Our Team

JEAN CARLOS OSORIO, LCSW-R,CDBT, SIFI

Jean Carlos is the founder and Clinical/Executive Director at Minds Together, LCSW PC. He graduated from Stony Brook University in 2007 with a Master’s in Social Work (MSW). He is also a NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (CDBT) Spanish/English speaking male. Jean has worked in the field of Social Work for more than 12 years in many different social work settings, including Psychiatric hospitals/institutions, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, community centers, non-profit agencies, LGBTQI community centers, and has been in private practice for the past eight years. He specializes in childhood trauma/abuse/neglect, unresolved childhood issues, addictive behaviors, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, and gender identity conflicts. He has also worked with victims of human sex trafficking, the undocumented population, and provided psychological and mental health reports for immigration purposes.

Meet our associated clinicians

We collaborate with accredited colleagues as independent contractors to ensure we deliver the highest quality service

Salvatore Giametta, MA, LMSW, SIFI

Salvatore is a bicultural-Hispanic (English/Spanish) speaking NYS Licensed Social Worker. Before joining this practice, Salvatore provided psychotherapy in psychiatric hospitals, outpatient community mental health settings, and non-profit agencies. Salvatore holds a BA from Pace University, an MA from New York University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, an MA from New York University, Graduate School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and an MSW from Hunter College – Silberman School of Social Work. Salvatore has been an independent psychotherapist for more than twelve years. His areas of expertise include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, trauma and stress-related disorders. Salvatore has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. He provides a nonjudgmental approach, empathetic/unconditional listening, and focuses on exploring patients’ inner strength to guide them in resolving their concerns/issues. Salvatore is an ally to the LGBTQI+ community.

Allan Ramirez, LCSW, SIFI

Allan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He received his Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from New York University (NYU) Silver School of Social Work in 2018. Allan completed his training in psychodynamic psychotherapy from the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP) in the Spring of 2022. He is a Hispanic (Spanish/English) speaking male highly passionate about therapy. He also partakes in psychoanalytic training at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP) to enhance patients’ therapeutic journeys. He has experience working with people from all backgrounds and mental health needs in outpatient settings. He believes therapy should be where patients talk about anything that comes to mind, creating a safe, empathic, and accepting environment. He is a steadfast supporter and ally of the LGBTQI+ community who uses compassion and a nonjudgmental approach to create a safe environment.

Jessica Goodwin, LMHC

Jessica is a psychotherapist who recently graduated from Capella University with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has worked in the mental health field for over eight years, supporting multicultural individuals and families with experience in nonprofit and private practice settings. Her therapy approach is holistic, focusing on an individual’s strengths and abilities. She aims to provide a supportive, judgment-free environment that encourages personal growth and wellness. She is an ally of the LGBTQIA community.

Solaman Yousuf, MA

Solaman is a doctoral candidate student in psychology and is currently doing his clinical training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. His graduate studies in philosophy have given him a deep understanding of the complexities of human consciousness and a passion for understanding the unconscious aspects of human experience. He specializes in psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. He is skilled at exploring the unconscious aspects of the human mind, facilitating a deeper understanding of the influence of past experiences on present thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. His expertise lies in helping individuals navigate complex emotions including trauma, attachment issues, self-esteem issues, and relationship difficulties. Solaman employs a non-judgmental and supportive approach, creating a safe environment where clients can explore their inner world with curiosity and self-reflection. He encourages clients to explore their deepest thoughts and feelings to help them gain insight into their unconscious motivations, unresolved conflicts, and recurring patterns of behavior. He values the collaborative nature of therapy and actively involves his clients in the treatment process, empowering them to take an active role in their healing journey. He helps individuals develop self-awareness, understand the origins of their emotional struggles, and work toward meaningful change. Individuals embark on a transformative journey towards self-discovery and personal growth with his guidance.

