1-917-714-4794
The Empowerment Opportunity, LCSW, PLLC
Holistic & Compassionate Psychotherapy
Empowerment Opportunity
We believe people are always evolving, and that mindset is critical."“As grown-ups, we are still making the use of prejudices and fallacies of our childhood as though they were sacred laws” (Adler 1927, p. 166).
Taking the time to reflect on your life can be truly transformative and healing. Stress, shifting moods, trauma, even relational misunderstandings can deplete you of hope and motivation. The appropriate therapy with the right therapist can help you change your perspective and patterns that are no longer working. It can also help replace shame and self recrimination with
self compassion. Therapy can help you see the true beauty in your reflection and offer you an opportunity of personal empowerment and growth.
"Compassion is the strongest therapeutic agent in existence. It's potential for constructive growth and human creative possibility is almost limitless. Self-hate is the strongest human anti therapeutic agent in existence. Its potential for destructive possibility is almost limitless. To those of us interested in human growth and enhancement of inner peace, it is vital to examine and understand these forces. This is the only way to undermine self-hate, to potentiate compassion and to reduce internal despair" (Theodore Rubin, 1975, p. 17) Author of Compassion and Self-Hate: An Alternative to Despair.
Meet Dr. Mary McCluskey
Dr. Mary McCluskey earned her MSW from Columbia School of Social Work and her doctoral degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Policy and Practice. She has been practicing clinical social work for over fifteen years and has a certification in psychodynamic psychotherapy from The American Institute of Psychoanalysis. She has taught social work at the University of Pennsylvania, Fordham University and Simmons College.
She has also taught psychodynamic therapy at the American Institute for Psychoanalysis (AIP) and a practice course for the AIP program in China. She has also been a clinical group supervisor for this program.
Meet Alena Kwong
Alena Kwong is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) and integrative psychotherapist. She received her Masters of Social Work from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work.
Alena comes from a holistic nutrition and wellness coach background and is also a certified yoga teacher and Reiki Master.
As someone who has immersed in her own healing journey with the use of mindfulness practices of yoga, meditation and spirituality, she firmly believes in the interconnectedness of the mind, body, soul and spirit to one’s state of healing and wellness.
Meet Nicoleen Prince-Burrell
Nicoleen Prince-Burrell is a licensed therapist (LMSW) who earned her Master of Social Work degree from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work. As a therapist, Nicoleen enjoys working with clients from diverse backgrounds on issues such as stress management, depression, anxiety, and helping to improve general well-being. Nicoleen utilizes a variety of approaches and modalities including psychodynamic theory, cognitive behavior therapy, and mindfulness. She guides clients to increased self-awareness and acceptance to move towards the changes that they seek.
Meet Molly Bagli
Molly Bagli, LMSW is here to help. Molly graduated from New York University School of Social Work. For the last two years, Molly has been working in school settings directly helping kids from kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as their parents. She has worked one-on-one with children, as well as run groups that help address various developmental issues including coping with emotions, making friends, and dealing with stress and conflict.
Working collaboratively with you, we will help you see the world in a new way, one that incorporates your unique contributions and leads to inner peace.
Publications & Podcast
McCluskey, M.C. (2016). The Pregnant Therapist: A Qualitative Examination of the Client Experience. Clinical Social Work Journal. DOI 10.1007/s10615-016-0599-9
McCluskey, M. C. (2021). Revitalizing Alfred Adler: An Echo for Equality. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedited version of an article published in Clinical Social Work Journal. The final authenticated version will be available online at DOI: 10.1007/s10615-021-00793-0
Adler Article
The Inner Peace Diet Podcast, Host, Dr. Aileen McCabe-Maucher, Guest Speaker, Dr. Mary McCluskey (2019) Topic: Self-Care
Click to listen to podcast
