These Counseling and Psychological Services providers have particular interest, experience, or advanced training in trauma support. Students are welcome to work with these providers if they wish.
Please call 212-854-2878 to schedule an appointment with a member of this team.
Trauma Support Team Members
Dr. Vincent Kiefner is a licensed psychologist at Columbia Health. Vincent earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Pennsylvania State University and his M.Ed. in College Counseling from the University of Delaware. He completed his B.A. in Psychology at Temple University where he also participated in the Honors Psychology program.
Vincent has a keen interest in college student mental health having served in different roles at four institutions of higher learning since 2003. He has experience in a broad range of counseling center activities, including, among others, crisis intervention, administrative evaluations, and outreach.
Vincent works from a psychodynamic framework but also incorporates multicultural, client-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and motivational interviewing approaches into his practice. He feels it is a privilege to work with college students as they represent a unique population with special interests and challenge. While Vincent is comfortable with a wide variety of client populations and presenting concerns, he has particular expertise working with first generation students, artists, architectural students, students who identify as GLBTIQ, international students, relationship issues, trauma, and body image concerns.
Professional Experience
- Kean University, Counseling, Disability, Alcohol and Other Drug Services
- Pratt Institute, Health and Counseling Services
- Ramapo College of New Jersey, Health and Counseling Services
- Post-doctoral Fellowship in Psychology, Purchase College, State University of New York
- Pre-doctoral Internship in Psychology, University of Rochester
Education
- Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
- M.Ed., University of Delaware
- B.A., Temple University
Certifications and Licensure
- Licensed to practice psychology in the states of New York and New Jersey
Languages Spoken
- English
Dr. Sherina Persaud is a clinical psychologist at Columbia Health. Prior to joining as full-time staff, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Counseling and Psychological Services. Sherina completed a pre-doctoral internship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel with rotations in neuropsychology, child and adolescent psychology, inpatient and outpatient treatment for adults. She has also completed clinical externships working with women’s perinatal mental health, crisis intervention, substance use disorders, and community mental health in both Spanish and English.
Sherina earned her B.A. in psychology at Barnard College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The New School for Social Research. She has comprehensive research and clinical experience in sexual and gender identities, trauma-related disorders, substance abuse, attachment theory, and with families who have used assisted reproduction to conceive.
Working from a primarily psychodynamic perspective, Sherina aims to approach treatment in an open, nonjudgmental way to integrate various techniques to best fit the needs of the patient. At Counseling and Psychological Services, Sherina is on the trauma team as well as the sexual and gender identity issues team and the multicultural concerns team. Her professional interests include multicultural and racial issues, sexual and gender identity, women’s health, trauma-related disorders, mindfulness and substance abuse.
Professional Experience
- Clinical Psychology Post-doctoral Fellowship, Columbia University Counseling & Psychological Services
- Clinical Psychology Pre-doctoral Internship, Mount Sinai Beth Israel
- Clinical Psychology Externships: Columbia University Medical Center, The New School Counseling Center, Mount Sinai Beth Israel
- Research: The New York State Psychiatric Institute, The University of Cambridge Centre for Family Research, The New School Center for Attachment Research
Education
- Ph.D., The New School for Social Research
- M.A., The New School for Social Research
- B.A., Barnard College
Certifications and Licensure
- Licensed to practice Psychology in New York State
Awards and Honors
- Visiting Scholar, The University of Cambridge, U.K.
- New School for Social Research Tuition Scholarship
- Pathfinder Award in Literature
Published Articles
- Persaud, S., Freeman, T., Jadva, V., Slutsky, J., Kramer, W., Steele, M., Steele, H., Golombok, S. (2016). Adolescents Conceived Through Donor Insemination in Mother-Headed Families: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences Contacting and Meeting Donor Offspring. Children & Society. doi:10.1111/chso.12158
- Slutsky, J., Freeman, T., Jadva, V., Persaud, S., Kramer, W., Steele, M., Steele, H., Golombok, S. (2016). Integrating Donor Conception Into Identity: Parent-Child Relationships and Identity Development in Donor-Conceived Adolescents. Fertility & Sterility, 106, 1, 202-208. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.02.033
- Persaud, S. (2014). The Infant Mind: Origins of the Social Brain, The Journal of Infant & Child Development, 24, 82-83. doi: 10.1002/icd.1837.
Memberships
- American Psychological Association
- Psychologists for Social Responsibility
- Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine
- Society for Research on Child Development
Languages Spoken
- English
- Spanish
Dr. Mercedes J. Okosi joined Columbia Health in 2023. She received her Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) at The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University. She completed a doctoral internship at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and West Hospitals. Prior to joining Columbia, she held a position as clinical director of the Safe Mothers, Safe Children Initiative at New York University’s McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research where she led a program for women in the child welfare system experiencing PTSD. Dr. Okosi has experience in a variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient hospital settings, schools, community organizations, and private practice.
Much of Dr. Okosi’s work has been focused on the impact of trauma on marginalized populations including those within the African diaspora, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Dr. Okosi also uses an integrative and patient-centered approach to work with patients managing a range of issues including mood disorders, anxiety, difficult relationship patterns, and identity.
