Get to Know Our Team

Our Vibrant Team of Therapists

At City Mental Health Counseling, our dynamic team of therapists embodies a diverse range of backgrounds, specialties, and experiences. United by a shared passion for mental health advocacy and compassionate care, each member brings their unique expertise and perspective to our practice.

Team of therapists

Meet the Team

Bernie crowl

Bernie Crowl

LMHC-S, Clinical Director 

Are you finding yourself constantly overwhelmed by anxiety? Are the symptoms of your lingering anxiety impacting the quality of your life? I know exactly what you are experiencing: the pounding chest, tightened muscles, clenched jaw, and on/off cold sweats. People often suffer from anxiety for many years without seeking treatment. I believe that holistic and evidence based practices can reduce anxiety and panic, and I look forward to teaching you tools to help take your life back. I also work with LGBTQ couples who are struggling with a variety of concerns like sexual/intimacy issues, communication, codependency, and infidelity.

My main goal when working with you will be to create a safe space for you to express yourself. I specialize in working with people who have PTSD, anxiety and depression. I also use a DBT approach with many clients, this approach helps with developing mindfulness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance. I can also help couples using Gottman Method.

As an active member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I understand from a personal perspective the struggles that many people in this population face at home and in society. I strongly feel that people can grow at any point in their lives and that they do not need to be limited by their mental health. 

Andrew Peake

Andrew Peake

LMSW

The experience of overwhelming anxiety symptoms, past and current trauma, as well as recurring depression, can make life difficult to tap into your inner potential. Let’s work together and safely explore better practices to enrich your life.

I have a passion for helping individuals navigate through anxiety, trauma, complex traumas, and depression. I hold a Master's degree from the University of New England in Social Work, specializing in Trauma-Informed modalities, including DBT, Informed Internal Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing, and harm reduction for dual diagnosis and substance use.

In my practice, I work to create a safe space for you to work through your unique experience(s), which can include trauma, anxiety, and depression, in addition to your family and developmental history. I seek to assist my clients in developing mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance. It is my privilege to guide my clients on their journey. 

Andrew Peake

Alina Liu

MHC-LP

Welcome to a therapeutic space dedicated to your well-being and growth. I believe in the transformative power of a safe, empowering, and non-judgmental environment, where healing can flourish. My mission is to help you embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing, addressing difficult subjects, deep-seated trauma, or unspoken thoughts that may be holding you back.

I am a bilingual mental health therapist in English and Mandarin and received my master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. I have worked with individuals, adolescents, and families from diverse backgrounds, addressing a wide range of clinical issues such as anxiety, trauma, PTSD, mood disorders, family of origin issues, self-esteem, self-worth, and academic challenges. I am dedicated to creating an inclusive therapeutic space and welcoming individuals from LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

My therapeutic approach is evidence-based and tailored to your unique needs. I draw from modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Psychodynamic Therapy while maintaining a trauma-informed and strengths-based perspective. My goal is to guide you through your healing journey with warmth, collaboration, and empathy, empowering you to make meaningful improvements in your life.

I firmly believe that while the journey towards healing and growth can be challenging, it is profoundly empowering to discover your inherent capacity for healing and recovery. Let's embark on this path together, working towards a brighter, more fulfilling future. 

Ashley Chan

Ashley Chan

MHC-LP

The stressors of everyday life can become overwhelming with the uncertainty of tomorrow. We're quickly filled with anxiety when feeling unprepared for these uncertainties. With our bodies designed for survival, symptoms of anxiety become easily integrated into our daily life. If you’re wishing to improve your quality of life, I’m glad you found yourself here as I can confidently tell you this is absolutely possible. People are rarely told what it takes to create a happy & fulfilling life, but that’s the beauty of it: YOU have the POWER to create it. I can help you gain the necessary tools to create the life you’ve always envisioned.

Through holistic & evidence-based practices, my approach is to meet you where you’re at in your healing journey as we work together to create a safe & nonjudgmental path toward your goals. I strive to cultivate meaningful, therapeutic relationships with those seeking to live authentically by tailoring my approach to the unique needs of each person.

I'm committed to the safety & understanding of my clients with my core values being compassion, empathy, and communication. My curiosity of others allows me to be deeply passionate about self-expression & authenticity. Trauma responses are learned behaviors from past experiences. I encourage you to look deep within for the answers you seek with my guidance. 

Gurdaya sidhu

Gurdaya Sidhu

MHC- LP  

My approach to therapy is person-centered; meaning that therapy is for you and defined by you. I aim to create a supportive, affirming, and warm therapeutic environment where you feel comfortable to show up authentically as you are. I believe that the best therapeutic work is done when you feel calm, respected, and heard by your therapist. My therapeutic style is eclectic and draws from several evidence-based modalities including Rogerian, Relational and Narrative Therapy. I also incorporate skills from CBT and DBT into my practice.

