Jan Prentice, LCSW-R
Staff Therapist
LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
M.S.W., Marywood University
B.A. – Binghamton University
Specialties:
- Anger management
- Women struggling with relationships
- Focused problem solving
Jan has been a counselor at Samaritan Counseling Center since 1999. She received her Masters of Social Work from Marywood University in 1998. Her work as a counselor centers mainly on marriage and relationship skills and life coping skills. She considers herself a lifelong learner and loves to share her insights with clients. Before coming to counseling she worked as a Chemist in the laboratory at Lourdes Hospital. Her background in science helps her approach subjects with curiosity and logic. In her view, problems only present interesting challenges to be overcome.
Life experiences that have enriched her personal perspective include marriage, adoption and parenting. Jan believes the process of counseling helps people see their situation more clearly and opens up more possibilities for solutions to problems. Jan also enjoys teaching adults. Her strength is being a lively presenter with an enthusiastic approach. Her engaging style invites participation and reflection on the material being taught so you can take away skills you can use. Her goal when teaching is for her audience to find personal applications of the principles being taught.
Terry Sanders, LCSW-R
Staff Therapist
LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
Terry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of New York. He relocated to the Broome County area over 30 years ago, and has worked in the field of social services and mental health services since. He has over 30 years experience working with at risk children, adults, and their families, as well as working with seriously and persistently mentally ill persons, both on an inpatient and outpatient basis. He enjoys his work and makes every effort to respect the cultural identities and religious beliefs of the individuals he has the opportunity to work with.
Terry’s specialty is the use of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and other treatment modalities such as DBT (Dialectic Behavioral Therapy), and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), to assist individuals in managing their emotional and psychiatric wellbeing, with a special interest in anger management.
Terry enjoys traveling, cooking, playing and watching sports, and spending time with family and friends.
Mary Sze-tu, LCSW-R
Staff Therapist
LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
M.S.W.- Marywood University, Pennsylvania
B.A.- Bloomsburg University, Pennsylvania
Specialties:
- Individuals and couples
- Trauma and healing
- Couples’ relational work
- Sex and physical intimacy
Mary Sze-Tu’s practice style integrates respect for every person’s wholeness and self-growth using many aspects of psychotherapy she has encountered in her training and life-learning. These include relational couples’ work, mindfulness, and self-psychology approaches, with continuing education exploring new treatments for depression, anxiety, trauma, and improving physical intimacy for couples. She enjoys traveling to visit family and new locales, museums, plays, social swing and ballroom dancing, skiing and gardening. She appreciates daily hikes and yoga as moving meditations. She has been a member of the American Academy of Psychotherapists since 2020, which strives to deeply support the health of our healing relationships.
Yvonne M. Lucia, RN, MDiv, MHC-LP
Staff Therapist
Yvonne began her professional life as a Registered Nurse, working in the areas of adult medicine and hospice care. Her experiences in nursing led her to study theology in a quest to grapple with questions related to human suffering. She received a Masters of Divinity in 1987. While raising four children, she worked as an adult educator for the Catholic diocese of Syracuse, and also pursued certifications in Expressive Arts facilitation, Spiritual Direction, and Grief Counseling. Most recently Yvonne has completed a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Fordham University. Yvonne’s approach to therapy is person centered, existential, and incorporates expressive arts modalities as well as Internal Family Systems- informed parts work. Yvonne has many years of experience accompanying individuals and groups as they explore the very human issues intrinsic to living, loving, loss, and leaning into optimal and resilient well-being.
With her NYS limited permit and therefore unable to accept insurance at this time, Yvonne is accepting new clients at a special reduced rate.
Dominic Micalizzi, LMSW
Staff Therapist
MSW – Binghamton University
BSW – Binghamton University
Specialties:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD and other neurodiversities
- Gender and Identity
- LGBTQ+ people
- People who use drugs
- People living with HIV/AIDS
Dominic practices psychotherapy in an integrative way that seeks to understand clients through a holistic lens, with respect and curiosity for clients’ unique identities. Dominic understands that clients live in a world of interconnected systems that may serve to both help them and hold them back. Understanding these systems is key to improving social functioning and overall well being. These systems can be explored through interventions like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT),Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Self-Psychology/Attachment Theory, and/or Narrative Therapy. Dominic enjoys working with people of all backgrounds and identities, especially LGBTQ+ people.
