Therapists
Eva Atsalis, LMSW
Psychotherapist and psychoanalyst, completed her graduate studies at New York University, and has undergone post graduate training at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. Her work with children and families, adolescents, and adults encompasses thinking about the biological, psychological, social, cultural aspects of individuals and systems, grounded in psychoanalytic theory. She is also a fellow in the Anni Bergman Parent Infant Program. In this specialized program she conducts research and works clinically with parent infant dyads. This work is informed through interdisciplinary theory and research, including neurobiology, anthropology, various infant research -- all within a psychoanalytic framework. In addition to her work at the Midtown Center, Eva has been working with individuals and groups in many settings (alternative high schools & adult learning centers, family centers, wellness centers) over many years, and has a private practice in New York City.
Emily Cavanagh, LMHC
Emily Cavanagh is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician who completed her Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from New York University where she was trained in client centered and humanistic psychology. Utilizing a collaborative approach, Emily draws upon various treatment modalities, including creative and expressive interventions based on the strengths and interests of her clients, to help them develop a deeper understanding of their own development and potential. In her work with children, adults, and families in inpatient settings, HIV clinics, non-profit organizations, and private practice, Emily has adopted a strengths based and existential approach to therapy to help foster growth and healing for her clients. She believes each client possesses the internal resources necessary for change. Emily has worked closely with Survivors of Genocide, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other trauma, which has informed much of the way she works. In addition to her work with The Midtown Center for Personal Development, Emily is a singer/ songwriter and recording artist. As both a musician and therapist, she has a deep commitment to working creatively and collaboratively with her clients to help them discover the meaning and authenticity in their lives.
Rita Mercante, LMHC
Rita Mercante is a psychotherapist with expertise in working with anxiety, depressive and borderline personality disorders, self-esteem issues and life transitions. Her eclectic approach draws from psychodynamic, cognitive and dialectical behavior therapy and existential principles. Rita collaboratively works with her clients towards meaningfulness, using her clinical and extensive background in mindfulness meditation to foster growth, healing, insight and understanding. She encourages individuals to examine how their conscious and unconscious perceptions of their present and past events may be limiting their personal progress. Together with her clients, she designs a therapeutic map helping clients improve their current lives, relatedness and autonomy. Rita completed her graduate work in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health Counseling at the Gordon F. Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University. She completed her internship at the Zucker Hillside Hospital. In addition to her work at the Midtown Center, Rita works in the adult outpatient department of a major psychiatric hospital and has a private practice in Long Island working with individuals and groups. She is an Adjunct Professor at the Gordon F. Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University where she teaches Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Clinical Mindfulness.
Maryse Mitchell-Brody, LMSW
Maryse's trauma-informed psychotherapy practice supports clients with experiences like anxiety, depression, loss, and relationship issues. They focus on working with survivors of violence and trauma, LGBTQI+ people, people of color, disabled people, women and femmes, sex workers, formerly incarcerated people, and immigrants. With their 20 years of non-profit experience, Maryse is also particularly skilled at working with non-profit professionals and others to navigate complex workplace dynamics. Maryse uses an eclectic mix of approaches to support individual needs, including Gestalt, harm reduction, existential therapy, narrative therapy, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy. They received a Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College in 2009, and are a nationally recognized speaker and facilitator on progressive mental health care and community healing.
Jessica Rich, LMSW
Jessica Rich is a psychotherapist who uses an integrative developmental approach to therapy informed by psychodynamic theory, cognitive-behavioral principles and mindfulness-based therapies. She encourages her clients to understand and address the fears, obstacles and stories that interfere with joyful living and passion, and incorporates techniques that focus on both mind and body awareness to allow for deeper and more integrative therapeutic work. She is a licensed social worker with a degree from New York University with a concentration in psychoanalysis. Jessica also holds Doula, Sivananda Yoga and Vipassana Meditation certificates which she has developed further through her extensive travels throughout Central and South America, Africa, Asia and New York City.
Gina Scharoun, PhD
Gina Scharoun is a psychologist who uses an integrative approach to psychotherapy informed by cognitive behavioral principles. She helps her clients understand the interplay of past history, cultural/familial background and current environment on distressing thought patterns, behaviors and feelings. Dr. Scharoun collaboratively works with her clients towards meaningful treatment and life goals. Additionally, she is skilled in providing structured cognitive behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders and major depression as well as exposure/response prevention treatment for obsessive compulsive disorders and phobias. Dr. Scharoun received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Vermont and her Bachelors in Psychology at Brown University. She completed a Predoctoral Internship at the Crestwood Children’s Center, a community mental health center in Rochester, New York. She followed up with a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Pederson Krag Behavioral Health Center in Huntington, New York. In addition to her work with the Midtown Center, Dr. Scharoun currently works as a consultant at a private cognitive behavioral therapy center and at a long term care facility.
Matthew Von Unwerth
Matthew von Unwerth is a psychotherapist and psychoanalyst who comes to the practice with nearly twenty years' experience in those fields. He received his graduate degree from Columbia University and a BA from Wesleyan University. He is currently a Psy.D. candidate at the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies, an advanced candidate at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, and a participant in its child and adolescent psychotherapy program. He is affiliated with the Program in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University, and on the faculties of the Metropolitan Institute for Psychanalytic Psychotherapy Training, and the China American Psychoanalytic Association. He is the author of Freud's Requiem: Memory, Mourning and the Invisible History of a Summer Walk (Riverhead/Penguin), as well as numerous articles and essays, and serves as Director of the Abraham A. Brill Library of The New Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.