Danna Markson, LCSW
Founder and Director
Danna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in individual, family and group therapy with children, adolescents and adults. Danna has extensive experience working with Eating Disorders, Anxiety, Depression, and Family Issues.
Danna has over 22 years of clinical experience working with clients using a variety of effective therapeutic techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Systems Family Therapy. Her approach to therapy is simple; provide clients with a warm, safe environment to address their concerns, coach and guide them with practical strategies for change, and watch them grow.
In therapy with Danna, you will receive motivation and encouragement in addition to concrete strategies for change using a variety of evidence-based strategies. Danna's own battle with Anorexia, Bulimia and Depression as a young adult has allowed her to use her own experience to understand and help her clients. Her post-graduate training in Family Systems Therapy has informed the work she does with families - helping create lasting and positive change by understanding family dynamics and helping reorganize systems with compassion and direction.
In 2013, Danna received the prestigious honor of being named Social Worker of the Year by the New Jersey National Association of Social Workers for her distinguished service and commitment in the field of eating disorders.
In addition to being Director of Mindsoother Therapy Center in Livingston, NJ, Danna is Co-Executive Producer of the documentary Someday Melissa: the story of an eating disorder, loss and hope. She is a prominent lecturer in the field of mindfulness, emotion regulation and eating disorders.
Danna is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP), and the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), New Jersey Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists and the Montclair Interdisciplinary Child Study Group. Someday Melissa Inc. is a proud member of the NEDA Network.
Tessa Vining, LCSW, LCADC
Assistant Director
Tessa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor who specializes in individual, family and group therapy with adolescents, young adults and adults.
Tessa has over 14 years of clinical experience working with clients who are struggling with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, family issues and alcohol and drug addiction. She practices therapy from a systems perspective, meaning that she takes the necessary time to learn who you are, in addition to the time needed to understand what is transpiring all around you.
In addition to her clinical practice, Tessa has extensive experience in the area of
drug and alcohol prevention, specifically with middle, high-school and college aged students. She has worked closely with Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to help guide some of their national campaigns and has collaborated with local NYC law enforcement to build public awareness of the effects of addiction on the community.
Tessa is also trained in EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. EMDR is a method of therapy that uses bi-lateral stimulation to help the mind access difficulty memories and then naturally heal the memory. EMDR has been most successful in reprocessing traumatic events however it is also effective in treating a full range of mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, panic disorders and anger. For more information, visit www.emdria.org.
Tessa utilizes a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients gain strategies and skills. Her warm and engaging style makes clients feel at ease and cared for.
Tessa is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the New Jersey Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists and the Montclair Interdisciplinary Child Study Group. She achieved the distinct honor or receiving the Educational Excellence Award from the Caron Foundation for her work in drug and alcohol prevention.
Brittany Ruane, MSW, LCSW
Brittany is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in individual, family and group therapy with children, adolescents and adults.
Brittany has over 11 years of experience working with individuals who struggle with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse and difficult family dynamics. She has worked for a leading eating disorder treatment facility and in child protection services with children and adolescents in foster care.
Brittany also has a special interest in working with the LGBTQ population, as well as with individuals and couples struggling with fertility, pregnancy and post-partum issues. Brittany has completed an intensive training in Perinatal Mood Disorders that has provided her with extensive techniques and resources to support and help individuals struggling with issues before, during and after pregnancy.
Brittany uses a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Psychodynamic Therapy to guide her clients, and provides a safe space for them to explore difficult issues. She uses a variety of play and “talk therapy” techniques in her work with children.
Brittany is a member of the Postpartum Support International, National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). She received a prestigious award for outstanding community work with foster families through the Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents.
Dana Koonce, LMFT
Dana is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in individual, family, couples, and group therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. As a family therapist, Dana uses a systems perspective, taking into account the family as a whole and understanding each person's experience in the family system. For individuals in therapy, Dana helps people explore their systems (family, work, school, friends) and learn how to create healthy dynamics, interactions and outcomes.
Dana's expertise is with clients struggling with eating issues and disorders, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and family conflicts. She has worked for a leading eating disorder treatment center in the residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care. Dana is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Structural Family Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She prides herself on creating a warm, supportive, safe environment where clients and families feel comfortable and work with her towards increased insight, growth, and positive change.
Kendra Anderson, LCSW
Kendra is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in individual, family, and group therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. She uses a client-driven and strengths-based perspective to help individuals process trauma, increase emotional stability, elevate self-esteem, and improve their independent living skills.
Kendra’s expertise is with helping people work through trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and family conflicts and has provided therapy in home, school, and residential settings. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Techniques of Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing. Kendra provides a safe and supportive space for her clients to find their voice, access their strengths, and work towards a healthy and positive life. Kendra loves working with children through teens and prides herself on being able to create rapport and be supportive and productive.
Leanne Sim LAC, ATR-BC
Leanne is a Board Certified and Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Associate Counselor who specializes in individual, family, and group therapy.
She has worked with a variety of populations, and she has a special interest in multiculturalism and diversity. She is specifically interested in the integration of body and mind practices.
Leanne was attracted to art therapy because it offers a space for people to be authentic, without judgment; it invites creative experimentation, exploration, and self-discovery. The art process offers a safe distance for individuals to examine challenging internal and external realities. Leanne applies a gentle and effective approach to self-understanding and change to help clients realize their therapeutic goals.
Ellie Garry, MA
Ellie is an Academic Success Coach who has been helping students and families since 2001. Her approach is solution-oriented, hands-on with an emphasis on skill development, autonomy, follow-through and consistency.
Ellie has a Master’s Degree in Counseling as well as a Master’s in Business Administration. For the past several years, she has been teaching students HOW to be successful academically - not simply content tutoring to help a student pass a test or write a paper. Ellie focuses on study skills, test preparation, note-taking, organization, homework strategy, prioritizing and accountability.
Ellie’s experience as a school guidance counselor has helped her learn exactly what students need. Her unique approach helps students feel competent, improve their process and their grades, and grow.