OUR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS

Kimberly Baker is a licensed clinical social worker with over 17 years experience providing counseling services to adolescents, adults, and children. She has practiced in both outpatient and intensive outpatient settings providing individual counseling and group therapy services. Kim’s focus is on supporting those managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, and social emotional stressors. Kim received her master’s degree in clinical social work from New York University in 2004. She believes in a client-centered approach to therapy and uses multiple treatment methods to help people reach their goals.

Jackie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in individual, couples and family counseling for all ages. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology at Siena College and then moved out to Massachusetts for a few years where she received her Master’s in Counseling Psychology at William James College.

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Jackie has worked in outpatient, intensive outpatient and inpatient settings giving her a unique perspective of all levels of care and the ability to meet her clients where they are at. Jackie’s areas of special interest include dual diagnosis, family issues and trauma informed care. Jackie has extensive experience with DBT, CBT and narrative therapy and tends to take a humanistic approach with her clients. Her overall goal is to help clients feel empowered and have the strength to feel present and whole in their own lives.

Donna Brent has been a licensed psychologist for more than 20 years. Her experience includes working as a school psychologist and as a college professor. Dr. Brent has a number of areas of specialty and interest, including treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a broad range of marriage and relationship issues, and coping with the challenges of aging. Working in collaboration with clients, therapy focuses on developing practical strategies for changing negative patterns so that people can lead more satisfying lives. Dr.Brent’s training in mindfulness and meditation is also available to assist people who struggle with anxiety.

Krina Cozart is a licensed mental health counselor with over 8 years of experience. Since she can remember, she has always loved to talk and help others! Krina is  fascinated by people’s stories and life experiences and loves to help them solve their problems.

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Krina attended the College of Saint Rose where she got her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from the College of Saint Rose in 2011. She specializes in addiction and co-occurring disorders including anxiety, depression and adjustment disorders. Throughout her career she has facilitated group therapy on anger management, mindfulness, and trauma. She especially enjoys working with adolescents, adults, and couples. Her counseling style is client-centered and involves Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  “I work to empower my clients to focus on what they can control and to soar with their strengths!”

Katherine is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 28 years of experience in the field of mental health. She specializes in working with adults, couples, families and adolescents from diverse ethnic and income groups.

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She worked for 22 years in an outpatient state-run mental health clinic (14 years as clinical supervisor), 3 years at the Capital District Psychiatric Center inpatient Trauma/Young Adult unit, 1 year each at the VA Medical Center in the Chemical Dependency unit, a children’s residential treatment center, school social work, & administration for the Office of Children & Family Services.

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Her areas of expertise include trauma, PTSD, depression, women’s issues, major life transitions, marital & relationship difficulties, chronic mental illness & substance abuse. She uses a combination of cognitive-behavioral, DBT, and motivational interviewing techniques in her therapies.

Lisa diTargiani is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) with over 15 years experience in multiple settings with a variety of populations across the lifespan. She received her MSW from Adelphi University and has multiple post-masters certificates including one in Clinical Ethics from The Alden March Bioethics Institute at Albany Medical Center. Lisa’s areas of expertise  include children and adolescent behavioral issues, parenting and family issues, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, couples, and women’s issues.

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Lisa believes that each client is an individual and strives to tailor the treatment to the client, borrowing from multiple treatment modalities, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Family Systems Theory. She is a professional member of both NASW and NACSW, and actively seeks to stay on top of current trends in the mental health field.

Elizabeth Donovan has been helping individuals and families adapt to life’s challenges for over 30 years, and sees adults, couples and families through telehealth. Educated at Cornell University (BS Human Development) and University at Albany School of Social Welfare (MSW), she is an experienced licensed clinical social worker.  She is certified in Cognitive Processing for PTSD, as well as Behavioral Family Therapy. She believes that all humans have strengths that aid in recovery. Self awareness, sustained effort, and developing a roadmap are things that therapy can help with as you face unexpected setbacks. When not working, she might be making pottery, spending time with family, or spending time outdoors.

