Meet The Team
The Nia team is a dedicated passionate group of clinicians who embodies the Nia values.
We have a combined 20 plus years of experience specializing in treating adolescents, young adults and adults in a safe, judgement-free, nurturing environment that focuses on restoring individuals, the families, couples and communities to traditional greatness.
For Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter of mine head. Psalm 3:3
Psychotherapist/Lead Clinician
Patrice LeGendre, LCSW
Patrice is an enthusiastic, devoted, humble psychotherapist with many years of experience working in mental health. Patrice attended Hunter College in NY where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and obtained her Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University School of Social Work also in NY.
Patrice brings many years of valuable experience and is a great asset to our practice. She’s worked with various populations from pediatrics to older adults and has had great success helping people through their recovery. Patrice loves working with individuals who are 21 years old and older and specializes in helping individuals who are experiencing depression anxiety and life transitions. She also draws on her own experience as a Christian to help other Christians navigate their spirituality and mental health. She highlights the importance of helping people understand that prayer and therapy are not mutually exclusive, that prayer and therapy can work hand in hand.
Patrice is thrilled and motivated to help people reach their goals and live fulfilling lives.
"Your Health is Your Wealth"
Psychotherapist
Denise M. Williams, LMSW
Denise is a professionally licensed and trained social worker, practicing over 18 years. Her expertise includes family therapy, individual therapy, therapy with youth and teens, parent support groups, and connection with resources. Denise attended the University of Connecticut where she obtain her bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies and obtained her Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University.
Denise's training and development is varied in Reiki practices, Yoga Teacher Training, Multi-Dimensional Family Treatment, Engagement of Hard to Reach Clients, and Youth Leadership Training to name a few.
Her journey started as a young girl in the suburbs of CT being raised by West Indian parents who dedicated their lives here in the United States to provide a brighter future for their family. Witnessing her parents be a support to their friends, family, and community lead her to a heart of service from the age of about 5 years old. Experiencing her own traumas from childhood and adulthood as well as being the mother of a special needs child, thrusted her into a desire to better understand her own needs as well as being a servant leader in her Christian faith. The blessings spread throughout her journey have empowered her to show up to be a support to other victims of trauma and loss, youth and teens struggling with various adolescent transitions and challenging family dynamics, and parents of special needs youths. Denise is ready to partner with her village to empower them along their journey so they meet their desired success and fulfillment over time.
Psychotherapist
Julianne Kivlin, LMSW
Julianne Kivlin, LMSW is a graduate of the University of Saint Joseph where she obtained a Master's Degree in Social Work in 2021. She specializes in treating clients with anxiety, depression, dual diagnosis (mental health and substance use), self-esteem, trauma, life transition, divorce, parenting challenges and relationship or family conflict.
Julianne’s treatment approach utilizes strength-based, cognitive behavioral therapy, multi-systemic therapy and dialectic behavioral therapy for the clients benefit of a wide range of behavioral and emotional diagnoses. Julianne also believes it is critical to utilize the person in environment perspective of social work to better understand the individual, their behavior, and the environmental contexts in which they live.
Julianne has worked extensively with adolescents, adults, couples, family units, and group based therapy. She has an affinity for the LGBTQIA+ and Autism communities, where she has worked with individuals experiencing life transitions. She understands the unique challenges and need for self-exploration. With her 15 years of work-related exposure in the healthcare/hospital setting and her experience with inpatient hospitalization level of care, she shares a wealth of knowledge with her private clients.
Her mission is to help young adults, parents, couples and individuals navigate the complexities that life can present, while providing a supportive and compassionate environment that is critical for personal exploration and growth.
Psychotherapist
Shaquetta Dacosta, LMSW
Shaquetta Dacosta has been in the mental health field for over 10 years. she is hard-working and passionate with the work she does. Shaquetta attended Southern CT State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and Women’s Study and obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work at Springfield College, MA.
Shaquetta has a history in working with domestic violence, shelters, residential services, and the school system. She has worked with all age groups from young children, adolescents, adults to elderly. She provides treatment to individuals, groups and families. She als has worked with many individuals battling depression, anxiety, trauma, and clients who just want to break generational cycles.
Shaquetta is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and Solution focused therapy. Her approach to therapy is to help clients trust and utilize their strengths while teaching new skills and strategies to better cope with life’s challenges. She provides empathic understanding while trying to uncover past and current cycles of behaviors that may be triggering the present situation. She is committed to helping clients and families reduce suffering and build a life worth living.
Psychotherapist
Michael Briscoe, PC
Michael Briscoe is a Professional Counselor with over a decade of experience in counseling. Michael provides services in a safe and inclusive space for people of all genders, ethnicities, religious beliefs, backgrounds, and views. He offers individual counseling to professionals for life planning and strategic mapping for the navigation of the workplace, career management, and professional development.
Additionally, Michael provides honest, authentic and affirming counseling to families, adults, and adolescents in the areas of parenting and familial relationships and harmony, anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma, PTSD, and coping skills. Practice specialties include, CBT – REBT – DBT, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Motivational Therapy – Motivational Interviewing
Psychotherapist
Lourie Bonsu, LPC-A
Lourie Bonsu is a Certified Internalized Somatic Trauma Therapist "ISTT” and is EMDR trained with Advanced training on Effective Treatment Modality for Borderline Personality Disorder. Lourie specializes in helping adolescents, adults, and families who have experienced trauma. That trauma can take any form - developmental, single-incident, or complex. Many people who have experienced trauma also face various mental health issues. She helps them reclaim their lives and has unique insight into the experiences of people who are immigrants, refugees, or survivors of sexual abuse.
Lourie invites anyone who is impacted by trauma to reach out to her so they can start their journey back to health. Your body often carries the burden of the trauma that has happened to you. She’ll guide you through techniques for regulating your body and mind. She will help you reestablish a relationship with your body, learn to turn inward with compassion and live more fully in your body. Lourie has seen the power of these techniques to restore well-being by unwinding trauma.
Psychotherapist
Steven Hoffler, PhD
Dr. Steven Hoffler brings 25-years of clinical experience to his practice having served as a clinician, administrator and consultant for several healthcare, non-profit and educational systems. He is a tenured and Associate Professor at Southern Connecticut State University for the Department of Social Work and serves as the Assistant Chairperson and teaches various clinical and practice courses in their undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr Hoffler institutes restorative justice practices in his work with communities and organizations and has worked with hundreds of individuals and families through the life span of early childhood through late adulthood. He has extensive experience working with various psychiatric diagnoses that include depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD and racial trauma, and other areas of focus that include issues associated with grief and loss, LGBTQIA+, relational, work-related stress, intimacy-related, self-esteem, and parenting. He holds a B.A. in History and MSW from the University of Connecticut and a PhD from Smith College School for Social Work.