Meet our Team

Helga Byrne, LMHC, CASAC, NCC
Founder and Clinical Director

Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor

Helga received her BA from Georgetown University and her Masters degree in Applied Psychology from New York University. Helga completed advanced training at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy and also holds a Post-Masters Certificate in Clinical Approaches to the Addictions from New York University.

Specializing in individual therapy for professionals and career minded individuals, her approach is compassionate, direct and interactive, incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, Gestalt techniques and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Organizational Consulting: Prior to beginning her practice, Helga had a successful corporate career where she oversaw sales, operations, customer service, communications, and process development and improvement for several luxury goods and apparel brands, including Tiffany & Co., A Pea in the Pod and Brooks Brothers. With over 15 years of corporate experience, Helga’s business background informs her understanding of the demands and challenges corporate professionals face.

Improving performance and building cohesion are crucial to a successful business. Helga also applies her psychology skills and other experiential techniques to businesses and organizations. Goal setting, motivating staff, effective reinforcement strategies, and role clarification are some areas she can develop in your organization to improve performance.

Monica E. Foster, LMHC
Mental Health Counselor

Monica received her BA in English/Creative writing from Converse University. She received her Masters degree in Counseling through Northwestern University. Monica’s professional background includes experience in the entertainment (actor, writer, director), health (E-RYT 500, yoga instructor and studio co-owner), and public relations industries.

Monica infuses her work with an experienced understanding of the stressors implicit in modern creative and professional endeavors. She offers an empathic and supportive environment to those experiencing depression, stress, and anxiety. Weaving her knowledge of breath work and mindfulness practices into her counseling, Monica’s approach incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, and existential therapy.

With her compassionate support and tailored approach, Monica helps clients in navigating life's challenges and achieving their personal goals. She is passionate about helping individuals discover their unique strengths and potential. Through her counseling sessions, Monica empowers clients to develop self-awareness, build resilience, and cultivate meaningful relationships

Soyeon Cho, MHC-LP
Mental Health Counselor

Soyeon specializes in helping adults across all life stages, addressing mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, life stress, and relationship challenges, as well as supporting clients through major life transitions like career changes, divorce, and retirement. She also helps clients explore their identity, build self-esteem, and foster personal growth. Soyeon is particularly passionate about working with immigrant populations, including first- and second-generation families, helping them navigate the challenges of acculturation, cultural differences, and their impact on enduring family dynamics, relationships, and personal identity. Her compassionate and culturally attuned approach fosters understanding, resilience, and meaningful growth.

After earning her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University, with a specialization in aging, Soyeon spent over 15 years in academia as an educator and researcher. She conducted extensive research on mental health disparities among minority older adults and mentored students from diverse backgrounds. Her passion for working directly with individuals inspired her to return to school to pursue a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from New York University, where she combined her academic expertise with practical, client-centered care.

Soyeon incorporates psychodynamic and humanistic frameworks, along with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, into her practice, customizing her approach to suit each client’s unique needs. In addition to her clinical work, she has facilitated community workshops on dementia, caregiving, and mental health for Korean American families, further demonstrating her dedication to culturally sensitive care.

Through a supportive and affirming therapeutic relationship, Soyeon empowers her clients to uncover their strengths, build resilience, and navigate life’s challenges with confidence. She is committed to helping individuals lead authentic and fulfilling lives.

Alex Smith, MHC-LP
Mental Health Counselor

As queer individuals, we experience life through a unique lens.

Systemic injustices, relational struggles, feeling misunderstood or invalidated in the spaces you’re in may be a few of the battles you are facing. I understand how vital mental healthcare is to our community and I aim to provide resources and a safe space to our often underserved people. I have worked with many LGBTQ+ individuals both in and out of therapy and I have a tremendous appreciation for what brings us together as well as for all that makes each of us different.

I operate from a humanistic, psychodynamic, and existential lens, pulling in techniques from additional modalities, like mindfulness and ACT, as needed. Essentially, I believe that you are the expert of your own life, but that there is also room for new perspectives to be taken and new frameworks to be incorporated. We will collaborate together as you share what has been going on for you, in both the long term and short term. Your concerns may stem from the daily stress of work and relationships, long-term narratives about family dynamics, or curiosities about your identity and self-concept. Whichever the source, in the work we do together, you will begin to become a more comfortable you. As we verbally process what has been going on for you, you will be able to see your life from different vantage points and become more aware of the underlying mechanisms that drive your motivations, thoughts, and feelings. I will ask thoughtful questions, provide empathy without judgment, and create a comfortable space for you to explore your experiences, help you build insight, and take the desired steps towards being a more authentic you.

