Dina Macaluso, an accomplished Clinical Social Worker and therapist, is dedicated to helping individuals navigate their emotional struggles with empathy and professionalism. Her treatment approach centers around understanding the unique challenges each person faces, emphasizing the importance of self-care, coping strategies, and building healthy boundaries. With expertise in addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, Dina utilizes a range of therapeutic modalities, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, and Strength-Based interventions. She is committed to helping clients recognize their triggers and develop effective coping mechanisms to enhance their overall wellbeing. From the very first session, Dina strives to create a safe, neutral, and non-judgmental environment where clients can openly explore all aspects of their lives. Through psycho-education and mindfulness practices, she empowers individuals to achieve a higher level of functioning, enabling them to live fulfilling lives that are not overshadowed by emotional challenges.

Deirdre built First Step Therapy & Wellness Group from the ground up, demonstrating an indisputable work ethic and a deep commitment to creating a cohesive work environment grounded in values such as mutual respect and equality. She believes that healthy doses of restraint combined with self-discipline are key components to success, both personally and professionally. Highly regarded by her peers, Deirdre has become a long-standing staple within the community, dedicated to fostering a safe and secure environment for her clients and colleagues. As a clinical social worker and therapist, Ms. Holland maintains an established private practice focused on individual psychotherapy. Her exceptional critical thinking skills position her as a formidable force in both the realm of business and the mental health profession. Deirdre's therapeutic philosophy revolves around allowing clients to verbalize themselves without interruption, which induces clarity, while her active listening skills help to quell distractions that impede the client's ability to free associate. This intersection of awareness and perspective catalyzes metamorphosis, enabling clients to disengage from abusive symbiotic relationships, inflammatory environments, and toxic situations. As clients experience the benefits of emotional autonomy, their unhealthy behavioral patterns recede, paving the way for change, growth, and acceptance. Deirdre's core principles emphasize anonymity, privacy, confidentiality, reciprocity, self-preservation, and independent thought—essential elements that lead to self-sufficiency.

Elzinette Wheeler is a dedicated Licensed Mental Health Counselor who adopts a personalized approach to therapy, built on trust and confidentiality. With a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Old Westbury, alongside a Master's in Psychology from The City College of New York, she is also a National Certified Counselor. Currently, she is a Candidate in the Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies Postgraduate Program at Adelphi University, where she has received three years of specialized training in child and adolescent psychotherapy. Elzinette's primary goal as a therapist is to offer services tailored to meet the unique mental health needs of her clients. She cultivates a safe, non-judgmental, and validating atmosphere that allows individuals to openly express their struggles with mental health, including issues related to depression, anxiety, parenting, and relationships. Utilizing a variety of treatment modalities, such as Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Crisis Management, and Mentalization-based techniques, Elzinette combines compassion with her expertise to support clients on their journey to wellness.