Meet Our Staff
Meridian Psychotherapy Team

Penny Tavar
(She/Her)

Clinical Director - LCSW

Penny is a licensed clinical psychotherapist and certified EMDR clinician with over 24 years of experience. She completed her LMSW in 1997 and post graduate studies in Play and Adolescent Therapy in 1999 at Fordham. Including extensive post graduate training at the Ackerman Institute.

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Penny specializes in the treatment of Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Loss for individuals, couples and families. She uses various treatments and modalities based on clinical observations and the unique needs of each client. She utilizes a Systemic-Relational Therapeutic Approach which embodies a collection of ideas, disciplines, techniques and practices designed to be effective in treating presenting issues related to physical and mental illness, childhood developmental difficulties, and relational trauma.

Rachel Sproule
(She/Her)

Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist - LCSW

Rachel Sproule graduated from Walden University where she received her Master's Degree in Social Work, with a concentration on clinical social work practices. She has treated substance use, co-occurring, and trauma disorders within intensive in-home services and school based setting.

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Rachel has extensive experience working with client populations presenting with symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD , mood disorders, chronic PTSD, and oppositional or defiant behaviors. Her experience spans from providing clinical, trauma-focused treatment to youth in residential foster care settings, to providing intensive in-home clinical services to families in rural and suburban areas, as well as providing clinical services in a school-based program with elementary children through transitional age youth.

Ashley Corbett
(She/Her)

Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist - LCSW RYT-200

Ashley Corbett is a graduate of Boston College Graduate School of Social Work where she received her MSW degree with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health. She has worked as a clinical social worker, supervisor, and consultant in inpatient psychiatric and substance use settings, as well as ... continued

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...in-home, community, child welfare and outpatient settings.

Ashley also currently works as an adjunct professor at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. She has extensive clinical experience working with individuals presenting with a history of trauma, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and family or marital issues. Additionaly, she holds TF-CBT certification, and has specific training treating trauma and suicide bereavement. Ashley uses a holistic approach in addressing mental health and wellness as she is also a Registered Yoga Teacher(RYT-200).

Lexi Garber
(She/Her)

Licensed Psychotherapist - LMSW

Lexi Garber is a LMSW with a Master of Science in Global Community Development and a Master of Social Work from New York University. With specialized training in EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and maternal mental health, she works with individuals and couples ... continued

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...managing depression, anxiety, trauma, interpersonal struggles and life transitions.

Lexi specializes in perinatal mental health, encompasses the challenges of infertility, motherhood, loss, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She has experience working in inpatient psychiatric, in-home and outpatient settings.

Erica Terhune
(She/Her)

Licensed Professional Counselor - LPC

Erica is a Licensed Professional Counselor and 2011 graduate of the SUNY Plattsburgh where she received her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling. She has worked extensively with the State of North Carolina assisting co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders.

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Erica specializes in the treatment of Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Loss with children, adolescents and families of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. She uses various treatment approaches and modalities based on clinical analysis and observations, and the unique needs of each individual client. She is passionate about providing a safe, judgement-free space to foster therapeutic relationships and offer growth and healing to every individual that steps into her office.

Cody Helgesen
(They/Them)

Licensed Professional Councelor - LPC-A NCC

Cody is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and graduate from Southern Connecticut State University with their Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. They have clinical experience with schools and community based health centers; as well as residential treatment and psychiatric hospital settings.

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Cody has extensive experience working with individuals and groups presenting with co-morbid mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss, including substance use disorders. They also have experience with individuals on the Autism and ADHD Spectrum, Sensory Processing Disorders, and with Highly Sensitive Persons. Within the psychiatric hospital and youth residential agency settings they have done additional work with Personality Disorders, Oppositional Defiance, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorders, and clients presenting with a history of trauma.

Venessa Samuel-Steinmetz
(She/Her)

Licensed Psychotherapist - LMSW

Venessa Samuel-Steinmetz is a graduate of Fordham University Graduate School of Social work, where she received her Master of Social work with a clinical concentration. Venessa has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults of sexual violence. Venessa specializes in treatment of complex trauma, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety and is trained in EMDR and TF-CBT.

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Julianne Kivlin
(She/Her)

Licensed Psychotherapist - LMSW

Julianne Kivlin LMSW is a graduate of the University of Saint Joseph where she obtained a Master's Degree in Social Work. She specializes in treating clients with substance use and co-occurring mental health diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, grief, PTSD and mood disorders.

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Julianne has worked extensively with adolescents, adults, family units, and group based therapy. She has an affinity for the LGBTQ+ and Autism communities, where she has worked with individuals experiencing life transitions. She understands the unique challenges and need for self-exploration. With her 11 years of work related exposure in the clinical healthcare/hospital setting she shares a wealth of knowledge with her private clients.