Clinical Work in a Brand-New World: Re-Envisioning Mental Health in the 21st Century Conference

Dr. Norissa Williams holds a bachelor’s in human services, a master’s in social work and a doctorate in applied developmental psychology. She spent her earlier professional years working directly in Black and Brown communities. This work included community organizing, intensive case management, substance abuse counseling, functional family therapy and psychotherapy. Frustrated with racial bias in the policies and practices that govern BIPOC lives, she set out to impact change on a more macro level. She returned to school, obtained a doctoral degree, and focused her studies on cultural competence, culturally responsive programming, antiracist pedagogical and organizational practices. Dr. Williams then worked at the county-level as the Director of Cultural Competence. Thereafter, she served full time as an Assistant Professor at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY and as a Clinical Professor and Program Director of the Masters in Counseling program at NYU. 

Nowadays, since liberation is her “jam,” Dr. Norissa works full time as the Founder & CEO of Liberation Research and Practice Institute (LRPI). Through LRPI, Dr. Norissa offers consultation services,such as training, subject matter expertise, curriculum development, organizational needs assessments, and strategic action equity planning. In addition, she offers one-on-one and group interventions, focusing specifically on liberation, ancestral healing and other decolonized healing practices. Dr Williams is also a co-host of the podcast, Radical Remembering and can be found on IG @drnorissawilliams.

Minaa B. is a writer, social worker, and author of Owning Our Struggles. She is also the founder of Minaa B. Consulting, a mental health consulting practice that helps organizations develop psychological safety and become mental health inclusive. She is also a licensed mental health professional and worked as a therapist specializing in treating depression, anxiety, and trauma. An expert in her field, Minaa sits on the Mental Health Advisory Committee for Wondermind, a mental fitness company co-founded by Selena Gomez. Minaa has also been featured in various media outlets such as Red Table Talk, Peace of Mind With Taraji, BBC, Essence, and more. She lives in New York City, and you can learn more about Minaa by visiting www.minaab.com.

Jason is a skilled and experienced professional with a diverse background in technology and therapy. Over the course of his career, he has gained valuable insights into how technology can be used to improve people's lives and create more connected and engaged communities.

Jason's career in technology began with his work as a genius bar technician at the Apple store on Fifth Avenue and later at Apple Grand Central. In this role, he provided expert advice and guidance to customers, troubleshooting their tech problems and helping them make the most of their devices. Through his work at Apple, Jason gained an in-depth understanding of the latest trends and innovations in the tech industry, and honed his skills in communication, problem-solving, and customer service.

After several years at Apple, Jason transitioned to a new role at NYU's Division of Libraries, where he worked in A/V and IT building smart classrooms. During his 10 years at NYU, Jason played a key role in designing and implementing cutting-edge technology solutions that enhanced the educational experience for students and teachers. His work in smart classrooms helped pave the way for a new era of education that is more interactive, dynamic, and effective than ever before.

Throughout his career in technology, Jason maintained a deep interest in psychology and human behavior. He pursued a graduate degree in counseling, and began to explore the ways in which technology could be used to improve mental health and wellbeing. Combining his technical expertise with his therapeutic training, Jason set up his own virtual counseling business that utilizes technology to create more interactive and engaging therapy sessions.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Jason's unique skill set proved to be invaluable. With his experience in both IT and therapy, he was well-positioned to help clients adjust to the new reality of virtual counseling. Drawing on his years of experience in both fields, Jason was able to use technology to create a more personalized and impactful counseling experience for his clients, even when meeting virtually.

As the world begins to emerge from the pandemic, Jason is excited to continue exploring the potential of technology to improve people's lives. With his deep knowledge of both IT and therapy, he is uniquely positioned to help others harness the power of technology to create more connected, engaged, and fulfilling lives.

Hala Alyan is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of trauma, substance abuse, anxiety, mood and relationship concerns, and cross-cultural issues, and has worked in various settings, including forensic, inpatient, school-based and counseling centers. She is interested in the intersection of healing and the creative arts, and has run workshops that incorporate narrative therapy among incarcerated communities, survivors of torture, and refugees in the United States and Middle East. Additionally, she is the author of the novel Salt Houses, winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Award, and The Arsonists’ CityAward.  She was shortlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize; her writing appears in The New Yorker, Guernica, The New York Times, and elsewhere. In her clinical and supervisory work, Hala practices through an eclectic, intersectional, collaborative lens, and has received training in a number of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing.

Dr. Audibert is a bicultural licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of Florida seeking to create awareness of the mental health needs in the community. She works with patients from diverse backgrounds and identities including multicultural, multiracial, Latinx “Entre Dos Mundos,” and LGBTQ individuals. She also specializes in role-transitions, life-stressors, relationship building, career mentoring, and cognitive decline.

Dr. Audibert was trained to follow evidence based approaches to guide her practice and uses her extensive knowledge of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy when working with her patients. Nonetheless, Dr. Audibert also integrates her additional training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Humanistic, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy into her approach.

Having had the opportunity to train in major hospital settings such as the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Health System and completing her psychology residency at Woodhull NYC Health+Hospitals in Brooklyn, New York; in addition to her work in different mental health clinics in South Florida, Dr. Audibert became aware of the major need for mental health advocacy in these diverse communities.

Mainly, her specialized post-doctoral training in Neuropsychological Testing and her continuous work in diagnosis and Cognitive Retraining of Neurocognitive Disorders, as well as her current role as Adjunct Faculty in the college of Psychology and Neuroscience at Nova Southeastern University; have provided her with a more complete set of skills for promoting, treating, and achieving a higher mental wellbeing in her patients.

