Karalyn Violeta LCSW

Pronouns: they/them, she/her

Karalyn is our practice’s founder and clinical director. As a psychotherapist, Karalyn specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, personality disorders, OCPD, and c-PTSD in adolescents and adults. They work with many clients in creative fields, including writers and visual or performing artists. They also specialize in working with people living with chronic pain, chronic medical conditions, medical-related trauma, and sleep disorders.

Karalyn earned their Bachelor of Science in Psychology at CUNY Brooklyn College and their Master of Social Work degree at New York University. They earned a 3-year certificate in LGBTQ-affirming psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy's Center for Gender & Sexuality and served on PCGS’ Executive Committee from 2016 to 2019. They are an experienced tele-mental health provider and have completed a standards-based telemental health training program from Person Centered Tech. Karalyn is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and has presented their work at conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals, and is co-editor of the book, available from Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Sex, Sexuality, and Trans Identities: Clinical Guidance for Therapists and Counselors (Jacobson, Niemira & Violeta, 2019). View Karalyn’s profiles on Research Gate, Manhattan Alternative, Therapy Den, and Psychology Today or see Karalyn’s About Me for more details on their background and experience. Please click here to view Karalyn’s full Curriculam Vitae.

Jesse Hepworth

Pronouns: they/them/theirs

Jesse is our Client Care Coordinator. When they’re not scheduling new and existing clients, assisting with billing and insurance issues, or facilitating new client inquiries, Jesse can be found community organizing, fashion styling for editorials and live performances, or taking photos of vanity license plates.

Jesse is known by our clients and therapists, both for their kindness and their commitment to helping folks access mental health care and navigate the insurance maze. You may reach out to them via email or phone (347-370-9175) to schedule or reschedule an appointment, or for new client inquiries.

Candice Comisi M.S. Ed., MHC-LP

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Candice Comisi (she/her) is a Mental Health Counselor who earned her M.S. in Education from Fordham University. In addition to her formal clinical training, Candice has 20+ years of organizing and advocacy experience within the LGBTQIA+ community. She served as the Urvashi Vaid Fellow for Transgender Rights at the National LGBTQ Task Force, and is the founder of PFLAG-NYC's support group for partners of trans people. Her experience working in the nonprofit sector has afforded her a strong working knowledge of local and national resources, and she is an experienced facilitator of anti-racism and White allyship workshops.

Clients and colleagues alike say that Candice has a welcoming, nonjudgmental attitude and a wicked sense of humor. She regularly treats people with symptoms of complex PTSD, mood and anxiety disorders, Attention-Deficit-Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She has a strong interest in working with LGBTQ+ people who have a history of trauma within their families of origin, including adult children of alcoholics and those who have experienced religious or spiritual trauma. She also enjoys working with sex-workers, activists, freelancers and creative people.

Candice’s other competencies include polyamory/polyfidelity/CNM, and working with the partners and families of trans and nonbinary people. She approaches her clinical practice through a person-centered lens, grounded in principles of feminist and multicultural therapy; this approach comports with a body positive (Health-at-Any Size, sex-positive) framework that encourages a focus on health beyond weight, and treating clients of all sizes and abilities with the respect and dignity they deserve.