Dr. Deirdre Williams, DSW, LCSW

Dr. Deirdre Williams is a psychotherapist, educator, consultant, speaker, and nonprofit leader with nearly two decades of clinical experience and more than 20 years of organizational leadership. She earned her Master of Social Work and Doctor of Social Work degrees from New York University. Her career is dedicated to advancing mental health care, promoting social justice, and supporting individuals, families, and communities that have experienced barriers to quality care.

Dr. Williams has extensive experience working with individuals in complex settings, including jails, juvenile justice facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and community-based programs. Her clinical approach integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), multisystemic family therapy, mindfulness, and anti-oppressive practice. She believes therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, culturally responsive, and grounded in empathy, curiosity, and respect for each client’s lived experience.

Dr. Williams currently consults with an outpatient clinic, providing clinical expertise and guidance to support effective, responsive care. She also serves as the Executive Clinical Director of Dear Diary Psychotherapy, where she provides leadership, mentorship, and clinical direction to the practice and its team.

As an educator and presenter, Dr. Williams speaks on restorative justice, racial equity, cultural humility, systemic change, and shared traumatic stress. Whether providing therapy, supervision, consultation, training, or organizational leadership, she is committed to helping individuals and teams develop insight, resilience, and meaningful pathways forward.

Sean White is a licensed Master Social Worker and is Seminar Training in Field Instruction (SIFI) certified in New York State. Sean has 8 years of experience providing treatment and service to children, families and the community focusing on students in temporary housing and trauma informed care. Sean has supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate social work student interns and has mentored numerous staff. He has over 20 years of human service experience working for local and national crisis hotlines, Government and Non-Governmental Organizations, foster care agencies and families under the Administration for Children Services. 

Frances is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with over 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families. Her career spans impactful roles within the New York City Department of Education, the Department of Children’s Services, and Early Childhood Intervention, where she delivers trauma-informed, family-centered support across diverse settings.

Her clinical expertise centers on trauma-informed care, social-emotional learning, and targeted crisis intervention strategies that enhance emotional regulation, behavior, and coping mechanisms.

Dedicated to cultivating culturally responsive and empowering spaces, she collaborates closely with families, educators, and community partners to establish individualized goals and achieve measurable outcomes. Through teletherapy, she offers accessible, compassionate care designed to foster long-term resilience and emotional well-being

Kristal Daniels is a compassionate mental health counselor with over five years of experience as a school counselor. She works with adolescents and adults in New York City since 2014, providing a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients can feel heard, understood, and empowered.

Kristal uses a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach to help clients explore the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Her approach is collaborative, practical, and tailored to each client’s unique needs. Clients can expect to learn practical coping strategies and, when appropriate, receive therapeutic homework to practice skills between sessions.

Kristal supports clients navigating anxiety and depression, stress and burnout, life transitions, grief and loss, self-esteem, trauma, family concerns, and work-life balance. She believes therapy is a collaborative process and that meaningful change can happen when clients feel supported while developing tools to manage life’s challenges.

Outside of her work, Kristal enjoys soca music and spending time at the beach. She values the importance of finding balance, making time for joy, and caring for yourself.

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel difficult. Kristal is committed to meeting you where you are and supporting you on your journey toward healing, growth, and greater well-being.

**Limited Permit

Stephanie is a faith-based, compassionate social worker with extensive experience providing community-based mental health services to high-risk families, trauma survivors, and individuals experiencing housing instability. She is Skilled in crisis intervention, person-centered assessment, discharge planning, and interdisciplinary care coordination. In her work to provide services to an underserved population, she conducted home and community visits, supporting transitions from institutional or foster care settings to community stability, and connecting clients to housing, education, healthcare, and essential services. Overall, she is a Bilingual (English/Haitian Creole) clinician committed to culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice.

Zaida is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with over 23 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families through the NYC Department of Education and early childhood intervention. Her professional experience includes trauma-informed care, social-emotional support, crisis intervention and de-escalation, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) service intervention, and advocacy for students and families. She’s also a New York State Seminar Training Field Instructor (SIFI) Certified Social Worker, with experience supporting and mentoring social work students as they develop their clinical knowledge and professional skills. As a bilingual English- and Spanish-speaking social worker, she is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and culturally responsive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. She uses a compassionate, strengths-based approach to help individuals and families navigate emotional and behavioral challenges, develop effective coping skills, and build resilience. She believes in the importance of collaboration and work closely with families, schools, and community resources to support each client’s unique needs and goals. Through teletherapy, she strives to provide accessible, meaningful, and individualized care that promotes positive growth, emotional well-being, and lasting progress.

Julie has worked in the Human Resources field for 20+ years in both the for profit and not for profit sectors. She encompasses exceptional customer service, communication, and time management skills. She leads with compassion and a sense of humor.

Her duties include a wide range of charge entry, database set-up to client meetings and training, and her dedication to client success is unsurpassed. She’s also an Embodied Healing coach helping women in burnout, heal their trauma so they can get out of survival mode and live a slow and joyful life.