Joanne Elliott, LMHC, CPRP is a licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner with more than 25 years of experience providing direct clinical services to individuals and families. Her scope of experience includes assessment and treatment of a variety of mental health and addiction issues including mood and psychotic disorders; equine-assisted therapy; and trauma recovery.

Elaine is a licensed Mental Health counselor with over 20 years of clinical experience treating adults and adolescents with a range of socio-emotional challenges. Elaine is interested in working with clients who present with anxiety, stress, depression, adjustment issues, trauma, PTSD, interpersonal relationship problems, difficulties with emotional regulation or anger management, grief and loss, as well as chronic disabling conditions. She also has an extensive background in the rehabilitation of mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome. Using an individualized approach to treatment, Elaine integrates cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered and strength-based techniques, as well as mindfulness-based stress reduction, and the development of self-care and compassion practices. Her therapy style involves a collaborative, holistic process that assists clients with increasing their emotional management, improving interpersonal skills, while building assertiveness and empowerment to support effective functioning and an enhanced quality of life.

Joe has over 30 years of clinical and administrative experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. He has practiced in a variety of mental health settings, including inpatient, residential, partial hospital and outpatient programs. He also has done many clinical presentations, both on a local and national level. His current therapeutic specialties include couples and family therapy and working with adolescents. He has been in practice with Karner Psychological Associates since January 2000.

Betsey is a licensed clinical social worker who graduated from SUNY Geneseo and the University at Albany with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. She has more than 35 years of experience in the social work field. Her work, before joining Karner Psychological Associates, included working as a caseworker for the Department of Social Services in foster care and child protective services. She has also worked in the private sector as a school based counselor, a family and individual therapist, and has also provided clinical supervision for the clinical staff. She has provided anger management group therapy for both men and women. Betsey has extensive experience and training in trauma treatment, solution focused therapy, family systems therapy, grief work, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Sanon Jerome attended the University at Albany for his undergraduate and graduate degree.  There, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2002 and a Masters in Social Work in 2006.  He previously worked as a direct care worker with Vanderheyden Hall in Wyantskill and have worked in mental health, inpatient, and outpatient for over 14 years. Sanon’s area of expertise is relationships and families. In his free time, when not attending to the health and happiness of his patients, he enjoys reading science fiction.

Isaiah Vail is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 20 years of experience working with a wide population of children, adolescences and young adults; along with their families. He provides treatment to those facing social emotional struggles, adjustments and many disorders that interfere with life function. His work experiences include residential, nonprofit agency and public school settings. This background along with significant work in counseling has allowed him to actively work toward providing professional services without a ‘cookie cutter’ approach. Isaiah views all patients as individuals with individual desires to change.

Kathy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has over 30 years experience working in both public and private schools with students and their families.  Kathy provides therapy services to children with behavioral challenges; children diagnosed with anxiety disorders, ADHD, or autism; and children experiencing emotional upset (divorce, death) in their lives. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Psychology and Counseling from Empire State College and her Master’s Degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University.

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​Kathy works with children, adolescents, and young adults in individual and family therapy. Her areas of interest are working with children and adolescents who are experiencing situations that interfere with their abilities to function in a positive manner at home, at school and/or in the community. She utilizes both indirect and direct play therapy with children and cognitive behavior therapy in her practice.

Tara Nagle Penesso is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) with over 30 years of experience in the field. She graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from Boston University School of Social Work.

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Tara has experience working in outpatient settings in the Capital Region, including nonprofit family service agencies and The Center for Disability Service; and in group private practices.

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Tara specializes in providing individual and family therapy with people of all ages and concerns, such as struggles with anxiety, depression, loss, marriage, relationships, and parenting. She utilizes various treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, within a collaborative and individualized approach.

