Rooted Hearts Center for Emerging Adults
You’re Not a Child Anymore… But Adulthood Doesn’t Come With a Manual.
The years between adolescence and full adulthood can feel exciting, overwhelming, confusing, and lonely all at once. Whether you’re navigating college, work, relationships, identity, independence, or simply trying to figure out who you are, you do not have to do it alone.
At the Rooted Hearts Center for Emerging Adults, we specialize in supporting individuals approximately ages 18–29 through the unique challenges of this stage of life. Emerging adulthood is a time of tremendous growth and possibility, but it can also bring anxiety, depression, trauma, uncertainty, burnout, and questions about belonging.
Our therapists understand that this generation is facing unprecedented pressures: rising expectations, financial stress, social media comparison, changing family dynamics, academic demands, and an uncertain world. We provide a compassionate space to explore these experiences while helping you build confidence, resilience, and a life aligned with your values.
We Can Help With:
- Anxiety, panic, and chronic stress
- Depression and low motivation
- Trauma and difficult childhood experiences
- Life transitions and “feeling stuck”
- College adjustment and academic stress
- Career uncertainty and imposter syndrome
- Relationship challenges and dating concerns
- Family conflict and boundary setting
- Identity exploration and self-esteem
- Neurodiversity, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges
- Grief and loss
- Perfectionism and burnout
- Emotional regulation and coping skills
Our Approach
We believe emerging adults deserve therapy that honors both their independence and their need for support. Our clinicians use evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches that recognize the impact of attachment, family systems, life experiences, and nervous system regulation.
Therapy may focus on:
- Building emotional resilience
- Developing healthy boundaries
- Strengthening self-confidence
- Improving communication and relationships
- Learning practical coping and executive functioning skills
- Processing trauma and painful experiences
- Clarifying personal values and life goals
- Creating a meaningful and authentic future
Our Therapeutic Approach
- Every client receives an individualized treatment plan designed around their goals, strengths, and experiences. Our clinicians integrate evidence-based therapies with compassionate, trauma-informed care to address both immediate concerns and long-term growth.
- Depending on your needs, treatment may include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Trauma-Informed Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Somatic and Nervous System-Based Interventions
- Executive Functioning Coaching
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions
- Family and Systems Work
Therapy That Meets You Where You Are
- Emerging adulthood isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about discovering who you are and creating a life that reflects your values, strengths, and purpose.
- Whether you’re navigating your first apartment, graduating college, beginning your career, ending a relationship, healing from childhood trauma, or simply feeling stuck, our therapists provide a supportive space where you can grow into the person you want to become
Why Rooted Hearts?
- Our Center for Emerging Adults combines developmental expertise, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based interventions to help young adults not only overcome challenges but build meaningful, connected, and fulfilling lives.
- Because healing isn’t just about surviving adulthood—it’s about thriving in it.
Growing Into Yourself
You do not need to have everything figured out. Very few people do.
This season of life is not about having all the answers—it is about discovering who you are, what matters to you, and how to create a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling. We are here to walk alongside you as you grow.
At Rooted Hearts, we believe healing and growth happen when people feel seen, supported, and deeply rooted. Wherever you are in your journey, you deserve that support.
Kristin Wojtowicz, LMSW
Beginning counseling can feel intimidating, and sharing your story with someone new requires courage and vulnerability. My goal is to create a safe, trauma-informed, and person-centered space where you feel comfortable exploring your story and your journey at your own...
Rebecca Szymanski, LMSW
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde Welcome! I'm Rebecca. I specialize in helping people struggling with the unique challenges that come with neurodevelopmental differences such as Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disabilities. I also work...
Joseph Noody, LMHC-D
“The most important step one can take. It's not the first one, is it? It's the next one. Always the next step.” - Brandon SandersonTherapy is challenging and vulnerable work. In my office comfort and safety are high priorities to create a space where folks can bring...
Stephanie Wagner, LMHC-D
"Mental health...is not a destination, but a process. It's about how you drive, not where you are going." -Noam ShpancerAbout I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor dedicated to empowering individuals through meaningful, strength-based therapeutic work. With a deep...
Bryan Blumlein, LCSW
About I’m Bryan Blumlein and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly a decade of experience helping teens and young adults navigate anxiety, depression, identity struggles, ADHD, Autism, and academic pressure. I specialize in telehealth therapy for...
