WE are all human.
Being human can be hard. But it is beautiful too. In the beautiful mess that surrounds you I will help you discover who you were made to be. I have a heart for working with people who seek to build their relationship with God, or at least are curious about how God fits into the picture. Emotions are complex. I will help you get to the core of what is going on, understanding how you are wired, what drives you and makes you tick in order to help you gain insight as to what your next steps should be. I will help you recognize patterns and see how your thoughts and learned behaviors have impacted what you believe about yourself and how you can move forward toward your goals. My desire and passion is to be intentional about treating the whole person. This includes your emotional, mental and spiritual needs. It is a privilege that I do not take lightly. It is so important to acknowledge the impact that each of these components plays in your life and understanding that faith is a significant part of mental health.
Some people are curious about my background and training. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from CW Post – Long Island University. I simultaneously completed my master’s degree in social work from Stony Brook University and began my training as Licensed Professional Christian Counselor at Liberty University. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (NY license number R079738) with the “R” psychotherapy privilege which indicates advanced training and experience specifically in providing psychotherapy. I then became a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor in 2009. I also have advanced post-graduate training from Florida Institute of Technology and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2010.
I am an active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, the National Association of Social Workers, The New York State School Social Workers Association and the National Association of Christian Social Workers.
Most recently, I became certified in Telemental Health. I offer personalized counseling and psychotherapy for busy people who like the convenience of doing sessions virtually in their own home. In addition to face to face sessions in my office in Massapequa, I am also able to conduct sessions online exclusively via secure video conference. These sessions can be scheduled at the same time each week or rescheduled each week into available openings as our calendars allow.
Sharon Klein, Clinical Director
LCSW-R, BCBA, LBA, BCPCC, CPC, BC-TMH
Francesca Jannello
Life circumstances can be unpredictable and I believe we are not meant to walk through difficult times alone. My goal is to come alongside people as a support in moments of grief, trauma, or transitions.
As a clinician, I use a collaborative, creative, trauma- informed approach. My work engages the mind and body in order to address both challenging thoughts and the experiences we carry around in our bodies. This translates into incorporating attachment theory, polyvagal theory, cognitive behavioral therapy and the creative arts therapies. I believe people begin to heal when they feel heard and seen. My goal is to meet people where they are and partner with them in their sanctification journey to support them in fulfilling their calling and meeting their goals.
I offer both traditional counseling and Christian counseling. As a Christian counselor, my approach is both biblical and clinical. Through counseling we work through how our mind and body respond to sin and its effects, with God’s Word as the foundation always. I am encouraged by working with people who want to grow deeper in their relationship with God or who may be wrestling with the idea of God.
I have a diverse array of clinical experience in settings that include private practice, inpatient, partial hospitalization, and community settings. I am frequent collaborator with the organization Recovery Through Performance, directing therapeutic theatre productions with persons with Aphasia and Schizophrenia.
As a former nanny and birth doula, I specialize in working with women who are pregnant and postpartum. I also work with couples, anxiety, depression and relational trauma.
I graduated from Molloy College with honors and a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am also a Drama Therapist, trained through a program with the North American Drama Therapy Association. I am a National Certified Counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors.
I am a current member of the American Counseling Association, the New York Mental Health Counselors Association and the North American Drama Therapy Association.
Francesca Jannello, Psychotherapist
MS, P-RDT, MHC-LP, NCC
Natasha George
Therapy is a place where you can process and explore in a safe and non-judgmental space. It is not only a space to reflect on aspects of your life that are unhelpful or hard, but also a space to celebrate and build on the things that are going well. As a counselor I hold therapy as a sacred and privileged place to be able to walk alongside individuals through both highs and lows. I do not take this lightly.
I began my career working as a youth director at a church for seven years. I enjoyed my position greatly, but was struck by the complexity of the issues facing those I served. I was driven by these experiences to pursue a Master’s degree in mental health counseling and transitioned to working in various clinical settings. I have relished the opportunity to work with diverse populations of people including children and adolescents. Moreover, I provide personalized care through an array of therapeutic techniques and interventions including play therapy, trauma focused CBT, and person-centered therapy. Each person and issue is unique and deserves to be treated as such.
I believe we humans are fearfully and wonderfully made and each person’s complexity points us back to our Creator. Having worked in both clinical settings and in the church, I appreciate how my experiences in both settings have allowed me to better embrace and support people with compassion, sensitivity, and an awareness of the importance of being a healthy human physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I look forward to setting goals, identifying tools and resources, and providing space to begin your own therapy journey – whatever that looks like for you.
It’s OK to not be OK and it is brave to ask for help.
Natasha George, Psychotherapist
MHC-LP
Samantha Fuhrman
It is not easy to reach out for help. It takes courage to reflect on yourself and your environment, to grieve losses, to process trauma, to cope with anxiety or depression, or to change relationships. I am privileged to be part of a dedicated team of competent professionals seeking to be a safe place for you to get the help that you need.
I graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a Master’s degree in Social Work and am licensed in the state of New York. I am a generalist practitioner and use many modalities to help individuals and families, always through and a trauma-responsive and strength-based lens. Most of my clinical experience has been in trauma, attachment, grief, parenting, anxiety, depression, and adoption. I completed the Training for Adoption Competence program through the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE), and am an adoption-competent therapist. I am a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner, an evidence-based and trauma-responsive intervention. I am a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor, and utilize faith-based counseling when requested. I am also in the process of completing the training to become a certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) practitioner, another evidence-based intervention for individuals suffering from the effects of trauma.
My desire as your therapist is to build a safe and trusting relationship with you, to encourage you and empower you with education and tools, and to carry hope for you that there is always the opportunity for growth and healing.
Currently, I offer personalized counseling and psychotherapy sessions virtually through secure video conference.
Samantha Fuhrman, Psychotherapist
LMSW, BCPCC, TBRI, ACT
Allison Kagay
My name is Allison Kagay, I am a recent graduate from Messiah University with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MHC). I am originally from the West Coast and moved to NY in 2016 to continue my education and work in full-time ministry with an Assemblies of God church on Long Island. My counseling journey began after experiencing adversity in my life, and I became strongly aware of the importance it plays on maintaining a healthy well-being. As I continued to feel the urge to go back to school, I enrolled full-time. I completed my field internships at a drug and alcohol residential program in Long Island and The New Hope Mental Health Counseling Services.
My desire and passion for helping others have been evident throughout my life span and this passion includes helping children grow and thrive into all they are intended to be. I believe people are unique, creative, capable, and responsible and I love having the opportunity to see transformation and change and be a part of it! I am an advocate for healing the whole person, which includes one’s spiritual journey as well. As an MHC, I aim to support you through your journey and provide resources, education, empowerment, and encouragement to you and/or your family.
My approach consists of Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with the incorporation of various research-based practices to empower and strengthen the individual specific to their needs. My love for creativity and art is integrated into sessions with children and teens, providing them with the freedom to express themselves through various means, other than traditional talk therapy. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, addiction/substance use, Adult ADHD, and self-esteem.
I am an active member of the American Counseling Association and I have undergone training in TeleMental Health, providing services to clients from the comfort of their own home or place of ease.
Allison Kagay, Psychotherapist
MHC- LP
Larissa Peres de Souza Weinert
My name is Larissa. I am a graduate Mental Health Counseling student born in Brazil and living in New York since 2018. My passion for counseling started ten years ago with my desire to help people heal and grow amidst challenging seasons. I had many personal experiences that deepened my desire to learn more about human experiences and help people overcome their difficulties. Holding on to my faith in God and spiritual beliefs was a big part of my healing process, and it may be yours too.
The hardships of life can often rob our peace, causing us to feel overwhelmed. As holistic people we are, if our physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual health is unbalanced, so will other areas of our lives be. My goal is to help you find healing by tackling all areas of life with you. I would love to hear your story, and how each area of life impacts your overall health. I am here to walk alongside you and help you navigate life. I will meet you where you are, and respect your pace and wishes to establish the best course of action for and with you.
Changes can be scary, but at times they are necessary. I want you to know that you are not alone. You were created with a purpose, your life matters, your feelings are valid, and the hard seasons also end. I once heard that our struggles refine us; they do not define us. The crushing pressures of life do not define who you are! There is hope!
Larissa Peres de Souza Weinert
BTh Therapist, Clinical Intern
Jessica Maldonado
Over the years, I have worked with families, children, and adolescents. Often, I have come across individuals needing support at one point or another in their lives. We are meant to be people in relationships, and those relationships are often a huge part of healing. It is amazing to see a situation in a person’s life change because someone cared enough. I provide mental health support to those in need by building a safe and strong relationship with each client. My name is Jessica Maldonado. I am a student at Nyack College with a background in mental health and Biblical counseling and a love for working with families and children.
In life, we all need support. Our families, our lives, and the world we live in can be unstable. Often this instability may lead to low self-esteem, lack of confidence, anxiety, and fear. Often people do not know where to turn for help. Lacking a support system may lead to adverse outcomes. Discovering this has made me interested in working as a counselor. Particularly with families and children. Raising children is hard, and families are complex. I strongly believe that if we can intervene in a child’s life, we can help them to enter adulthood with the tools and confidence they need to live joyful and productive lives. My work combines training in mental health with the foundation of faith in God with Biblical principles to guide our time together and help you find the healing and hope you have been searching for.
Jessica Maldonado
BTh Therapist, Clinical Intern
Ava Enea
Hello, my name is Ava Enea, I am an administrative intern for Sharon Klein Counseling, and my goal is to help in any way I can with what’s happening behind the scenes. I personally have had my own struggles that other people have helped me overcome. I want others to know it is okay to accept help, and because of this, I want to help others in any way I can. Learning the inner workings of counseling is just the start, and I hope to apply my newfound knowledge wherever life takes me.
Ava Enea
Administrative Intern