Julie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). She is originally from Syracuse, NY and received her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Childhood Education from Le Moyne College. Following that, she received her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling at the University at Albany. Prior to working for KPA, Julie provided psychotherapy services at a private practice in Delmar, Upstate Physician Services. Before her work in Delmar, she provided psychotherapy services to many patients and families at Northeast Parent and Child Society’s Schenectady outpatient clinic and has worked as a clinical care manager for a behavioral health insurance company.

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Julie enjoys working with a variety of patients , including children, adolescents, young adults, adults, couples and families. Her approach is a collaborative one. While using a variety of treatment modalities, she encourages patients to be active participants in their treatment to gain insight into their presenting concerns, and to improve overall well-being.

Paul is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 8 years of experience working in a variety of settings. A native of Waterbury, Connecticut, he attended Southern Connecticut State University receiving two Bachelor’s Degrees, one in Art and one in Psychology. Desiring to pursue a career in the helping field, he received his Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from The State University of New York at Albany. He began his counseling career working with children, adolescents, and families in the day treatment unit of Parsons Child and Family Center. Following that, his clinical work took him to Otsego County, working with Rehabilitation Support Services, Inc. He worked alongside the staff at Otsego County Addiction Recovery Services providing assistance to individuals in recovery in local outpatient settings and the local correctional institution.

Paul enjoys working with a variety of patients including adults, adolescents, couples, and families. Having experience working in individual and group counseling, his approach is one of support, collaboration, and education. In working with clients he draws from a few different treatment modalities including client centered, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. He believes the best way for a patient to see change in themselves is to take an active role in their treatment, and understand that they have the power to take the steps needed to achieve their goals. 

Hunter Champagne, LMHC-D is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. He received his BA in Psychology from Potsdam University and his Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Plattsburgh. He has experience working with pediatric and adult populations in intensive outpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Prior to joining KPA, he spent two years providing counseling services through Albany Medical Center's Developmental Pediatric Clinic. Hunter's therapeutic approach combines a balance of warmth and authenticity in a judgment-free space. He is dedicated to helping others identify and understand their struggles, relationships and inner workings to create better well-being.

John Mutziger is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor as well as an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist.  John received his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University.

John comes to Karner Psychological Associates with an extensive background in community mental health and private practice.  He has supported persons experiencing a variety of challenges including chemical dependency, homelessness, crisis management, veteran related obstacles, and sexual health.  John has developed an expertise in working with individuals to address concerns about sexuality that stem from, or overlap with, trauma and addiction. 

John believes in the ability to transform and cultivate meaningful alignment for the individual.  His intention is to empower them with personal autonomy for the purpose of navigating a supportive return to selfhood.

John utilizes an eclectic style of psychotherapy, gravitating towards humanistic and holistic perspectives.  He also incorporates methods from cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic therapies to tailor the client’s needs.  The intention of this blended approach is to empower the individuals with their own sense of personal autonomy, to cultivate meaningful alignment, and to promote a return to selfhood. 

My name is Tiniya Bolden and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of New York. I’ve obtained my Master of Social Work degree at Silberman School of Social Work in 2014, specializing in Clinical Practice with individuals, families and groups. I’ve spent majority of my career working in supportive housing settings with individuals and families who have a variety of personal, health and mental health challenges including but not limited to depression, anxiety, stress, schizophrenia, formerly homeless, parental concerns, trauma, abuse, substance abuse, and relationships. In my practice, I have used techniques from multiple approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Family Systems Therapy and Trauma-Informed Therapy. Over the past 10 years as a clinician, I have learned that the most vital aspect of counseling is the connection between a therapist and the client. I am dedicated to listening, understanding and providing non-judgmental feedback to all of my clients. 

I am passionate and committed to those I serve. I am EMDR certified for various types of trauma or hurdles that feel debilitating and can be processed through rapid eye movement/tapping in order to facilitate a healthy healing journey. Let’s walk through the beach, the woods. Take a sip of tea with fresh mint, and enter a world of imagination, creativity, become one with the river, no judgment, safety, healing, serenity, grounding, love, solace, and always meeting you where you’re at. 

