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Counseling Staff

Counseling Services is staffed with New York State licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors, all of whom are experienced and knowledgeable about the issues facing college students.

Listed below you will find the professional credentials and other details for our staff members. (For photos, visit our departmental Mission Statement/Meet Our Staff page, and for more information on staff degrees and job positions, visit What Do Those Degrees Mean?) 

All of our counselors are qualified to treat a wide range of presenting problems, including anxiety, depression, interpersonal problems, eating disorders, academic issues, and more.  If you wish to schedule an appointment or to send a secure message to a staff member, go to myhealth.geneseo.edu.

Emma Wolford, LCSW-R (she/her/hers) - Director of Counseling Services

Professional Credentials:

  • M.S.W., University of Iowa
  • B.A., Psychology, Johns Hopkins University
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State

Professional Organizations:

  • Member, Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD)
  • Gender Specialist Certification, World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH, in progress)

Clinical Interests:

  • Identity development LGBTQ concerns Serving transgender and gender nonconforming students, including transition-related support

  • DBT for emotional regulation

Beth Cholette, PhD/RYT (she/her/hers) - Assistant Director of Counseling Services

Professional Credentials:

  • Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Hahnemann University
  • B.A., Psychology, Bucknell University
  • Licensed Psychologist in New York State
  • RYT-200 (Registered Yoga Teacher); certified in Restorative Yoga, Yoga for All, Yin Yoga Anatomy

Professional Organizations:

  • Member, Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services (ACCCCS)
  • Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), Yoga Alliance

Clinical Interests:

  • Yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and mind-body connection
  • Grief, loss, and bereavement Issues
  • Trauma-supported interventions
  • Reducing stigma/increasing access to mental health

Sarah Covell, LMHC, NCC (she/her/hers) - Alcohol & Other Drug Program Coordinator

Professional Credentials:

  • M.S. Mental Health Counseling, SUNY Brockport
  • B.A., Communication, SUNY Geneseo
  • National Certified Counselor
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of New York

Professional Organizations:

  • American Counseling Association
  • American College Counseling Association
  • National Board for Certified Counselors
  • New York Mental Health Counselors Association 

Clinical Interests:

  • Addiction and substance abuse prevention
  • Mindfulness-based therapy approaches 
  • Neuro-counseling 
  • Trauma and adverse childhood experiences
  • Holistic approaches, including therapeutic lifestyle changes

Aquella Deskov, LMHC, NCC (she/her/hers) - Triage/Crisis Counselor

Professional Credentials:

  • M.A. Mental Health Counseling, University of Rochester
  • B.A., Psychology, University of Rochester
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor
  • National Certified Counselor

Professional Organizations:

  • Mental Health Counselors of Greater Rochester
  • Chi Sigma lota Counseling and Academic and Professional Honor Society International 
  • University of Rochester Alumni

Clinical Interests:

  • Trauma and Crisis Intervention
  • Mood and Anxiety Disorders
  • Mindfulness

Faeeza Masood, LMHC (she/her/hers) - Staff Counselor

Professional Credentials:

  • M.S., Mental Health Counseling, University of Rochester
  • M.S., Childhood Education/Inclusion, University of Rochester
  • B.A., Studio Art, University of Rochester
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Clinical Interests:

  • Relationships
  • Trauma
  • Identity
  • Multicultural Issues
  • Serving Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

Kevin Murphy, EdD, LCSW-R - Senior Counselor/Training Director

Professional Credentials:

  • Ed.D., Leadership & Administration, Indiana University of Pennsylvania 
  • M.S.W., Social Work, Marywood University
  • B.S., Psychology, Elmira College
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State
  • Licensed Independent Social Worker in Washington State

Professional Organizations:

  • Board Certified Diplomat, Social Work

Clinical Interests:

  • Trauma
  • Relationship issues
  • Chronic stress and anxiety
  • Couples work
  • Family of origin issues
  • Identity 
  • Academic and career planning
  • Grief and loss

Laura Swanson, LCSW (she/her/hers) - Staff Counselor/Wellbeing Coordinator

Professional Credentials:

  • M.S.W., New York University
  • B.A., Psychology, Cornell University
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State

Professional Organizations:

  • Member, National Association of Social Workers
  • Member, American College Counseling Association

Clinical Interests:

  • Identity Development
  • Relationship Concerns
  • Mood and Anxiety Disorders
  • Mindfulness
  • Creative Arts Therapy

Madeline Velazquez, LMSW, BSW - Triage/Crisis Counselor

Professional Credentials:

  • M.S.W., University of Michigan
  • B.S.W., College at Brockport
  • Licensed Master's-Level Social Worker in New York State

Clinical Interests:

  • Personality Disorders
  • Therapeutic Art Inventions
  • Socio-Cultural Development
  • Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
  • AD/HD and Sensory Processing Disorders

John Connors, MD - Consulting Psychiatrist

Visit our Psychiatric Services page for details.