MARIA CAMILO: INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE – IPV SPECIALIST| MSW-LP

Meet Maria Camilo, your compassionate guide on the healing journey. With over 8 years of devoted social work services, Maria specializes in supporting Spanish-speaking immigrant adults in New York City. Fluent in three languages, Maria bridges cultural divides to connect deeply with her clients. Holding a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Yeshiva University, Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

As an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Specialist, she is deeply committed to guiding survivors of domestic abuse. Through her leadership of the online community, “DR-Discussing the Relationship,” Maria provides tailored support and empowerment, particularly to compatriots and fellow Brazilian women.

Grace Lee, MPS, LCAT.

Grace is a Creative Arts Therapist, currently practicing with a NYS limited permit. She has had extensive training in the mental health field as a Creative Arts Therapist. She received her bachelor’s degree in Arts and Science majoring in Creative Arts Therapy from St. Thomas Aquinas College and received her Master of Professional Studies in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute. She has worked with a wide range of clients, from students K-12 in a day treatment center/school for those with emotional and behavioral difficulties, to adults in a rehabilitation/detox center. Based on her prior experience with said clients, She strives to create an inclusive safe space in order for those seeking treatment to effectively heal through creativity and psychotherapy.

Shenelle Kuhlor Plummer, LMSW

Shenelle is a NYS Licensed Master Social Worker and a Silberman School of Social Work graduate. She has experience working with individuals of all ages. She prioritizes the utilization of strength-based & client centered treatment interventions to help her clients feel empowered and supported. She specializes in helping clients cope with anxiety, depression, life transitions, and grief/loss. 

She choice treatment modalities include but are not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. She incorporates approaches that consider cultural diversity, women’s issues, and stages of development. Through her work, She seeks to aid her clients with becoming the best version of themselves.

Cassandra Malouta, MA

She is a bilingual (Spanish/English) Clinical Psychology PhD candidate at Long Island University-Brooklyn and currently has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She has been therapeutically trained through a psychodynamic relational lens and utilize an integrative approach, incorporating DBT, TFP, and CBT techniques. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including; inpatient settings, therapeutic schools, outpatient clinics, and in-home. She has experience working with clients across the lifespan, from infancy to end-of-life care. She strives to offer a therapeutic environment that is consistent, warm, empathic, and validating. She is interested in serving minority communities and providing both cultural humility and cultural competence to clients.

Spencer Bastedo, LMSW

Spencer holds a Master of Social Work degree from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College (CUNY) and comes to psychotherapeutic work after a decade teaching history at the City College of New York (CUNY) and the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies (SUNY Empire State College). Spencer’s work as a historian informs his psychodynamic approach, a practice that examines how socio-historical conditions and systemic forces configure psychological experience, engender conscious and unconscious thoughts and beliefs, and produce recursive behavioral and relational patterns. Integrating his focus on understanding how a client’s past informs their present with modalities and techniques that enable clients to address present challenges in more immediate, direct, and short-term manners, Spencer considers growth as proceeding from client-led processes of disalienation, self-empowerment, and emancipatory self-transformation. Experienced working in educational and social work contexts with adolescents and young adults and doing trauma-informed work with refugee and immigrant populations seeking asylum, Spencer grounds his psychotherapeutic practice in a commitment to social justice and a belief that, in Saidiya Hartman’s words, “care is the antidote to violence.” Recognizing care as essential for dismantling and replacing harmful social and psychological structures—be they destructive self-concepts, behaviors, and internalized narratives, or oppressive social systems, institutions, and discourses—Spencer views psychotherapy as hopeful,  collaborative care work that enables clients to create new possibilities for personal growth, loving and liberated relationships, and collective care in families and communities.

