The clinical team members at Capital Counseling are each NYS licensed, highly trained professional therapists. Their areas of expertise cover evaluation, assessments, counseling and recommended therapies to assist with a broad range of mental, emotional and behavioral issues for individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children.
Select any counselor to read more about their background, experience, and areas of special focus and expertise.
Amanda Keller
LCSW-R, SAP
Amanda Keller
Amanda received her Bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany in Psychology and her Master’s degree from Adelphi University in Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience in working with adults and children with developmental disabilities and adults with mental illness. Amanda was the clinical supervisor of a mental health day treatment program, where she was responsible for the direct oversight of all clinical and psychiatric rehabilitation services, as well as the supervision of the clinical staff and student interns. She has several years’ experience in group and individual psychotherapy, with specialties in psychiatric, mood and anxiety disorders, as well as grief and bereavement counseling. Amanda employs a client-centered approach when working with clients, encouraging them to take a very active role in their own wellness and recovery. She uses a wide variety of therapeutic interventions, including cognitive behavioral, dialectical, motivational interviewing and solution focused approaches. Amanda has also taught as an adjunct professor with the University of Albany in the Social Welfare graduate program.
**Amanda is not currently accepting new clients**
Winell J. Soures
LCSW, SAP
Winell J. Soures
Winell J. Soures is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of New York specializing in the area of chemical dependence. She has over 20 years’ experience in human services, which includes addressing issues related, but not limited to Substance abuse disorders, vocational and educational attainment and change, women’s health, spirituality, individual and community empowerment, cultural concerns, as well building and maintaining healthy relationships , etc.
Her educational background includes a Masters Degree in Social Work and a Masters in Africana Studies with a major concentration in African Psychology from the State University of New York at Albany. In addition to the above, she is an experienced trainer, with a talent for motivating, inspiring, and captivating her clients by meeting the individual, audience, and participants where they are. Her mission is to appeal to and empower her clients to envision and begin an active journey towards enlightenment, self-fulfillment, and success.
Specializations: Substance Abuse Disorders, Spirituality, Family and Relationship issues, Emotional Intelligence, early/midlife transitions, cultural issues, solution-focused/goal-oriented interventions.
Motier Haskins
LMHC
Motier Haskins
Motier is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who received two masters at Russell Sage College. He has worked with a variety of individuals , primarily those with substance use disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, dissociative disorders, and those dealing with anxiety and depression. He is a firm believer of treating the whole person, which means involving all aspects of the client’s life and how that contributes to their presenting issues. He believes that it is important to have a therapeutic alliance as the foundation of therapy and if both the client and the therapist do their part it will be a positive experience.
Katelynn Kwiecien
LCSW
Katelynn Kwiecien
Katelynn Kwiecien received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Health & Human Services from the University at Buffalo in 2009 and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University at Albany in 2011. Katelynn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has experience working with children, adolescents and adults who struggle with mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. She received extensive training while working with those who are in crisis after previously working at the Capital District Psychiatric Center (CDPC) Crisis Unit. While also spending time working on the inpatient unit at CDPC, Katelynn gained specific experience working with those struggling with persistent mental health issues such as personality disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, psychotic disorders etc. She has previously worked at Great Meadow Correctional Facility through the Office of Mental Health working with mandated populations who are in need of counseling. Katelynn currently works as a full-time School Social Worker at Greenwich Central School District serving their K-6 students. She often uses a client centered approach which provides clients with the necessary support needed in order to make effective change.
Debra Moskowitz
LCSW-R
Debra Moskowitz
Debra received her Master’s degree from SUNY at Albany School of Social Welfare and has been practicing social work for over twenty five years. Her specializations include managing anxiety and depression, finding meaning in grief and loss, coping with chronic illness and navigating life transitions. Debra has expertise working with adolescents and their families, individuals with cognitive disabilities, seniors those with concerns relative to aging, and adults with chronic persistent mental illnesses. Prior to joining Capital Counseling, she coordinated and led a Depression Care program for a managed health care company and earned a certificate in wellness coaching that focused on the use of natural strategies for self- management of moderate to severe depression symptoms.
“My approaches include individual, family and crisis counseling through the use of motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral techniques; solution focused and family systems therapies. My goal of treatment is to increase coping skills to cultivate a more satisfying lifestyle and increase overall wellness.”
Wendy Connelly
LMHC
Wendy Connelly
Wendy Connelly is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of New York, and has been in the counseling field for 10 years. Wendy holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the State University of New York at Albany. Wendy has worked primarily with adult individuals (of all ages) including LGBTQ individuals and persons with cognitive and physical disabilities, and also with young people, families, and couples, she has worked with a variety of diagnoses such as anxiety, depression substance uses. Wendy enjoys helping people identify their strengths and challenges and helping them solve problems and develop new, healthy, effective ways of coping. Wendy believes every client is an individual with his or her own unique circumstances and has an eclectic style of therapy, utilizing strength based, cognitive behavioral based, and solution oriented approaches.
