Tara L. Benincasa is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor. Tara provides individual counseling for children (ages 10 and above), adolescents, and adults. She has a specialty in working with people of all ages who have endured trauma, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, as well as children and adolescents who have engaged in sexually acting out behaviors. She also works with people who are struggling with depression and anxiety, teen and women's issues.

Tara is also a Headstrong Project Clinical Partner. The Headstrong Project is a non profit organization in NYC that provides cost free, bureaucracy free & confidential mental health services to post 9/11 veterans and military service members suffering from PTSD, depression & anxiety, substance abuse, as well as survivors of military sexual trauma. For more information, visit getheadstrong.org.

Additionally, Tara has experience conducting risk assessments with youth who sexually act out. She conducts sex abuse assessments for local county agencies, utilizing the NYS Children's Justice Task Force Forensic Interviewing Best Practice Guidelines and APSAC Practice Guidelines for Psychosocial Evaluations of Suspected Sexual Abuse in Children. She is also hired as an expert witness in criminal trials for childhood sexual abuse cases. Tara has, and continues to, supervise graduate level interns, as well as limited permit holders and licensed professionals.

Tara grew up in Liverpool, N.Y. and moved to the Capital Region to attend The College of Saint Rose for her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She lives with her husband, daughter, and three cats.

Lauren Longtoe grew up in Saugerties, New York. She started her career of service as a Youth Advocate for Youth Advocate Programs Ulster County. She graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in business. While at Marist, she was a member of the equestrian team and was conferred membership into Sigma Alpha Pi, The National Society of Leadership and Success.

After Marist, Lauren moved to Niskayuna, New York and earned a Bachelor of Technology in Therapeutic Horsemanship cum laude from SUNY Cobleskill where she was a member of the Western Equestrian Team and became a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.

Lauren recently attained a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Capella University and passed the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam. She completed her pre-licensure hours at Capital Psychology in Schenectady, New York under the supervision of Tara Benincasa, LMHC,NCC, TCTSY-F. During her time at Capella, she was inducted in to Chi Upsilon Chi Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International in recognition of scholastic and professional excellence and furthering the mission of Promoting Excellence in the Profession of Counseling and Counselor Education.

Presently, Lauren is working toward completing the 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience in mental health counseling that is required for full licensure as a mental health counselor in New York State. She is a member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association.

Lauren is also a Registered Yoga Teacher. She has a dog, a cat, and three horses.