Jossiel Polanco, LMSW

Jossiel is a bilingual (Spanish/English) Licensed Master Social Worker who graduated in 2019 from Hunter College’s Silberman School of Social Work. He has over 9 years of experience helping individuals living with chronic medical, mental, and substance use conditions reach their goals by identifying clients’ strengths and interactively creating strategies to achieve positive change. In his professional trajectory, Jossiel has helped those experiencing homelessness, abuse, racial bias/discrimination, homophobia, and those being affected by HIV/AIDS. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness and a welcoming smile are some of the techniques he tailors during sessions to improve clients’ health outcomes. Jossiel believes that each therapy session is a judgement-free safe space to explore feelings, motivations, and desires while being kind to ourselves and others. He is compassionate, detail-oriented, and an “outside the box” thinker with a sense of humor.

John D. Melendez, LMHC-CASAC

John D. Melendez is a bilingual, English and Spanish speaking, Mental Health and Substance Use Counselor experienced in providing assessment and treatment to adolescents, adults, and families from diverse ethno-cultural and racial backgrounds in order to determine appropriate services and referrals needed, implementing short-term and long-term goals in collaboration with clients.

John is qualified to treat a variety of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, and substance use challenges, and also provides relationship counseling and cognitive therapy. As an accomplished and experienced professional, he understands the level of sensitivity which is required in his field of work.

Eu Na Kim, LMSW

Eun Na is a dedicated and compassionate social worker with a master’s degree in social work, specializing in mental health, from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the same institution. With extensive experience serving marginalized populations, including immigrants, older adults, children and adolescents, and individuals with special needs, Eun Na recognizes the critical role of environmental factors in mental well-being. She employs a client-centered and strength-based approach tailored to each client’s unique needs and challenges. Committed to creating a non-judgmental and supportive environment, Eun Na utilizes evidence-based intervention methods to help clients achieve their treatment goals. Her practice includes working with clients facing a wide range of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, life transitions, anger and stress management, grief/loss, PTSD, ADHD, and phobias. Eun Na’s empathetic and responsive approach ensures that clients receive personalized care and support on their journey towards improved mental health and well-being.

Lucas Zelanka, LMSW

Lucas is a Licensed Master Social Worker who received his MSW from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2024. Lucas has experience working with adolescents and adults who experience a variety of troubles including depression, anxiety, and trauma-related issues. 

Lucas’s approach stems from a psychodynamic orientation that values knowing how our unconscious lives impact our day-to-day experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Lucas strives to practice empathic acceptance for every person that he works with because he believes that healing and growth are enhanced by experiencing quality human connections. Using this approach, Lucas centers individuals as they explore their inner worlds.

Cristal Ortiz, MHC LP

I’m dedicated to helping you build stronger relationships, regulate your emotions, and navigate life’s challenges with confidence. Do you find it difficult to maintain healthy connections or manage stress, anxiety, or depression? Together, we can uncover the root causes of these struggles and leverage your strengths to create personalized strategies for growth and healing. Everyone deserves a safe and supportive space to explore their feelings and improve their relationships.

My therapeutic approach is rooted in utilizing an integrative approach that combines various methodologies such as CBT, Client-Centered Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, DBT, and more. I help children, adolescents, and adults address a wide range of issues, from anxiety and depression to interpersonal difficulties and emotional regulation.

Navigating life’s challenges can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. My goal is to help you strengthen your relationships, manage your emotions, and find peace amidst life’s stressors. Together, we’ll explore the root causes of your struggles and utilize your strengths to create effective, personalized interventions

Kayleigh Hurley, MHC-LP

Kayleigh Hurley is a dedicated mental health counselor with a passion for helping individuals, particularly adolescents and young adults, navigate their emotional well-being. With a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University, Kayleigh has honed her clinical skills through practical experience in private practices and a clinical internship at Minds Together.

Kayleigh’s therapeutic approach is centered on understanding and supporting her clients’ unique needs. She believes in creating a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can explore their emotions and develop coping mechanisms. Her experience with play therapy has equipped her to work effectively with children, tailoring her approach to meet their developmental and emotional needs.

