Meet the 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 more information on staff degrees and job positions, visit What Do Those Degrees Mean?) If you wish to schedule an appointment or to send a secure message to a staff member, go to myhealth.geneseo.edu.
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Jaime Castillo, PhD, LMHC (he/him/his) - Director of Counseling Services
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Professional Credentials:
- Ph.D., Counseling and Counselor Education, Syracuse University
- M.S., School Counseling, University of Scranton
- B.S., Penn State University, Psychology, Biological Sciences
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor, New York State
- Trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Professional Organizations:
- Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors
- American Group Psychotherapy Association
Clinical Interests:
- Clinical supervision
- Infusion of creativity in mental health and wellness
- Applied Improvisation
- Individual and group empowerment and advocacy
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Beth Cholette, PhD, RYT (she/her/hers) - Assistant Director of Counseling Services
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Professional Credentials:
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Hahnemann University
- B.A., Psychology, Bucknell University
- Licensed Psychologist in New York State
- RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance); certified in Restorative Yoga, Yoga for All, Yin Yoga Anatomy, Yoga for Healthy Aging
Professional Organizations:
- Member, Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services (ACCCCS)
- Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), Yoga Alliance
Clinical Interests:
- Mind-body practices and interventions, including yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
- Grief, loss, and bereavement Issues
- Trauma-supported interventions
- Equity/social justice in mental health, particularly reducing stigma, increasing access, and providing agency/empowerment in therapeutic interventions
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Pamela Kosmowski, LMFT, NCC (she/her/hers) - Alcohol & Other Drug Program Coordinator
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Professional Credentials:
- B.A., Language Arts, University at Buffalo
- M.S., School Counseling, Capella University
- National Certified Counselor
- M.A., Marriage & Family Therapy, Northcentral University
- Licensed Marital & Family Therapy (LMFT) in New York State
- CASAC, SUNY Alfred (expected August 2022)
Professional Organizations:
- American Association for Marital & Family Therapy, Member
- American School Counseling Association, Member
- National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Member
Clinical Interests:
- Addiction
- Relationships
- Trauma
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Aquella Deskov, LMHC, NCC (she/her/hers) - Triage/Crisis Counselor
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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
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Faeeza Masood, LMHC (she/her/hers) - Staff Counselor
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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
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Laura Swanson, LCSW (she/her/hers) - Staff Counselor/Wellbeing Coordinator
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Professional Credentials:
- M.S.W., New York University
- B.A., Psychology, Cornell University
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State
Clinical Interests:
- Relationships
- Identity
- Trauma
- Individual and Community Wellbeing
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Madeline Velazquez, LMSW, BSW - Triage/Crisis Counselor
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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
- Cailley Wayman, LMHC, CASAC (she/her/hers) - Senior Counselor
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Professional Credentials:
- LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- CASAC, Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor
- MS, Mental Health Counseling, SUNY Brockport
- BS, Psychology and Health Science, concentration in substance abuse counseling, SUNY Brockport
- EMDR Trained
Clinical Interests:
- Eating disorders
- Trauma
- LGBTQIA+
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John Connors, MD - Consulting Psychiatrist
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Visit our Psychiatric Services page for details.