If Diane Lotto, LCSW-R, a local psychotherapist, has one wish for Peekskill, it’s that the city grows and succeeds but doesn’t forget the diverse communities that call it home.

The co-founder of The Counseling Collective, a psychotherapy practice, and her business partner, Sabrina Fenyo, LMHC,MS are invested in helping female clients — including diverse young women and teens struggling with eating disorders — lead calmer, happier, healthier lives.

The two women in their mid-30s started the practice in 2019 after working at mental health agencies in Westchester County, with the goal of making a difference in people’s lives and supporting the community that they love.

“We want a city that is successful but that also takes care of the people living here,” said Lotto. “It needs to be equitable in providing access to resources and services, especially health care.”

The women were drawn to Peekskill to start their practice because as eating disorders counselors they noticed a void for such therapy services in the area. “In this corner of Westchester there were few therapists specializing in this problem,” said Lotto, an issue that affects from 2 to 10 percent of teens, she added. The pandemic shed light on these issues as young people were isolated at home and relying on social media for connection, another big source of problems for teens, she said.

“We truly care about the community we are based in and have conducted our business in for the last 5-plus years,” added Fenyo.  “Peekskill has become our second home and we get involved any way we can. Being a women-owned psychotherapy practice in the community has allowed us to provide our services to women who might have otherwise struggled getting connected to treatment. We pride ourselves on providing affordable therapy to all of our clients.”

While eating disorders aren’t the only issues they treat – they handle grief, trauma, anxiety disorders, break-ups, life transitions, and more  — women’s health is close to their heart. The two women like to raise awareness for equal access to health care, something they say isn’t equitable to all. They often see clients who are women of color and low-income families with undiagnosed problems because they can’t see their doctors frequently.

“We advocate for women’s health, and it’s something that I take very personally,” said Lotto.

“As therapists, we’re trained to rule out medical issues  first, so if someone is talking about a certain set of mental health symptoms, we need to make sure it’s not caused by a medical problem.

“I like to make sure people get the care they need. For example, if I’m talking to a client about stress at work or family issues and I start to see a pattern of mood changing or physical symptoms, I’ll ask questions to see if the person has thought about a possible medical issue. I ask if people have a relationship with their doctor, and sometimes offer help navigating the complicated medical system. We’re trained as therapists to be detectives, too.”

The practice also stands up for political and social issues. “We can do things outside our practice that are aligned with our values,” said Lotto. “It’s important that our therapists work with a diverse population, including LGBTQ folks, and clients with all kinds of values and ideals.”

For example, when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the Roe v. Wade abortion issue in 2022, The Counseling Collective ran a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood. “The Peekskill community lets us do this. It has the energy and vibe that supports our beliefs, said Lotto.

“Our hope is that the city can grow but not change too much, ”she added. “It’s like any city experiencing revitalizing concerns about gentrification, people being pushed out, and not giving everyone equal access to services. The beauty of Peekskill is that it’s so diverse and brings people together in all walks of life. For us to be able to advocate and be part of conversations around mental health and access to health care is great. In our own little way, we’re two women who can contribute to that conversation.”

When asked why it’s important for women to advocate for issues they care about, Fenyo and Lotto are quick to respond. “As women, we’re often so overlooked when it comes to decisions and laws that are being made that involve us, especially for women of color and women who don’t have the same resources as middle-class white women,” said Lotto.

“We’ve made therapy accessible, which is huge,” said Fenyo. “The healthcare system has failed many of us, and we ensure that we provide a safe, judgment-free sanctuary to all of our clients. Also, a little bit of millennial spice and wit to our therapy sessions.”

She added: “As women, I think it’s hard to find or use your voice. Often, from the time we’re young women, we’re taught, ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.’ I think young girls take that to mean don’t speak up because when we do, it’s often perceived as aggressive or too much. I talk to my clients about this so often. We can speak up and take action without being either of those things. I want my female clients, and all women, to know that their voices are being heard and that being too much can be powerful. If something brings you joy or passion, don’t sit on it.”

The two also take a special interest in suicide prevention awareness. “We see people who’ve experienced suicidal thoughts and we like to raise people’s awareness that those are symptoms of depression. By looking at it as a symptom, it removes some of the stigma,” said Lotto. The women have created a safe supportive office environment where clients can talk freely about their feelings, and know that they’re not alone. “Hopelessness is one of the worst feelings,” said Lotto.

For example, she added: “If you say you don’t want to get up in the morning, it doesn’t mean we’re going to put you away and discard the key. People are often afraid to tell their therapist anything to do with the “S” word (suicide) for fear that they’ll take away their shoelaces.”

“When in reality,” she added, “everyone has questioned life. Who hasn’t asked, ‘What is life? What is my purpose?’ We help people distinguish what is normal questioning and what is suicidality. We encourage people to talk about some of these things in their sessions, including what they think happens when they die, which helps people integrate their spiritual side and their beliefs.”

The women also run therapy groups, recently hosting a Club for women in their 30s to discuss this unique time of  life. The women have held two eight-week sessions, and plan for another in the fall. “It’s a weird time of being an adult and figuring things out. People are at different stages – married/single, starting careers, becoming parents. It was a great group, and a lot of fun,” according to Lotto.

As women in their 30s, Fenyo and Lotto feel they can relate to a lot of young women’s struggles and problems. “We exist in the world; we don’t live in a vacuum. For clients facing social barriers and inequalities, they can be themselves in front of us. We’re very authentic. We go to work in Ugg slippers,” said Lotto.

The Counseling Collective takes no insurance, but likes to give back by helping those who can’t afford to pay. It offers a sliding scale, and each of its four therapists are free to decide how much pro bono counseling and non-paying clients they take, according to Lotto. The practice also refers to mental health practices and clinics that provide charity care services.

Both women are grateful for the female mentors they’ve had, and like to help advise others on starting a private practice. “When you’re on your own, the most important thing is to rely on the people around us to help get us where we are,” said Lotto. “We’ve had a lot of amazing therapists and former bosses who taught us all about what it takes to go into private practice.”

For that, they’re very grateful.

Local women entrepreneurs share their stories at the first “Celebrating Women in Business” event on March 23 at Dramatic Hall from noon to 3 p.m. The afternoon is sponsored by the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce.

The group of women telling their stories will be moderated by Jane Applegate, co-founder of the Remarkable Women Project. Applegate has been sharing stories about remarkable women as a reporter, columnist, author, film and TV producer.

She is a co-founder of the Remarkable Women Project Inc. a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to shining a light on the accomplishments of women throughout history. She is on the faculty of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College where she teaches the business of film.

A co-executive producer of a TV series in development based on Alice Look’s new book: Remarkable Women: Reclaiming Their Stories. ,she is the author of four books about small business success.  Prior to becoming a producer, Applegate was the small business columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a reporter and producer for Bloomberg TV.

Panelists include Violetta Shala-Guerrero of M&T Bank, Stacey Tompkins of Tompkins Excavating Corp. Chereese Jervis Hill, Events to Remember, Auzerais Bellamy, founder of Blondery, Marion Henson of Bloom Healthy, Sunny Cover of Peekskill Coffee House, Kecia Palmer-Cousins of Aero-Ba-Soul Inc. and Chloe Wareham-Gordon of  DigitalDancer Social Media.

Register for the event here.