Meet Our Counselors

The Counseling Center supports the academic mission of the university and the academic success of students by providing high quality counseling and mental health services to students and consultative services to faculty and staff. The Center works collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff to create and maintain a campus environment that encourages and supports psychological well-being.

All of our counselors have advanced degrees (master’s and doctoral) in counseling, psychology, and social work. You are encouraged to meet with a counselor to discuss your personal concerns, academic plans, career plans, and for general information.

The Counseling Center is located in room S-343.

You can reach the Counseling Center by emailing us at counselingcenter@bmcc.cuny.edu to schedule a time to meet with a counselor either on zoom, on the phone, or in person.


Counselors

Neda Hajizadeh

Dr. Neda Hajizadeh (she/her)

Director
Education: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University; B.A. in Psychology from Skidmore College; New York State Licensed Psychologist. Fluent in spoken Farsi, proficient in German and conversational in Spanish.
Areas of Interest: Psychodynamic therapy; Short-term Goal-Oriented Counseling; First Generation College Student Experience; International Students; Minority Issues, Substance Use and Abuse problems; Couples Counseling; Family Dynamics; Acculturation issues; Resiliency.

Gurpreet Bhomia

Dr. Gurpreet Bhomia

Education: Psy.D., University of Hartford, M.A., University of Hartford. B.A., Panjab University (India); B.A., Columbia University. NYS Licensed Psychologist. Fluent in Hindi & Punjabi. Some familiarity with Urdu.
Areas of Interest: Helping students with adjustment issues related to being in college (including, challenges facing international students), navigating personal relationships, maintaining a healthy school/life balance, and coping with psychological and personal issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, parenting).

James Blake

Professor James Blake

Education: M.S.W., Columbia University, B.S., Chemistry, North Carolina Central University.
Areas of Interest: Student Centered program development: Founder of the BMCC Honor Society of Black Student Scholars, Co-founder of the BMCC Each One Reach One Mentoring Program, Faculty Advisor to student clubs and organizations, Student Advocacy and Activism, faculty Diversity .
College Committees: Academic Senate, Academic Standing Committee, Department P&B Committee, Black History Month Committee, President of the BMCC Black Faculty and Staff Association

Troy Brown

Mr. Troy Brown

Education: M.S., Mental Health Counseling, Mercy College, B.A., Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice. NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
Areas of Interest: Black males/males of color trauma which impact integration into a hegemonic western society, both in the professional and personal context. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Solution Focused Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Aca and Mindfulness.
Memberships: ACA (American Counseling Association), AMHCA (American Mental Health Counselors Association), Phi Gamma Mu

Claudia Burger

Dr. Claudia Burger

Education: Ph.D., Counseling Psychology Fordham University; B.A., Wellesley College. New York State Licensed Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Culturally competent therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, CBT-informed therapy, Self-care, Interpersonal difficulties. Fluent in Spanish.
Memberships: American Psychological Association.

Rachel Lugo

Rachel Lugo

Education: GradC. in Art Therapy, Paris-Diderot University (FR); M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Aix-Marseille University (FR); B.A. in Psychology Aix-Marseille University (FR)
Areas of Interest: Trauma-informed care; client-centered approach; strength-based approach; existential psychology; psychodynamic therapy; systemic approach; creativity; human development; neuro-diversity; harm reduction; psychiatric rehabilitation movement. Fluent in French.

Tabethah Mack-Ouattara

Dr. Tabethah Mack-Ouattara (she/her)

Education: Ph.D., M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln; B.A., Hunter College (CUNY). NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
Areas of Interest: African Psychology and Multicultural Counseling, Group Psychotherapy, Interpersonal Violence and First Generation College Student Adjustment and Academic Success.
Memberships: Association of Black Psychologists (ABpsi) and the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society (EGPS), American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA).

Amy Ojerholm

Dr. Amy Ojerholm (she/her)

Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Vermont, B.A., Psychology, Rutgers University. New York State Licensed Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Group Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Peer Educator training, Mindfulness, Suicide Prevention and the challenges faced by LGBTQ students in urban community college settings.
Memberships: Postgraduate Center for Mental Health Group, Therapy Alumni Association, and the Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services.

