Meet Our Staff

The Furman Counseling Center staff is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and interns in these fields.   As a group, we represent a wide variety of professional interests and specializations, including multicultural issues, wellness, sexual identity, women's issues, eating disorders, and social justice. All of us are committed to providing services in ways that recognize, respect, and value the diversity of Barnard students.

Mary Commerford, Ph.D., Director, Furman Counseling
mcommerf@barnard.edu

Education History:

• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, Fordham University
• M.Div. Ministry, Yale University Divinity School
• A.B. Theology, Philosophy, University of Notre Dame

Professional Interest and Specialties:

• Eating Disorders
• Psychoanalysis
• Spirituality/Religion
• Women and Young Adult concerns
• LGBTQ

Kathleen Niegocki, Ph.D., Associate and Training Director  

Education History:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Counseling and Psychological Services, Princeton University 
• Pre doctoral Fellowship, Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Pennsylvania
• Ph.D.,  Counseling Psychology, Ball State University
• M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Social Psychology, Ball State University
• B.A., Psychology, Earlham College

Professional and Research Interests:

• Eating Disorder Specialist
• Eating and body image concerns
• Trauma recovery
• Concerns related to relationships, adjustment, and life transitions
• Cultural and identity concerns
• Positive psychology, mindfulness, and self-care

Christy Dabreo-Otero, Ph.D., Associate Director and Outreach Coordinator

Education History:

• Predoctoral Internship, Kings County Hospital Center
• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, St. John’s University
• M.A., Clinical Psychology, St. John’s University
• B.A., General Psychology, Baruch College- City University of New York (CUNY)

Professional Interest and Specialties:

• Women’s concerns and issues
• Identity development
• Emotion regulation and coping with anxiety
• Establishing connections and managing relationships
• Emerging adulthood

Julien A. Almonte, Ph.D., Staff Psychologist and BIPOC Liaison

Education History:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Pennsylvania
• Predoctoral Internship. Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Pennsylvania
• Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York
• M.A., Counseling Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University
• B.A., Psychology, Dartmouth College

Professional and Research Interests:

• Eating and body image concerns
• Body liberation, dismantling weight stigma, and combating fatphobia
• Chronic health conditions
• Grief and loss and existential concerns
• Cultural and identity concerns
• Career and Life Transitions
• Self-esteem development  and self-compassion

Elizabeth Mc Innes, LCSW, Staff Psychotherapist & Crisis/Trauma Specialist

Education History:

• MSW, Silberman School of Social Work, CUNY Hunter College
• BA, Anthropology & Latin American Studies, Fordham University

Professional Interests and Specialties:

• Trauma & Crisis Recovery
• LGBTQ+ mental health
• CBT and DBT interventions
• Immigrant and Refugee/Asylum seeker mental health

Christina Liddy, LMSW, Case Manager and Staff Psychotherapist

Education History:

• MSW, School of Social Work, Columbia University
• B.A., Psychology, New York University

Professional and Research Interests:

• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• The impact of childhood trauma on adult attachment
• Emerging Adulthood and Life Transitions

Drew Bianchi, M.D., Staff Psychiatrist

Education History:

• Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University
• Residency in Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• M.D. University at Buffalo School of Medicine
• B.A. Psychology, University at Albany

Professional Specialties:

• Evaluation and treatment of psychiatric illness in adolescents and young adults
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Spirituality

Research Interests:

 Clinical applications of mindfulness and spirituality in psychiatry

Kayla Wong Ph.D., Post Doctoral Fellow

Education History:

• Pre Doctoral Internship, Fordham University Counseling and Psychological Services
• Ph.D, School Psychology, Fordham University
• M.S.Ed, Therapeutic Intervention, Fordham University
• B.A., Psychology, Pennsylvania State University

Professional Interests and Specialties:

• Psychodynamic and Liberation Psychotherapy
• BIPOC identity development, wellness and healing
• Racial / Ethnic Microaggressions
• Navigating privilege and systems of oppression
• Emerging Adulthood

Doctoral Externs:

• Brianna A. Baker, Doctoral Candidate
• Tyner Gordon, M.Ed, Doctoral Candidate
• Gideon Nachman,  Doctoral Candidate

Social Work Interns: none this academic year

Administrative Staff:

• Norinda Del Fierro,  Department Manager
• Cachaundra Tarvin, Receptionist