OLGA GONITHELLIS, MA, EdM, LMHC Founder of Creativity Mental Health Counseling Clinical Supervisor 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. In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, she is pursuing a BA degree in Music Composition for Film, TV & video games.
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.
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.
MADELINE ZIEGLER, MA, MHC-LP Madeline is an MHC-LP with 6 years of individual, group, and residential counseling. They received their masters in mental health counseling from New York University while counseling clients from ages 12 to 55 in individual sessions and group settings. They specialize in trauma, LGBTQIA+ experiences, ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorders. They also hope to expand their knowledge of treatment methods as they continue to work in the field. Madeline is passionate about helping their clients find peace in their identities and comfort in their day-to-day lives. As a non-binary, queer performance artist, Madeline understands creative industries can be difficult to navigate and is happy to provide a non-judgmental space for artists to explore any concerns that come up in their artistic endeavors.
AZIZ ELMADANI, PhD, MHC-LP Dr. Aziz Elmadani earned a doctorate in counselor education and supervision from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. He also earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from New Jersey City University. Dr. Elmadani has experience as a counselor and supervisor, working with groups and individuals (children and adolescents) struggling with various life circumstances, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, stress management, life transitions, self-esteem, and self-confidence. He also has experience in school counseling and higher education settings, teaching counseling and play therapy courses to graduate students. Dr. Elmadani's strength and positive-based approach incorporates person-centered, rational emotive behavioral, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques to support his clients in developing coping skills and managing life challenges. He believes in collaboration and always focuses on the client's needs by creating a safe, warm, and non-judgmental environment. The environment motivates individuals to build trust, share experiences, explore their inner insights, and work toward achieving positive psychological functioning and self-actualization. Dr. Aziz enjoys working with the creative population for several reasons, such as inspiration and innovation, collaboration energy, thinking outside of the box, and meaningful work.
CELINE COLON, MA, MHC-LP Celine completed her masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at St. John’s University. Celine strives to make individuals of all gender identities, sexualities, cultures, disabilities, and backgrounds, feel heard, validated, and accepted. She does this by ensuring that all her clients are given a safe and inclusive environment to freely express themselves. Celine is outgoing, compassionate, ambitious, and creative, bringing her personality forward during the sessions. Celine includes techniques from numerous counseling modalities in her sessions, including CBT, Gestalt Therapy, Creative Art Therapy, and more! Previous to her counseling education, Celine received her Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and also studied the performing arts for 8 years! Celine participated in several theatrical productions during her undergraduate study in addition to privately voice acting for a fan made anime series. Fun Fact: Her favorite Broadway musical is Waitress - having seen it 6 times!
