Meet the Team
Amy Frisch
Amy Frisch, LCSWR, is a psychotherapist and the founder of It's a Girl Thing! Amy specializes in issues of adolescence, and has developed a dynamic, creative and unique private practice over the past 20 years.
The Weekend Retreat is one of Amy’s favorite programs because it allows her to connect with young women in a more relaxed setting. "We create a true sense of family."
Amy is a fan of being near the ocean, scuba diving, and new adventures. She loves a good challenge, appreciates a funny joke, and cherishes down time with her family. She holds firmly to the belief that most of life’s problems look a little less intimidating after a good run.
Amy received her MSW from Fordham University way way back in 1994!
Casey Dederick
Casey is a MSW graduate from Adelphi University. When she's not working you can find her volunteering at the Walden Humane Society. She enjoys photography, spending time with family, a good joke, and connecting with friends.
This retreat is something that is near and dear to her heart. In high school Casey joined It’s A Girl Thing! expressive arts group for support during her teens years. "The love and guidance provided by this group allowed me to blossom into the woman I am now: fearless and healthy."
nicole loiodice
Nicole Loiodice, MS. ED., LMHC. Nicole received both of her Master's degrees at SUNY New Paltz. We are excited to welcome Nicole to the IGT team as our Clinical Intake Coordinator and Staff Therapist.
When not working, you’ll likely find Nicole painting, watching documentaries, being out in nature, or experimenting with a new recipe.
Prior to receiving her Master's Degree, Nicole volunteered with the AmeriCorps for two years in New Hampshire where she found her passion of listening to and counseling at-risk teenagers.
We think thats part of what makes her a perfect fit for co-leading IGT teen groups and providing individual therapy. Nicole enjoys every person's uniqueness and aims to empower and connect others with their true inner selves.
morgan gorey
Morgan is an intern at IGT and currently studying to be a Licensed Professional Counselor and Clinical Rehabilitation Counselor. She is specialized in working withPeople with Disabilities, but her studies also expand beyond that! Morgan is a student at Auburn University (War Eagle!) and spent the past year and a half in Alabama working towards her master’s degree. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY New Paltz and graduated in 2022. She is currently a member of the ACA (American Counseling Association), NRCA (National Rehabilitation Counseling Association, and Chi Sigma Iota (International honor society for counselors). She is always looking for opportunity to work with a wide diversity of clients to get as much experience as possible! She chose to pursue a degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling because her father experienced a traumatic brain injury during her childhood. She understands the hardships of rehabilitation on a patient as well as their family. She has experience working mainly with Autistic and/or neurodivergent clients but is looking forward to expanding her experience as she grows as a counselor! On her free time, Morgan enjoys reading, running, gardening/plant-keeping, and spending time with her two cats. She also enjoys crocheting, spending time with family, and baking. She loves incorporating art into her therapy sessions through all kinds of medium. Her guilty pleasure is watching WWE while eating gluten-free pizza with pepperoni!
Casey is the lead co-facilitator of Beyond the Label expressive art support group.
Franny Hertz
Franny Hertz, MS. ED, LMSW, is passionate about helping people see the unique beauty in themselves and build the confidence they need to reach their goals. She is a firm believer in the importance of open and honest communication. She understands that strong relationships require work and that this work includes the individual, their families and community.
Franny comes to the IGT team with a background as a family service coordinator and special education teacher. She has extensive experience tailoring the psychological, educational or vocational needs of each individual. Franny also has a myriad of program design and implementation experience which she draws upon in her work.
Franny enjoys working one-on-one with clients to help them recognize their strengths and gain self-confidence to overcome challenges. In addition, Franny appreciates the collaborative aspect of group work and the support that groups can provide for their members.
As a therapist, Franny calls upon her experience designing, coordinating and implementing a range of positive affirmational education programs with utmost respect for confidentiality. She uses a variety of humanistic approaches and techniques to customize and meet the needs of each individual and is constantly learning the newest methods for helping clients overcome challenges and feel positive growth.
When not working as a therapist, Franny enjoys outdoor recreation and nature. In particular she enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, reading and nature drawing. She also loves spending quality time with her family and friends, including her special furry friend Marlowe, a red labrador retriever.
Through art, games and careful listening, Franny’s goal is to be a positive problem solver, helping clients internalize skills they can use to navigate challenges and develop inner strength.
Franny is a licensed Social Worker and a licensed teacher who received her MSW from Columbia University and her MS. ED from Bank Street College of Education. She also holds a BA in Psychology from William Smith College.
