OLGA GONITHELLIS, MA, EdM, LMHC Founder of Creativity Mental Health Counseling Olga has been working with artists, performers, and other creative clients since 2013. Prior to specializing in the mental health needs of this population, she attended the Counseling and Clinical Psychology Masters program at Columbia University. Upon graduating, she gained a wide range of clinical experiences in group practices, mental health clinics, school, and substance abuse treatment settings. She has received advanced and continuing education training through courses at William Alanson White Institute, Zur Institute, the Creativity Coaching Association, PESI Behavioral Health Continuing Education, and clinical supervision groups with Dr. Mark Sehl. Her diverse clinical experiences, as well as her own background in singing, songwriting and performing, crystallized her strong desire to assemble a team of qualified counselors to help those who struggle with their creative goals and the demands of an artistic lifestyle. Olga is the author of Counseling for Artists, Performers, and Other Creative Individuals published by Taylor & Francis Group.
CYDNI KANTOR, MA, LMHC Cydni is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with experience providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults and families. Cydni has a BA from Trinity College where she majored in Classic Civilizations and minored in Women, Gender and Sexuality. Cydni earned her MA and EdM from Columbia Teachers College in mental health counseling. Cydni is currently in the process of completing a 3-year certificate program in Child & Adolescent psychotherapy at the William Alanson White Institute. In addition to working with children and adolescents, her clinical experience includes working with adults from diverse backgrounds including performing and visual arts. Cydni specializes in anxiety, depression, relationships, trauma, exploration of identity and self esteem.
RACHEL LEE, MA, LMHC Rachel has over eight years of experience working with individuals struggling with addictions and other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and career issues. She has also been a graduate school professor for the past 5 years. Her varied experience in both clinical and academic settings gives her a unique perspective on the frustrations that many people face and some creative tools to move past those frustrations. She also specializes in vocational and career counseling and can help you take the first steps toward healthy career development. Rachel has a passion for helping those with creative and non-traditional careers explore the unique challenges they face and work to overcome them. She believes that everyone has the right and ability to find meaning and fulfillment through creative expression and self-acceptance.
CAITLIN KELLY, LMHC, RPT, MSEd Caitlin is an experienced counselor, having counseled patients for a decade and a half, including adults, children and adolescents, suffering from anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, trauma and grief. She is especially knowledgeable about the unique challenges facing performing artists of all ages. Artists are unique because they recognize that all interactions or events are learning experiences, tucked away in their “Who Am I?” toolbox. “Who Am I” lies at the very foundation of what it means to be creative. To be creative is to discover and present what makes all of us human. Caitlin’s humor, creativity and eclectic approach to solving problems helps clients to gain a better understanding of their feelings, thought processes and behavior. As a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Caitlin Kelly holds additional certification in Play Therapy and Grief Counseling. Caitlin also holds a primary certificate in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy from the Albert Ellis Institute.
MEGAN "GEM" MORAN, MA, MHC-LP, RYT-200 Gem is a passionate and devoted mental health counselor and yoga and mindfulness guide. Gem believes in the power of harmonizing the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind, body, and spirit. Gem truly enjoys working with people to transform issues around coping with uncertainty, self-doubt and insecurity, artistic identity, motivation, inspiration, meaning-making, sexuality, substance use, negotiating value, monetizing, and executing creative work. Gem’s foundations in the healing profession include earning an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus on integrative mental health from NMSU, three years of experience working at a creative arts counseling agency and an inpatient psychiatric hospital in New Mexico, crisis counseling, and collaborating with musicians to curate holistic wellness experiences. Gem looks forward to helping you cultivate compassion, acceptance and clarity around the delicate connection between creativity and mental health.
ANNIE JAN, MS, LMHC When meeting with Annie you’ll discover a warm and empathetic therapist, curious and dedicated to getting to know you. She tailors her approach to create an affirming, supportive and non-judgemental space to fit the needs of her clients and enable individuals to feel safe and empowered to face the unique challenges in their lives. She offers interactive, collaborative, client-centered therapy that supports the development of personal insights and both practical and creative coping skills to help people live a more fulfilled and authentic life. As a NYS licensed Mental Health Counselor, Annie has experience providing therapy to adolescents and adults struggling in areas of anxiety, depression, stress management, life transitions, self-image, grief and trauma. Annie is excited to help bridge the intricacies of improving one’s mental health and cultivating the creative mind.
ELLEN SIMONETTI, MA, PhD, LMHC For much of her life, Ellen has participated in community theater, taken piano lessons and enjoyed art courses. Ellen received her B.A. in Spanish from Hunter College, her M.A. in Counseling at San Francisco State University, and her Ph.D. in Psychology from Northern California Graduate University. Ardently interested in the process we undergo in finding our own, unique story in life, Ellen has followed a “path less taken” and has an intuitive grasp for individuals who are treading along an unorthodox, distinct path. She is committed to helping those who feel “stuck” and unable to overcome negativity, stress and anxiety to become the person they deserve to be. Ellen emphasizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Positive Psychology and Self-Improvement and is future-oriented in her approach to healing. Ellen has 30+ years of counseling all ages, mostly in institutional settings and with diverse populations from the from mentally disabled to graduate students. Since many of her clients have problems verbalizing, it has been necessary use a variety of modalities including Play Therapy, Art and Music therapy and story-telling.