Stephanie Hall, LCSW
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Shannon Dunn, LCSW
The root of self-care is setting boundaries. - Nedra Glover Tawwab About In this fast-paced world do you need someone to slow down with to process your feelings along your journey? I’ve always been fascinated with the power of human connection and the resilience in...
Meghan Canfield, LMSW
About I have had the privilege of working with diverse age groups across a variety of settings, however my passion is working primarily with children and adolescents. I am gender affirming and have experience working with those who are LGBTQ+. I work with clients...
Emily Krug-Leach, LMSW
“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful parts of us.” - David Richo About At any age, life can throw us some unexpected curveballs. Sometimes, the obstacles feel too great to overcome, and one must take that significant first step to ask...
Shaair McDuffie, MHC-P
Information Office: Telehealth Email: shaair@rootedheartswny.com
Michelle Pinkhasik, LMSW
We don't have to do it alone. We were never meant to. - Brene Brown About Navigating the hardships life throws at us is something we all must inevitably face at some point. Grief, stress, and big life changes can alter our lives in unexpected ways. Whether your pain...
Krista Hoover, LMHC
About We all have our own ideas of what makes life meaningful. We possess the freedom and choice to break down limitations that prevent us from living this meaningful life. As you and I work together we may tackle relationships, childhood experiences, family...
Susan Fox, LMSW
About One of our greatest challenges in life is just to find some balance. Whether you’re frequently trying to find your footing, or something big has knocked you off your axis, I firmly believe in your ability to restore stability even stronger than before. Humans...
Melina Ciotta, LMSW
About Melina Ciotta is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Use Counselor (CASAC) . Melina graduated from The State University of New York at Oneonta, with a bachelor’s degree in child and Family Studies in 2017 and obtained...
Kelsey Peterson, LCSW
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou About I love this quote and use it as a guiding principle for the way I work with individuals. Most people are doing the best that they can at any moment in time....
Katrina Norris, LMHC-D
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." - Dalai Lama About When you are struggling, suffering can hijack your entire life. Do you feel like you, or a loved one, is drowning in feelings that they can’t...
Kelsey Lay, LMSW
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." - Brene Brown About Life can be full of challenges, big and small. Sometimes those challenges can leave us feeling lost, disconnected, fearful, anxious, and...
Carey Burnett, LCSW, EMDRIA
” Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. “ - Gail Devers About Whether you’re new here or this isn’t your first time around, the hardest part is always getting started and finding a therapist who is the right fit. I do my best to offer an...
Christine Turturro, LMHC
"Break the lock, set yourself free." - Scott Vogel, Terror About Navigating conflict and emotional response is a crucial part of the human experience. In some cases, these challenges can become overwhelming or put us in positions where we feel disconnected from our...
Juliet Holme, LMSW
"I am not what has happened to me. I am what I choose to become." - Carl Jung About Welcome, my name is Juliet! I am a compassionate listener and skilled guide on the journey towards inner peace. For those feeling lost, burdened by worry, or engulfed in deep...
Kristina Sykes, LCSW
"As you start to walk on the way, the way appears." - Rumi About As a counselor for 15 years I have worked with people from all backgrounds to help them find their true self and a new path free of their burdens. I make it a priority to provide a safe space offering...
Mackenzie Rice, LCSW
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Amanda Quinn, LMHC
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Danielle Smith, LMHC
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Carmen Cremeno, LCSW
"Be brave enough to heal yourself even when it hurts." - Bianca Sparacino About The decision to enter therapy is a significant first step towards the healing process. Therapy can help improve areas in your life that is causing you distress. I use a person-centered...
Jadelyn Mol-Brooks, LCSW
"Daring greatly means: the courage to be vulnerable, it means to show up and be seen, to ask for what you need, to talk about how you're feeling, and to have the hard conversations." - Brene Brown About “Welcome! Our lives are in a constant state of change, which...
Karolina Ware, LMSW
"Perhaps the biggest tragedy of our lives is that freedom is possible, yet we can pass our years trapped in the same old patterns." - Tara Brach About Welcome! I’m glad you are taking this step for yourself. Whatever has brought you here, reaching out for support...
Julie Moll, LMSW
"Vulnerability is not about winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome." - Brene Brown About As human beings we live life on life’s terms. Life can be extremely unpredictable, overwhelming, and in...
Meghan Scott, LCSW
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Lauren Siminski, LMSW
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