The Athletics Special Interest Group comprises Counseling and Psychological Services providers with a shared interest in athletics and sports. Some providers are retired college athletes and others are simply enthusiastic spectators.
These providers are particularly aware of the unique concerns student-athletes have and are prepared to address those concerns with sensitivity and compassion. The group has an interest in continuing to deepen their collective knowledge about student-athletes’ needs and using their clinical skills to provide targeted support to help student-athletes get the most out of their Columbia University experience.
Please call 212-854-2878 to schedule an appointment with a member of this team.
Drop-in
Drop-in is available for student athletes at Dodge Gym. See current hours and location.
Athletics Special Interest Group Members
Dr. Yaniv Phillips joined Columbia Health in 2004. Prior to Columbia, he was a senior clinical psychologist and supervisor at North Central Bronx Hospital, where he worked with HIV patients and their families, men with sexuality concerns, and couples. Yaniv earned his B.A. at Tel Aviv University, Israel and his M.A. and Ph.D. at Adelphi University Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies. He completed his internship at the Karen Horney Clinic. He continued on to complete specialized training at the advanced couples and family therapy program at the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.
Dr. Phillips’ professional interests include couples therapy, the psychology of immigration, relationship issues, and men’s experience of intimacy and sexual health. He sees individuals and couples for psychotherapy, and conducts experiential workshops for couples on enhancing relationships, as well as offering ongoing intensive workshop on procrastination. A member of the Counseling and Psychological Services' Outreach Team, Yaniv is bilingual, fluent in English and Hebrew.
Professional Experience
- NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis - couples and family therapy program
- North Central Bronx Hospital
- Jacobi Medical Center
- Henry Ittelson Center for Child Research
Education
- Ph.D., Adelphi University
- M.A., Adelphi University
- B.A., Tel Aviv University
Certifications and Licensure
- Licensed to practice psychology in the State of New York
Memberships
- American Psychological Association
- Division of Psychoanalysis of the American Psychological Association
Languages Spoken
- English
- Hebrew
Dr. Steven Carter joined Columbia Health in August 2021. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, he completed a pre-doctoral internship at Pace University’s Counseling Center. Throughout his doctoral training, he engaged in clinical externships at NYU Counseling and Wellness Services, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, and New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center’s Adult Outpatient Unit. His dissertation research focused on exploring the frequency and severity of discrimination experienced by multiracial individuals by developing and piloting the Multiracial Microaggressions Scale (MMS).
Steven has extensive experience working with college-aged students, as well as children, adolescents, and adults. His training has primarily concentrated on psychodynamic theory with focuses on interpersonal and relational approaches. He has also received dedicated training in dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and multicultural theory. He is committed to using these approaches when working with a diverse student population to address stressors such as adjustment, racial/ethnic identity development, depression, anxiety, acculturation, and interpersonal challenges.
Professional Experience
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Columbia University Counseling and Psychological Services
- Pre-doctoral Intern, Pace University Counseling Center
- Pre-doctoral Extern, New York University Counseling and Wellness Services
- Pre-doctoral Extern, New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute
- Pre-doctoral Extern, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center
- Pre-doctoral Extern, Pace University Counseling Center
Education
- Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Fordham University
- M.S.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling, Fordham University
- B.A. in Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
Memberships
- American Psychological Association
Ngozi Okezie joined Columbia Health in 2007. Prior to Columbia, Ngozi was a staff psychiatrist in outpatient mental services and the director of child and adolescent outpatient services at Saint Vincent's Hospital, Westchester. She was also an assistant professor of psychiatry at New York Medical College.
Ngozi attended Bryn Mawr College and Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and went on to do further advanced training in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. She then completed a research fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry, concentrating on child mental services delivery. Ngozi's professional interests include ADHD, mood disorders and cultural issues.
Professional Experience
- Staff Psychiatrist at Saint Vincent's Hospital, Westchester
- Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York Medical College
- Director of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at Saint Vincent's Hospital, Westchester
- Assistant in Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Clinical Assistant Psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center
Education
- M.D., Yale School of Medicine
- B.A., Bryn Mawr College
- Psychiatry residency at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
- Clinical Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry NY Presbyterian Hospital
- Post doctoral Research Fellow Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Certifications and Licensure
- Board Certified in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Licensed to practice in the state of New York
Awards and Honors
- Outstanding Service Award for Clinical Excellence in Child Psychiatry, 1997, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Languages Spoken
- English
Michele Goldman joined Columbia Health in 2020. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in traumatic stress from Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. Prior to joining Columbia, Michele completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Hampton Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, VA. She then accepted a full time staff psychologist position at Veteran’s Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus.
