Meet Our Providers

Providers in private practice at Union Counseling locations include:  Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Licensed Mental Health Counselors that provide a full spectrum of mental health services to children, adolescents, adults and families.

Sharon Finch, NPP  

Sharon is a New York State licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years experience in mental health

SPECIALTIES:  Psychiatric evaluation and medication management for adults

OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth

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Mark is a New York State licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years experience in mental health

SPECIALTIES:  Psychiatric evaluation and medication management for adults

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Malta and Telehealth

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Anita Liddle, PMHNP-BC

Anita is a New York State licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years in nursing.

BIOGRAPHY: Anita is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practioner (PMHNP-BC) having graduated from Pace University with a Post-Master’s Certificate.  Anita also holds a Master of Nursing Education degree from SUNY Delhi and is a member of the Sigma Theta International Honor Society of Nursing.  Anita has been a nurse for over 25 years.  Anita serves patients from the age of 12 through elder adulthood with a particular focus on anxiety, depression, PTSD, mood disorders and LGBTQIA+ communities.

SPECIALTIES:  Psychiatric evaluation and medication management for adolescents and adults

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Niskayuna and Telehealth

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Andrea Berkowitz LCSW-R 

Andrea is a New York State License Clinical Social Worker

SPECIALTIES:  Treatment of Affective Disorders, Interpersonal/Relationship Concerns, Resolving Childhood Trauma Issues, Recovery Issues. 

BIOGRAPHY:  Andrea sees Individuals, Couples, and Families.

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Niskayuna, Malta and Telehealth

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Shannon Bernard Adams LMHC, NCC

Shannon is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor &  Nationally Certified Counselor

SPECIALTIES: Children, Couples, and Families from the age of 5 to Geriatric. Marital/Relational Conflicts, Depression, Anxiety, Bereavement, Domestic and Sexual Abuse, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, PTSD, Disruptive Behaviors/Anger Management, Phobias, and Adjustment Disorders.

BIOGRAPHY: Shannon received her Masters of Arts in Clinical Counseling in 2006, and offers over 16 years of experience counseling children, adolescents, and adults in both community and private practice settings. Shannon is passionate about helping others identify and establish goals in order to help them move beyond stressful and difficult situations of the past and present through individual, couples, family and group therapy. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, play therapy, and solutions focused therapies to encourage clients to find hope in the midst of daily struggles. She looks forward to meeting and working with you as you embark on this therapeutic journey.

OFFICE LOCATION:  Niskayuna and Telehealth

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​Walda Chesnut, LCSW-R

Walda is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker

SPECIALTIES: Trauma, Affective Illnesses, Grief & Loss issues, Dealing with Chronic Illnesses, Anxiety/Panic disorders, and clients trying to cope with disruptive life transitions. Walda works with adults 18 years and older.

BIOGRAPHY:  Walda has over 20 years experience and training since graduating with a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service.  Walda spent the beginning of her career working with children and their families and enjoys working with people from all backgrounds, cultures, sexual-orientations, and religions.  Walda is trained in, and utilizes, an eclectic mix of evidenced-based psychotherapies including, but not limited to:  CBT, DBT, & EMDR to ensure that the work is tailored to meet the needs of each individual client. Walda has found that the Strengths-Based Approach/Theory and Mindfulness work well together to create a cornerstone for the growth of the emergent self. 

OFFICE LOCATION: Telehealth Only

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Andrew Chestnut, LCSW-R

Andrew is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Niskayuna and Telehealth

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Tracy Clark, LCSW-R 

Tracy is a New York State License Clinical Social Worker

​OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth

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Dawn Constantine, LCSW-R  

Dawn is a New York State Licensed Certified Social Worker

SPECIALTIES: Adolescents and Adults

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Malta and Telehealth

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Sarah Cummings-McDonald, LMHC 

Sarah is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor & National Certified Counselor

SPECIALTIES: Children, Adolescents, Adults

OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth

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Eugene Gardner, LCSW-R

Eugene is a New York State Licensed Certified Social Worker

SPECIALTIES: Children, Adults, and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

BIOGRAPHY:  Eugene has over 25 years experience working as an individual, couples, and family therapist.  Eugene holds a Masters in Education from Tufts University and a Masters in Social Work from the State University of New York at Albany.

OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth

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David Handy, LCSW-R  

David is a New York State Licensed Certified Social Worker

SPECIALTIES: Adolescents, Adults

BIOGRAPHY: David Handy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and retired United Methodist minister with a combined experience of 38 years.  He has considerable experience in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and survivors of childhood abuse.  David is especially experienced in guiding people through grief and loss, bereavement and other life transitions.  He also works with people experiencing mood and anxiety disorders, as well as those struggling to adapt to unexpected life changes.  As a retired minister, David is adept at addressing spiritual issues when that is the focus of the client.. As a lover of American history, he is the author or McKean’s Sunday School Boys Go to War:  The Story of the 77th Bemis Heights Battalion in the Great Rebellion.

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Malta, Niskayuna and Telehealth

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Dawn Howk, LMHC 

Dawn is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor & National Certified Counselor

BIOGRAPHY: Dawn received a Master of Science in Community Counseling from Wilmington University, Wilmington, DE. and has worked in the field of mental health for over 20 years.  Dawn utilizes a person centered, cognitive behavioral approach that combines insight with practical, concrete suggestions which allows the client to achieve their goals. Her role is to be supportive, informative, and to help clients develop new behaviors that facilitate personal growth and optimal wellness.  Through evaluation, assessment, counseling, case management, and the utilization of community resources, Dawn provides an approach that is unique to the adults, adolescents and families she works with in her practice.

SPECIALTIES: Individuals, Families, Couples, Adolescents and Adults who are working through:  Depression, Anxiety,  PTSD; Interpersonal Conflicts, Body Image and Self-Esteem and Life Stage Transitions.

​OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth

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Marcia Lawton, LMHC

Marcia is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor

SPECIALTIES: Children, Adolescents and Adults

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Niskayuna and Telehealth

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Stephanie Musliner, LCSW

Stephanie is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker

SPECIALTIES: Adolescents and Adults

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Malta, Niskayuna and Telehealth

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Peter Peluso, LCSW-R 

Peter is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker

SPECIALTIES: Mental Health and Substance Abuse – Adults 25 years and older

BIOGRAPHY: Peter graduated with a Masters in Social Work form the State University of New York at Albany and has over 18 years of experience working as a Clinical Social Worker.  Peter enjoys working with people who are motivated to make the necessary changes to improve their lives, but need assistance and professional guidance at this time in their life.

OFFICE LOCATION: Malta and Telehealth

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Carol Praga, LMHC 

Carol is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor

SPECIALTIES: Adult Individual and Couples Counseling, Affective Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Life Transitions

BIOGRAPHY:  Carol received her undergraduate degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and her graduate degree from Russell Sage College.  Carol has over 20 years of counseling experience and is a past board member of the North American Association of Master’s Level Psychologists.

​OFFICE LOCATION: Niskayuna and Telehealth

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Lisa Tobin, LCSW-R

Lisa is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker

SPECIALTIES:  Children, Adolescents, and Adults struggling with Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, Trauma (PTSD), Body Image, Grief and Loss

BIOGRAPHY:  Lisa has over 25 years of experience providing client centered, trauma informed, and empowering clinical services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Lisa received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Fordham University, as well as a Masters degree in Education from the College of St. Rose.  Lisa has also pursued the advancement of human services and social welfare education as an adjunct professor at The State University of New York at Albany’s Graduate School of Social Welfare, Cazenovia College, and Hudson Valley Community College, teaching concurrently.Lisa has served the Capital Region in Leadership positions dedicated to improving the quality of life for people affected with adverse psycho-social conditions, mental health issues, and addiction. These positions include Director of Clinical Services, Director of Program Operations, and Clinical Quality Improvement.

​OFFICE LOCATIONS:  Niskayuna and Telehealth

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