About
Sarah Gugluizza,
LCSW-R, PMH-C
Founder, Supervisor & Therapist
Sarah has spent her career servicing children, teens and their families in emotional, behavioral, academic & psychiatric capacities. Sarah has supported kids and teens through mental illness, trauma, developmental delays, learning issues, mood & behavior and substance abuse. Sarah engages adult clients through addressing life issues and transitions, changes and stressors; depression, anxiety, substance use, social & romantic relationships. Sarah's expertise further continues in the treatment of women facing maternal mental health concerns ranging from pregnancy & childbirth, postpartum experience, infant loss, new motherhood,
and the motherhood journey.
As an adjunct professor for several universities and presenter for continuing education programs, Sarah is an educator as well as clinician. Helping young social workers develop their craft and enter into the field is something she feels a great calling towards. She further provides guidance and supervision to her team, students, and fellow clinicians.
Being a parent of three further gives Sarah perspective to work with her child clients and their grownups, as well as women coping with challenges in maternal mental health and mothering from a perspective that is truly unique, authentic, humorous and warm. Sarah believes that her experiences with patients over time have gifted her the ability to offer comprehensive care. She prides herself in giving a safe, nurturing space that allows clients to grow, learn, change, and overcome their challenges.
Sarah is certified in Child and Family Therapy, Perinatal Mental Health Disorders, and Supervision in Field Instruction (SIFI)
Therapists of Rising Lotus Counseling
Izabel Burd-Tamdogan, LMSW
Izabel approaches therapy with the belief that client's are the expert of their own life, and that her role is to provide a space where a person's authentic self is not just welcomed, but celebrated! Izabel supports people experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship stressors and challenges, and trauma-based symptoms.
She has a special calling to work with individuals coping with addiction, substance use & recovery. As well as a passion for working with young adults understanding their identity, learning about where they've been and who they are becoming. Izabel specializes in supporting people of color, developing and understanding of racial & cultural identity, and coping with trauma experiences.
Utilizing a blend of therapeutic models and perspectives, she tailors her approach to meet her client's unique needs. She focuses on assisting clients to understand their patterns, process and heal from traumatic experiences, feel successful in relationships with others, and develop coping tools that support grounding.
Izabel's work is guided from a strengths-based approach. She gathers interventions from trauma-informed practice, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), culturally sensitive therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and teleplay therapy. She is also able to incorporate aspects of spirituality into treatment for clients who have or are exploring their foundations in faith.
Izabel's passion for helping others, and her lived experience reinforces the work and partnership that she has with her patients.
Erica Petosa, LCSW
Erica believes therapy should feel like a supportive and welcoming space where clients can show up as they are, talk openly about anything on their mind, and feel genuinely heard without judgment. Her goal is to create a comfortable and engaging environment where clients—children, adolescents, young adults, and parents—feel safe exploring challenges, building insight, and working toward meaningful change.
With over six years of experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and parents. Erica specializes in treating a wide range of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, behavioral challenges, and family-related stressors. She is certified in Brief Strategic Family Therapy and values incorporating family work whenever possible to support improved communication, strengthen relationships, and help caregivers better understand their child’s experience.
Erica draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), play therapy, and art-based interventions to hold sessions that are creative, developmentally appropriate, and tailored to each client’s needs. She focuses on helping clients build coping strategies, strengthen emotional regulation skills, and develop confidence in navigating life’s challenges. Her approachable, energetic style allows patients to feel comfortable and supported from their very first session.
Outside of the therapy room, Erica is a Hudson Valley local who enjoys spending time with friends and family and life with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who may occasionally make a guest appearance during virtual sessions.
Brooke Hartson, MSW-LP
Brooke believes therapy is the most effective when clients feel genuinely understood, supported, and empowered. She approaches each person with curiosity, compassion, and a sincere desire to understand their unique experiences. Her goal is to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental space where clients feel comfortable being themselves while working toward meaningful growth and change.
From previous roles as a case manager and clinician, Brooke has worked with children, adolescents, young adults, and families experiencing ADHD, anxiety, depression, emotional and behavioral challenges, life transitions, self-esteem concerns, and family conflict.
Keeping the client's strengths in mind, Brooke assists clients in recognizing their own abilities, building resilience, and developing practical tools to navigate life's challenges. Brooke finds great value in helping people, especially older teens & early adults, to understand their identities. She loves to help clients define & develop life goals, find interests, and understand how past experiences may or may not be affecting their daily lives, and make positive changes that serve them better.
When not doing therapy, Brooke loves spending time with friends, taking long walks, and having her sidekicks: her golden retriever and cat right alongside her.
Sarah Boughton, MHC-LP
Sarah views therapy as a collaborative space where clients feel free to show up as they truly are, exploring the different parts of themselves, understanding their needs, and finding their own path toward growth. She believes each client’s story is central to that process, and that the therapist’s role is to walk alongside them with warmth and honesty. She works with children, teens, and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, maternal mental health concerns, and life transitions.
Drawing from her background in higher education administration and her experience as a mother of three young children, Sarah brings both professionalism and a grounded perspective to her work. Sarah is especially drawn to supporting fellow mothers as they navigate through stages of motherhood and the milestones they bring.
Sarah takes a person-centered approach, incorporating aspects of Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Internal Family Systems theory, and Play Therapy to tailor the work to each individual client.
In her off time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and loves being outside.
Anna is a second-year MSW student from the University of Kentucky, pursuing her degree in Clinical Social Work. Her path to social work derived from a variety of caregiving roles and experiences that deepened her passion for understanding people and supporting them through times of change and vulnerability.
Anna strives to create therapeutic relationships grounded in warmth, authenticity, empathy, and trust. Her emerging approach is whole person-centered, and works with the flexibility to draw from a variety of modalities in recognition of the clients she supports. Anna looks forward to helping her clients better understand their own strengths and goals, navigate challenges, celebrate successes, and develop practical skills for making life work better for them.
Anna has a particular interest in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, ADHD, relationship difficulties, and life transitions. She is especially drawn to trauma-informed and nervous-system-informed approaches and to exploring the ways our experiences can shape us. Her background in healthcare and education has given her extensive experience communicating through sensitive situations, and supporting people during vulnerable moments.
In her personal time, Anna is an artist who has created illustrations for several books, and a licensed veterinary technician. She loves immersing herself in nature, spending time with her human and non-human companions, learning new things every day, and traveling whenever possible.
Anna Burstein, MSW Intern
Kelsey Getz, Intake Coordinator & Administrative Support
Kelsey will usually be the first person you will speak with, as RLC's Intake Coordinator, when you contact us by phone and email when getting started. She can answer any questions you might have, talk with you about your presenting concerns, understand how we can best help you, and match you with one of our therapists that will fit you best.
Kelsey also provides the practice with administrative support and runs her own business specializing in supporting practices that provide mental health treatment. Kelsey has a background in nonprofit administration and has a passion for doing work that really makes a difference in the world.
