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
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.
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).
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
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
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
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.
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).
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.
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
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)
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.
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.
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.
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
Isabela Reis
Social Work Intern
Education: M.S.W (in progress) Silberman School of Social Work, B.A. in Psychology Hunter College
Areas of interest: Family therapy, individual and group therapy, positive psychology, stress management, art and movement-based therapy, self-care and empowerment.
Michael Bliss
Social Work Intern
Education: M.S.W. (In progress) Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College; B.A. New York University, Steinhardt.
Areas of Interest: Psychodynamic Therapy, Grief and Bereavement work, Group Therapy, Mindfulness, Restorative Justice, Creativity, Music, and Art.
Yamilet Tejeda Domínguez
Mental Health Counseling Intern
Education: M.S., Mental Health Counseling, Manhattan college (ongoing), B.A., Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM).
Areas of interest: Grief and loss, resiliency, challenges faced by minority groups and the LGBTQ+ community, trauma and crisis, individual and group counseling, systemic approach, art therapy, family dynamics, college counseling.
Karen Abraham (they, them)
Clinical Psychology Fellow
Education: Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology, M.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience, Queens College; M.Phil. in Psychology, Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York.
Areas of Interest: Culturally sensitive, intersectionally-informed therapy for trans and gender expansive clients, Evidence-Supported Behavioral, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Dynamically informed interventions.
Marguerite Pintauro
Social Work Intern
Education: M.S.W. (in progress) Fordham University; M.A. Columbia University; B.S. Fordham University
Areas of Interest: Holistic approach emphasizing humanistic-existential therapies. Culturally-responsive and trauma-informed care. Supporting individuals navigating the human experience and life transitions.
Julia Perfetti
Social Work Intern
Education: M.S.W. (in progress) Fordham University; B.S. State University of New York at New Paltz
Areas of Interest: Trauma-Informed Care; Crisis Intervention; Suicide Prevention; Grief and Bereavement; Client-Centered Approach
BMCC Counseling Center
Phone: (212) 220-8140
Email: counselingcenter@bmcc.cuny.edu
- Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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.