Melissa Ifill is the guide that helps you connect to your inner knowledge so that you can choose your wholeness. As a licensed therapist and sacred transformation wellness coach, Melissa can bridge the gap between traditional healing practices and clinical understanding to provide effective coping tools and education on how your mind, body, and spirit are impacted by painful experiences. With the understanding that healing is a forever journey, Melissa focuses her work on holistic and indigenous wellness practices as she believes that these centuries-old tools best support us on this path. She is also the owner and lead therapist at Melissa Ifill & Associates, a boutique therapy practice providing services to NY, Georgia, and Florida. As an Iyalosa (priest of Oshun in an African Traditional Religion), a Reiki practitioner attuned to a mastery level, and with her training in sound healing, breathwork, and meditation, Melissa brings her wide array of knowledge to the healing spaces she creates and participates in. Through her work with R.A.W.: Real, Aware & Whole, Melissa curates spaces for Black women to (re)learn themselves and the skills needed to heal their wounds as they connect in community with other like-minded women. Her passion is working with Black women to help them get unstuck so that they step into the fullness of the lives they long for. She gets excited when she can encourage women to see themselves as whole people and thrive despite past trauma. Two of her favorite sayings - “the glow up is in the show up” and “you get to choose” - exemplify her passion for teaching techniques to support you in divinely co-creating your life. Her goal is to help you take your life off autopilot and put you back in the driver's seat toward your dreams. Some places where you may have seen her work include Essence Magazine, Parents Magazine, Therapy for Black Girls Podcast & Love, and Hip Hop Miami.

Ernesto Lira de la Rosa (he/him/his) is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology. He received his PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He also received his BA in Psychology and a Latino Studies Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Dr. Lira de la Rosa has worked as a clinician, researcher, educator, and consultant across a myriad of settings in both the Midwest and East Coast. Clinically, he specializes working with complex trauma, anxiety and mood disorders, stress and burnout, and with substance use disorders. Dr. Lira de la Rosa also has expertise working with survivors of sexual abuse, LGBTQ+ clients, people of color, and clients with an intersectionality of identities. He draws from a humanistic and feminist approach that also accounts for cultural context, social justice, and advocacy. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Lira de la Rosa has served as an expert consultant with nonprofits and businesses looking to create inclusive and diverse practices within their respective organizations. Currently, Dr. Lira de la Rosa maintains a private practice in New York City and supervises masters level clinicians obtaining hours for licensure.

Prior to joining NYU, Dr. Lira de la Rosa worked at Columbia University in the Counseling and Psychological Services Department. He has also worked at NYC H+H Hospitals across inpatient and outpatient departments as well as on mobile crisis teams.

Leslie Peña-Sullivan, DSW, LCSW, holds a DSW and MSW from NYU Silver School of Social Work and a post-graduate certificate in Advanced Clinical Practice. Her work experience in the field has encompassed several positions involving assessing and treating trauma in children, adolescents, and adults. Leslie participated in a Clinical Social Work Fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic for Children. She is bilingual (Spanish) and previously worked at the Mount Sinai World Trade Center Mental Health Program, providing evaluation, psychotherapeutic, and referral services for 9/11 first responders.

Recently, Leslie worked as a staff psychotherapist at the Larchmont Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center. In this capacity, she provided individual, family, and group counseling services to Southern Westchester County's Spanish-speaking community. In addition, she has been an adjunct lecturer at the NYU Silver School of Social Work since 2019. As of February 2023, she joined Brooklyn Parent Support as a bilingual psychotherapist. Her area of research is trauma among the undocumented Latinx community.

Dr. Sugi (Sugandika T. Subawickrama) is originally from Sri Lanka. She is a licensed psychotherapist in New York (LMHC) and New Jersey (LPC), a certified substance abuse clinician (Master CASAC) in New York and internationally and is also an approved DWI assessor and clinical screener for impaired driving offenders in New York. She is a strategic leader and a motivational speaker as well. Dr. Sugi has worked in Behavioral Health, Mental Health, quality, research, and Substance Abuse Counseling for over 20 years in various treatment settings. Her educational journey in Sri Lanka, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States helped her to learn coping strategies and leadership skills. She completed the "Science of Well-being" course at Yale University, which provided a different perspective on life and happiness. Dr. Sugi completed her Doctorate from Liberty University, with a 4.0 GPA, and is affiliated with  Sigma Beta Delta and Omega Nu Lambda Honor Societies. In addition, she is a Six Sigma Black Belt and a member of the American Counseling Association. She also serves as a chairwoman for youth at the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). She has been selected/accepted to the roster for the Fulbright Specialist Program, allowing her to represent the USA and use her knowledge and experience with the world.

Dr. Sugi is a volunteer TED translator/reviewer/language supervisor and has two YouTube channels in Sinhala and English on Mental Health and empowering individuals. Also, International Translation Day TED Translation giveaway winner. TEDWomen 2022 subtitling contest winner (English to Sinhala: Get out of the glass box) and received an invitation to TEDWomen present to participate connector pass 2022. Dr. Sugi has delivered 2 TEDx talks so far, Immigrant Resilience (Southlake, Texas), and I Am Not My Past and Rising Above Trauma (Staten Island, New York).

Jillian Tucker, DSW, LCSW, is an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University and New York University and received the 2022 Teaching Excellence Award from the students at Columbia University. Dr. Tucker earned her doctorate and masters in clinical social work from New York University and her bachelors from Brown University. She is an EMDR International Association certified clinician and trained at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. She works with combat veterans through Headstrong Project and is in private practice in New York City. She formerly worked at Weill Cornell’s outpatient substance misuse clinic Midtown Center for Treatment and Research.

New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers {#SW-0012}.

New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors {#MHC-0083}.

For Mental Health Practitioners: Please check with your state, if you are not licensed in New York, to determine if these credits will be accepted for licensing renewal.