Growth and Transitions Counseling® is an online therapy practice providing mental health services. Our services range from individual, couples and family therapy.
KrystalAnn Gopichand, LMHC
When you feel at your best, you perform at your best! I am KrystalAnn Gopichand an individual, group and family counselor with over 8 years experience, with all populations and ages group. My goal as a therapist is to assist you reach your best potential. Thru empathetic listening and having you serve as your own expert of your life, I will assist you finding coping skills to help you thru life's transitions, including past experiences and trauma to unlock your best you.
Bridget Rivera, MHC- LP
You’ve got this! With my support as a mental health counselor, I’m passionate about guiding you to unlock your inner resources and empower you to overcome challenges and embrace the best version of yourself.
As a Brooklyn native with an Afro-Latin background, I bring a deep understanding of the unique experiences and challenges that individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds may face. I believe in taking a holistic approach to therapy, creating a warm and supportive environment.
With my guidance and support, we will work together to develop the skills and strategies you need to achieve your goals and realize your full potential. If you’re ready to take the first step, I’m here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
Melissa Vargas MHC -LP
Melissa received her license in Bilingual School Counseling (with Spanish-proficiency) in 2014 from CUNY Queens College and graduated magna cum laude. She has since been serving the highly diverse youth population throughout Queens, New York to support their social-emotional wellness, academic progress and post-secondary planning. In addition, Melissa is a restorative practitioner who is trained in restoring harm among people and spaces through a lens of anti-racism, equity and inclusion. As the mother of a son with a learning difference, she is expertly equipped to work with special needs populations, including how to navigate education and legal systems. She utilizes a client-centered approach to build rapport and establish a working relationship with clients. Melissa places emphasis on non-judgement and meeting clients where they are to foster comfort, collaboration and growth. She believes that the formula for success is working hard, being kind to others, especially oneself, and she uses this mantra to guide her practice.
Rosita Lawrence, MHC-LP
My ideal client is someone navigating the complexities of trauma, seeking healing and connection. They often feel isolated, burdened by their past experiences, and crave understanding and compassion. Their primary need is to feel heard and validated, as they explore the impact of their trauma on their daily lives. Their goals include building resilience, developing coping strategies, and creating a fulfilling life aligned with their values. Ultimately, they want to bridge the gap between pain and peace, seeking a safe space to grow and thrive. Together, we will embark on this transformative journey toward healing and empowerment.
Reality Therapy, a powerful approach that emphasizes personal responsibility and the importance of meeting our basic psychological needs: love, power, freedom, and fun. This method allows me to guide clients towards understanding how their choices impact their lives, helping them take charge of their healing journey.
I offer a safe and supportive environment where we can collaboratively explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By using active listening and fostering a strong therapeutic relationship, I empower you to identify your goals and develop practical strategies to achieve them. We will work on bridging the gap between your between trauma and recovery.
Vidia Phillip, MHC Intern
“Growth begins the moment we choose to acknowledge.”
This belief guides my work as a mental health counseling intern and reflects the heart I bring to every therapeutic relationship.
My name is Vidia, and I am a mental health counseling intern committed to supporting individuals through seasons of transition, uncertainty, and renewal. I bring a deep understanding of how environment, identity, culture, and lived experiences shape the way we learn, cope, and relate to others. My professional role as an educator and educator mentor has strengthened my ability to listen with intention, notice patterns beneath the surface, and help build practical strategies that honor both their strengths and their challenges.
I am passionate about creating a warm, grounded, and non-judgmental space where clients feel genuinely seen and supported. My therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing from cognitive-behavioral techniques, person-centered foundations, and strength-based practices to help individuals navigate anxiety, stress, self-doubt, relational difficulties, and life transitions. I believe deeply in collaboration—your lived experience is the expertise, and my role is to help illuminate the path toward clarity, healing, and empowered decision-making.
I look forward to walking alongside you as you step into the next chapter of your journey.
Jeany Lu, MHC Intern
"Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life."
— Shannon L. Alder
As a New York native, born and raised in this vibrant state, I bring a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by individuals in diverse urban environments. I am passionate about mental health and its ability to transform lives and strengthen communities. I believe in empowering clients to build on their strengths and develop practical strategies for navigating life’s challenges. Together, we can work toward meaningful change, greater clarity, and personal empowerment.
I am excited to accompany you on this journey and help you discover the tools and insights needed to thrive.
Debra Langer, EdM, MHC-Intern (she/her)
Despair cannot share the same space as wonder.
— Alice Walker
"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.
—- Carl Jung
Debra is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their inner world, confront challenges, and move beyond what holds them back—empowering them to grow, heal, and live more authentically and joyfully.
Debra’s culturally-sensitive, holistic, and strengths-based approach is informed by both her journey of self-development and her professional background as a school psychologist.
In addition to her coursework, Debra has pursued training in a range of therapeutic tools andmodalities including mindfulness, positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), polyvagal theory, and somatic practices. She is also a Reiki Master and breathwork facilitator.
Based in Brooklyn, Debra is the proud mother of three daughters, ages 20, 22, and 24.
Nana Aomori, MHC-LP
Pronouns: she/they
The path to healing is not always easy, but you don’t need to do it alone. I am here to be your guide, your support, your resource, and your coconspirator.
As a BIPOC, 1.5-generation Japanese American immigrant I am familiar with the stresses, struggles and challenges of immigration, acculturation, and racialization. I believe we all deserve a space to discover who we are and make changes that allow us to be our authentic selves. I invite you to give over to this process of healing and change and explore what is possible in a safe space and a trusting relationship.
I am a classically trained musician and a former public school teacher.
I also identify as trans-nonbinary and queer. Neurodiversity, queer and trans affirming.
Mery Acosta, MHC-LP
“You may be the strong one, the helper, or the one who keeps it all together, yet feel emotionally exhausted, unheard, or unsure how to take care of your needs. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or the weight of family and cultural expectations, you don’t have to carry it alone. I’m Mery, a bilingual (Spanish/English) therapist originally from Venezuela. I understand how culture, identity, family dynamics, and personal history can shape our emotional world, sometimes leaving us feeling unseen, disconnected, or emotionally overwhelmed.
My background includes working with children and families, which helped me develop a deeper understanding of how we learn to express our emotions, seek connection, and navigate relationships from an early age. That insight continues to enrich my work with clients of all ages, as we explore where your emotional patterns began and how to gently reshape them.
In therapy, I offer a warm, culturally sensitive, and nonjudgmental space where you can slow down, unpack your story, and feel truly seen.”
Kate Singelton, MHC Intern
Too many of us have internalized the message that struggling is shameful and that we ought to be able to solve our most intractable problems on our own. Sure, most of us are able to solve some of our problems some of the time, but if we don't accept help from loved ones and dedicated professionals, mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, ED and self-destructive patterns tend to stick around or become entrenched.
I am a deeply-feeling person with a lot of life experience as a creative, neurodivergent human and parent. I bring an outside-of-the-box, strength-based approach to therapy and believe that the human-to-human connection in therapy is a most valuable tool.
Bravo for taking this first step of seeking out a therapist. I strongly believe in this work and the innate ability in us all to grow and evolve. It would be a pleasure to connect with you for a consultation to see what it might be like to work together.