Edi Peterson

Dr. Edi Peterson

Education: D.B.H. in Behavioral Health, Arizona State University; M.A. in Counseling, Amberton University, M.S. in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, B.A. in Psychology, University of Texas at Dallas. Areas of Interest: Certification in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (Albert Ellis Institute, NYC), Certification in Biofeedback (University of North Texas); evidence-based behavioral health interventions, LGBTQ health, substance misuse, mindfulness, stress management, goal achievement.
Memberships: American Counseling Association

Eglys Santos

Ms. Eglys Santos

Education: M.S.W., Lehman College; B.A; Lehman College. New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Areas of interest: Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Crisis Intervention, suicide prevention, academic coaching, balancing school/work/home demands, adjusting to college and empowering students to overcome obstacles in order to create a better future by graduating from college. Ms.Santos is fluent in Spanish.
Memberships: The National Association of Social Workers (NASW); Psi Chi Society (International Honor Society in Psychology)

Erica J. Seidel

Dr. Erica J. Seidel (she/her)

Education: Psy.D., M.A., Widener University – Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology; B.A., University of Delaware. New York State Licensed Psychologist; New York State Certified School Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), balancing school/life/work/family, adjusting to college, positive psychology, and self-care.
Memberships: New York State Psychological Association, American Counseling Association and American College Counseling Association.

Raven Shelton

Ms. Raven Shelton (she/her)

Education: M.S.W., SUNY Binghamton; B.S., University of New Haven. New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Areas of Interest: Culturally Competent Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Academic Coaching, Time Management, Stress Management, Solution Focused Therapy, Strength Based Therapy, Anger Management, Addressing Interpersonal difficulties, Grief Counseling, Self-Care, Self-Esteem and Empowerment.

Hallie Weiner

Dr. Hallie Weiner

Education: Psy.D., M.S.Ed., Pace University; B.A., University of Michigan. New York State Licensed Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Mental health issues that impact Academic Functioning, Mindfulness-Based Stress- Reduction, Interpersonal/Family Relationships and Health and Wellness.
Memberships: American Psychological Association.

Sybil Young

Ms. Sybil Young

Education: M.A., Nyack College; B.A., Hunter College (CUNY). NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
Areas of Interest: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoanalytic Therapy, Cultural Competent Therapy, Grief Therapy, Family Therapy, Grief Group, Strength based therapy, Self-care, Developing leaders, Empowering communities of color, Empowering women.
Memberships: NYMHCA-New York Mental Health Counselors Association.

Trainees

Alanna Doherty

Alanna Doherty

CUNY Psychology Clinical Fellow
Education: Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology, City College of New York; J.D., CUNY School of Law; B.A., McGill University

Emily Feeley, Counseling Center Social Work Intern

Emily Feeley (they/she)

Social Work Intern
Education: M.S.W. (in progress), Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College; B.A., University of California Los Angeles
Areas of Interest: Psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal/family relationships, individual and group therapy, gender and sexuality, mindfulness.

Kate Johnson

Kate Johnson

Social Work Intern
Education: M.A., Hunter College; M.A., University of Denver; B.A., McGill University.
Areas of interest: Individual and group therapy, counseling and coaching, addiction and recovery, mindfulness.

Uris

Uris Madelyne Lopez

Mental Health Counseling Intern
Education: M.A., Mental Health Counseling, Queens College (ongoing), B.A., Sociology, Hunter College
Areas of Interest: Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal/Family Relationships, Supporting Immigrant Students, and First Generation College Student Adjustment. Fluent in Spanish.

Michael McCann

Michael McCann

Social Work Intern
Education: M.S.W. (in progress) Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College; M.A. Goldsmiths University of London; B.A. California State University at Long Beach.
Areas of Interest: Psychodynamic therapy; psychoanalytic therapy; insight-oriented therapy; strength-based approaches; evidence-based practices; interpersonal/family relationships; creativity; restorative justice; and alternative models for mental healthcare.

BMCC Counseling Center

Phone: (212) 220-8140
Email: counselingcenter@bmcc.cuny.edu

 

Please note that our email address is not monitored continuously. If this is an emergency call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room.

Appointments Are Available:
Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.