I hold a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver and a Bachelor's degree from Middlebury College, which inform my approach to supporting your growth and healing.

Robin Kaye, MHC-LP
Mental Health Counselor

Robin is passionate about supporting adults of all ages navigating daily stressors, life-altering transitions, interpersonal challenges, and relationship issues. With a nonjudgmental approach, Robin fosters a therapeutic relationship where the bond itself becomes the foundation for healing and growth. Using a collaborative approach, Robin helps clients identify and address the thoughts and behaviors that may be holding them back from reaching their full potential. By uncovering patterns—both conscious and unconscious—Robin empowers clients to develop effective coping strategies for managing overwhelming emotions, fostering healing, and enhancing resilience.

After receiving a master's degree in education from NYU, Robin went on to teach elementary school in the New York City public schools. Following an enriching teaching career, Robin took time off to be a stay-at-home mother to her two children. Navigating her children’s learning difference diagnoses inspired her to pursue a degree from Bank Street College of Education, specializing in Studies in Education. While working with children experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties, Robin realized her passion extended beyond the classroom to helping families navigate parenting complexities. She went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling from Northwestern University. Her background in creating emotionally responsive classrooms and fostering healthy parent-child relationships gives her a unique understanding of attachment and its lifelong impact, which deeply informs her counseling approach.

Robin uses an integrative approach to treatment, customizing her methods to address each individual’s specific circumstances. Robin incorporates psychodynamic, attachment-based, and mindfulness techniques into her practice. She has also completed training in Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology (HNLP), a modality focused on reprogramming the nervous system's automatic responses through neuroplasticity and evidence-based sensory acuity. Robin integrates these approaches into her treatment to support her clients effectively.

Wei Chen, MHC-LP
Mental Health Counselor

I work with adults and adolescents navigating life's transitions, identities, relationships, and self-exploration. They may face challenges in romantic, familial, or professional connections, seeking to understand these dynamics. A significant part of our journey together will involve exploring the dynamics of your relationships. We'll look into how you connect with others and yourself, uncovering the patterns that shape these interactions, enhancing these interactions to build deeper, more meaningful bonds. It’s about understanding the rhythms of your interactions and the patterns that may sometimes hold you back.

I specialize in navigating relationship issues, life transitions, anxiety and depression. I also work with clients who have conflicts with their family of origin, helping them manage these dynamics and develop strategies for healthier relationships, assert needs, and set boundaries. I'm fluent in English and Mandarin, and I offer therapy in both languages.

My role is to listen deeply and understand your story. Therapy is a shared path, and it involves creating a space where all parts of you are welcome—where your struggles are met with empathy, your progress is celebrated, and we continually strive toward a life that feels truly fulfilling.

Sophia Salas, MHC-LP
Mental Health Counselor

Your 20s can feel exciting, overwhelming, and at times, isolating. I specialize in supporting women who are navigating anxiety, dating and friendships, career goals, or big life changes. My approach is warm, collaborative, and empowering. I help you untangle the stress, build confidence, and find clarity so you can move forward in your life with more ease and self-trust.

Through blending compassion-focused, strengths-based, and mindfulness-based therapies, I help you bring purpose and intentionality into your life while nurturing greater self-acceptance and confidence. We’ll work together to build healthy coping skills, strengthen your sense of self, and plan meaningful steps toward your goals. My person-centered, culturally aware approach to therapy ensures a safe, nonjudgmental environment where you can freely explore all thoughts, emotions, and aspects of your identity.

Sophia earned her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling at Brooklyn College. During her graduate studies, she interned as a counselor in the Counseling and Wellness Center at St. Francis College working with young adults. Before completing her master’s degree, Sophia graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with honors from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She then went on to receive the Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate through the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, she contributed to published research in a neurodevelopment research lab studying adolescent executive functioning and social development.