Our Team

Who we are:

  • Psychotherapists sharing a commitment to social justice and using our psychological knowledge and expertise to highlight the interdependence between social, cultural, and psychological conditions and how they impact daily functioning.
  • Dedicated professionals who combine non-profit and business understanding with intellectually diverse academic training to deliver unique services.
  • Consultants who coach and train key personnel and executive management to develop an organizational environment that fosters community building.

Silvia M. Dutchevici, MA, LCSW

Founder and President

With more than 20 years experience in social services, non-profit organizations and a passion for psychotherapy, Dutchevici (pronounced ‘doot-*kay*-vitch’) created the Critical Therapy Institute in recognition of the need to expand psychoanalytic praxis to include and be mindful of the ways race, class, gender and religion interact with psychological conflicts.

Brenda Zubay, MSW, LMSW

Brenda Zubay, MSW, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Brenda Zubay’s social justice advocacy and direct work with hundreds of clients who have been at the crosshairs of the New York City court systems, informed her interest in joining the Critical Therapy Institute.

Eleni Zimiles, MSW, LCSW

Eleni Zimiles, LCSW is a therapist, supervisor and trainer for the Critical Therapy Institute. Eleni works with individuals, couples and groups, rooted in a mosaic of relational, healing-centered practices.

Elizabeth Keeney, MSW, MPA, LCSW

Elizabeth Keeney, MSW, MPA, LCSW

Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisior

Elizabeth Keeney, LCSW, MPA a practicing psychotherapist, has been providing counseling, advocacy and crisis intervention in diverse settings for over two decades. 

Francesca Dawis, MSW, LMSW

Francesca Dawis, MSW, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Francesca Dawis, LMSW, is a psychotherapist who guides patients navigating life transitions and trauma toward healing and self-discovery. She enjoys working with individuals of diverse backgrounds who seek to transform their relationship with themselves and the world around them.

George Zafiriadis

George Zafiriadis

Digital Media Coordinator & Illustrator

George Zafiriadis, is an illustrator, comic and concept artist. Committed to social justice, LGBTQ rights and with an interest in mental health, he joined Critical Therapy Institute as an illustrator and social media coordinator.

Jené Toussaint, MSW, LMSW

Jené Toussaint, MSW, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Dedicated to liberation and healing Jené Toussaint, LMSW is continually inspired by authentic conversations and creating spaces where people feel supported and heard.

Kate Barrow, MSW, LCSW

Kate Barrow, LCSW, specializes in the connection between individual mental health issues and social injustice, such as white supremacy, climate change, patriarchy, ableism, and capitalism. Kate helps folks transform shame, despair, alienation, and overwhelm through somatic awareness, mindfulness, and deep exploration. 

Kerri Magee, MSW, LMSW

Kerri Magee, MSW, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Kerri Magee, LMSW, is a social worker and practicing psychotherapist who has been providing individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and mediation services over the last 15 years.

Megan Chinn, MSW, LCSW

Megan Chinn, MSW, LCSW

Executive Director

Megan Chinn, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist with years of experience providing therapy in various community-based settings including high schools, residential homeless facilities and LGBTQ youth services organizations.

Michael Madormo, M.Ed, MSW, LMSW

Michael Madormo, M.Ed, MSW, LMSW

Psychotherapist and Administrative Coordinator

Michael Madormo, M.Ed, LMSW, has over a decade working in education as a teacher, counselor, camp director, and teacher coach in public and private school settings in New York, New Jersey and Palestine

Michelle Grier, MSW, LMSW

Michelle Grier, MSW, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Michelle Grier, LMSW, is a social justice worker, therapist, advocate and organizer committed to transformative social change. Michelle has over 10 years of experience facilitating conversations about race and oppression, cultivating youth programming, and providing mental health support services to children and their families.

Rebecca Gruia, MSW, CASAC-T, LCSW

Rebecca Gruia, LCSW, CASAC-T is a psychotherapist with experience in substance use, addiction, and crisis intervention.

Sarah Díaz, MSW, LMSW

Sarah Díaz, MSW, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Sarah Díaz, LMSW, is a therapist and facilitator who integrates psychodynamic, relational, and anti-oppressive approaches to support individuals who are in periods of transition, want to break old cycles, and are interested in working toward something new.

Sarah Knight, MSW, LMSW

Sarah Knight, MSW, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Sarah Knight, LMSW is a social worker and practicing psychotherapist whose clinical work is rooted in trauma-responsive, anti-oppressive, and systems frameworks.

Sherrie Waller, MSW, MSUP, LCSW

Sherrie Waller, MSW, MSUP, LCSW

Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisior

Sherrie T. Waller, LCSW, is a practicing psychotherapist, specializing in trauma. Sherrie’s experience in community-based settings with patients facing homelessness, incarceration and addiction, has made her uniquely aware of the intersection and impact of systemic structures on mental health and well-being.

Vileti ‘Akolo, LMSW

Vileti ‘Akolo, LMSW

Psychotherapist, Group Facilitator

Vileti ‘Akolo (she/they) LMSW is a first-generation Tongan trauma-informed clinician, circle practitioner, consultant and facilitator. Vileti is skilled at integrating psychotherapy with social and transformative justice praxis.

Yolaine Menyard, MSW, LCSW

Yolaine Menyard, MSW, LCSW

Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisior

Yolaine Menyard, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, supervisor, and trainer who works with individuals and couples using holistic, psychodynamic, and anti-oppressive approaches to healing.

Critical Therapy Institute (CTI) focuses on teaching, research and the application of critical therapy in advisory, consulting, and educational services.

Critical Therapy (CT) provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. With a deep commitment to liberation and empowerment, our focus is on transformation.

244 Fifth Avenue
9th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 646-504-3230
Email: info@criticaltherapy.org

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