Tenika earned her Bachelor of Science in May 2016 at Western Connecticut State University. She joined Wesleyan in 2016 as a Public Safety officer, where she developed an enthusiasm for the Wesleyan community. Throughout her career, Tenika has also worked as a 911 Dispatcher and a Social Worker for The Department of Children and Families. She has a strong sense of community and has been part of the Middletown community her whole life. Wesleyan has always been like home to her.

In January 2022, Tenika joined Counseling and Psychology Services (CAPS) as a Case Manager and is very excited to be a part of the team. She is passionate about establishing and maintaining relationships with University staff/faculty, students, and community providers. In this role, she hopes to work with her colleagues to bring a positive light to the importance of mental health and meet the individual needs of each student.

When not working at CAPS, Tenika enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading fiction, listening to music, and learning new recipes.

Dr. D'Andrea is a licensed clinical psychologist who has served as the director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) since June 2011. She earned her Ph.D. from Fordham University in 2003 and completed her postdoctoral specialization at Yale University Medical School. She also has a Master of Education from Boston College and a BA from College of the Holy Cross. Dr. D'Andrea focused her clinical training in the treatment of serious mental illness, the early detection and prevention of psychotic spectrum disorders, and the cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Following completion of her postdoctoral training, she served as the clinical director of a residential treatment facility for adolescent girls, and she spent several years working in a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital in both direct clinical and management capacities. In these arenas, her areas of clinical concentration have included psychotherapy with LGBTQ+ adolescents and survivors of chronic trauma. At Wesleyan CAPS, Dr. D’Andrea initiated and leads the WESupport workshop series and student group, which prepares students to be peer mental health advocates.  When not at CAPS, Dr. D’Andrea enjoys rollerskating with her twin daughters, reading fiction, gardening, and hiking in the national parks.

Allisia Green is a Licensed Professional Counselor who joined the Counseling and Psychological Services team in March 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT in 2012 and then earned her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Bay Path University in 2016.

Much of Allisia’s experience has been working with the adolescent and emerging adult population both in individual outpatient and acute care settings, such as extended day treatment and partial hospitalization programs. Allisia takes a person-centered approach really working to meet each student where they are at and working collaboratively to create the best solution focused plan to reach a sense of accomplishment and establishing a sense of purpose. Some areas of specialty for Allisia include working through adjustment to life changes, relationships, self-esteem, and trauma. Allisia is certified in trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT) where she has been able to apply and adapt strategies to support the emerging adult population.

In her free time, Allisia enjoys spending time with her family and exploring and trying new foods and restaurants.

I am originally from Connecticut and received my PsyD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Hartford.  I have provided therapy and outreach in college counseling settings throughout my training, and I have a developed a special interest in working with ADHD concerns and students who identify as neurodivergent. 

In therapy, I aim to help you understand your stressors and use your strengths to navigate difficult life transitions and develop healthy and effective coping skills.  I use psychodynamic and interpersonal process approaches to explore your relationships to yourself, others, thoughts, and emotions.  I also enjoy integrating other strategies and skills such as mindfulness, values explorations, self-compassion, and acceptance.  I believe our relationship is the most important and effective tool in therapy, and I aim to be my authentic self while meeting with you.  I value warmth, genuineness, openness, collaboration, and empathic listening throughout treatment to help you feel connected and empowered.  Humor is also a welcome friend in therapy with me when appropriate.

Outside of work, I enjoy playing video games (especially Zelda, Metroid, Smash Bros, etc.), drawing, watching Marvel and Star Wars movies and shows, playing with my small but energized dog named Astro, and keeping up with the running meme chats I have with my wife and friends.

Aleksandra Kinard is a psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioner at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). She earned her masters degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing from Yale University and her BSN from Quinnipiac University. Aleksandra completed her internship at Yale Child Study Center, focusing on developmental psychiatry. In her early career, she worked with high-risk children and adolescents as well as adults struggling with substance use. She has also spent over 4 years working with the underserved population in Middletown. In addition to clinical work, Aleksandra Kinard precepted Yale graduate students and taught nurse practitioner residents specializing in psychiatry and family practice. Areas of specialty include complex trauma, developmental psychiatry, anxiety, and depression. In her work, Aleksandra integrates biological, psychological, and socioeconomic factors to understand an individual’s health. As a former international student, she is familiar with the unique needs of that population.  