Jonathan Pollack
LCSW-R, MPA
Jonathan Pollack
Jonathan Pollack holds a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from the State University of New York at Albany and he has been practicing Social Work for the past 27 years. His specializations include grief and loss counseling, managing anxiety and depression, and creative arts therapy. His diverse range of experience includes psychotherapy, clinical supervision, school social work, field placement instruction, professional workshop development and facilitation, and justice related counseling including assisting individuals who have previously been incarcerated with re-entry back into society. Jonathan is known for his supportive and empowering therapeutic approach by using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Wendy Bruno
LMHC
Wendy Camille Bruno
Wendy Camille Bruno is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 10 years experience servicing adolescents, adults, individuals and families. Wendy received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the State University of New York at Albany. Her areas of interest include depression, anxiety, relational issues, anger management, substance abuse, women’s issues, sexual and domestic violence, spiritual healing, and parenting. She has worked in adolescent residential substance abuse treatment facilities as well as in NYS Prisons and believes that every individual can recover from negative experiences. Wendy believes everyone has a built-in ability to heal and works with individuals to recognize their innate strength to persevere. She continues to stay abreast of current treatment modalities and most recently took post-graduate courses in Psychoanalysis at Metropolitan Psychoanalysis Institute in New York and Trauma Informed Care at Buffalo State University. She utilizes an eclectic approach of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused, Client Centered, Motivational Interviewing and Psychoanalysis.
Anne Guarino
LCSW-R
Anna Guarino
Anne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the State University of New York at Albany. She has been in the field of human services for over 25 years in many different capacities. Anne enjoys working with adults, children, adolescents, couples and families. Areas of interest and expertise include: helping people struggling with adjustment issues, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, life transitions, relationship issues, and faith based counseling. Anne employs an eclectic, trauma informed, client-centered/strengths based approach when working with clients. She uses a wide variety of therapeutic interventions; including, but not limited to, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, psychodynamic, and dialectical behavioral therapy.
Alba Vega
LMHC
Alba Vega
Alba received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from The State University of New York at Albany. Alba is a Spanish and English bilingual therapist with experience in psychiatric rehabilitation, career counseling, couples therapy, and group counseling. Alba enjoys working with a diverse group people of varying ages and aims to adjust each session to the individual’s needs implementing a client focused approach.
Emily Ferraro
LMHC
Emily Ferraro
Emily is a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor who earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University at Albany in 2011. She has a broad range of experience working with children, families, couples, and adults. Through client-centered, behavioral, and solution-focused therapies, Emily counsels patients on how to handle critical life issues and work toward achieving their goals. Her approach to counseling reflects her passion for helping individuals discover their own personal strength and life path.
Robert Smith
LMHC
Robert Smith
Rob is a licensed mental health counselor specializing in treating adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families experiencing relationship conflict, addiction, depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, anger management, grief, and loss. Rob works with people of diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. Above all, Rob takes a flexible, patient-centered, and open-minded approach to treatment that treats patients as whole people and not simply “problems to solve.” His therapeutic approach incorporates evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and other efficacious interventions for psychological issues. In addition to providing psychotherapy for a wide range of issues, Rob specializes in adolescents/young-adults transitioning into adulthood, and multicultural/cross-cultural psychology.
Brenda Gausby
LMHC, ICOGS, CASAC-T
Brenda Gausby
Brenda received her Master’s in Counseling and Community Psychology from the Sage Colleges in Albany. She works within Capital EAP and the Center for Problem Gambling programs of Capital Counseling. Her specialties include depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, mindfulness and goal-oriented interventions and she works with adults, adolescents, couples and facilitates therapeutic groups. Brenda blends interventions from cognitive behavioral, solution focused and positive psychology theoretical perspectives and delivers services telephonically and in face-to-face sessions.
Brenda is a Disaster Mental Health volunteer with American Red Cross.
Kenneth Drew
LCSW
Kenneth Drew
Kenneth Drew received his Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern University in 1990 and his MSW from Fordham University in 1993. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker(LCSW) with experience working with children, adolescents and adults with mental illness. Kenneth has been employed at Albany County Department of Mental Health for 23 years and he works part-time with the Community Transitions Program(CTP) through Capital Counseling. Kenneth employs a client-centered approach when working with clients encouraging them to take an active role in their wellness and recovery.
Jamee Lafratta
LMSW
Jamee LaFratta
Jamee LaFratta is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). She received her master’s degree in Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University at Albany. Jamee has a specialization in working with children and families with mental health needs. She has worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses for over 10 years, with experience providing services in home, school, residential, and work settings. Jamee uses a wide variety of therapeutic interventions including psychoeducation, cognitive and dialectical behavioral principles, mindfulness training, and positive coping strategies with her clients. Jamee focuses on the client’s strengths and interests to build creative, meaningful, and effective coping skills. Jamee works with the Community Transitions Program (CTP) and with the Federal Probation Program.