Working on yourself takes courage.
We are grateful to do it with you.
Our Approach
Transforming Connection LLC is a group private practice that provides therapy for individuals, couples, families, and facilitate support groups. We utilize a systemic approach to create a safe and collaborative environment for our clients. We help our clients to empower themselves, create healthy boundaries, improve interpersonal relationships, validate their experiences, and overall make the changes they are looking for to improve their lives.
We Cater to Your Needs
Some Issues We Treat
Self-Esteem
Relationships
Trauma
Sex and Intimacy
Infertility
Parenting
Anxiety
Depression
Meet Your Providers
Jennifer DiSomma, MA-LMFT
B.A. in Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology - M.A. in Marriage in Family Therapy from Hofstra University
Welcome! If you stumbled across this page, there is a good chance you are considering therapy as an option for you. You are probably wondering, “Is this the kind of person who would be able to understand me and guide me along this journey?” I understand this is an overwhelming experience to put your trust, vulnerability, and time into this process and want to ensure the therapist you choose to work with is a good fit for you.
There is much research on what makes therapy most effective and findings suggest that therapy is most beneficial when you feel supported and understood by your therapist. My personal and professional experiences over the years have molded my warm, genuine, compassionate, and directive therapeutic style. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and supervisor, specializing in working with couple’s, individuals, and families in a private practice setting who are experiencing obstacles in their life.
I’m most passionate about people being kinder to themselves. I have noticed that the more time you invest in yourself, the more your relationships strengthen with others. Many times people do not have a safe space, so it is important to create that environment. I strive to create a safe space where all of my clients can feel accepted without the fear of judgment. I believe those who seek out therapy have a willingness to challenge themselves and have a desire to achieve self-growth which leads to them making positive changes in themselves.
Whether it be in our interpersonal relationships, job, or personal goals sometimes we are at a place in our lives where we just feel “stuck”. My therapeutic style works to build connection whether it be in your interpersonal relationships and within yourself. I want to help people identify their strengths and self-worth. I see my role as meeting my clients where they are, in order to help empower them to where they would like to go next. There is no time better than now. Lets get started on your transformation today.
Jaime Taveras, MS-LMFT
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Mercy College
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology and Human Relations from Pace University
Fluent in Spanish
After attending a couple’s therapy session and seeing the self-growth and transformation that resulted from therapy, Jaime immediately decided that she wanted to become a therapist. She wanted to do for others what this therapist had done for her. Jaime graduated from Mercy College with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. She worked as a therapist for a non-profit organization providing trauma-focused therapy to adults, children and families survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence. Jaime also facilitated support groups for trauma survivors.
Jaime has a friendly, warm, and genuine approach. She is an empathetic therapist who provides a non-judgmental and supportive space for her clients. Jaime is committed towards guiding clients in recognizing their strengths, ability to grow and teach and encourage clients to be more self-compassionate. In her downtime, Jaime likes to learn about nutrition and fitness. Jaime is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Christine Prete, MA-LMFT
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University
Professional Diploma in School Counseling from Hofstra University
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Adelphi University
Christine is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University. She has provided counseling to adolescents, individuals, couples and families through non-profit organizations as well as educational settings. She has experience providing psychotherapy services to address a variety of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, family conflict, relationship concerns and life transitions. Her background in family systems theory provides a comprehensive understanding of how individuals develop and maintain particular patterns of behavior. She also holds a New York State certification in School Counseling and is certified in Clinical Training Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1.
Message from Christine:
“I primarily work from a family systems and couples counseling background, providing support and guidance to individuals and couples working through various challenges in their relationships. We are all impacted by our relationships, and my work is focused on helping people understand how their unique dynamics influence the quality of their relationships. By gaining a better understanding of this, we can work together to improve those connections with others and ultimately have a more satisfying life experience overall. I also enjoy working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, low self esteem, and life transitions. I would be happy to learn more about how I can help. I applaud you for taking this step to better yourself and your relationships, and welcome the opportunity to work with you.”
Tasha Valentino, MS-MFT
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Mercy College
Masters in Public Administration from John Jay College
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The City College, CUNY
Tasha graduated from Mercy College with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Over the past ten years she has worked as a therapist in both public and private sector. In her experience, she has worked with children, adults, individuals, and couples as a therapist and group facilitator. Tasha is experienced working with women’s issues relating to infertility and loss. Tasha also received training in discernment counseling, if couple’s are unsure of the trajectory of their relationship coming into therapy together. She has a warm and compassionate approach. She is an empathetic and authentic therapist who maintains strong interpersonal and listening skills. In her down time, Tasha also practices alternative medicine and has secured several certifications and training. She is a registered Yoga Teacher 500 hours, color counselor, energy healer, and practices meditation, and Qigong.
Lindsey Echevarria, MFT- Intern
Graduate Student Pursuing a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Iona University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Iona University
Minor in Drug and Alcohol Abuse from Iona University
Lindsey is currently enrolled in Iona University’s accredited Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program.
Her training is rooted in a holistic, systemic, and relationally-based perspective. She brings awareness to dimensions of wellbeing beyond the emotional and mental. External circumstances and systems have an impact on daily life & wellness.
She brings a warm, caring energy into the therapy space and approaches her clients with compassion and non-judgment, meeting them wherever they are on their journey in life.
She practices in a strengths-based, collaborative and integrative way with each client. She combines insight-oriented and evidence-based techniques, including Family Systems, The Gottman Method, Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to help clients achieve their goals.
As a supervised intern, Lindsey works and supports individuals, couples, and families, experiencing: life transitions, anxiety, depression, Autism, ADHD, self-esteem, stress, adolescents, young adults, LGBTQ+, grief, relationship, and marital conflict.
Lindsey is also certified in several alternative energy healing modalities and utilizes spirituality and ritual in her own healing process.
Ashley Armada, MFT- Intern
Graduate Student pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Iona University
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Pace University
Fluent in Spanish
I spent years making meaning of my story, and it led to a desire to understand others on a deeper level. The connection I feel when hearing people’s stories profoundly impacts my own life because it is constantly shifting my perspective and expanding my understanding.
To me, therapy is a collaborative deep dive into what holds us back, triggers us, and what ultimately liberates us. It is an exploration of what it means to be human and our relationship with others.
Though people come to therapy for different reasons, I believe that at our core, we are all seeking connection; connection to ourselves, to our partners, to our community, or to our own self-understanding.
So, while I practice from a systemic, collaborative, relationally based therapeutic approach, and train in specific therapy models (Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy), my goal is to hold a space for recreating connection.
If you’d like to have a conversation about what brings you here, please reach out. I’d like to meet you, to hear your story, and see if we can work together. I look forward to connecting.