Paul H. Gevirtzman is a New York State licensed Clinical Social Worker whose psychotherapy practice focuses on individual, couples and family counseling. He is the Clinical Director of The Counseling Center of WNY and he maintains offices in Buffalo and Amherst as well as provides home visits for the elderly or for individuals with physical special needs.
 
With over 20 years of experience as a clinician and a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Social Work and Niagara University Graduate School of Education, Paul specializes in working with individuals facing life transition and adjustment difficulties, with people experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, with the elderly and their caregivers, with survivors of trauma (both physical, emotional and sexual), with individuals victimized by domestic/intimate partner violence and with members of the gay and lesbian community, especially around issues of self-acceptance and family re-stabilization. He is also a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles alcoholism and substance abuse treatment provider.

Paul is a practical, interactive and solution-focused therapist. He offers a full range of mental health and supportive counseling opportunities as well as more traditional insight-oriented therapy for those struggling with life transition events. His treatment approach is to provide support, direction and feedback to help clients resolve current problems and long standing patterns of behavior which have been identified as not being in their best interests. He includes a blend of conventional and alternative approaches, drawing upon a variety of styles and techniques to incorporate what would be most helpful for each client. With sensitivity and compassion, he helps individuals to build upon their strengths and to identify and achieve life goals.

Paul is currently a consultant to the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York and to the Erie County Department of Senior Services, an adjunct faculty member in the School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo and provides executive coaching and staff development training as well as clinical supervision for social workers seeking their NYS licensure. Paul was formerly the Director of the Senior Adult Department and The Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Demonstration Project at Jewish Family Service and prior to that he was the Director of Resident Services at Benedict House, a residence for people living with AIDS.
 
Paul has presented at national conferences and to general audiences on subjects ranging from: Stress Reduction;  Developing Positive Self Esteem; Communication Skills; Intimate Partner Violence within Gay & Lesbian Relationships; Overcoming Depression & Anxiety; Clinical Supervision; Relationships and Sexuality;  Cultural Diversity/Sensitivity In The Workplace and Spirituality in Therapy. He has conducted workshops/seminarsfor a variety of community agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, Catholic Charities, the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Church Mission of Help, and the Erie County Department of Mental Health. Paul has presented on topics specifically related to mental health, diagnostics and treatment, working with the elderly and end of life issues for the Brookdale Institute, the National Association of Social Workers, the Community Health Foundation Clinical Advisory Board, the University Of Buffalo School Of Social Work, School of Medicine and Law School, the Network On Aging and the Erie County Department of Senior Services.





Judy Breny is a New York State licensed Clinical Social Worker whose psychotherapy practice is based on a Jungian perspective. With over 20 years of experience as a clinician, Judy specializes in working with people who are survivors of trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She has extensive training in using EMDR (www.emdr.com) as part of her therapeutic approach for helping people with anxiety, panic disorders and shame related issues. She also works with individuals with eating disorders. Judy's practice includes an emphasis on spirituality and it's relationship to her client's overall well being.

Judy offers counseling that is supportive, individualized and interactive. She is flexible in her use of counseling styles and she employs traditional and alternative techniques. She is creative in her approach to assisting clients in utilizing their strengths while minimizing their reliance on challenging behavior patterns.

Matthew Goeckel is a social worker specializing in working with individuals with chemical dependency problems. With over 10 years of clinical practice in this area, he combines a straightforward style with a proven history of helping individuals address the emotional issues underlying addictive behaviors.

One of his areas of expertise in this regard is in working with people who experience recurrent symptoms of anxiety. Since one of the manifestations of anxiety is obsessive/compulsive thinking/behaving, Matthew views most addictions - including alcohol, recreational drug use and sexual addictions - as behaviors taken to excess which are intrusive and inappropriate. The defining factor is that the cognitions or behaviors are ego-dystonic - in other words, they result in feelings of distress or guilt. Matthew’s focus is on treating both the symptoms and the causal factors that fuel the desire to cope with emotional pain and anxiety by escaping into repetitive and persistent patterns of behavior. His gestalt is direct and solution focused.





Monika Feinberg is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose psychotherapy practice focuses on children, teens and adults, individuals and families. Monika’s area of specialty and expertise lies with serious / terminal illness, grief and loss.

Monika has nineteen years of social work experience in various areas being a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo and prior to a degree as Registered Nurse since 1987. Specialty areas in counseling encompass mental health, physical (serious illness) grief and loss transitions.

Monika’s reputation precedes her  the highest regard and respect from former colleagues and clients. Her quality assets compliment her therapy work with all clients on a daily basis, focusing on a spiritual level of healing the mind and body together. Monika incorporates her creative and client focused goals into positive and client strength coping skills.

Monika’s professional experience also includes fifteen years of support groups as a facilitator for various groups. In addition to having been invited on numerous occasions to present at grief / loss workshops for both community and work situations where there has been a traumatic and / or sudden death.





Daniel J. Young is the Office Manager and Billing Specialist for The Counseling Center of WNY. All insurance, authorization requests and billing questions can be directed to him. He can be reached directly at 716-408-2525. Daniel has extensive experience in medical billing and will be able to answer any billing questions or concerns you might have.