Ivanna believes that individuals, families, and communities are deeply interconnected, and that meaningful change happens when people feel truly understood, supported, and empowered within their relationships and environments. She brings a warm, collaborative, and strengths-based approach to therapy, creating an affirming space where clients of all ages can explore their experiences, build insight, and develop practical tools to navigate life’s challenges.
Ivanna works with children, adolescents, emerging adults, adults, couples, and families, and has experience supporting clients navigating life transitions, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, stress, trauma, identity exploration, and the impact of systemic and cultural pressures. She is especially attuned to working with families and caregivers, including those navigating foster care, reunification, adoption-related dynamics, and multigenerational family systems.
Ivanna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University at Albany and her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University. Early in her career, she spent two years working as a case planner within the New York State foster care system, where she supported children and families through complex transitions involving trauma, reunification, and family preservation. This work shaped her deep commitment to trauma-informed care, advocacy, and honoring the resilience of families navigating high levels of stress and uncertainty.
She later worked with the New York State Department of Education as an Afterschool Director and was promoted to Community School Director, partnering closely with youth, families, educators, and community organizations to support student success through integrated services and active family engagement. Most recently, Ivanna worked at Morgan Stanley within Community Affairs, collaborating with nonprofit partners and supporting community-focused initiatives aligned with the firm’s commitment to social impact. This experience further deepened her understanding of how personal well-being intersects with professional life, organizational systems, and community support.
In her clinical work, Ivanna draws from family systems theory, CBT-informed, and solution-focused approaches to meet clients where they are and tailor treatment to each client’s unique goals and context. She values collaboration, cultural humility, and authenticity, and is passionate about helping clients reconnect with their strengths and build lives that feel more balanced, aligned, and meaningful.