Ariel Y. Harewood, MA Psychology

Ariel is a psychotherapist who utilizes a psychodynamic approach to help individuals explore the unconscious influences that shape their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. With a deep commitment to understanding the complexity of the human mind, Ariel creates a safe and supportive space for clients to reflect on past experiences, uncover hidden patterns, and foster healing. Ariel completed a Bachelor’s degree from Medgar Evers College and a Master’s degree from The City College of New York, providing a strong foundation in psychology. 

Currently pursuing a second Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, Ariel is further expanding their expertise to better support clients. By integrating empathy and insight, Ariel offers compassionate care to diverse populations, empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve lasting change.

Angelica Sepulveda, MFT-LP

Currently holding a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family therapy (MFT), my experience has allowed me the privilege to work with clients ranging from childhood to late adulthood, of various different backgrounds, and family dynamics as well. Thankfully my experience has also provided me with the familiarity of working with clients facing mental health needs including depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, life transitions, emotional regulation, and more. 

Being an MFT permits me to work with individuals, couples, and families, all while working from a systemic holistic perspective. Meaning through our therapeutic work whether in individual, couple, or family sessions it is crucial to view the client as an individual as well as a part of the larger communities they identify with. 

As a first generation American, I speak Spanish and English fluently and hope to serve clients of minority & marginalized communities. I hope while working from a strength based and collaborative approach, we can work together to create personalized interventions that feel perfectly unique to you and your treatment goals. My intention is to create a space where every and any client can feel accepted and safe enough to speak their mind freely without the worry of judgment or bias in any way, while working through life’s daily anxieties/difficulties. 

Cristal Astudillo MFT-LP

I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) Marriage and Family Therapist-Limited Permit holder with a Master’s degree from Touro University Worldwide. My clinical experience includes working with children, adolescents, and adults across diverse backgrounds, with a strong focus on the Hispanic community.

I use a collaborative and client-centered approach, meaning I view my client as the expert on their life. I draw from postmodern models such as Narrative Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), while also integrating cognitive and experiential methods like CBT, ACT, and play therapy to meet each client’s unique needs.

Prior to entering private practice, I worked as a Multisystemic Therapy (MST) caseworker, which deepened my commitment to supporting families through culturally responsive care. I am passionate about creating a space where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered in their journey toward healing and growth.

Melissa DelliGatti, MHC

Melissa is a dedicated graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, currently seeking to apply theoretical knowledge in a supervised clinical setting, with a particular interest in supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma and LGBTQ issues. Melissa is passionate about providing a supportive and collaborative environment to help individuals navigate challenges and achieve their therapeutic goals.

Meet our interns

We partner with students at accredited colleagues and universities to connect their talents, passions, and education to internship opportunities.

Laura Roberts, MA, CASAC 2, CRPA, CARC, MFT Intern

Laura is a culturally sensitive and competent bilingual (Spanish) Marriage and Family Therapy (MA) intern who aligns with the Gottman, Narrative, Solution Focused and Emotionally Focused modalities. As an intern, Laura has been providing therapeutic services to individuals, families, couples and children. She earned her MA in Disability Studies and has been working as an addiction professional for several years as a NYS CASAC Level 2, Credentialed Recovery Peer Advocate and Credentialed Addiction Recovery Coach. 

Laura is certified in Batterer’s Intervention The Duluth Model, Creating a Change for Men Who Batter. Implementing Play Therapy interventions with individual or familial dynamics in the therapy space continues to be a healing tool she hopes to be certified in the future.

Nicole DeSimone, MFT Intern

As a Marriage and Family Therapist in training from Touro University Worldwide, Nicole is dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges by examining the connections between personal experiences and larger systemic influences. Her approach emphasizes a holistic understanding of clients’ lives, exploring how familial, cultural, and social dynamics shape their relationships and sense of self.

 

With a compassionate and collaborative style, Nicole works with clients to uncover patterns, build resilience, and foster meaningful change. Whether addressing issues like anxiety, relationship challenges, intergenerational trauma, or transitions into adulthood, her goal is to provide a supportive space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered.