Meet the Team
Sara's Haven is supported by a team of experienced leaders and professionals dedicated to providing compassionate care and thoughtful guidance for individuals and families seeking mental health support.
Our clinical and leadership team brings together experience in counseling, healthcare, and community support. Their shared mission is to create a safe space where people feel heard, respected, and empowered.

Our licensed counselors
Erica Stewart
LCSW - Clinical DirectorLicensed Clinical Social Worker with deep experience in trauma-informed care, EMDR, and complex grief. Erica's clients describe her as steady and deeply human.
Yaacov Weinstein
Psychiatrist - Medical DirectorI'm a psychiatrist at Sara's Haven, where I provide compassionate, personalized psychiatric care to support patients on their mental health journey. I work closely with patients to understand their unique needs, offering thoughtful evaluation, medication management, and ongoing guidance every step of the way. I create a warm, welcoming space where patients feel heard, respected, and valued. I take the time to listen carefully to each person's concerns and goals, and I collaborate with them to build a treatment plan that truly fits their life. Whether it's answering questions, explaining treatment options, or simply checking in, I strive to make every interaction feel personal and reassuring. My approach is grounded in meeting patients where they are. I believe real progress comes from a strong partnership between patient and provider, and I'm passionate about helping people feel empowered to take an active role in their own care. It's rewarding to watch patients build confidence in managing their mental health and to know I've played a part in that journey.
Liz Sanchez
LMSWI work with adolescents, young adults, and families as they navigate major life transitions. My approach is direct and warm, and I bring cultural attunement to every session, meeting clients where they are with honesty and care. I believe that transitions — whether they involve identity, relationships, family dynamics, or big life changes — can be some of the most challenging and formative moments in a person's life. I create a space where clients feel genuinely understood, not just heard, so we can work through what's in front of them with clarity and confidence. My goal is to help you build the tools and insight you need to move through change with resilience, and to come out the other side feeling more grounded in who you are.
Nancy Hernandez
LMSWI support clients through grief, depression, and identity work, with a particular focus on the first-generation and immigrant experience. I understand the unique pressures that come with navigating two (or more) cultures, family expectations, and the search for a sense of belonging that feels authentically your own. Grief and depression can show up in many forms, sometimes tied to loss, sometimes to the weight of building a life between worlds. I offer a space where these experiences are met with genuine understanding, not judgment, so you can process what you're carrying and move toward healing. My goal is to help you feel truly seen, both in your struggles and in your strength, as you work through what matters most to you.
Krystal Clarke
LMSWI'm a Licensed Master Social Worker at Sara's Haven, providing compassionate, judgment-free therapy to adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, and other emotional challenges. I create a warm, trusting environment where you feel comfortable being yourself, using a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach to help you build insight, develop coping skills, and create lasting, meaningful change. I meet each client where they are, tailoring treatment to their individual strengths and goals to support long-term resilience and well-being.
Jessica Torres
LMSWIf you're navigating anxiety, life transitions, or working toward emotional resilience, I'm here to help. I'm a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) based in New York, currently working toward my LCSW, with a background in Forensic Psychology and a Master's in Social Work from Adelphi University. I offer bilingual, culturally competent therapy in Spanish and English, so you can feel understood in the language and context that's most comfortable for you. Using a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, psychoeducation, and narrative therapy, I'll work with you to navigate anxiety, depression, self-esteem struggles, or life transitions — at your own pace. You can expect a warm, authentic space where you're truly heard, without judgment. I believe healing isn't linear, and progress looks different for everyone. Together, we'll build the self-awareness, coping tools, and resilience you need to move forward — while honoring your culture, values, and faith along the way.
Gabriel Rodriguez
PMHNPAre you tired of medications that don't work, cause unwanted side effects, or leave you unable to sleep? I'm a specialist in Advanced Psychotropic Medication Management, and I integrate over 10 years of experience as a physician trained in Cuba, specializing in General Medicine and Intensive Care, with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and Board Certification as a PMHNP-BC in the United States. My clinical approach goes beyond rushing through a 10-minute prescription. I analyze the complete architecture of your health, integrating body chemistry, medical history, metabolism, and chronic insomnia, to identify the precise medication, dosage, and combination tailored to your biology. I provide evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and fully bilingual care, combining medical expertise with deep clinical empathy. My goal is to offer high-precision treatment for adults seeking genuine relief from anxiety, depression, traumatic stress, and sleep disturbances, without aggressive regimens or guesswork.