Amy Colón
Amy Colón is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a master’s degree from Adelphi University. She believes that each person is the expert of their own life, and her role as a therapist is to help individuals uncover the inner wisdom they already possess to navigate challenges.
Amy sees people as inherently resilient, creative, and capable, even when life’s struggles make it difficult to access those strengths. In a world that can often feel harsh and unpredictable, she provides a safe, compassionate space where clients can reconnect with their inner brilliance and develop healthier ways to cope.
Her therapeutic approach incorporates play therapy, expressive arts, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness practices to promote healing and personal growth. Whether clients are experiencing emotional pain, stress, or life transitions, Amy supports them in exploring new paths toward relief, resilience, and self-discovery.
Amy also has a deep love of nature and finds immense joy in the somatic practice of Noyes Rhythm, which she has studied, taught and danced in for over 30 years. This movement practice, rooted in harmony with nature’s rhythms, profoundly influences her personal and professional life, fostering a sense of balance, embodiment, and connection.
Maria Monserrate
Maria Monserrate is a clinical intern at It's a Girl Thing! and a graduate student at SUNY New Paltz, where she will earn her Mental Health Counseling degree in May 2025. Maria has a background working with children as young as 3 years old, as well as individuals in a substance use facility. She is passionate about providing a safe and supportive space for clients to explore their emotions and develop healthy coping skills. Maria believes in the power of connection and is dedicated to helping others feel understood and empowered as they navigate their mental health journey. In her free time, Maria enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places, and discovering new dining spots.
Amanda Sepulveda
Amy Colón is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a master’s degree from Adelphi University. She believes that each person is the expert of their own life, and her role as a therapist is to help individuals uncover the inner wisdom they already possess to navigate challenges.
Amy sees people as inherently resilient, creative, and capable, even when life’s struggles make it difficult to access those strengths. In a world that can often feel harsh and unpredictable, she provides a safe, compassionate space where clients can reconnect with their inner brilliance and develop healthier ways to cope.
Her therapeutic approach incorporates play therapy, expressive arts, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness practices to promote healing and personal growth. Whether clients are experiencing emotional pain, stress, or life transitions, Amy supports them in exploring new paths toward relief, resilience, and self-discovery.
Amy also has a deep love of nature and finds immense joy in the somatic practice of Noyes Rhythm, which she has studied, taught and danced in for over 30 years. This movement practice, rooted in harmony with nature’s rhythms, profoundly influences her personal and professional life, fostering a sense of balance, embodiment, and connection.
Maria Scarangella
I was pretty angry growing up. Typical story...Rebellious, misunderstood. I was always "in trouble" but never understood why, and certainly never given the tools to do better. My behavior, like so many other teenagers, was due to an unfortunate lack of coping skills, and adults who didn't know any better. As an adult, I ended up with a passionate empathy for the “bad” kids. When I found myself working with Justice-Involved youth, I knew I had found my way. Restorative Justice spoke to me like nothing else ever has. Finally, something made sense, and I recognized what I wished I had gotten when I was a kid: Patience and compassion, instead of shame and judgment and, of course, the tools to do better next time…I spent 10 years doing Restorative Justice and Case Management work with Adolescents in Ulster County. When kids broke the law they would work with me instead of having to go to court. Usually, they shoplifted, trespassed, or got into fights. I'd prepare them to meet with members of the community and the person they harmed and come up with an agreement on things they could do to repair the harm. For instance, if they graffitied on a business, we'd meet with the owner and make a plan to fix the damage and learn from it, like by helping clean it up and getting connected to the local art school. I also did this kind of thing when kids got suspended from school.
As a case manager I helped my clients out with life stuff- We'd determine their needs, goals, and responsibilities and work together to figure out how to achieve them! Common things we'd work on were: Coping skills for difficult emotions, how to manage conflict with their friends and family, getting jobs, keeping up with school work, and whatever else they wanted to work on. During my time as a Restorative Justice Practitioner I also trained as a Circle Keeper and held hundreds of Talking Circles with people of all age ranges (from kindergarteners to retirees!) about all sorts of topics (from difficult healing conversations to silly team-building fun fests!). Circle work and group work in general is a true passion of mine.
In May 2023, I graduated with my Master’s of Social Work from SUNY Albany. I got my Social Work License and joined It’s A Girl Thing!+ in the summer of 2024. I am really excited to be a therapist and focus more on mental and emotional health!In my spare time I like to nerd out over Astrology and Sci-Fi/Fantasy franchises, play on the floor with my daughter and cat and brew the occasional potion.