The Serenity Zone team is comprised of licensed professionals and master’s level interns each with a broad variety of specialties that support a wide range of individual needs. We serve clients of all ages and offer individual, family, and couples counseling.

Sahra Robinson

LCSW-R, SMC-C, CAMS-2, CTMH, CCATP

Sahra is the owner of Serenity Zone LCSW, PLLC. She attended Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Sahra is SIFI (Seminar in Field Instruction) certified and brings more than 24 years of clinical and administrative experience to each client she serves.

Sahra holds degrees and licensure in the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker Registered (LCSW-R), Stress Management Coach Certified (SMC-C) and Certified Anger Management Specialist-2 (CAMS-2). In addition, she is certified in Neurofeedback and Biofeedback through BrainCore and furthermore is certified through the National Association of Anger Management – NAMA; accepting court mandated/and non-mandated referrals.

Sahra works with adult individuals, couples, families, and groups while focusing and encompassing Neurofeedback (Neurotherapy). Neurofeedback is an FDA approved, empirically proven & evidence based approach. She combines other therapeutic modalities such as: Cognitive Behavioral, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Psychodynamic, Solution Focused Brief, etc. All therapeutic treatment plans are tailored to meet the unique therapeutic needs of each client.

Please Note: 

My supervisees are directly trained by me in my methodologies, therapeutic approach, interventions, and treatment modalities. I bring on numerous time-limited supervisees, who are with me from about 1-2 years.

  • Agnes Marcano

    MHC-Limited Permit

    Agnes is a down-to-earth psychotherapist passionate about helping individuals develop inner strength, discover different perspectives, and become empowered. Engaging individuals to reframe their thinking to promote growth in a way that helps them to explore their unrealized potential. At the same time, individuals can address any concern in a safe, nonjudgmental space. Agnes believes tailoring therapy to the individual helps a person to examine their narrative and acquire strategies that enable them in their personal and professional life. She incorporates mindfulness, a strength-based approach, and behavioral methodology to help restructure negative self-talk, negative thought patterns, and doubts that keep individuals stuck, which creates an opportunity for growth and positive change.

  • Amanda Dawson

    LMHC

    Currently Not Accepting New Clients

    “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?” George Eliot

    Amanda works with individuals of all ages struggling to be their best versions of themselves. She has experience working with those experiencing, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, OCD, and trauma. Amanda empowers her clients by encompassing compassion, empathy, and support. Amanda works by saying, “There is no one size fits all approach.” Therefore, when working with individuals, she collaborates with her clients to develop the most effective treatment modality. Amanda utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy as some techniques.

    She also holds group therapy sessions for teens battling self-esteem and confidence.

    In her personal time, Amanda finds physical activity to be a form of self-care and therapy. She spends time with her family and enjoys being outdoors.

  • Amber Massey

    Marriage and Family Therapy Intern

    Amber is a dedicated Marriage and Family Therapy Intern committed to fostering positive change and growth within families, couples, and children. With a passion for helping individuals navigate through life's challenges, she brings a diverse skill set and a compassionate approach to therapy.

    Amber’s therapeutic approach integrates several evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Structural Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. By utilizing these approaches, she tailors her interventions to meet the unique needs and goals of each client and family they work with.

    Amber's experience spans across various settings, allowing her to effectively address a wide range of issues including communication difficulties, conflict resolution, behavioral challenges, and relational dynamics. Whether clients are facing marital conflicts, parenting concerns, or individual struggles, Amber provides a supportive and nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

    She believes in empowering individuals and families to discover their strengths and develop effective strategies for overcoming obstacles. Together, you will collaboratively explore your values, beliefs, and aspirations to create meaningful and lasting change.

  • Celine Colon

    MHC-Limited Permit

    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’s clientele mainly includes children, adolescents, and young adults, however, she does see older clients as well. She also has experience counseling neurodiverse individuals. 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!

  • Chanalle Wilson

    Advanced Clinical Intern

    Chanalle is currently pursuing a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at St.John’s University. She believes as humans, we are constantly engaging  with our environment and these interactions significantly shape our past, present, and future experiences. This interplay can sometimes negatively affect feelings, ideas, and actions. Through counseling, she offers a secure setting where individuals can feel empowered to gain self-awareness. By working together, clients can maximize their therapy experience, leading to effective outcomes.

    Chanalle employs integrative counseling strategies tailored to each client while maintaining a compassionate and nonjudgmental approach. She believes that counseling should emphasize inner strengths and characteristics that promote positive psychology, rather than focusing solely on negative experiences. This approach cultivates resilience, recognizing that each individual is unique and requires care that respects personal and cultural differences. Chanalle aims to equip her clients with practical tools, coping mechanisms, and insights that help them overcome obstacles and reframe negative thought patterns.