Kiana Blandin
LMSWI'm committed to providing empathetic, client-centered therapy in a safe and supportive environment. I work collaboratively with clients to help them navigate life's challenges, build resilience, and achieve meaningful personal growth. I take a holistic, strengths-based approach to therapy, recognizing that each client brings their own unique history, values, and goals into the therapeutic process. I believe that healing happens within the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, and I strive to create a space where you feel heard, respected, and empowered to make positive changes in your life. Drawing on evidence-based practices, I tailor my approach to meet your individual needs, whether you're managing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, or major life transitions. I'm passionate about helping clients develop practical coping skills while also fostering deeper self-awareness and long-term emotional well-being. I'm dedicated to meeting you where you are and walking alongside you as you work toward a more balanced, fulfilling life.
Vincent Ma
MHC-LPI am a Mental Health Counselor with experience providing psychotherapy to adults across a range of clinical settings. My approach is collaborative, supportive, and grounded in evidence-based practices such as CBT, motivational interviewing, mindfulness-based techniques, and psychodynamic exploration. I strive to create a professional, nonjudgmental space where clients feel comfortable discussing difficult emotions, stressors, trauma, relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. I approach therapy with patience, honesty, and respect, focusing on helping clients feel heard rather than judged. By balancing supportive listening with practical discussion and reflection, I help clients understand patterns in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while building healthier coping strategies — always tailoring treatment to each client's individual needs and pace. My process starts with getting to know the client's concerns, background, and patterns, then collaboratively identifying treatment goals. Sessions may draw on supportive therapy, cognitive and behavioral techniques, mindfulness, or insight-oriented discussion depending on what fits best, with regular check-ins along the way.
Ashley Khan
LMSWI believe therapy should be a space where you feel safe, supported, and genuinely understood. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to your unique experiences — because no two people, and no two paths to healing, look the same. Whether you're coping with anxiety, trauma, relationship concerns, stress, or major life changes, I'm here to help you build practical skills, process difficult experiences, and move toward the life you want with confidence and resilience. I draw on a range of evidence-based approaches, adapting them to fit what you need most in each session, and I place a strong emphasis on building a genuine, trusting connection as the foundation for meaningful change. Above all, I want you to feel like an active partner in your own growth — never just a passenger. Therapy with me is a space to be honest, to be challenged when it's helpful, and to be met with compassion always.
Pamela Garcia
LMSWI am a bilingual psychotherapist (LMSW) with over 8 years of experience in the mental health field, working with clients in both English and Spanish. I provide a collaborative and empathic approach to help clients navigate depression, anxiety, life transitions, and a range of other emotional and personal challenges. Utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychoeducation, and Mindfulness techniques, I tailor my approach to each client's individual needs and goals, drawing on the methods that will be most effective for what they're facing. I believe that meaningful change happens when clients feel truly understood, which is why I prioritize building a warm, trusting therapeutic relationship from the very first session. I offer a supportive space where exploration, growth, and healing can occur — one where clients feel comfortable being open and honest, and where they're met with compassion rather than judgment every step of the way.
Kimberly Gonzalez
RNI'm a Registered Nurse at Sara's Haven, where I provide compassionate, personalized wellness care to support patients on their health journey. I enjoy connecting with patients through wellness check-ins, health education, and ongoing guidance that helps them feel supported and confident every step of the way. I create a warm, welcoming space where patients feel heard, respected, and valued. I take the time to understand each person's unique needs, concerns, and goals, and I work collaboratively with them to build a plan that fits their life. Whether it's answering questions, explaining next steps, or simply checking in, I strive to make every interaction feel personal and reassuring. My approach is grounded in meeting patients where they are. I believe true wellness comes from a partnership between patient and provider, and I'm passionate about helping people feel empowered to take an active role in their own care. It's rewarding to watch patients grow more confident in managing their health and to know I've played a part in that journey.
Patricia Pagan
LMSWI'm a bilingual therapist with over 10 years of experience working with children, teens, and adults from diverse backgrounds. I'm passionate about helping people navigate life's challenges, manage stress, and improve their overall well-being and daily functioning. My approach is warm, supportive, and grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I use practical, evidence-based strategies to help my clients better understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, so they can build lasting skills for positive change. I meet each person where they are, tailoring my approach to fit their unique needs, background, and goals. I work with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and am fluent in both English and Spanish, which allows me to connect authentically with a wide range of individuals and families.