I take a holistic approach and focus on the mind body connection. I believe guided imagery meditation, motivational interviewing, dbt, creativity, psychodynamic, trauma informed care, emdr, and person centered approaches are ideal. I prefer to assist anyone who has felt demoralized or ostracized because of who they are. I believe we can impact the world together one smile at a time.

I urge and encourage anyone to take the first step and reach out. I offer empathy, connection, energy, and am always there for my clients to the best of my ability. I want to assist you in being the best version of yourself which is always in your reach and thus enhancing your quality of life. I will never judge you, I am someone you can turn to.

Samantha is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Samantha is a native of Albany, NY and received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University at Albany, followed by a Master's degree in Counseling and Community Psychology from Sage Graduate Schools. Samantha’s experience includes previous work in community mental health settings, particularly with survivors of trauma, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. She has also facilitated many groups. Samantha enjoys working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families who struggle with a wide variety of issues. She is especially interested in trauma, family and/or interpersonal dynamics, mindfulness techniques, and attachment work.

Samantha utilizes an integrative, holistic and trauma-informed approach to provide support and education to her clients, drawing from attachment theory, family systems, CBT, mindfulness, and person-centered modalities in order to assist clients in gaining increased insight, regulating emotions, and achieving a better quality of life. Samantha believes that each individual is the authority of their own experiences and assists clients in utilizing their strengths to achieve their therapeutic goals.

Yolanda Reese is a Licensed Clinician Social Worker with over 20 years of experience. Yolanda attended the College of Saint Rose where she received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. She went on to complete her education at University at Albany School of Social Welfare where she received her Master of Social Work. She has been in the field, in different capacities, over the years. Her experience has been in group home settings, schools, inpatient, and outpatient mental health settings, as well as in forensics. She has worked with various populations and has a diverse background that includes clients who struggle with depression, anxiety, psychiatric issues, have a history of trauma, struggle with poor self-esteem and interpersonal challenges.

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Yolanda is a big advocate on clients being themselves in sessions and helping each person understand that their voice/narrative matter. Her approach is client centered with a focus on developing strengths, strategies, and motivation. It starts with improving negative thought patterns, finding the person you are, and empowering you to find your voice. I believe in creating a safe, nurturing environment, though she also encourages courageous conversations as well.

Kelly Sweener is a licensed psychologist with more than 35 years of experience working with young and older adults in community and college settings.  A dedicated clinician and administrator with extensive background in college student mental health, Kelly is adept in addressing a wide variety of concerns that interfere with an individual’s ability to cope or function effectively. Early in her career, she specialized in the field of addictions, treating adults with chemical dependency and co-occurring disorders. With this diverse background, Kelly is accomplished in drawing from multiple treatment modalities and tailors her approach to the individual. She provides compassionate, competent care and enjoys seeing her clients move forward, heal and thrive.

Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from the University at Albany Advanced standing program with a master’s degree in social work.  She has more than 15 years of experience in the human services field.

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Her work, before joining Karner Psychological Associates, included working for not-for profit agencies as well as multiple medical start-up companies. She has had the wonderful opportunity to lead a team of social workers, assist in the development and operations of both behavioral health and palliative care programs and continuous collaboration with other professional disciplines both nationally and locally.

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She has experience working with many diverse populations and age groups including adolescents, young adults, adults, and older adults. Stephanie focuses on a whole person approach; to partner with individuals to utilize their strengths, re-adjust their approach, shift their perspective and lean into excellence vs. perfection.

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Stephanie utilizes many tools such as motivational interviewing, CBT, positive psychology, solution focused, ACT, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and continuous learning to partner with individuals to support and guide them in the development of their best sense of self and a life filled with more joy.

My name is Donna Bjorkman. I have been a Clinical Social Worker for over 30 years. My experience includes Mental Health, particularly, anxiety, depression and psychotic disorders. I also have training and experience working with sex offenders. My preferred age range to work with is adults and young people 12 years old and up. I also have experience working in the Substance Abuse field. I enjoy working for Karner Psychological Associates very much!