Zena Watson, LCSW, SIFI
(They/She)
I originally began my therapy studies in dance and movement therapy at Pratt Institute with the passion to assist individuals with being able to express the painful memories the body holds on to. Working with girls and young women who had experienced sexual trauma and sexual exploitation, I was witness to the fear many survivors of trauma have: the loss of power and control of their bodies. As a result, I changed courses and instead obtained my degree in social work from New York University, still believing that the body can say what words cannot but also recognizing the power in having a vocabulary for one’s experiences.
Over the course of a decade providing trauma therapy to individuals, I have received training in Attachment-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Brainspotting, Trauma Resolution Energy Therapy (TRET), and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. I use an eclectic approach that incorporates somatic/body-oriented and energy therapies for individuals looking to overcome the traumas that have dominated their lives as well as reclaim and reconnect their physical, emotional and spiritual selves. I am an interactive, non-judgmental, down-to-earth, and empathic therapist who believes that your experiences, however painful or chaotic, are worthy of being paid attention to. I can assist you in finding expression and healing and reclaiming your true self and life.
Specialties include: attachment/developmental trauma • sexual, physical, and emotional trauma/PTSD • racial trauma • gender-based violence • family of origin difficulties • grief • anxiety/panic disorders • chronic pain • LGBTQIA+ concerns • gender identity and sexuality • intimacy issues • polyamory/open relationships
Julia Sanders, LMSW
(She/Her)
I originally began my journey to becoming a therapist at SUNY Binghamton where I pursued my degree in Psychology, primarily focusing on research in alcohol. For the next few years, I continued working in research until I came to the realization that I wanted to connect with individuals to facilitate direct and meaningful change, rather than just studying it. I received my master’s in social work from Syracuse University with a certificate of advanced study in trauma and am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
Throughout my career I have come to learn we often do not have words to describe the trauma and pain that we have survived, this is where I can help you identify what treatment will work best for your unique experience. I utilize a strengths-based trauma informed integrative approach, recognizing that every person has skills that they have utilized to allow them to get this far in life, building upon these skills through learning and most importantly healing the root cause of this pain. I believe that the first step is building a meaningful therapeutic relationship where you are able to feel safe, unjudged, and able to exhale some of the stress and trauma that you have been carrying. I am fiercely passionate about helping others, especially those who have struggled to find someone to listen to or even care. I believe your story is worth hearing and that you are worth this journey of healing.
Specialties include: post-traumatic stress disorder/PTSD • depression • anxiety • family of origin difficulties • LGBTQIA+ concerns • life transitions
Rashmi Umarji, MSW Intern
(She/Her)
My journey to become a therapist began as a licensed yoga teacher and licensed esthetician, which felt like a natural extension to my passion for mental health advocacy and the ways in which ritual, self-care, and beauty can be powerful tools for wellness.
I hope to build a safe space for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities using a person-centered approach, where I meet you where you are with no judgement or expectation. Joy and contentment are states of being that our communities should have access to consistently, even as the world around us works hard to deny us these experiences. I use mindfulness and a person-in-environment lens to help my clients develop insight they can use towards managing life’s challenges.
Currently, I am working towards completing my master’s in social work from Yeshiva University. I completed my bachelor’s of arts at Michigan State University in interdisciplinary studies in social sciences, with a focus on American racial and ethnic history, a perspective which I bring with me to my work as a therapist.