Christine Bellise
LMSWI'm an LMSW with a warm, client-centered approach to therapy, dedicated to helping people work through life's challenges and build healthier ways of coping. I believe that everyone deserves a supportive space to be heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful change. My approach draws on evidence-based strategies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I work collaboratively with each person to develop practical tools they can use to manage stress, improve their well-being, and navigate difficult moments with greater confidence and resilience.
Tara Louis
LMSWI bring a background in high-acuity hospital settings to my work as a psychiatric social worker, where I've provided crisis intervention, conducted psychosocial assessments, and coordinated care for individuals facing acute mental health challenges. That experience shaped the way I show up for clients today: steady, attentive, and ready to meet people where they are. I work with adolescents, adults, and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. I have a particular passion for supporting individuals from underserved and marginalized communities, and I center my practice on culturally responsive, trauma-informed care. My approach is warm, collaborative, and strengths-based. I want every client to feel heard, respected, and empowered from the very first session. Together, we work on building emotional resilience, developing coping strategies that actually fit your life, and moving toward change that lasts.
John O'Connell
LMSWLet's take a journey together. If you're facing anxiety, depression, grief, pain, PTSD, or life stressors, I'd like to help you find your way through them, especially if old coping strategies aren't serving you anymore. Take a moment with me. Close your eyes, breathe in through your nose for a count of four, then slowly out through your mouth. Notice how you feel. That's the kind of simple, steady tool we'll build together. I draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and trauma informed care, including grounding techniques paired with breathwork, so you always have something to return to. I'm a Licensed Master Social Worker in New York with an MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, and a Certificate in Pastoral Bereavement Counseling from the Archdiocese of New York. I spent over twenty five years in the foster care system and I'm certified in NYS OCFS's Bridges to Health Program. For the past eight years, I've worked in Care Management with members of all ages.
Jhanna Francisco
PMHNP-BCI am a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with seven years of experience in the psychiatric field. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and my graduate degree from Molloy University, with clinical training across inpatient, outpatient, community mental health, and emergency room settings, including at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. My clinical focus includes mood disorders, trauma-related conditions, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and chronic mental illness. I provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and brief psychotherapy for adults ages 18 to 65. I take a client-centered approach, creating individualized treatment plans grounded in evidence-based practices and collaboration, and I am dedicated to fostering a supportive, stigma-free environment where patients feel informed and empowered. I am especially committed to serving diverse populations, including the Hispanic community.
Pedro Ramirez
LMSWI am a bilingual therapist with over eight years of experience working with individuals from all walks of life. I believe every person has a story worth telling, and that listening closely is the first step toward working together on a shared goal. My role is to meet you where you are on your therapeutic journey, offering a space where we can talk through anything without judgment. Together, we will set goals that reflect what matters most to you. I believe everyone carries strengths within them, and my work is to help you tap into those strengths, or sharpen the tools you already have, so you can move through life's challenges with more confidence.
Jessica Nathan
LMSWI've spent my career walking alongside individuals through crises, life transitions, emotional challenges, and personal growth. I believe therapy can be both a space for genuine self-discovery and a path toward real, lasting change. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and focused on outcomes. I draw on a range of evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and trauma-informed care, and I tailor every treatment plan to the person in front of me, their goals, their strengths, their story. As a native Spanish speaker, I offer therapy in both English and Spanish. I welcome adults from every background and walk of life into a supportive, nonjudgmental space where they can explore what's weighing on them, build resilience, develop practical tools, and create meaningful change.
Jasabel Ramirez
LMSWAs a Licensed Social Worker born and raised in New York, I have always felt a deep connection to the community I now serve. From an early age, I knew that helping others was my calling, and that sense of purpose guided me into a career in social work where I could make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families. I am driven by compassion, advocacy, and a commitment to empowering the people I work with. My goal is to create a safe space where clients feel supported, heard, and encouraged as they work through life's challenges, whatever they may be. Outside of my professional life, I am a proud mother raising my young son. I hope to instill in him the same values that guide my own work, and I dream that he too will one day find a purpose driven path dedicated to making a positive impact on others.