    As an Advanced Clinical Intern, Chanalle works primarily with individuals ranging from teens to older adults, including couples and members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Her professional practice incorporates a combination of person-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and positive psychology that emphasizes well-being. Additionally, she is trained in addressing issues related to sex and porn addiction. Committed to professional growth, Chanalle is always willing to expand her knowledge and skill set by incorporating new modalities into her practice. She looks forward to collaborating with her clients on their journeys.

  • David Jones

    Advanced Clinical Intern

    David Jones is a graduate student in the Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness program at New York University. He brings extensive experience from his work in higher education, where he closely engaged and mentored college-age and high school students throughout his professional career. His transition to clinical work is driven by a genuine care for others and a desire to provide holistic support across diverse populations.

    David's therapeutic approach is grounded in principles of person-centered and strengths-based therapy, emphasizing the importance of building authentic relationships, empowering clients, and adapting flexibly to meet their unique needs and aspirations. In addition, he embraces an identity-conscious mindset and values advocacy both within and beyond the therapy space. David is committed to fostering a non-judgmental, warm, and safe environment where clients can explore and grow at their own pace.

  • Jessica Guzman

    LMHC-D & Office Manager

    Jessica graduated from Mercy University with a Masters degree of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

    Jessica’s goal is to provide a safe environment for her clients to work on becoming the best version of themselves. She uses a collaborative approach to decide what’s best for the individual’s specific aspirations. Along with evidence based practices, Jessica incorporates empathy, humor and validation as appropriate in each session. Jessica currently works with primarily with adolescents and adults dealing with various levels of trauma, anxiety, depression and perinatal concerns. Jessica does not work with couples.

  • Jonah Mantell

    MHC-Limited Permit

    Jonah has graduated from St. John’s University and obtained a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Jonah was drawn to mental health counseling because of the accepting, open-minded, and holistic nature of the field. He works from a flexible, person-centered framework, incorporating elements of several therapeutic styles based on the client’s desires. Jonah also maintains a strong focus of social justice through advocacy and empowerment in his practice. He is passionate about increasing the accessibility of mental health services. Jonah strives to meet clients in their world to create a safe and supportive space in which people can fully express themselves. He deeply values the collaborative nature between the client and counselor and is committed to building this relationship to best accomplish the goals of his clients.

  • Joseph Luna

    MHC-Limited Permit

    Joseph completed his master's in clinical Mental Health Counseling at City College of New York. He works with adolescents in school settings, providing mental health support and fostering a positive environment for their development and has background in advocacy for the geriatric community to ensure essential resources like shelter, food, safety, medical care, and mental health support.

    Central to Joseph's approach is his belief in relational therapy, which empowers individuals by fostering connections to community, culture, and self. He works to establish a strong therapeutic relationship and collaborate with clients in creating behavioral and introspective techniques to increase confidence when facing life's challenges. Through his relational therapy framework and stress coaching techniques, Joseph promotes resilience and empowerment. Joseph's philosophy emphasizes self-growth through heightened self-awareness while also acknowledging the profound influence of environment and culture on an individual's identity.

    Motivated by a commitment to provide mental health care to disenfranchised communities, he is passionate about establishing accessible mental health support to all, regardless of their background or circumstances.

  • Juliette Geilfuss

    Advanced Clinical Intern

    Juliette is a dedicated mental health counseling master's student at the City College of New York, driven by a passion for compassionate, human-centered approaches to therapy. With a strong belief in the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship, Juliette is committed to creating a space where clients can explore and address their relational needs. Juliette's approach is characterized by a holistic perspective, recognizing the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, and relational wellness.

    They are dedicated to empowering individuals through tailored care that acknowledges the inherent and unique strengths within each person. Juliette provides a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore, heal, and discover their own resilience.

  • Kamanie Jialal

    Advanced Clinical Intern (Not accepting new clients)

    Kamanie is currently a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at St. John’s University. She will utilize multiple theories and approaches to cater to the needs of her client with a focus on person-centered therapy to process the here and now. She hopes to make the client feel heard and understood by providing a listening ear and a safe space to share.

    Kamanie’s passion for counseling began when she worked a Child Protective Specialist for the NYC Administration for Children’s Services where she really began to understand the need for exceptional mental health providers. As a clinician, Kamanie strives to be that exceptional provider throughout your time together.