While studying at Binghamton University, Dominic provided social work services to people who use drugs, people living with HIV/AIDS, formerly incarcerated people, and people living with mental health diagnoses at Truth Pharm, Southern Tier AIDS Program, and UHS Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. In his free time, Dominic enjoys hiking, going to concerts, going on road trips and reading.
Jessica Aurelio, LMSW
Staff Therapist
Specialties:
- Children
- Teens
- Elderly
- Trauma
- Sexual Abuse & Assault Victims/ Survivors
- Domestic Violence Victims/ Survivors
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
- Coping Skills
- Wellness
Proudly born and raised in Broome County Jessica remained in the area to receive her Master of Social Work from Binghamton University, Bachelors in Political Science from Binghamton University, and Associates in Criminal Justice (Corrections) from SUNY Broome.
Jessica has experience working with adults, families, and youth in substance use prevention, social services, domestic violence, sexual assault, primary care settings, outpatient mental health, and child welfare, such as foster care and youth residential services.
In practice, Jessica utilizes a trauma-informed, strengths-based, person-centered approach with a focus on the eight dimensions of wellness (emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial). Jessica incorporates CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) to best support and empower her clients on their journeys through healing and self-actualization.
In her spare time, Jessica can be found volunteering and serving on the governing boards of several local non-profits, practicing and teaching yoga, facilitating sound healing and Reiki sessions, and traveling!
Courtney Hayes, LMSW
Staff Therapist
For 15 years, Courtney has served individuals and families in Broome County through work in non-profit organizations. Professional roles have included supporting youth with behavioral health needs in the school setting, facilitating the reunification of families with children placed in foster care, and providing services to people actively using drugs and the families who love them.
Courtney approaches each therapeutic relationship with genuine interest and deep curiosity. She believes that everyone has the capacity to make desired changes to improve their health, safety, and wellness. She practices from a strengths-based and person-centered perspective, and incorporates elements of Narrative Therapy, DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
In her spare time, Courtney likes to paint, work in the garden, and play video games.
Irina Peress, LMSW
Staff Therapist
Specialties:
- Adult women
- Trauma
- Suicidal thoughts
- Women’s issues
Irina received her Master’s of Social Work from Binghamton University. She has experience with talking to people from all walks of life during difficult times. Her approach to helping is listening carefully, seeking to understand, exploring feelings, and identifying hopes. Clients have said that they feel less alone, they feel understood, and they realize what they want to do next in their situation. Clients can also gain broader perspectives on their struggles and strengths in a larger context of family, community, and society.
Molly Fotusky, LPMFT
Staff Therapist
Specialties:
- Couples Counseling – addressing friendship, distancing, infidelity, conflict, communication, intimacy
- Families
- Foster and Adoptive Families
- Individuals
- Adjustment to life transitions such as Marriage, Parenthood, Illness, Divorce, Grief
Molly began her professional experience working with adults, teens, families and children in community based mental health services particularly with children in foster care and with adoptive family services. Most recently Molly has completed a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Approaching therapy from a systemic and attachment based lens Molly seeks to understand and support her clients through these interconnected internal, relational and family systems. These systems can be supported through interventions related to Emotionally Focused Couples (EFT) and Individual (EFIT) therapy, the Gottman Method, Narrative therapy and Attachment theory. Together in the therapy room Molly seeks to support new transformative emotional experiences and awareness with in the individual and relationships.
With her NYS limited permit Molly is unable to accept insurance at this time but is accepting new clients at a special reduced rate.
Emily Salvemini, LMSW
Staff Therapist
Specialties:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- LGBTQ+ People
- Coping skills
Emily is from the Broome County area and received her MSW from Binghamton University. She is oriented in building community and working with diverse populations. Emily is focused on advocating for the needs of individuals through strength based and trauma informed approaches. Emily utilizes interventions that include Solution Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
While studying at Binghamton University, Emily worked as a social work graduate assistant at the Q Center within the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department. Emily mentored and worked closely with LGBTQIA+ students and coordinated outreach to local organizations in Broome County. Emily also served as a social work graduate assistant for 20:1 Prevention Program and CARE Team case management office. Emily developed and facilitated programming on interpersonal violence and helped students manage stress and build coping skills.
Emily is an advocate for mind and body wellness. As an athlete for the majority of her life she finds exercise and mindfulness to be intrinsically connected. Emily loves to spend her free time hiking, practicing yoga, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.