Meet Our Counselors

The Counseling Center supports the academic mission of the university and the academic success of students by providing high quality counseling and mental health services to students and consultative services to faculty and staff. The Center works collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff to create and maintain a campus environment that encourages and supports psychological well-being.

All of our counselors have advanced degrees (master’s and doctoral) in counseling, psychology, and social work. You are encouraged to meet with a counselor to discuss your personal concerns, academic plans, career plans, and for general information.

The Counseling Center is located in room S-343. All services are currently remote and the physical office is currently closed.

You can reach the Counseling Center by emailing us as counselingcenter@bmcc.cuny.edu and schedule a time to meet with a counselor either on zoom or on the phone.

Counselors

Dr. Neda Hajizadeh

Director
Education: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University; B.A. in Psychology from Skidmore College; New York State Licensed Psychologist. Fluent in spoken Farsi, proficient in German and conversational in Spanish.
Areas of Interest: Psychodynamic therapy; Short-term Goal-Oriented Counseling; First Generation College Student Experience; International Students; Minority Issues, Substance Use and Abuse problems; Couples Counseling; Family Dynamics; Acculturation issues; Resiliency.

Dr. Gurpreet Bhomia

Education: Psy.D., University of Hartford, M.A., University of Hartford. B.A., Panjab University (India); B.A., Columbia University. NYS Licensed Psychologist. Fluent in Hindi & Punjabi. Some familiarity with Urdu.
Areas of Interest: Helping students with adjustment issues related to being in college (including, challenges facing international students), navigating personal relationships, maintaining a healthy school/life balance, and coping with psychological and personal issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, parenting).

Professor James Blake

Education: M.S.W., Columbia University, B.S., Chemistry, North Carolina Central University.
Areas of Interest: Student Centered program development: Founder of the BMCC Honor Society of Black Student Scholars, Co-founder of the BMCC Each One Reach One Mentoring Program, Faculty Advisor to student clubs and organizations, Student Advocacy and Activism, faculty Diversity .
College Committees: Academic Senate, Academic Standing Committee, Department P&B Committee, Black History Month Committee, President of the BMCC Black Faculty and Staff Association

Dr. Néstor Borrero-Bracero

Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus; B.A., Psychology and Mental Health, University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus. Family and Couple Therapy Certification from the Ackerman Institute for the Family. New York State Licensed Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Relational and contextual factors that impact academic success, Counseling to LGBT students, Coping strategies to improve well-being in students, Family and couples therapy. Fluent in Spanish and conversational French.
Memberships: American Psychological Association.

Dr. Claudia Burger

Education: Ph.D., Counseling Psychology Fordham University; B.A., Wellesley College. New York State Licensed Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Culturally competent therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, CBT-informed therapy, Self-care, Interpersonal difficulties. Fluent in Spanish.
Memberships:
American Psychological Association.

Dr. Irene Yu Yan Cheng

Education: Psy.D., Yeshiva University, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology; B.A., New York University. New York State Licensed Psychologist. Fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Areas of Interest: Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness; multicultural awareness and formulations; and understanding socio-cultural phenomena.
Memberships: American Psychological Association.

Mr. Robert Cortes, Outreach Coordinator

Education: M.S., Columbia University School of Social Work, B.A., Hunter College; NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Areas of Interest: Strengthening and empowering children, adolescents, and families to reduce the risks
(i.e. truancy, substance abuse, gang involvement, child abuse and neglect, loss and abandonment issues, psychological disorders, and emotional difficulties) that serve as potential barriers to one’s success.

Ms. Denika Desert

Education: M.S.W., Fordham University, B.S. Pace University; Licensed Master Social Worker.
Areas of Interest: Supporting first-generation young adults in college settings. Making mental health conversations, supports and accessible resources, a norm within Black and Brown communities.
Memberships : National Association of Social Workers.

Dr. Tabethah Mack-Ouattara

Education: Ph.D., M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln; B.A., Hunter College (CUNY). NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
Areas of Interest: African Psychology and Multicultural Counseling, Group Psychotherapy, Interpersonal Violence and First Generation College Student Adjustment and Academic Success.
Memberships: Association of Black Psychologists (ABpsi) and the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society (EGPS), American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA).

Dr. Amy Ojerholm

Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Vermont, B.A., Psychology, Rutgers University. New York State Licensed Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Group Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Peer Educator training, Mindfulness, Suicide Prevention and the challenges faced by LGBTQ students in urban community college settings.
Memberships: Postgraduate Center for Mental Health Group, Therapy Alumni Association, and the Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services.

Ms. Edi Peterson

Education: M.S., University of Texas at Dallas, M.A., Amberton University, B.A., University of Texas at Dallas. Licensed Mental Health Counselor-NY Certifications: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (Albert Ellis Institute NYC); Biofeedback (University of North Texas; Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing (American Red Cross). Certified HeartMath Practitioner (Biofeedback)
Memberships: American Counseling Association

Ms. Eglys Santos

Education: M.S.W., Lehman College; B.A; Lehman College. New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Areas of interest: Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Crisis Intervention, suicide prevention, academic coaching, balancing school/work/home demands, adjusting to college and empowering students to overcome obstacles in order to create a better future by graduating from college. Ms.Santos is fluent in Spanish.
Memberships: The National Association of Social Workers (NASW); Psi Chi Society (International Honor Society in Psychology)

Dr. Erica J. Seidel

Education: Psy.D., M.A., Widener University – Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology; B.A., University of Delaware. New York State Licensed Psychologist; New York State Certified School Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), balancing school/life/work/family, adjusting to college, positive psychology, and self-care.
Memberships: New York State Psychological Association, American Counseling Association and American College Counseling Association.

Dr. Precious Sellars-Mulhern

Education: Ph.D., New York University; M.Ed., Teachers College-Columbia University; B.A., Atlantic Union College. Licensed (Counseling) Psychologist in New York State. Certified HeartMath Practitioner (emWave Biofeedback).
Areas of Interest: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist (CBT), Goal-Focused Brief Counseling/Coaching, Meditation, Mindfulness Contemplative Practices, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Spiritual Empowerment.
Memberships: American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, American College Counseling Association.
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Dr. Hallie Weiner

Education: Psy.D., M.S.Ed., Pace University; B.A., University of Michigan. New York State Licensed Psychologist.
Areas of Interest: Mental health issues that impact Academic Functioning, Mindfulness-Based Stress- Reduction, Interpersonal/Family Relationships and Health and Wellness.
Memberships: American Psychological Association.

Ms. Sook Fong Siew (Part-time)

Education: M.S.W; Hunter College, B.A; Psychology, City College; New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Fluent in Cantonese.
Areas of Interest: Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness based stress-reduction, coping strategies to manage life stressors and interpersonal relationship issues, and self-care.

CUNY Clinical Psychology Fellows

Anusha Kumar

Education: B.A., Rutgers University; M.A., City College of New York; Ph.D.Candidate, City College of New York

Elliot Rayman

Education: B.A., Hampshire College; M.A., Hunter College; Ph.D.Candidate, City College of New York