Trauma Support

Vincent has worked with many individuals throughout his career who have experienced emotional, physical, and sexual trauma. His approach to treatment is sensitive, measured, and compassionate. He accepts an individual where they are at the beginning of treatment and then proceeds at a pace set by the individual. He feels it is important to empower the individual at each step of treatment because a sense of powerlessness often accompanies trauma. One of his foremost priorities is to avoid re-traumatization and he hopes to minimize this by establishing a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals. He draws upon his many years of experience and specialized training in trauma to help an individual, hopefully, achieve an improved sense of well-being.

Mercedes has experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence, community violence, physical and sexual abuse across the lifespan, loss/grief, and more. She is trained primarily in Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Narrative Exposure Therapy. She was previously the Clinical Director of the Safe Mothers, Safe Children Initiative at New York University where she provided trauma treatment within a randomized controlled trial, trained and supervised other therapists, and trained agencies city-wide to incorporate more trauma informed practices. Mercedes takes a compassionate and patient-centered approach to help survivors tell their stories and become empowered. She is particularly interested in intergenerational trauma experiences and the chronic traumatic experiences of marginalized groups including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+. Mercedes is fluent in Spanish.

Sherina has experience and specialized training working with survivors of sexual assault, and in particular, survivors of childhood sexual and physical abuse. She is interested in the neurobiology of trauma and incorporates an understanding of both the emotional and physical manifestations of trauma into therapy. Using an array of grounding techniques according to individual needs, Sherina seeks to provide a space which integrates an understanding of the various ways in which survivors of trauma cope (e.g. substance use, maladaptive relationships, social isolation, anger, etc.). She is a member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Sherina is fluent in Spanish.

Arthur has experience working with individuals who are in acute distress and suffering after being exposed to a traumatic event. He is committed to fostering a safe space in order to facilitate healing. He believes that the healing process is an important foundation to cultivate resilience with the idea of empowering the individual to navigate challenges and to cope with stressors. Arthur is interested in understanding the impact of systems on marginalized communities, social justice advocacy in the mental health field, and Asian American issues. He is fluent in Korean. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology at Adelphi University.  He is licensed as a psychologist in New York and has various experiences in both acute hospital settings and college counseling centers.

Manali works from trauma-informed care principles in her therapeutic approach. She seeks to create a collaborative, safe, and non-judgmental space to meet the students where they are at. She focuses on understanding the mind-body connection to foster resilience and healing. She is trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure specifically for traumatic experiences, and she regularly uses principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and other mindfulness-based practices as appropriate. Her clinical interests include but are not limited to intergenerational trauma, immigration/migration trauma, sexual trauma, traumatic experiences in childhood, and the ways in which trauma impacts one’s daily life. Manali is a clinical psychologist licensed in the state of New York. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Toledo and has experience working in community mental health, hospital, and college settings. She is fluent in Bengali and Hindi.

Marcia has extensive experience in treating trauma-related symptoms and disorders, and serves as Co-Facilitator of the Trauma Team.  She has worked with a diverse group of clients from a wide range of backgrounds.  Prior to joining Columbia, Marcia worked as a Military Sexual Trauma Counselor for the Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Service.  Marcia has supervised numerous treatment and clinical research projects including a Traumatic Bereavement 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 associated with childhood abuse at the Hofstra University School of Law.  Marcia uses both cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic approaches which are individually tailored to each student's goals and needs.

Julie is a licensed clinical social worker with over 10 years of experience working with trauma in underserved communities.  She has worked in multiple settings including schools, inpatient psychiatry, and substance abuse treatment centers.  Julie is particularly interested in how complex trauma can impact one's neurobiology and daily functioning.  She has extensive experience in teaching breathwork and other somatic techniques to help manage symptoms.  On the Trauma Team, Julie serves as a connection between Columbia and off-campus trauma-based supports.  She works to provide service connection from a compassionate and trauma-informed lens that considers one's intersecting identity.