When not in CAPS, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, skiing, and exploring new places.

Dr. Powers is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who joined the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) team in March 2019, taking on the athletic liaison role in 2025. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from the University of Connecticut in 2007, and both her Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. She is an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor.

Dr. Powers has a wide range of experience, beginning her career working with children and families, to adults involved in the judicial court system with mental illness and substance use. She began teaching masters-level MFT students at her alma mater, CCSU, and currently teaches at Middlesex Community College. This fulfills her passion for academia, as well as helping students find themselves and internally grow during this very transitional time in their lives.

Dr. Powers specializes in all relationships: intimate, family, peers, occupational, and has completed Level I and Level II in Couple’s Therapy with The Gottman Institute. She works closely with her clients to increase awareness of how their family history and norms contribute to their current behaviors, interaction styles, internal conflict and symptoms. She believes how we learn to relate to ourselves and others can impact our mood, mental health, and overall functioning. Sarah has completed Level I and Level II of Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, which is the foundation of her clinical work, providing clients with a frame to better understanding our “true” selves, gain control over emotions, and increase motivation.

When not working, Dr. Powers is coaching, training, and participating in CrossFit competitions, enjoying writing, running, and spending time with family and friends.

Neal Sardana is a Licensed Professional Counselor who joined Wesleyan CAPS in 2017.   He received a Master of Science in Counseling with a specialization in Career Counseling and an emphasis in College Student Development from San Francisco State University.  He has experience in college mental health as a therapist, instructor, consultant, group facilitator, and a social justice advocate.  Neal currently serves as CAPS liaison for Graduate Studies and The Gordon Career Center.  He also collaborates with CAPS staff and The Resources Center to co-facilitate support spaces for BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) and FGLI (First Generation Limited Income) students. 

 

One area of special interest for Neal is career development. Neal understands career development is complex. Career choices can be influenced by our mental health, interests, values, personality, exposure to experiences, identity, and family/societal expectations. He utilizes a holistic, strength based, collaborative approach to help students navigate their career exploration and search process.  

 

Other counseling topics Neal is interested in are: identity development, marginalization and privilege, adjustment into and out of college, personal and romantic relationships, cultural expectations, and toxic masculinity. Neal is very excited to meet and hear the stories of Wesleyan students.  In his free time, he enjoys cooking, tarot card reading, watching sports, and drinking lots of tea.   

Priya is a psychotherapist, sex therapist and sex educator. She joined the Counseling and Psychological Services team in 2018. Priya completed a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Assumption University, with certificates of study in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. They completed a 2-year Holistic Sex Therapy training program to become an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist.

Priya is a polyamory, non-monogamy, kink and LGBTQIA+ aware therapist. Priya recognizes the curiosities and interests of students within these areas—especially the complexity of emotions that can come up as students explore (or not) during their time at Wesleyan. She works closely with the health education office, WesWell, to support  those affected by intimate partner violence or sexual violence.

Priya's work takes a social justice, trauma-informed and relational approach. She aims to help students navigate barriers to change; within themselves, their relationships and within the broader systems they are a part of.  During sessions non-judgmental and collaborative space is created to explore this intersectionality and its context to a student's mental health and well-being.

Outside of Wesleyan, Priya enjoys family time, hiking, farming, flea markets and cooking.

Ginnie Taylor is a licensed clinical psychologist and the associate director at CAPS. She earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Kent State University and her BA in psychology from Princeton University. Dr. Taylor completed her pre-doctoral internship at a community mental health center and her postdoctoral specialization in the adult psychiatry department at a medical center, both located in central California. Across outpatient clinic settings and private practice, Dr. Taylor has developed a special clinical interest in helping people overcome eating concerns and develop a more peaceful and accepting body image. She participates in the Eating Concerns Care Team in collaboration with our Davison health center physician and registered dietician to provide multi-disciplinary care for students struggling with disordered eating, and runs the Attuned Eating skills based group at CAPS. 

