Senior Therapist
Anjail Ameen-Rice received her Masters Degree in Social Work from New York University and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, New York. She is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and holds a New York State Department of Education School Social Work Certificate. Her clinical experience includes several areas of behavioral health, including behavior intervention counseling, couples counseling, family therapy, youth and adolescent psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy and alcohol and substance abuse counseling.
In addition, she has many years of experience in the supervision of Licensed Masters degree Social Workers and Mental Health Counselors. She has worked as a part-time adjunct professor in the Social Work Department at The College of Staten Island. She is also a member of National Association of Social Workers and the New York State Society for Social Work.
Anjail enjoys working with individuals, couples and families and looks forward to helping them develop an awareness of how to overcome their struggles. She provides a client centered approach aimed at helping an individual feel supported and validated.
Associate Therapists
Faith and Hope Psychotherapy's therapists have experience working with a clinically diverse population and use their experience to provide individuals with a client-centered approach. All clients are provided with a thorough assessment and are encouraged to participate in the planning process. Our clients report feeling extremely encouraged and supported after the first few sessions.
Casandra Skomina, LMHC
Casandra Skomina received her Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the College of Staten Island. She is licensed under New York State as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and has worked as a Behavior Intervention Specialist for people with developmental disabilities. She has experience providing individual, couples, and family counseling, and is particularly interested in working with a culturally diverse population. She is well-versed in collectivist values and deals with problems of childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, and parenting. She also specializes in treating a wide range of issues including anxiety, anger, depression, grief, crisis due to major life changes, and trauma.
Therapeutic modalities practiced include Mindfulness Cognitive-Behavioral therapy, Solution-Focused, and Person-centered therapy.
Casandra's aim is to develop a safe and trusting relationship with each client, which is believed to be the foundation needed to bring about healing and change. As a therapist, she encourages clients to develop greater self-awareness and mental wellness through an exploration of their life experiences.
Dean DeRenzo, LMHC
Dean DeRenzo, LMHC received his Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The College of Staten Island. Dean's area of specialization include individuals with developmental disabilities (autism and learning disabilities) and working with families and individuals with anxiety and depression. Dean is a LGBTQIA+ affirming psychotherapist with a behavioral health focus on relationships and work place issues. Dean's areas of experience include working with college students as a career counselor and mentor. Dean provides EAP services to support individuals experiencing stress related to their career or work environment.