Welcome to the Handspring Institute

Morgan's goal as a clinician is to help every family thrive. Morgan has worked with teens and families for almost 10 years and enjoys helping them gain a better understanding of themselves and work towards their goals. She loves spending time with her own family, singing, and all things SEC football (War Eagle!).

Aliza is passionate about creating a safe and welcoming space for children, adolescents and parents. Aliza uses a blend of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and trauma-focused techniques. In her spare time, you can find Aliza at the beach collecting shells and riding her bicycle on the boardwalk.

Megan is passionate about evidence-based practice and uses cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based techniques, and parent training and education in her work. She recognizes the importance of flexibility and adapts her practice to meet the unique needs of each child and family.  Outside of work, Megan loves spending time with her family and being outdoors in the sunshine.

Nicole is committed to creating a safe and non-judgemental space for children and families. She recognizes the importance of trust, compassion, and collaboration to create meaningful connections and foster positive growth. Over the years, Nicole has worked in both outpatient and school settings supporting children and families through a wide range of challenges. Outside of work, you can find Nicole reading,  riding her bike along scenic views, or spending quality time with her family.

Robyn has worked in the field of mental health for the past 10 years treating a wide variety of concerns. Robyn has worked in outpatient and non-profit settings providing clinical care to children, adolescents, adults, and families using many evidence-based modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused treatment models, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based techniques, among others. Robyn also has experience with behavioral interventions for children and adolescents, including support for parents. Robyn works from a person-centered, solution-focused, strengths-based approach and is passionate about creating a safe, welcoming space to help her clients become their best selves. Robyn believes that all individuals have the capacity to make positive changes in their lives and takes particular care to build a strong therapeutic relationship with her clients. Robyn understands that every individual is unique and caters her therapeutic approach to each client's needs and goals, working collaboratively with her clients to ensure that she is providing the best treatment possible. Outside of work, Robyn enjoys spending time outdoors, going to the gym, spending time with friends and family (especially her husband and 2 doodles), or binge-watching the latest shows on Netflix.

Lauren has almost two decades of experience providing community and crisis based mental health services to children, families, and individuals. She has dedicated herself to implementing and improving community programs and providing clinical supervision to other clinicians. Lauren’s approach is to motivate and encourage through the utilization of strength based, cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness approaches. Through this approach, the internal and external factors that impact an individual can be explored, in order to create a more balanced life. She strives to create a working environment where your concerns are heard, with no judgment and with your overall best interest as the goal.Outside of work you can find Lauren watching her son play sports and attending NFL and NHL games!

Alaysha Prestia enjoys assisting children and their families overcome obstacles. Alaysha has experience helping children overcome Anxiety, Depression, Communication Issues, and more. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family.

Lindsay specializes in Trauma Focused therapies and is also trained and experienced in the following treatment modalities: Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused-Strengths Based, Behavior Modification, and Systems Approach. Lindsay has several years of experience providing individual, group, and family therapy. Prior to the outpatient setting, she worked in the psychiatric residential treatment setting with adolescents who required intensive therapy and behavioral modification in a structured environment. Lindsay uses a theoretical approach that incorporates a variety of treatment modalities which allows to best meet the needs of the individual. She strongly believes in providing a comfortable and trusting environment by active listening, empathizing, normalizing, and acknowledging the specific needs and desires during each individual encounter. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, paddle boarding, and relaxing at the beach.

Allison has a passion for helping adolescents and young adults thrive. With over eight years of experience, Allison has honed her skills in therapeutic, in-home, and academic settings, where she specializes in working with clients who have issues such as school refusal, trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, personality disorders, and is LGBTQIA+ friendly.Allison's approach to therapy is rooted in empathy, warmth, and a commitment to understanding each client's unique needs and goals. She believes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy and takes the time to create a safe, non-judgmental space for her clients to process and heal. Allison works collaboratively with her clients to connect their thoughts to their behaviors, gain awareness about themselves and their environment, and ultimately achieve their treatment goals. Outside of work, Allison enjoys rooting for her favorite football team, the NY Giants, spending time with friends and family and her 2 cats, Gizmo and Jinx!

Megan is passionate about her work with individuals and families having difficulties with anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and communication. She mainly utilizes cognitive behavioral strategies and relaxation techniques, but utilizes other approaches based on the needs of the individual/family. Megan has experience in various outpatient settings working with children and parents, as well as adults. In her spare time, Megan can be found outdoors walking her dog or spending time with her family and friends.

Molly collaborates with clients to create a safe, affirming space where challenging thoughts, feelings and experiences can be explored. She practices therapy that is evidence-based and draws on approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based techniques, and parent consultation. Molly's goal is to empower clients with education and tools needed to continue experiencing success without therapy. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience providing therapy to children, teens and families in community-based, school and outpatient settings.Outside of work, Molly enjoys practicing yoga, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Michael is compassionate and driven to help you succeed and reach your goals. He has worked with individuals and families with trauma, emotional dysregulation, communication challenges, mood disorders and self-esteem. He will help you through your journey of change and growth through navigating the many challenges you face. He will use a blend of solution-focused, CBT, and person-centered treatment during your time in treatment. Michael has worked on school-based outpatient which allowed him to collaborate with the families, teachers, and other school staff to help the individuals he has served.In his spare time, Michael is spending time with his wife and 3 boys enjoying time outside and helping them discover new things. When he's not with them he takes some time to enjoy some gaming, Marvel movies, and anime.

Julianne has dedicated over ten years to providing compassionate and empowering mental health care in both residential and community settings. She is formally trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and has an approach rooted in strength-based interventions to promote healing and personal growth. Clients have successfully worked with Julianne to strengthen family connections, build healthy communication skills, increase emotional stability, and decrease self defeating behaviors. She believes that when clients are able to experience self-worth and self-efficacy they are able to achieve their personal, family, and academic goals. Outside of work, you can find Julianne on a hike, enjoying coffee with friends, or in a meditation class.

My journey in the field of mental health has included working with a number of different populations with a consistent focus on child, adolescent and families. I have supported individuals through using an empathetic and transparent counseling style. I enjoy utilizing evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help individuals through their specific therapeutic goals. When not supporting families and individuals, I am spending time outdoors with friends and family!