Michele has also worked in a variety of settings including residential treatment programs, schools, prisons, and rehabilitation/medical units. Her clinical interests have focused on issues related to trauma, relational patterns, anxiety, depression and Veteran specific issues. Due to the fact that she has worked with individuals across the age span and from multiple settings, Michele approaches treatment in a nonjudgmental way, focused on meeting the individual where they are, integrating techniques to best fit the needs of each person. She will often incorporate a mindfulness-based approach in her work with students.
Education
- Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Adler School of Professional Psychology
- M.A. Counseling Psychology, Adler School of Professional Psychology
- B.S. Neuroscience, Union College
Certifications and Licensure
- Licensed to practice psychology in the State of New York
Memberships
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Division 56 (Trauma Psychology)
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
Languages Spoken
- English
Marcia Stern joined Columbia Health in 2019. Prior to joining Columbia she worked as a Military Sexual Trauma Counselor for the Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Service, providing individual and group therapy. Marcia has supervised numerous treatment and clinical research projects including a treatment effectiveness trial for children and adolescents exposed to the events of 9/11 at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Jewish Board of Children & Family Services, assessment of a school-based suicide prevention screen at the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University, and training student law guardians in mental health issues at the Hofstra University School of Law.
Marcia received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University and her B.A. in Psychology from Brooklyn College. She completed her internship training in clinical psychology at Hillside Hospital,
Long Island Jewish Medical Center and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
Marcia enjoys working with a wide range of students including those concerned with issues of adjustment, anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, and interpersonal problems. Her professional interests include the impact of exposure to trauma, veterans, and women’s issues.
Education
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Psychiatric Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, St. John’s University
- B.A., Psychology, Brooklyn College
Certifications and Licensure
- Licensed to practice psychology in the State of New York
Memberships
- American Psychological Association
- Division 8 (Society for Personality and Social Psychology)
Languages Spoken
- English
Dr. Kwame Akowuah joined Columbia Health in 2017. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services, Kwame was director of the Continuing Day Treatment program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute’s Audubon Clinic, where he also worked as a staff psychiatrist. Additionally, he was an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Kwame completed his residency training at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Cornell Medical Center. He then went on to complete a fellowship in psychiatry and the law at New York University Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital.
Kwame's professional interests include mood disorders, psychosis, and perceptual disorders, drug and alcohol use, medicolegal ethics, and questions surrounding religion and spiritual identity.
Professional Experience
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
- Fellowship, New York University/Bellevue Hospital
- Residency, New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Education
- M.D., Cornell Medical College
- B.A., English Literature, Princeton University
Certifications and Licensure
- Board Certified in General Psychiatry
- Board Certified in Addiction Medicine
- Licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York
Memberships
- International Neuroethics Society
Languages Spoken
- English
Diana Morrobel, Ph.D., joined Columbia Health in 2013. Prior to joining Columbia Health, Diana worked as a psychologist and supervisor at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic for 11 years. In addition to her work at Columbia, she was an adjunct faculty member at Teachers College and supervised doctoral candidates in Clinical Psychology at City College. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Michigan State University and a B.A. from New York University. She completed her internship in clinical psychology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
Diana’s professional interests include acculturative stress and adjustment, first-generation college students, developmental issues related to emerging adulthood, family and interpersonal conflicts, and mood disorders.
Professional Experience
- Psychologist/Supervisor, New York Presbyterian Hospital
Education
- Ph.D., Michigan State University
- M.A., Michigan State University
- B.A., New York University
Certifications and Licensure
- New York State Licensed Psychologist
Memberships
- American Psychological Association
- National Latina/o Psychological Association
Languages Spoken
- English
- Spanish
Dr. David Hittson joined Columbia Health as a psychologist in 2017. He also completed his post-doctoral fellowship at Counseling and Psychological Services. Prior to Columbia, David trained at the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses of the New York Harbor Veteran’s Administration Hospital, at Interfaith Medical Center, and at Barnard’s Furman Counseling Center. David attended New York University’s counseling psychology program and graduated in the summer of 2016. While there, his research interests focused on the relationship of acculturation to mental health. David’s professional interests include veteran’s issues, issues of acculturation, depression, anxiety, trauma, identity issues, relationship concerns, and adjustment concerns.
Education
- Ph.D., New York University
- M.A., New York University
Memberships
- American Psychological Association
Andrew Colitz joined Columbia Health in 2014. Prior to Columbia, he completed a clinical psychology internship at North Shore Long Island Jewish-Lenox Hill Hospital, as well as clinical psychology externships at New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy, William Alanson White Institute, Maimonides Hospital and Mount Sinai Beth Israel. He also worked as a university mental health provider at Long Island University.
Andrew is interested in working with a variety of student concerns, including identity development, complicated relational issues and family dynamics, major life changes and adjustment, coping with traumatic experiences, as well as working with couples and students in group settings.
Education
- Ph.D., Long Island University
- B.A., Brown University
Professional Memberships
- American Psychological Association
Languages Spoken
- English