New Professionals Program
AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO HAVE GREAT THERAPY!!
Our New Professionals Program offers Masters level interns and new graduates for your therapy needs.
Fees range from 75-110.00 per hour.
Summer Abbott, MA, LPMFT
Pronouns: she/her
Summer graduated from Syracuse University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Department. She has experience working with individuals, couples, and teens/children experiencing life transitions. She has specialized training in Trauma and uses EFT and behavior based models.
Claudette E. Dones, CASAC-T
Pronouns: she/her
Claudette brings over 17 years of experience in human services to the therapy room. She is an MA candidate in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University and a NYS OASAS Certified Substance Use Counselor-Trainee (CASAC-T) with 3 years of experience as a Substance Use Counselor. Claudette has extensive knowledge of working with diverse populations, including high-risk individuals, and her work experience encompasses grief and loss, end-of-life decisions, substance use disorders, and high-risk youth.
Claudette’s clinical focus includes attachment styles, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Neuro-Feedback, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Therapy. In her free time, she enjoys nature walks, reading, swimming, and listening to music. Her motto is, “You’re the driver of your life and I’m the GPS!”
Caroline Epperson, Resident Intern
Pronouns: she/her
Caroline is completing her masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Syracuse University. Caroline has extensive work experience with children and families in turmoil and intimate relationship systems and couples navigating communication and conflict. She brings her calm compassionate presence to clients in need. Caroline’s experiences with a variety of family systems provides a seasoned, accepting therapy experience. At Alkira she sees couples, families, children and teens.
Caroline believes in affirmative therapy techniques and pursuing a strength based approach with each individual, couple, and family.
Emet Oden, Resident Intern
Pronouns: he/him
Emet Oden is an MA candidate in Marriage and Family Therapy at Syracuse University with experience working with youth, couples and families, and clients in crisis. He is a Gottman Level 1 provider and has additional training in Discernment Therapy for couples considering divorce. Emet has training and experience in gender expansive and affirming care and the LGBTQ+ community.
Emet’s warmth, empathy and curiosity creates a comfortable and welcoming environment from the first encounter. Emet uses a clinical framework of trauma-informed care and cultural humility, and he is informed by Emotionally Focused Therapy and Narrative Practices.
Alyssa Urteaga, MA, LPMFT
Pronouns: she/her
Alyssa Urteaga has received her masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, with advanced studies in trauma informed practices, from Syracuse University. She has experience working with individuals, couples, children and families facing a variety of challenges. Alyssa has received additional training to work with members of the LGBTQ+ community seeking letters for gender affirming care and assisting couples in the discernment process.
She seeks to create a collaborative space that will allow clients to grow in numerous aspects of their life and relationships. Alyssa believes that transparency, trust, safety, and open-mindedness are essential components when developing a beneficial therapeutic relationship and brings natural warmth and compassion. Alyssa utilizes a multitude of therapeutic techniques, including Emotionally Focused Therapy, Experiential Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Gottman methods, and a direct approach.
Sophia Widdekind, Resident Intern
Pronouns: she/her
Sophia Widdekind is an MA candidate in Marriage & Family Therapy from Syracuse University working with individuals, couples, and families here at Alkira. She is a Gottman Level 1 provider and has additional training in Discernment Therapy for couples.
Sophia is passionate about working with couples to improve their relationships and working with children using the family systems lens. She recognizes that each system has different dynamics and is dedicated to providing treatment that is unique to the needs of each client.
She brings experience in gender expansive and affirming care, inviting her clients to be their authentic selves in therapy. Sophia’s empathy and compassion and her focus on the clients’ narratives offers safe conversations for healing and growth in therapy.
Outside of the therapy room Sophia has creative interests including painting and sculpting, music, and performing arts.
Why do you have interns?
At Alkira, we believe and follow best care practices-working together to hone our clinical skills in a small group practice to bring you the best of our individual clinical abilities from our shared vision of compassion, openness and hope.
To do this well, we blend current knowledge and approaches brought by our field’s newest clinicians with our licensed therapists’ many decades of experience. Our new intern clinicians come to Alkira to be part of our shared vision and learn from our most seasoned therapists, bringing with them knowledge of the most advanced research and therapeutic approaches and the excitement of learning and helping you.
How does this work?
You schedule an appointment with an intern/LP whose approach and schedule works well for you, and just like therapy everywhere, you meet and discuss your concerns.
The added benefit is what happens in between your sessions: your therapist consults with their supervisor and together they decide how to best help you. The supervisor can join your session now and then if desired as well. Because of this collaboration, when working with an intern you also gain the benefit of an additional therapist’s expertise without the additional cost.
With smaller caseloads to ensure focused supervision for every client, new therapists are able to be more flexible in scheduling, and have more time to plan your session and research beneficial interventions tailored specifically to you or your child.
Can I use insurance?
In some instances, insurance can be used either on plan or out of network. For those that will not reimburse, we offer reduced rates of 40.00-60.00 per hour.
What do I do next?
Email alkiraintake@gmail.com or call the office at 315-492-1390 ask about Alkira’s interns or limited-permit staff.