As your therapist, I will support you through the process of self-exploration with the goal of developing greater self-awareness of your internal states, personal narratives, and behavior patterns. Through greater self awareness, we are better equipped to enact meaningful change in our lives and improve our relationships to ourselves and others.

My services are inclusive and accepting to all forms of diversity. As a multiple minority group member, myself, I understand the vital importance of acknowledging the overlapping social contexts and lived realities of the people I serve. It is my hope that you feel comfortable reaching out to me with any questions or concerns you may have. 

Kate dotson

Kate Dotson

MHC- LP  

Our own narratives about our past, present, and future, tell powerful stories about who we are, how we got here, and where we are going. I find having a deep understanding of your own story helps you to feel more secure in your identity, equipped to face your challenges, and grounded in your life. Getting to know your story in all its messy, beautiful, and complicated parts is where our therapeutic relationship will begin. I know that sharing your life with a stranger can feel vulnerable, risky, and uncertain as you wonder if you will truly be seen. My goal is to help you feel, heard, seen, and empowered in the counseling space so that I can meet you where you are in life and help you attain your goals.

My personal counseling style is grounded in traits of empathy, humility, and compassion as well as education and experiences in identity formation, multicultural competencies, and social justice issues. I utilize an integrative approach to counseling bringing together aspects of Internal Family Systems Theory (IFS), Person-Centered, Narrative Therapy, Social Justice Theory, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Based on how our relationship develops, I will pull from these theories to best support our work together depending on your needs. Through these modalities, together we can help you stand authentically in your story, in all of its parts, and feel empowered in continuing it.

I obtained my Master’s in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness at New York University. I have experience working with youth, young adults, and adults, including those who identify with marginalized groups. I specialize in supporting clients strugglingwith trauma, CPTSD, interpersonal concerns, women’s issues, and anxiety.

Margia shiriti

Margia Shiriti

MHC- LP  

In life, facing times of distress and confusion may be inevitable. During such tough times, guidance from a trained professional may prove invaluable. I am a mental health therapist whose primary intention is to provide a safe environment for your personal growth. I help people with a variety of mental health concerns including: depression, anxiety, family and personal relationships, trauma and complex PTSD. Many of my clients come in with a specific concern in mind while others simply want to feel better. Let me empower you to navigate your own unique situation and pursue clarity together.

I am bilingual and able to work with both Bengali and English speaking clients. I enjoy working with a diverse population whilst providing a culturally sensitive approach to treatment using CBT and person centered techniques. Additionally, I have extensive experience working with professionals facing performing arts and media industry related stressors.

David Litner

MHC- LP  

We are not defined by our obstacles. I believe that everybody is capable and deserving of realizing their potential, and it is never too late for any of us to make a change and shift our narratives. Throughout our work together, I will prioritize developing a judgement-free, trusting, collaborative relationship with you as we identify limiting thought patterns and behaviors, then work to recognize and achieve your personal goals. I am empathetic, warm, and compassionate, and I believe in being direct and authentic with my clients.

My approach is trauma-informed and psychodynamic incorporated with solution-oriented strategies. I believe that the ways in which we navigate the world are strongly influenced by what we learned and what we experienced at a young age. I will support you in processing these experiences and addressing how they are presenting in your life today.

I want to know what holds meaning to you: what gives you a sense of purpose, connection, community, and personal fulfillment? My goal is to validate your past experiences while supporting you in developing new strategies and behaviors which unapologetically embrace those meaningful aspects of your identity.

Sally shi

Sally Shi

MHC- I

Perhaps you have arrived here because you are facing some challenges in life, or maybe you are seeking an opportunity for personal growth. In either case, I am here for you, and you are not alone.

My approach is primarily rooted in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) frameworks. I also integrate a range of other evidence-based modalities, including CBT, DBT, EFT, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness-based interventions. I also have specialized training in the Gottman Method for couples therapy. As a bilingual therapist, I provide therapy in both English and Mandarin.

I believe in the transformative power of difficult emotions. Together, we will unravel the underlying emotions beneath your anxiety, stress, or shame, turning them into sources of strength and wisdom. Research has shown that articulating emotional experiences and purposefully processing them can change the neural pathways in our brains, leading to states of calm, flow, clarity, ease, compassion, and curiosity.

Along the way, I will also guide you in building necessary skills to reduce the impact of negative thoughts and feelings while simultaneously taking action to build a life that’s meaningful and fulfilling.

Chairs

Take the first step towards healing and book with our compassionate team today.