  • Liza Dupler

    Advanced Clinical Intern

    Liza holds a dual Masters in Counseling Psychology and School Counseling from Columbia University. She is currently working toward a certification in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from St. John’s University. Liza has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults as a school counselor in a New York City public school. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration with families, schools, and other health professionals in the therapeutic process.

    Liza draws from various therapeutic modalities to best support the individual needs of her clients. These methods include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution- Focused Therapy (SFT), and mindfulness techniques.

    Liza is devoted to developing a strong therapeutic relationship with her clients and providing them with the space and tools necessary to navigate life challenges and enhance emotional wellness. She focuses on building a safe and warm environment for clients to feel heard, understood, and empowered.

  • Michelle Kushmakova

    LMHC

    Michelle received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Touro College. She specializes with management of challenging behavior, emotion regulation, and anxiety. Michelle caters to a variety of modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral, Based Stress Reduction, Person Centered, and others. Each client's therapeutic treatment plan is customized to match their specific therapeutic demands. Michelle also uses a collaborative family-centered approach that empowers parents to manage children’s challenges by using evidence-based treatment interventions.

  • Rachel Christensen

    MHC-Limited Permit (Currently Not Accepting New Clients)

    Rachel is committed to creating a safe and nonjudgmental space for clients to cultivate their inner strengths and feel more empowered in their lives. Using a person-centered approach, she incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness techniques to help individuals process experiences and develop lasting skills for growth and change. Rachel has experience working with adolescents and adults in the areas of anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, identity development, and career development. As a biracial therapist and an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, she is passionate about working with multicultural populations and exploring the intersectionality of various identities. Rachel received her master's degree in Counseling for Mental Health & Wellness at New York University and incorporates evidence-based practices with warmth, empathy, humor, and validation.

  • Ranfill Henriquez Rosario

    Advanced Clinical Intern

    Ranfill Henriquez is a graduate student in the Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness program at New York University.

    Ranfill's unique background and experiences have shaped his understanding of therapy. He believes in a holistic approach, where the mind, body, and spirit are equally integrated into the practice and understanding of the individual. This perspective, coupled with his belief that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, allows him to explore the therapeutic process from an open, flexible, and integrative approach that draws from various disciplines to establish a unique treatment for each client.

    For Ranfill, accountability and vulnerability are the building blocks of any relationship; these two factors will impact the therapeutic journey. So, for him, it is essential to navigate the counseling process from an open-hearted and flexible approach that can make the client feel supported and safe enough to build rapport, which helps both the client and the clinician complete all goals.

  • Roger Du

    Advanced Clinical Intern

    Roger is currently pursuing a degree in mental health counseling at St. John's University with the goal of becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). With a rich background in school counseling and a master's degree in the field, Roger has transitioned to private practice to broaden his ability to help others. Believing in a holistic approach to mental health, Roger integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Narrative Therapy into his practice. He is passionate about working with adolescents, adults experiencing social anxiety, and couples. As a bilingual counselor fluent in Mandarin, Roger is equipped to provide support to a diverse range of clients. He aims to create a supportive and understanding environment where clients feel empowered to navigate their challenges and achieve their goals. Roger looks forward to working with clients on their journey to wellness.

What to Expect

Our goal with each and every client is to create an atmosphere of support and connection. We tailor sessions to the goals and needs of individual clients, couples, and families. We acknowledge the uniqueness of your story and aspirations.

Who We Help

To determine the most appropriate path for you, we administer a comprehensive clinical assessment that includes a biopsychosocial which allows your clinician to gather a better understanding of who you are and goals you may have for treatment. With that information, your clinician will create a customized treatment plan of neurotherapy care. 

Your plan is unique to you and will vary in time and treatment based on your results and needs.
How We Help

Insurances We Accept

  • Aetna

  • Cigna

  • Employee Assistance Programs

  • Empire Blue Cross/Shield

  • Empire Health Plus

  • Fidelis Care

  • Healthfirst

  • Medicare (LCSW only)

  • Oscar

  • Empire Plan/Value Options (Out of Network Benefits Only)

  • 1199 SEIU


We recommend calling the number on the back of your insurance card, prior to your first session and ask the following:

  • Is Serenity Zone Therapy In Network or Out of Network?

  • If they are Out of Network, do I have Out of Network benefits?

  • Do I have a deductible that I am responsible for paying? If so, how much is it in total and how much have I met?

  • Do I need a prior authorization prior to my first session?

These questions are to ensure that you are informed of any financial obligations you may be responsible for.