you explore your individual narrative, unique experiences, challenges, relationships, thoughts, feelings and behaviors, to unpack issues that cause you difficulty and distress. Whether you’re grappling with the challenge of finding meaning and purpose, work-life issues, parenting, stress, anxiety or relationships, she endeavors to provide a supportive, authentic environment for you to explore your deeper self and opportunities for growth and healing.
Her approach is predominately drawn from psychodynamic theory in which insight is found through extended exploration, a process that slowly unravels longstanding patterns, thoughts, feelings and behaviors that may impede self- growth and discovery. Additionally, she is inspired by and draws understanding from her former work in the corporate creative space, the writing arts, volunteer teaching, as well as parenting.
She completed a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Wellness at New York University. She also hold a Master’s degree in English and American Literature from New York University and a B.A. with honors in Political Science and English from the University of California, Irvine.
* Please note that we will try our best to accommodate any therapist requests, in the event that we are unable to do so please know that all staff have extensive clinical training.

I believe that all people are resilient, adaptive, and capable of growth, but change can be hard, and you don’t need to be on this path alone. I feel like the best version of myself when I help my clients bring out the best version of themselves. My approach is relational, and client-centered, with a focus on mind-body integration. I also draw from humanistic and psychodynamic modalities to cater the treatment plan to every individual I work with.

I received my Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology from NYU, with a minor in Creative Writing. I then completed the dual degree program at Teachers College, Columbia University with an EDM and MA in Psychological Counseling. I have experience with crisis counseling from volunteering at a suicide prevention hotline, and have worked with children, adolescents and young adults dealing with anxiety, depression, identity exploration, grief and trauma during my clinical fieldwork. I also served as a Psychosocial Assistant at the Quad Preparatory School, helping children on the neurodivergent spectrum navigate their daily activities and interactions with others.

My main objective is to make sure my clients feel seen. I will work collaboratively and relationally alongside you, to help identify and overcome the obstacles preventing you from experiencing life as your best, most authentic self.

As a psychotherapist, my ultimate goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for my clients to grow as a person and develop skills that will improve their overall quality of life. Therapy isn’t a one size fits all practice. Therefore, I believe in building good rapport with my clients to properly assess their needs in order to determine an individualized treatment plan.

I received my graduate degree, a Master's of Science in Education and Mental Health Counseling from Manhattan College. During my therapeutic internship, I worked at the College of Mount Saint Vincent’s Counseling Center, primarily working in the TRIO program. This program works closely with first-generation college students in order to provide additional academic, emotional and social support. I had the opportunity to engage a population whose cultures and backgrounds often stigmatize mental health. Therefore, it was a great passion of mine to inform the Counseling Center about the different cultural competency techniques and interventions I used that improved the effectiveness of counseling for this special client population.

My therapeutic work experience includes providing individual and group sessions to clients of varying backgrounds that are dealing with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, bi-polar disorder, mood disorders, substance abuse, loss & grief, self-esteem, family dynamic problems and stressors triggered by life changes and transitions. While my training is primarily in Psychodynamic Therapy, I bring a highly Strength-Based Intervention and Solution-Focused therapeutic modality to my work, along with some Cognitive Behavioral and Multicultural Therapy.

I’m dedicated to helping my clients on their journey to unpack and heal past wounds, improve their day-to-day functioning and create therapeutic goals to cultivate a better future. I look forward to working with you!