Malta, NY (518) 289-5072
Niskayuna, NY (518) 374-6263
Meet Our Providers
Providers in private practice at Union Counseling locations include: Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Licensed Mental Health Counselors that provide a full spectrum of mental health services to children, adolescents, adults and families.
Sharon Finch, NPP
Sharon is a New York State licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years experience in mental health
SPECIALTIES: Psychiatric evaluation and medication management for adults
OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth
Mark Rappaport, RN, MS, NP-P
Mark is a New York State licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years experience in mental health
SPECIALTIES: Psychiatric evaluation and medication management for adults
OFFICE LOCATIONS: Malta and Telehealth
Andrea Berkowitz LCSW-R
Andrea is a New York State License Clinical Social Worker
SPECIALTIES: Treatment of Affective Disorders, Interpersonal/Relationship Concerns, Resolving Childhood Trauma Issues, Recovery Issues.
BIOGRAPHY: Andrea sees Individuals, Couples, and Families.
OFFICE LOCATIONS: Niskayuna, Malta and Telehealth
Shannon Bernard Adams LMHC, NCC
Shannon is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Nationally Certified Counselor
SPECIALTIES: Children, Couples, and Families from the age of 5 to Geriatric. Marital/Relational Conflicts, Depression, Anxiety, Bereavement, Domestic and Sexual Abuse, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, PTSD, Disruptive Behaviors/Anger Management, Phobias, and Adjustment Disorders.
BIOGRAPHY: Shannon received her Masters of Arts in Clinical Counseling in 2006, and offers over 16 years of experience counseling children, adolescents, and adults in both community and private practice settings. Shannon is passionate about helping others identify and establish goals in order to help them move beyond stressful and difficult situations of the past and present through individual, couples, family and group therapy. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, play therapy, and solutions focused therapies to encourage clients to find hope in the midst of daily struggles. She looks forward to meeting and working with you as you embark on this therapeutic journey.
OFFICE LOCATION: Telehealth Only
Walda Chesnut, LCSW-R
Walda is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker
SPECIALTIES: Trauma, Affective Illnesses, Grief & Loss issues, Dealing with Chronic Illnesses, Anxiety/Panic disorders, and clients trying to cope with disruptive life transitions. Walda works with adults 18 years and older.
BIOGRAPHY: Walda has over 20 years experience and training since graduating with a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service. Walda spent the beginning of her career working with children and their families and enjoys working with people from all backgrounds, cultures, sexual-orientations, and religions. Walda is trained in, and utilizes, an eclectic mix of evidenced-based psychotherapies including, but not limited to: CBT, DBT, & EMDR to ensure that the work is tailored to meet the needs of each individual client. Walda has found that the Strengths-Based Approach/Theory and Mindfulness work well together to create a cornerstone for the growth of the emergent self.
OFFICE LOCATION: Telehealth Only
Andrew Chestnut, LCSW-R
Andrew is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker
OFFICE LOCATIONS: Niskayuna and Telehealth
Tracy Clark, LCSW-R
Tracy is a New York State License Clinical Social Worker
OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth
Dawn Constantine, LCSW-R
Dawn is a New York State Licensed Certified Social Worker
SPECIALTIES: Adolescents and Adults
OFFICE LOCATIONS: Malta and Telehealth
Sarah Cummings-McDonald, LMHC
Sarah is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor & National Certified Counselor
SPECIALTIES: Children, Adolescents, Adults
OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth
Eugene Gardner, LCSW-R
Eugene is a New York State Licensed Certified Social Worker
SPECIALTIES: Children, Adults, and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
BIOGRAPHY: Eugene has over 25 years experience working as an individual, couples, and family therapist. Eugene holds a Masters in Education from Tufts University and a Masters in Social Work from the State University of New York at Albany.
OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth
David Handy, LCSW-R
David is a New York State Licensed Certified Social Worker
SPECIALTIES: Adolescents, Adults
BIOGRAPHY: David Handy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and retired United Methodist minister with a combined experience of 38 years. He has considerable experience in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and survivors of childhood abuse. David is especially experienced in guiding people through grief and loss, bereavement and other life transitions. He also works with people experiencing mood and anxiety disorders, as well as those struggling to adapt to unexpected life changes. As a retired minister, David is adept at addressing spiritual issues when that is the focus of the client.. As a lover of American history, he is the author or McKean’s Sunday School Boys Go to War: The Story of the 77th Bemis Heights Battalion in the Great Rebellion.
OFFICE LOCATIONS: Niskayuna and Telehealth
Dawn Howk, LMHC
Dawn is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor & National Certified Counselor
BIOGRAPHY: Dawn received a Master of Science in Community Counseling from Wilmington University, Wilmington, DE. and has worked in the field of mental health for over 20 years. Dawn utilizes a person centered, cognitive behavioral approach that combines insight with practical, concrete suggestions which allows the client to achieve their goals. Her role is to be supportive, informative, and to help clients develop new behaviors that facilitate personal growth and optimal wellness. Through evaluation, assessment, counseling, case management, and the utilization of community resources, Dawn provides an approach that is unique to the adults, adolescents and families she works with in her practice.
SPECIALTIES: Individuals, Families, Couples, Adolescents and Adults who are working through: Depression, Anxiety, PTSD; Interpersonal Conflicts, Body Image and Self-Esteem and Life Stage Transitions.
OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth
Marcia Lawton, LMHC
Marcia is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor
SPECIALTIES: Children, Adolescents and Adults
OFFICE LOCATIONS: Telehealth Only
Peter Peluso, LCSW-R
Peter is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker
SPECIALTIES: Mental Health and Substance Abuse – Adults 25 years and older
BIOGRAPHY: Peter graduated with a Masters in Social Work form the State University of New York at Albany and has over 18 years of experience working as a Clinical Social Worker. Peter enjoys working with people who are motivated to make the necessary changes to improve their lives, but need assistance and professional guidance at this time in their life.
OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth
Carol Praga, LMHC
Carol is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor
SPECIALTIES: Adult Individual and Couples Counseling, Affective Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Life Transitions
BIOGRAPHY: Carol received her undergraduate degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and her graduate degree from Russell Sage College. Carol has over 20 years of counseling experience and is a past board member of the North American Association of Master’s Level Psychologists.
OFFICE LOCATION: Niskayuna and Telehealth
Helen Rothermel, LCSW-R
Helen is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker
SPECIALTIES: Children & Families, Addiction
BIOGRAPHY: Penny has been a practicing Clinical Social Worker since 1982. Penny’s practice draws from a variety of theoretical approaches. Penny is very practical, solution focused with her clients and helps link individuals with community resources.
OFFICE LOCATION: Niskayuna and Telehealth
Lisa Tobin, LCSW-R
Lisa is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker
SPECIALTIES: Children, Adolescents, and Adults struggling with Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, Trauma (PTSD), Body Image, Grief and Loss
BIOGRAPHY: Lisa has over 25 years of experience providing client centered, trauma informed, and empowering clinical services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Lisa received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Fordham University, as well as a Masters degree in Education from the College of St. Rose. Lisa has also pursued the advancement of human services and social welfare education as an adjunct professor at The State University of New York at Albany’s Graduate School of Social Welfare, Cazenovia College, and Hudson Valley Community College, teaching concurrently.Lisa has served the Capital Region in Leadership positions dedicated to improving the quality of life for people affected with adverse psycho-social conditions, mental health issues, and addiction. These positions include Director of Clinical Services, Director of Program Operations, and Clinical Quality Improvement.
OFFICE LOCATIONS: Niskayuna and Telehealth