Counseling Staff
Counseling Services is staffed with New York State licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists and clinical social workers, all of whom are experienced and knowledgeable about the issues facing college students. In addition, there is a consulting psychiatric nurse practitioner available on a limited basis (1 day a week) to see students who are referred by their Counseling Services counselors. (For more information on staff degrees and job positions, visit What Do Those Degrees Mean?)
Listed below you will find the professional credentials and other details for our staff members. 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 have a treatment-related question for our staff, please use our secure messaging system at myhealth.geneseo.edu.
Emma Wolford, LCSW-R (she/her/hers)
Clinical Director for Lauderdale Counseling Services
Professional Credentials:
- M.A. -
- B.A. -
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State
Clinical Interests:
Professional Organizations:
Beth Cholette, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Clinical Director for South Village 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) and certified Restorative Yoga Instructor
Clinical Interests:
- Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
- Grief and bereavement Issues
- Trauma-supported interventions
- Reducing stigma/increasing access to mental health
Professional Organizations:
- Member, Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services
- Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), Yoga Alliance
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
Clinical Interests:
- Addiction and substance abuse prevention
- Mindfulness-based therapy approaches
- Neurocounseling
- Trauma and adverse childhood experiences
- Holistic approaches, including therapeutic lifestyle changes
Professional Organizations:
- American Counseling Association
- American College Counseling Association
- National Board for Certified Counselors
- New York Mental Health Counselors Association
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
Clinical Interests:
- Trauma and Crisis Intervention
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders
- Mindfulness
Professional Organizations:
- Mental Health Counselors of Greater Rochester
- Chi Sigma lota Counseling and Academic and Professional Honor Society International
- University of Rochester Alumni
Faeeza Masood, MS (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
Clinical Interests:
- Relationships
- Trauma
- Identity
- Multicultural Issues
- Serving Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
Laura Swanson, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Staff Counselor
Professional Credentials:
- M.S.W., New York University
- B.A., Psychology, Cornell University
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State
Clinical Interests:
- Identity Development
- Relationship Concerns
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders
- Mindfulness
- Creative Arts Therapy
Professional Organizations:
- Member, National Association of Social Workers
- Member, American College Counseling Association
Madeline Velazquez, LMSW
Triage/Crisis Counselor
Professional Credentials:
- M.S.W., University of Michigan
- B.A.W., College at Brockport
- Licensed Master's-Level Social Worker in New York State
Clinical Interests:
- Personality Disorder
- Therapeutic Art Inventions
- Socio-Cultural Development
- Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
- ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorders