Our Counselors

Amara Toure, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Amara Toure is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with experience conducting psychiatric evaluations, diagnosing and treating individuals with psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. He has experience providing care to patients of different populations (adolescents, adults, geriatrics and veterans), in different settings (inpatient, outpatient and homecare), with the goals of restoring, improving and stabilizing patients’ mental health. He completed his Master of Science in Nursing (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program) at Eastern Kentucky University. Prior to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner, he received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Maryland school of Nursing. He worked as a psychiatric nurse and a medical surgical nurse at different private and public hospitals, and long-term care facilities, in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia. His practice philosophy emanates from his nursing background that emphasize providing safe, compassionate, and empathetic patient-centered care. He strongly believes in a holistic approach to promote mental health and well-being, and he takes pride in delivering the best evidence based psychiatric care that is individualized to the needs of each patient.

Education

Eastern Kentucky University
Master of Science in Nursing (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner )

Specialties

•  ADHD/ADD
• Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder)
• Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder)
• Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, brief psychotic disorder)
• PTSD

Christian Johnson, LCSW-C

Philosophy of Care

Christian Johnson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Washington, DC, and the State of Maryland. He has 8 years of experience providing therapy and clinical interventions with adults, children, and families in stress management, depression, anxiety, life skills, trauma, autism spectrum disorder, and grief and loss.

He completed his Bachelor(s)  of Arts in Psychology and American Ethnic Studies, with a Minor in Music at the University of Washington-Seattle, and additional studies in Music Education at the University of the District of Columbia. He received his Master of Social Work from Howard University.

Christian uses person-centered, solution-focused, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to help you tell your story, and he integrates useful mindfulness and expressive arts (music and writing) interventions in his practice.

You may be experiencing stress, uncertainty, or hurt related to the things that have happened in your life, people you have known, or the ways that you identify.  Christian wants to help you understand how these thoughts and feelings are real and valuable messages that your brain sends  to help you take action, and recognize when they can sometimes give  ‘false alarms’ that are not helping you move forward to what you want to do, or who you want to be.

You deserve to be completely heard and fully accepted. Christian wants to create a useful space with you to give your inner mind the time it deserves, and develop strategies to deal with day-to-day discomfort as you work toward being the best and most free version of yourself.

Education

Howard University
Master in Social Work

Specialties

• Race and Ethnicity
• LGTBQ (including Faith/Religion Matters)
• Men’s Issues
• Stress Management
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief and Loss

Cierra Redfield, LICSW

Philosophy of Care

Cierra Redfield, originally from Baltimore, MD is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the District of Columbia and has over eight years of compiled experience in working with families and youth seeking help and services for depression, anxiety, life transitions, domestic violence, substance use, and court intervention. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work at Coppin State University and received her Master of Social Work at Howard University. 

Cierra emphasizes the importance of holistic, strength-based, client and family centered, trauma-based, mindfulness based and cognitive behavioral interventions, while utilizing creative and critical thinking, flexibility, cultural sensitivity and interpersonal skills to ensure that the needs of individuals and families are met. 

Cierra’s goal is to create and establish a healthy and caring relationship with you, while identifying your strengths and informal supports to create a better quality of life. By partnering with you, Cierra seeks to help you meet your identified goals, create coping skills, and for you to feel empowered and in control of your life. 

Education

Coppin State University & Howard University
Bachelor of Social Work & Master of Social Work

Specialties

• Trauma
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anger Management
• Life Transitions
• Grief & Loss
• Crisis Intervention

Lazare Shadzeka, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

**Lazare offers Counseling and Medication Management services in English and French

Lazare Shadzeka is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner via the American Nurses Credentialing Center, with privileges in Maryland and Washington DC.  He completed his Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree in 2014, in the renowned Marymount University and while pursuing a calling of serving the adult, elderly and vulnerable communities, he decided to further his education, consequently receiving his Master of Science in Nursing Degree with honors from Walden University. Lazare has accumulated over six enriching years in the provision of holistic care to a wide variety of clients, with psychiatric conditions.

Lazare is an enthusiastic, caring and people-oriented person with an innate skill in managing overall patient care and support with provision of health assessments, psychiatric evaluations, treatment planning, medication management, therapeutic services, client education and regular follow-ups. Client wellness is a priority that drives his full engagement and committed nature.

By starting cordial relationship with Lazare, clients will experience a caring, collaborative, and engaging environment with the goal of improving client outcomes progressively working towards their goals and improving on their daily lives.

Education

Walden University
MSN

Specialties

• Psychiatric Assessments
• Treatment Planning
• Medication Management
• Therapeutic Services
• Counseling Services
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorders
• Schizoaffective Disorders

Nadine Carole Missiet Fogoum, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

** Nadine performs assessment, diagnosis and implements a treatment plan of care including medication management and counseling

Nadine Missiet is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with the American Nurses Credentialing Center in both the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland.  She completed her Master of Science in Nursing Degree at Walden University, and she is caring and compassionate nurse practitioner. She has devoted more than seven years providing holistic care to a wide variety of clients with psychiatric conditions.

As a nurse practitioner, she treats her patients with dignity, respect, and acting with empathy and compassion. She recognizes the importance of both mental and physical well-being, customizing care to respect the individual’s belief, and striving to educate patients on health maintenance and disease prevention that will promote quality living throughout the community. She believes that a patient’s wishes come first, and therefore, each individual should be considered a partner in his/her own care. Keeping a patient informed and well educated before making a decision regarding health is vital.

As a humble nurse practitioner, she will focus more on having her patients become partner in their own care, and be able to gain control and understanding of their own health and well being. At the end of the visit, a patient may not remember the laboratory results or vital signs divulged, but hopefully, they will remember how their practitioner made them feel valuable, empowered, and respected when choosing their provision of care.

Education

Walden University
MSN

Specialties

•  Psychiatric assessments including history and physical
•  Medication management
• Counseling services
• Major depressive disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Personality disorders
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Schizophrenia

Victorine Ngang, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Victorine (Vicky) Ngang is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specialized in treating patients with mental illnesses in Washington DC and Maryland. She is board certified with the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She completed her undergraduate degree from American Sentinel University and pursued her Master degree as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner from Walden University. After working as a registered nurse in several settings, she decided to further her education with specialty in mental health. Her inspiration was driven from the stigma associated with mental health illnesses in the communities. She is a community advocate of mental illness and her grit is to bridge the gap between physical and mental health as well as reduce the stigma about mental health

Victorine (Vicky) is proficient in her role to intervene with vulnerable populations and promote mental health across the lifespan. Her scope of practice include: being an active listener, collaborating and coordinating care, performing a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, obtaining labs and interpreting results as well as prescribing psychotropic medications that are Evidence Base for diagnosis.

Victorine is goal directed towards partnering with you to uncover your unique strengths. She is focus on providing empathic, compassionate, respectable, and acceptable care through assessment, diagnosing, planning, implementing and evaluating.

Education

Walden University
Masters

Specialties

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Panic Disorder
• Attention deficit hyperactive disorder/Attention deficit disorder (ADHD/ADD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Eating disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Psychiatric medication review
• And many more

Amanda Buras, LICSW

Philosophy of Care

Amanda Buras is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Washington, DC who specializes in working with children and families and has significant experience counseling adults with anxiety, depression and trauma. She most enjoys working with children, families and adults who are seeking a safe space to process, grow and improve their relationships with others and self.  Amanda welcomes clients who are seeking growth and fulfillment through improving communication, practicing self-love, becoming more mindful and present and developing positive coping skills. She also has particular knowledge of working on emotional regulation and self-awareness.

Amanda received her Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. She most frequently utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy in conjunction with mindfulness, attachment-based, person-centered and strength-based approaches. Amanda also has specialized training in EMDR, mindful awareness and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her approach to therapy is creating a comfortable space that is accepting and welcomes the expression of vulnerability in many forms and is also thoughtful of varying identities and experiences.

Amanda’s top priority in building a therapeutic relationship is ensuring a safe space for you to be your authentic self and explore the ways you can live the life you truly want.

Specialties

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress management
• Self-esteem
• Parenting/family concerns
• Life transitions
• Women’s issues
• Trauma/PTSD
• ADHD
• Child behavioral issues

Nitika Gupta, LPC

**Nitika offers therapy services in English and Hindi

Nitika Gupta is a Licensed Professional Counselor in D.C. and Pennsylvania, with over seven years of experience helping adults and couples manage challenges such as depression, anxiety, interpersonal conflict, transition-related concerns, trauma, and grief, among others. Nitika earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Southern California and her Masters degrees in mental health counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Nitika personalizes treatment to fit your needs, using techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy. Her counseling style is collaborative and compassionate, providing a welcoming, nonjudgmental space where you can feel empowered to be the ultimate expert on your situation.

Nitika believes that therapy is not meant to “fix” you, because you are not broken; rather, it is meant to nurture you while you reflect on your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Through an interactive journey, Nitika aims to establish trusting relationships with individuals and couples, come up with goals, and find meaningful and effective solutions.

Nitika’s specialties:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Self-esteem issues
• Stress management
• Personality disorders
• Relationship concerns
• Grief and bereavement
• Acculturation- and transition-related concerns

Kimberly Ngo, LPC

Kimberly Ngo is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the District of Colombia and a National Certified Counselor. She has worked with adults seeking help with anxiety, depression, stress, addiction, life transitions, and relationships issues who want to work through their struggles to live a more healthy and happy life. She has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hawaii Pacific University and a Master of Art in Marriage and Family Counseling from Gonzaga University. 

Kimberly approaches therapy by applying person centered, narrative, cognitive behavioral, solution focused, emotionally focused, collaborative, and asking stimulating questions. She always maintains an open ear, flexibility, and awareness necessary to best meet the needs of every unique individual and couple.

By navigating through the bumps in your life Kimberly seeks to establish a safe, caring, and warm relationship with you. Through collaborating and gaining insight with you to assist in reaching your goals and living a more desirable, meaningful life you value.

Kimberly’s specialties:

• Anxiety
• Stress management
• Substance
• Life transitions
• Self esteem
• Depression
• Relationship issues
• Grief & Loss
• Anger management
• Trauma