Four New Faces, Four New Ways to Find Support at Cuda Counseling
This month, we're excited to share some big news at Cuda Counseling: our team is growing.
As more people throughout Herkimer, Rome, Utica, and the surrounding Mohawk Valley seek support for their mental health, we're committed to making quality therapy more accessible. That's why we're thrilled to welcome four new clinicians to the Cuda Counseling family: Lauren Mossing, Wanda Velez, Alan Mackie, and Jennifer Yager.
Each therapist brings their own unique experience, personality, and approach to care, but they all share something important: a genuine passion for helping people feel heard, supported, and understood.
Because finding the right therapist is about more than credentials, we asked each of our newest team members two questions:
How do you build a meaningful connection with clients?
What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Let's get acquainted.
Meet Wanda Velez, LMSW | Herkimer, NY
For Wanda, meaningful connection begins with listening. Not just hearing what someone says, but taking the time to understand the experiences, emotions, and stories behind their words. She believes trust grows naturally when people feel genuinely heard, understood, and accepted without judgment.
Wanda is also bilingual, allowing clients to engage in therapy in the language they're most comfortable speaking. For many individuals and families, that can make all the difference. By helping remove language barriers, she's expanding access to mental health care for more members of our community.
Wanda’s Fun Facts
When Wanda wants a fresh start, she doesn't just tidy up. She creates a full reset. Music on, furniture moved, everything reorganized, and suddenly the entire room has a new energy. If you've ever rearranged a room for no reason other than "it felt right," you're in good company.
Meet Alan Mackie, PhD, MSW, LCSW-PR | Telehealth
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Psychology PhD, Alan believes therapy should feel approachable, supportive, and grounded in real life. His goal is to help clients create meaningful change while also recognizing the strengths, joys, and moments of peace that already exist in their lives.
Alan proudly provides LGBTQIA+ affirming care and strives to create an environment where every person feels respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.
Using a client-centered, harm reduction approach informed by systems theory, he helps clients understand how their relationships, environments, and experiences all interact to influence well-being.
His philosophy is simple: when mind, body, and spirit are working together in balance, people are better able to thrive.
Meet Lauren Mossing, LMSW | Rome, NY
Lauren believes some of the strongest therapeutic relationships begin with one simple idea: meeting people where they are.
She works to create a space where clients feel comfortable being honest, vulnerable, and fully themselves. Building trust takes time, and Lauren believes that genuine connection starts when people feel accepted exactly as they are.
She also has a refreshingly human reminder for clients: nobody is perfect. We're all figuring things out as we go.
Lauren’s Fun Facts
She's a huge rap fan and has attended more rap concerts than she can count. If she had to pick a favorite artist, Kendrick Lamar would be near the top of the list.
And when she's not working? There's a good chance she's catching up on reality TV. Yes, she knows it's dramatic. That's part of the appeal.
Meet Jennifer Yager, LMSW | Rome NY
Jennifer sees connection as the foundation of effective therapy.
She believes people are most successful in counseling when they feel safe enough to be honest about what they're experiencing. Creating that sense of trust and understanding is one of her top priorities with every client she works with.
Jennifer often incorporates solution-focused therapy into her work. Rather than staying stuck on what's wrong, this approach helps clients identify practical steps toward what's possible. It's a collaborative, forward-looking process that focuses on strengths, progress, and meaningful change.
Jennifer’s Fun Facts
Jennifer regularly narrates her dogs' thoughts in funny voices, a habit we fully support.
She's also an avid reader, poetry writer, skier, and enthusiastic Audible listener.
As for pet peeves? Getting a text that simply says "k" and seeing Netflix ask, "Are you still watching?" We can relate.
Growing to better serve our community
At Cuda Counseling, we believe everyone deserves access to compassionate, personalized mental health care.
We're proud to welcome Lauren, Wanda, Alan, and Jennifer to our Herkimer, Rome, and telehealth teams. Together, they expand the range of services we can offer while helping us continue our mission of supporting individuals, couples, and families throughout the Mohawk Valley.
Whether you're looking for a bilingual therapist, LGBTQIA+ affirming care, solution-focused therapy, or simply someone you can connect with, our team is here to help.
If you've been considering therapy, now may be the perfect time to take that first step.
Contact Cuda Counseling today to learn more about our therapists or schedule an appointment in Herkimer, Rome, or through telehealth.