Professional Experience
- Clinical Director, New York University McSilver Institute
- Pre-Doctoral Intern, Mount Sinai St. Luke’s/West
- Psychology Externships: Harlem Hospital, Youth Development Clinic, Rutgers University Counseling ADAP & Psychiatric Services
Education
- Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University
- B.S., Applied Psychology, Minor: Spanish Language, New York University
Certifications and Licensure
- Licensed to practice Psychology in the State of New York
Published Articles
- Sullivan, K. S., Ancharski, K., Wortham, W., Okosi, M., Kaplan, D., Urquiza, A., Timmer, S., Cloitre, M., Chemtob, C., & Lindsey, M. A. (2023). Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of a Community-Based Intervention for Maternal PTSD and Parenting: Parenting-STAIR Pilot. Journal of child and family studies, 32(2), 481–497. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02534-y
- Lindsey, M., Sullivan, K., Chemtob, C., Ancharski, K., Jaccard, J., Cloitre, M., Urquiza, A., Timmer, S., Okosi, M., & Kaplan, D. (2022). A randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Parenting-STAIR in treating maternal PTSD to reduce maltreatment recidivism: protocol for the Safe Mothers, Safe Children study. Trials, 23(1), 432. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06354-1
- Okosi, M. J. (2022). Mental Health Journal for Black Women: Prompts and practices to prioritize yourself and nurture your well-being. Rockridge Press.
- Okosi, M. J. (2022). The Complex PTSD Journal: A guided journal to help you heal, grow, and thrive. Rockridge Press.
- Okosi, M. J. (2015). Emotional emancipation circles for mothers of color. Psych Discourse: News Journal of The Association of Black Psychologists, 49(2), 12-13.
- Okosi, M. J. (2012). Spaces for young women of color’s trauma meaning making and identity development. New York University Applied Psychology Online Publication of Undergraduate Studies, 3, 6-10.
Languages Spoken
- English
- Spanish
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
Manali Roy joined Columbia Health in 2022. Prior to Columbia, she worked as a staff psychologist at the North Central Bronx Hospital where she also completed her pre-doctoral internship. At the hospital, she worked in various clinical settings including inpatient psychiatric unit, psychiatric emergency services, and consultation-liaison psychiatry services. She has previously trained at the University of Toledo Psychology Clinic and the Zepf Center in Ohio, and at community mental health centers in India. Dr. Roy received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toledo and Master’s in Psychology from Adelphi University. She also earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology and Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Calcutta, India.
Dr. Roy works primarily from acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches while integrating psychodynamic perspectives as clinically indicated to meet the person where they are at. She aims to create a trauma-informed, empathic, collaborative, and non-judgmental space in therapy with the goal of fostering wellness. Her clinical interests include experiences of anxiety, depression, psychosis, emotional dysregulation, and interpersonal difficulties. Addressing intersectionality, multicultural concerns, immigrant experiences, and issues affecting international students (such as acculturative stress) are important in her clinical work. Dr. Roy is a part of the Counseling and Psychological Services' Outreach Team. She is fluent in Bengali and Hindi.
Professional Experience
- Inpatient, Psychiatric Emergency, and Consultation-Liaison Psychologist at North Central Bronx Hospital
- Psychological Assessment Supervisor for Psychology Interns at North Central Bronx Hospital
- Undergraduate Course Instructor in Abnormal Psychology at University of Toledo
- High School Instructor in Psychology at Bridge International School, India
Education
- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Toledo
- M.A. in Psychology, Adelphi University
- M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology, University of Calcutta, India
- B.Sc. in Psychology, University of Calcutta, India
Certifications and Licensure
- New York State License
Memberships
- Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology)
- Division 39 (Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology)
- Society of Personality Assessment
Languages Spoken
- English
- Bengali
- Hindi
Julie is a Licensed Clinical Social worker who joined Columbia Health in Fall 2022. She received her M.S.W. in 2012 and began her career with experience in substance abuse disorders and emergency mental health at both the Stratton VA Medical Center and Columbia-Memorial Hospital in Hudson, NY. She has spent the last seven years conducting counseling and crisis work with adolescents in the NYS public school system, as well as Harlem Children’s Zone.
Julie believes in a holistic and non-judgmental approach to counseling that emphasizes both mind and body techniques, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her professional interests include working with anxiety disorders, relationship difficulties, ADHD, and addressing complex trauma.
Education
- M.S.W., University at Albany
Certifications and Licensure
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
- Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200)
- Trauma Informed Schools
- Seminar in Field Instruction
Memberships
- NASW (National Alliance of Social Workers)
- YAI (Yoga Alliance International)
Languages Spoken
- English
Dr. Arthur Roh joined Columbia Health in 2022. Prior to Columbia, he worked as a licensed clinical psychologist at North Central Bronx Hospital in various settings including partial hospitalization program, adult inpatient units, and psychiatric emergency room. Dr. Roh also has trained at The New School Student Health Services, Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s Assertive Community Treatment Team, and Kings County Hospital’s adult inpatient units. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University and B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA.
Dr. Roh’s clinical interests include working specifically with young adults in acute crises who may be suffering from depression and anxiety in the context of trauma, relationship and adjustment issues, and the effects of marginalization on our personal, individual experiences that often intersect with our broader, social identities. Dr. Roh values working collaboratively to cultivate empathy and understanding of one’s self with the goal of moving towards healing and wellbeing. His professional interests include the impact of systems on marginalized communities, social justice advocacy in the mental health field, and Asian American issues.
Professional Experience
- Supervising Psychologist, NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
- Pre-doctoral Internship, NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
- Psychology Externships – The New School Student Health Serv
Education
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Adelphi University
- B.S., Psychobiology, University of California, Los Angeles
- ices, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Memberships
- Division 39 (Society for Psychoanalysis & Psychoanalytic Psychology)
- Division 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race)
- Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)
Languages Spoken
- English
- Korean
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