About Us
At Breakthrough Mental Health Counseling, we help you challenge difficulties, break unhealthy habits and kick start the process of experiencing life differently. Our goal is to help you build upon your strengths and gain greater self-awareness while working together to develop new and helpful perspectives by utilizing practical strategies and techniques.
Meet Our Team
Shafeena Khan, MS. Ed, LMHC, CCTP
Director of Clinical Services |
Shafeena is a licensed mental health counselor and founder of Breakthrough Mental Health Counseling. She started BMHC in aspiration of being able to provide a community with a space that was warm and welcoming to those in need of mental safety. Shafeena is of Indo-Caribbean heritage which allows her to provide culturally sensitive treatment to those of Indo-Caribbean, West Indian, and Caribbean cultures. She works with adolescents, teens, and adults struggling with difficulties of everyday stressors with a focus on how impactful the use of daily technology may be contributing to these stressors. In addition, Shafeena is experienced in working with individuals struggling with moving forward in their lives from traumatic experiences and events. At Breakthrough, Shafeena is the supervising clinician for mental health counselors in training, on site. Shafeena utilizes interventions from the schools of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), person-centered therapy, and solution-focused therapy to meet her clients’ needs. Education
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Aasma Mehdi, MS., LMHC, CATP
Staff Psychotherapist |
Aasma is a multilingual licensed mental health counselor. She is fluent in Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi. Aasma has been exposed to culturally sensitive communities including, in-patient, outpatient clinics, residential, school-based, and community based settings throughout NYC and Long island. Aasma specializes in working with South Asian adolescents and adults who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, domestic violence, or trauma. In addition to private practice, Aasma is the Chief Operating Officer of Council of Peoples Organization and is currently pursuing her PhD at Pace University. Aasma utilizes interventions from the schools of cognitive behavioral therapy, and person-centered therapy to help meet her clients' needs. Education
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Sarah-Joe Hylaris, MS., LMHC
Affiliate Psychotherapist |
Sarah-Joe is a licensed mental health counselor whose goal is to create a safe space with the clients she serves in order to provide them the skills needed to seek clarity in areas they are struggling with. Sarah has worked primarily with adults of many different backgrounds who struggle with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder focusing on personal growth. In addition, Sarah is the Assistant Director of the Community Living Program with the Mental Health Association of Nassau County. Sarah utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy to assist clients with challenging negative thinking patterns while learning new techniques to cope with difficult situations. Education
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Christina Scalise, MS., LMHC, NCC
Affiliate Psychotherapist |
Christina is a Mental Health Counselor who aims to create a safe space for clients to explore meaningful issues in their lives. Christina works with adolescents and adults, with a specialization in working with couples and the LGBTQIA+ community. She is knowledgeable in BDSM and kink awareness. Her experience includes working with adolescents, families, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, sexuality, self-esteem, and relationship issues. Christina has also done work in by providing education and prevention on domestic violence as a volunteer with the Long Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Christina utilizes interventions from the schools of psychodynamic, person-centered, and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to meet her clients' needs. Education
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Maya Wilder, MS., MHC-LP, NCC
Affiliate Psychotherapist |
Maya is a mental health counselor who is also in the process on attainting her certification in Drama Therapy with the North American Drama Therapy Association. Maya encourages authenticity and curiosity in the counseling space. Her aim is to support clients as they learn and put into action new skills while growing their sense of awareness, self-acceptance, and agency. Maya works with individuals living with trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, disordered eating, and challenges related to parenting neurodivergent and disabled children. Maya’s approach is integrative, often blending existential-humanistic therapies with a bit of creativity to help make change. Maya also strives to create a judgement-free zone where she welcomes all parts and will center you in the counseling relationship. Education
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Marissa Mangione
Mental Health Counseling Intern |
Marissa is a mental health counseling intern, currently pursuing her Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling at Hofstra University. Marissa prioritizes creating a therapeutic environment with her clients that is safe, empowering, collaborative, and all the more insightful. Her objectives in working with clients include helping them to make personal discoveries and connections about their mental health, to explore the significance of their life experiences and relationships, and to learn how to effectively cope with life's many stressors. Marissa has previous experience in working with adults who experience depression, anxiety, trauma, relational issues, as well as self-image and identity difficulties. As a counselor, she uses an integrated approach with strong influences from person-centered, emotion-focused, and cognitive therapies and she frames the counseling experience as gratifying hard work. Education
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Karina Gopeesingh
Mental Health Counseling Intern |
Karina is a mental health counseling intern, currently pursuing her degree at Baruch College. Being part of the Indo-Caribbean culture, Karina hopes to provide treatment to individuals that are part of the culture and to decrease the sigma in the Indo-Caribbean community. Karina has an interest in working with adolescents, teens, and families that may be struggling with anxiety, and relationship dynamics. Her style is non-judgmental while aiming to challenge change. Karina utilizes interventions from cognitive behavioral therapy, and person-centered therapy to meet her clients’ needs. Education
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