Zureisy Garcia
LMSWI genuinely love what I do, and as a compassionate mental health therapist, I strive to create a warm, supportive, and judgment-free space where you feel heard, understood, and valued. My approach is rooted in empathy and respect for each person's unique story, and I believe that meaningful healing happens when someone feels truly safe to be themselves. Whether you're navigating anxiety, stress, relationships, life transitions, self-esteem, or simply feeling stuck, I'm here to support you, meet you where you are, and walk alongside you toward meaningful change. I understand that reaching out for support can feel vulnerable, and I aim to make our work together feel collaborative rather than clinical, so you always feel like an active participant in your own growth. As an LMSW, I draw on a range of therapeutic tools tailored to what each person needs, and I'm passionate about helping individuals build the insight, coping skills, and self-compassion they need to move forward. My goal is never just to help you manage symptoms, but to help you feel more grounded, more confident, and more connected to the life you want to live.
Jinselly Rosa
LMSWI am a Licensed Master Social Worker and bilingual therapist. I believe that therapy begins with connection, and my goal is to create a space where everyone feels comfortable being themselves, sharing their experiences, and knowing they will be met with compassion and without judgment. My experience includes working with individuals navigating emotional challenges, life transitions, trauma, relationships, behavioral concerns, and difficulties with coping and self-expression. I use a warm, flexible, and collaborative approach, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, and play therapy based on each client's unique needs and stage of life. I meet clients where they are, take the time to understand their story, and work alongside them to build confidence, develop healthy coping skills, strengthen emotional well-being, and recognize their own strengths. My hope is that every client leaves therapy feeling heard, supported, and a little more confident in their ability to navigate whatever comes next.
Monica Hernandez
LMSWI'm an El Paso, TX native, and I earned my BSW with a minor in Sociology from UTEP before completing my MSW at OLLU-San Antonio, where I specialized in working with Hispanic children and families. My background includes 20 years as a school social worker and family engagement specialist, three years as a case coordinator for unaccompanied minors under ORR with GDIT, and a year as a medical social worker at Bienvivir All-Inclusive Senior Health Services. I bring together my love of social work with my love for dance. As director of Expressions Dance Academy in El Paso, TX, I use music and dance as tools to help people learn to cope, relax, destress, and navigate life's difficulties. I believe deeply in the power of motivation and validation, and my strengths lie in working with young adults, adults, and families. I am bilingual in English and Spanish. I'm currently continuing my education toward a choreographer certification through the Juilliard School's Dance Choreography Extension Program. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as my framework, and I believe everyone deserves the chance to pursue their dreams, because hope will always prevail. My life motto: Faith over Fear.
Iliana Herrera
LMSWAs a therapist at Sara's Haven, I am dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges and achieve emotional well-being in a compassionate, culturally responsive space. I provide care in both English and Spanish, allowing me to effectively support clients from diverse backgrounds. My experience spans a wide range of populations, including children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and older adults. I tailor my clinical approach to each client's unique needs and strengths, fostering a safe environment where they can explore challenges, build resilience, and work toward meaningful goals. I believe in empowering clients by recognizing their existing strengths and helping them develop practical skills to improve coping strategies and enhance their overall quality of life. My goal is to create a collaborative therapeutic relationship where you feel heard, respected, and supported throughout your journey toward healing and lasting positive change.
Marina Natanelova
LMSWI am an experienced mental health professional with a Master's degree from New York University (NYU). Since 2006, I have helped individuals and families navigate life's challenges across both New York City and Phoenix. I focus on the whole person, providing a safe and calm space where you can gain the tools and confidence needed to heal. In our sessions, I use a mix of proven, evidence-based methods to help you feel balanced and empowered. I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy to help you understand your past and manage your emotions today. I am also trained in the Gottman Method for couples and use Mindfulness-based techniques to help you manage anxiety and depression. Whether you are facing a difficult time or simply want to grow, I am here to help you build a happier, more balanced life.
Karen Garrido
LMSWI work with clients of all ages, backgrounds, and belief systems, and I bring warmth and flexibility to every stage of our work together. I draw from a range of modalities and interventions, tailoring my approach to meet your individual needs within my scope of practice. I have extensive experience working with faith-based clients across the lifespan, and I'm attentive to how spirituality and belief systems shape each person's experience. I understand that the path to healing isn't linear, and I meet you with patience and understanding as challenges arise throughout treatment. Above all, I'm passionate about helping you navigate your mental health journey and build a positive, resilient mindset, even in the face of life's difficulties.
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