Compassionate,
Culturally Attuned,
Trauma- Informed
Therapy.
About The Practice
Dandelion Root Mental Health Counseling was created as a space where people can show up fully as themselves, whether they feel messy, hopeful, exhausted, determined, or uncertain, and know they will be met with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for the wisdom they carry from their roots.
While our practice was founded with a commitment to supporting women of color and historically marginalized communities, we welcome individuals, couples, and families of all backgrounds who are seeking affirming, culturally responsive care.
Our philosophy is simple. Healing is not linear, and growth often begins in small, quiet moments. Like the dandelion root, which is often overlooked but deeply grounded, we believe resilience already exists within you. Our role is to help you reconnect with that resilience by integrating evidence based therapeutic practices with cultural humility, lived experience, and the strengths you already possess.
We support adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity exploration, relationship challenges, parenthood, infertility, grief, life transitions, and the complexities of balancing personal needs with family, cultural, and societal expectations. Whether you are caring for others, exploring who you are, longing to become a parent, healing from past experiences, or simply searching for a greater sense of peace and purpose, your story is welcome here.
Therapy at Dandelion Root is collaborative, trauma informed, and tailored to your unique journey. Together, we work to cultivate resilience, deepen self understanding, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful, lasting change for yourself and, when relevant, across generations.
More than a therapy practice, we strive to be a sanctuary for healing and growth. Our work is grounded in anti-racist, feminist, liberation-oriented, and culturally responsive principles that recognize how systems, relationships, and lived experiences shape mental health. We believe healing is deeply personal, but it does not happen in isolation. Here, you do not have to have everything figured out. You simply have to arrive as you are, and we will meet you there.
Meet Our Team
Our clinicians bring diverse identities, experiences, and therapeutic approaches to their work. Our therapists have expertise supporting women of color and marginalized communities & welcome clients from all backgrounds seeking compassionate, culturally responsive care.
Our goal is to help each client find a therapist who feels like the right fit for their unique needs and goals.
I bring particular care to honoring cultural identity, ancestral wisdom, and the lived experiences each person carries into the therapy room. I believe our histories, relationships, and communities shape both our challenges and our resilience, and I strive to create a space where every client feels seen, respected, and empowered to grow.
My approach is collaborative, warm, and grounded in both evidence-based practices and holistic care. I integrate somatic work, mindfulness, CBT and DBT-informed strategies with a commitment to holding space for each client’s cultural background, ancestral knowledge, and lived experience. As a Latin therapist, I value creating space for women of color to explore their stories in ways that honor their roots, resilience, and identity.
At the heart of my work are my values: compassion, authenticity, empowerment, and the belief that healing should be accessible, affirming, and culturally grounded. Therapy with me, and in this practice, is not about “fixing” you, it’s about reconnecting with your inner strength, honoring the guidance of your lineage, and moving toward a life that feels more grounded, balanced, and aligned with who you are.
Stephanie Pagan, LMHC-D
Founder and Therapist
I became a therapist because I deeply value the power of healing that happens when someone feels truly seen, supported, and honored in their full story, including the legacies and wisdom passed down through generations.
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I have supported clients across a variety of settings, including YAI, Parallax Center, and Montefiore Medical Center. For nearly a decade, I also served in leadership roles as a clinical supervisor and director of mental health programs in Manhattan and the Bronx, where I had the privilege of mentoring clinicians, shaping high-quality, compassionate services, and fostering the professional growth of multidisciplinary teams.
Throughout my career, I have worked alongside individuals navigating substance use, anxiety, depression, trauma, identity exploration, ADHD, and the emotional complexities of pregnancy, parenthood, infertility, and the longing to become a parent. These experiences, both as a therapist and as a clinical leader, have deepened my commitment to providing thoughtful, evidence-based, and culturally responsive care.
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Yudermy Blanco MHC-LP, CASAC-T
Therapist
Therapy is a sacred space.
It’s where you can pause, breathe, and begin finding a truth that is defined by you. My purpose is to hold that space with compassion and curiosity—so you can explore your roots, heal deeply, and create a version of yourself that feels authentic.I am a Mental Health Counselor with a Limited Permit and clinical experience at Montefiore Medical Center. I specialize in supporting individuals through addiction, anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, identity exploration, and relationship challenges, with a strong commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, women’s issues, and multicultural concerns.
My approach is integrative and client-centered, blending evidence-based practices like CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness, and narrative therapy with a humanistic lens. I also draw on trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and Internal Family Systems to meet you where you are. Outside of traditional therapy, I infuse my passion for creative writing and ancestral healing—guiding you to rediscover your voice and connect with the strength of your roots.
I believe in interlacing the stories and patterns passed down through generations—honoring your heritage while gently breaking cycles that no longer serve you. Together, we’ll create a safe space for meaningful exploration, building resilience, and embracing transformation. This is your journey, and it begins with defining who you are—on your own terms.
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Lorena Allen, LMHC-D
Therapist
Lorena Allen, LMHC-D, is a licensed mental health counselor with over a decade of experience supporting children, families, and individuals through evidence-based, compassionate care. She currently works as a school-based clinician with the Long Island Consultation Center and also maintains a private practice. Her career has spanned roles in family therapy, trauma treatment, forensic interviewing, and program leadership, with specialized training in CBT, MDFT, EMDR, DBT, MI, and CFTSI.
Beyond her professional work, Ms. Allen is a proud mother to her 17-year-old daughter and a devoted pet owner of two dogs, two cats, two turtles, and two fish. She enjoys gardening (despite not having much of a green thumb!) and is passionate about reading and exploring holistic approaches to care.
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Stephenie Perez, LCSW
Therapist
Stephenie Perez, LCSW, is a dedicated mental health professional with extensive experience in substance use treatment, clinical supervision, and program coordination. She began her career in substance abuse treatment in the south Bronx
Stephenie went on to build a diverse portfolio of roles across the mental health and substance use fields, contributing her clinical expertise to multiple programs and populations.
A committed advocate for high-quality, person-centered care. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Adelphi University, earned in 2014. She obtained her LCSW in 2021. She specializes in MI and ACT techniques while utilizing a trauma informed approach. -
Laurie Galiotte - Singh, LCSW
Therapist
I’m a licensed Haitian-born psychotherapist who works with clients navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and the impact of stress on daily living. I specialize in supporting women, trauma survivors, and first-generation individuals who may be carrying the effects of generational and ancestral trauma, cultural expectations, and long-standing family roles dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space where clients can feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful changes in their lives.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, my therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and somatically oriented. I incorporate somatic therapy, nervous system regulation, and mindfulness-based techniques to support healing at both the emotional and physiological levels.
In our first session, clients can expect a welcoming space to share what brings them to therapy and what they hope to achieve. I’ll ask some questions to get to know you better, and together we’ll begin to outline goals for our work. My priority is to make you feel comfortable, heard, and supported as we start the process.