Ginnie approaches her work with all students from a strengths-based, relational, and affirming approach that strives to assist students in appreciating and respecting how they got to the place they are while getting to the place they'd like to be. She utilizes an integrative approach to psychotherapy, primarily drawing from mindfulness-based cognitive behavior therapy (MB-CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT), and adapts her approach and pace in collaboration with students' individual needs and preferences. 

When not at CAPS, and not watching movies, Ginnie enjoys kicking a ball around and walking through the woods with her kids. 

Sarah earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University's Derner School of Psychology. She previously trained in hospitals, college counseling centers, and a psychoanalytic institute and has worked with a range of populations in these settings. Most recently, Sarah completed her clinical internship at Pace University's Counseling Center. 

Sarah believes that therapy offers the opportunity for individuals to engage with their mind, history, and relationships in new--and sometimes challenging--ways. She practices from an integrative perspective that is largely informed by psychodynamic, interpersonal and person-centered traditions. Most importantly, however, Sarah believes in attending closely to the individuality of each patient in identifying an approach that works best for them. 

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places, and cooking/eating delicious food.

Teresa Anderson is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Fielding Graduate University. She is completing her clinical practicum here at Wesleyan’s CAPS. She has a Master of Science degree in psychology at Arizona State University and a Master of Teaching degree from Quinnipiac University. She has taught mathematics across elementary, middle, and high school settings in both public and private schools for nearly a decade. She focuses on cognitive-behavioral techniques, fostering a safe and collaborative space for clients to advance their therapeutic goals.

Olivia graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rutgers University and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. In 2024, she defended her master’s thesis which explored the relationship between health-related identity and body image perceptions. Currently, she is a fourth-year doctoral candidate at the University of Connecticut, where she researches body image and weight management interventions. She is excited to be an extern at CAPS this academic year and is looking forward to working with you.

Marykate Conron is currently a second-year master's student in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Yale University. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Vermont, where she built a solid foundation for her career in healthcare. Throughout her journey, Marykate has gained valuable experience working as a registered nurse across various clinical settings.

In addition to her studies, Marykate enjoys spending time outdoors, expressing her creativity through painting and drawing, and spending time with her family. Her passion for mental health and holistic well-being drives her dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Jeremiah is a third year Master’s student in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling at University of Saint Joseph and has a Bachelors degree in Applied Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. Jeremiah is looking to make an impact at Wesleyan CAPS in a variety of ways including student outreach, support groups, and individual counseling. Outside of CAPS Jeremiah enjoys strength conditioning, music, and amusement parks.

Dennis is a licensed clinical social worker, alcohol, and drug counselor. Dennis is in his final year at Rivier University, where he is pursuing his doctorate in counseling and school psychology. Dennis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a concentration in criminal justice, from the University of Massachusetts and later received a master’s in social work from the University of Connecticut.

Dennis previously worked or trained in VA medical centers, hospitals, community mental health, and substance use programs. In sessions, Dennis is open-minded, collaborative and empowers his clients to be active participants in their treatment. Using empirically supported treatments, Dennis will work with you in creating a plan that is tailored to address your reasons for seeking care. Thank you!   

Dr. Christine Rodriguez is a Clinical Psychology Extern at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). An Afro-Indigenous, Two-Spirit scholar and healthcare practitioner, she brings a holistic perspective to supporting students’ mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner Track) at the University of Connecticut, a Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies from Liberty University, a Certificate in Faith Community Nursing from the University of Southern Indiana, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Professional Studies from Nova Southeastern University. She is currently completing a Post-Master’s Certificate in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing at the University of New Hampshire. 

Dr. Rodriguez has a broad clinical background, including 2SLGBTQIA+ healthcare, gender-affirming care, racial equity and social justice, and the intersections of religion, spirituality, and secular perspectives. She also explores the use of medical cannabis, entheogens, and non-ordinary states of consciousness to deepen understanding of healing, consciousness, and the ways we relate to ourselves and society. 

Having worked as both a healthcare chaplain and practitioner, Dr. Rodriguez has cultivated a deep understanding of patient needs through a person-centered, biopsychosociospiritual approach. This perspective highlights inequities and disparities in healthcare systems and spiritual communities, particularly for communities of color. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys connecting with nature, practicing spirituality with her tribal community, listening to reggae music, and playing video games with her family; often and always with laughter and a healthy dose of friendly competition.