Meet Our Team

Shafeena Khan, MS. Ed,  LMHC-D, CCTP, NIDHW

Founder of Breakthrough Mental Health Counseling
Director of Clinical Services
Shafeena is the Clinical Director at Breakthrough MHC. Shafeena, of Indo-Caribbean heritage. She has a unique perspective that allows her to offer culturally sensitive treatment to individuals from Indo-Caribbean, West Indian, and Caribbean cultures that may be experiencing generational trauma.  In addition, her focus on digital wellness incorporates a holistic approach on well-being and mindfulness in your daily life. Helping individuals to "unplug" and find value in their time in other areas of their life by decreasing the use of technology. This approach has resulted in individuals finding their Breakthrough moment in treatment, leading to real change. 

Shafeena utilizes interventions from various therapeutic schools, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Solution-Focused Therapy. This diverse toolkit allows her to tailor her approach to meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring effective and personalized treatment.

Shafeena continues to contribute to the field as she is the clinical supervisor of interns at Breakthrough MHC. As an alumni, Shafeena is a proud member of the Dean Advisory board of St. John’s University Counseling Education Department.
  • Holds Diagnostic Privledge 
  • Certification in Trauma Treatment
  • Certification in Tech Addiction and Digital Health

Anastasia Polar, MS. Ed, LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor
​Clinical Supervisor
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Anastasia is a licensed mental health counselor and clinical supervisor. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Long Island University. After graduation, she went on to complete her post-graduate work in private practices and becoming a clinical supervisor for early-career therapists. 

Anastasia utilizes various interventions and tailors to the needs of the individual, drawing from CBT, DBT, ACT, Schema Therapy as well as various creative art interventions. 

Anastasia currently works in her own private practice full-time located in Woodbury, NY. She is dedicated to working with children (ages 6+), teens, adults as well as families experiencing anxiety, depression, anger issues, and relationship struggles. She is also  continuing her education and is currently taking a 30 hour course through the NY Council on Problem Gambling, to aid those struggling with Gambling Addiction in New York. 

Anastasia is currently a clinical supervisor to clinicians at Breakthrough MHC.


Marissa Mangione, MS., MHC-LP

Mental Health Counselor ​- Limited Permit
Marissa is a mental health counselor who wants to help her clients attain their goals through processing any challenges that presents.  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.
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Kellie Cassidy, MS. Ed, MHC-LP

Mental Health Counselor ​- Limited Permit
Kellie is a mental health counselor with a passion for empowering individuals to overcome life's challenges and achieve optimal mental well-being. Kellie’s professional expertise lies in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for adults and children. Kellie works with individuals to express themselves and navigate the complexities of their emotions. Kellie integrates various theoretical approaches such as person centered theory techniques and the use of cognitive behavioral therapy. Kellie further utilizes play therapy techniques and evidence-based interventions tailored to the developmental stages of her young clients. Kellie works with individuals of childhood issues, trauma, anxiety, behavior disorders, mood disorders and adjustment difficulties. Kellie creates a safe space where individuals feel comfortable in a therapeutic setting. 

​Natalie Sarra, MS., MHC-LP

Mental Health Counselor ​- Limited Permit
Natalie has experience with clients of all ages, and recognizes that each person requires their own unique structure for counseling. With that, she uses tools and techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to create a space that works best for each individual. 
Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or personal loss, Natalie welcomes her clients to open up about how these experiences have impacted their life, and together, process how to move forward.
Therapy can look different for everyone. If you’re looking for clarity on where unwelcome feelings are coming from, guidance on breaking down large goals into smaller, more attainable goals, or just a space where someone will listen to you, Natalie is ready to collaborate with you to discover your next steps toward a more fulfilling, balanced life.
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Nicole Layer, MHC-LP

Mental Health Counselor ​- Limited Permit
Drawing from person-first and trauma-informed perspectives, Nicole specializes in supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, challenges in interpersonal dynamics, and LGBTQIA+ concerns. Her therapeutic style is characterized by empathy, psychoeducation, and unwavering transparency. Nicole is steadfast in her commitment to helping clients achieve their therapeutic goals, and strives to cultivate an environment that is safe, supportive, and nurturing. She seeks to ensure that every client feels heard, understood, valued, and respected throughout their journey toward wellness.
Grounded in a person-first philosophy, Nicole prioritizes clients’ humanity over clinical labels, embracing a range of therapeutic modalities including CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical-Behavioral therapy), SFT (solution-focused therapy), and mindfulness approaches. Above all, Nicole is dedicated to continued learning and professional development tailored to her clients' needs and aims to create a therapeutic space where clients feel empowered, validated, and supported without judgment. 

The Interns

Meet some of the field's newest clinicans-to-be!
​At Breakthrough, our interns are graduate students working directly with their supervisor in order to 
​provide the best treatment to our clients!

Camryn Roy

Camryn is a graduate mental health counseling intern. She is pursuing her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at St. John’s University. Camryn is committed to providing compassionate and non-judgmental therapeutic support to clients facing various mental health challenges. Camryn utilizes Person-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, emphasizing active listening, empathy, and a non-judgmental environment she strives to create a safe and nurturing environment where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Camryn has an interest in working with teens and young adults from all walks of life. Camryn is eager to collaborate with clients to develop a plan to promote personal growth, resilience, and overall well-being. 

Anushta Mishra 

Anushta is a graduate mental health counseling intern. She is pursuing her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at Hofstra University, who brings a rich tapestry of cultural experiences and linguistic fluency in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Marathi. With a background rooted in India, her extensive and diverse cultural experience combined with her multilingual proficiency, enables her to effectively connect with and counsel individuals from various backgrounds. Additionally, her comprehensive hands-on experience in different mental health settings, from psychiatric hospitals to community services, coupled with her practical skills in conducting thorough assessments and facilitating workshops, positions her as a well-rounded and empathetic counselor who is dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique needs of each client. 

Ciara DaSilva

Ciara is a graduate mental health counseling intern. She is pursuing her masters degree in Mental Health Counseling at St. John’s University. Having experience working with the youth, she is interested in working with adolescents, teens, and young adults in hopes to enhance their growth and resilience. Ciara is eager to bring about an effective change and enhance the wellbeing of her clients so they can live the life they want to live. Through her empathetic attitude and interest in a holistic approach, she hopes to help her clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves by integrating multiple forms of wellness and well being. Ciara emphasizes the importance of the client and will create a safe, nonjudgmental environment for them.