Counseling Center Staff

Email: bstarkadler@iona.edu

Dr. Brielle Stark-Adler received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Fordham University. Since receiving her doctorate, she has specialized in collegiate and young adult mental health. Dr. Stark-Adler has clinical experience in a variety of treatment settings, including inpatient psychiatry, outpatient community mental health care, inpatient and outpatient substance abuse, and several college counseling centers. Her professional interests include identity development and individuation, religion and spirituality, romantic relationships and sexuality, and clinical training and supervision.

Email: lmcglynn@iona.edu

Lauren McGlynn graduated from New York University with a Master of Social Work degree and obtained additional licensure in clinical practice. She completed a clinical internship as a forensic social worker specializing in incarcerated adolescents and young adults. Lauren also spent six years working on inpatient psychiatry units at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Her primary focus was on the treatment of addiction and she has extensive experience working with substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors. She has received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Beck Institute and is experienced in the use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Her professional interests include substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors including social media usage, relationships and sexual identity exploration, and issues related to trauma.

Email: aswoish@iona.edu

Ali Swoish (she/her) graduated from Columbia University with her M.A. and Ed.M. in Mental Health Counseling. She received her undergraduate degree from New York University, studying Applied Psychology with a focus on adolescent mental health. Ali has a specialization in working with neurodivergent children, adolescents, and emerging adults in a variety of settings, including music therapy, education, college counseling, community mental health, dance, and yoga. She served as the Dolce Postgraduate Fellow at Iona while working with neurodivergent emerging adults in both a counseling and classroom setting. Ali's other clinical interests are sexuality and gender identity exploration, as well as issues related to trauma. She utilizes an integrative approach, incorporating both the mind and body into her counseling to create a holistic space for individuals to create meaningful connections within themselves and with one another.

Email: esavage@iona.edu

Emma Savage (she/her) graduated from Fordham University with her M.S.Ed in Mental Health Counseling. She received her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University, studying English. Emma is also a registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. She completed her clinical externship at Iona University Counseling Center, where she provided individual counseling and mindfulness and yoga-based outreach for emerging adults on campus. She also served as the Dolce Postgraduate Fellow at Iona, specializing in working with Neurodivergent emerging adults in both a counseling and classroom setting. She is the instructor for Gael Chat: Social Communication, which is an experiential learning environment in which students set and achieve goals to expand their skill sets related to social connectedness. Emma’s other clinical interests include intimate partner violence, family issues, and mindfulness. Emma utilizes a collaborative approach to create a warm and safe atmosphere for individuals to understand themselves better and make meaningful changes.

Margaret Bohan joined the staff of the Iona University Counseling Center in 1989, following a seven-year tenure in the Counseling Center at the University of New Rochelle. In addition to providing administrative and technical support to Center staff, she supervises all student workers and participates in special events and projects such as the Honors Convocation and the Middle States Accreditation Process. She has also served as a member of the Iona University Sexual Harassment Task Force, which promulgated the University's policies and procedures on sexual harassment. Additionally, she has served as a member of the Human Resource & Compensation Committee and the Information Technology Committee of the Staff and Administrative Council (SAC). In March 2007, she was the recipient of the Woman of Achievement Award at Iona University.

Alexa received her Psy.D. in school-community psychology from Hofstra University. She has trained in a variety of settings, including public high schools, Hofstra’s specialty emerging adults and autism clinics, and most recently completed her doctoral internship at Farmingdale State College Campus Mental Health Services. Throughout her training, Alexa has developed a specialization in working with neurodivergent adolescents and emerging adults. She is particularly interested in supporting individuals on the autism spectrum to find meaning in their diagnosis, strengthen their relationships and navigate emerging adulthood. Alexa is trained as a cognitive behavioral therapist, and works with an accepting, strengths-based approach. Her other professional interests include cognitive processing of trauma, alleviating loneliness, and neurodevelopmental disability diagnosis.

Finola is a second-year graduate student completing her Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Fordham University. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY with a minor in English. Her areas of clinical focus include family dynamics, addiction and recovery, and treatment of trauma. She is also interested in relational and insight-oriented psychotherapy, and provides care using an integrative theoretical model.

Stephanie (she/her/hers) is a second-year Master’s student in Teachers College's Mental Health Counseling program. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. Stephanie brings a commitment to multiculturalism and a passion for supporting individuals of various backgrounds in overcoming life challenges to her work as a clinician. She firmly believes that genuine human connections form the cornerstone of effective therapy. With curiosity and compassion, Stephanie looks forward to assisting her clients embark on a collaborative journey of self-discovery and healing. Her clinical interests include exploring and processing emotions in therapy, particularly those related to early attachment experiences and relational dynamics, and promoting awareness and understanding of neurodiversity. Stephanie practices from a trauma-informed lens that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy with a strength-based approach.

Beverly (she/her/hers) is a second-year Ph.D. student in clinical psychology at Montclair State University. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Pennsylvania State University. Beverly has experience practicing as a therapeutic recreation leader at a memory care clinic, where she developed expertise in techniques that strengthen executive functioning, self-regulation, and aggression management skills. Beverly’s clinical focus is on providing culturally responsive care, cultivating social justice, and fostering supportive networks for diverse populations.