Riverside’s Pastoral Counseling Center is a life-line of hope and growth for people in the Riverside congregation, and larger N.Y. community, who are in need of help at critical points in their lives. Clients may face depression, anxiety, loss, work issues, stress, or relationship issues, and need someone “in their corner” for professional help. The Counseling Center provides a diverse, multi-racial staff of well-trained psychotherapists and marital and family counselors. The therapists have a deep respect for spiritual needs, as well as the psychotherapeutic process, in helping clients develop their true potential as effective and loving human beings.

Founded and directed by the Rev. Dr. Joan Kavanaugh, the Counseling Center provides a wide range of counseling services: individual, pre-marital, couples, family, divorce, bereavement. It charges fees on a sliding-scale basis. The Center also provides workshops for the congregation. These have included Imago Couples workshops, workshops on parenting, spirituality, sexuality, stress management, and anger, to name a few.

To make an appointment, call 212.870.6750.

Professional Affiliations
Staff counselors are accountable to different professional organizations and state licensing boards for standards of practice and ethics.

These include:
American Association of Pastoral Counselors
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Academy of Certified Social Workers
American Psychological Association
National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis

 Download Brochure (pdf)

Director
Rev. Dr. Joan L. Kavanaugh, D.Min. Diplomate,
A.A.P.C.; Supervisor, A.A.M.F.T., LMHC

Staff Therapists:
Constance Carr-Shepherd, M.A., LMFT
Rev. Carol Fox, M.Phil., Psychoanalyst
Ivy Frenkel, LCSW
Virginia Griffin-Chapman, M.S.
John Kavanaugh, LCSW
Wendy Nelson, M.Ed., LMFT

Administrator:
Elaine Sorel 212.870.6750

Psychiatric Consultant
Alan Medina, M.D., Medical Supervisor and Consultant