Please join us in welcoming WIT's new staff!
They are working on a range of exciting initiatives at WIT, including launching our new Therapeutic Services program, broadening our Community Outreach to under-served populations, and expanding our Spanish-English bilingual counseling services.
Therapist: Keya
I earned a B.A. in Criminology and Dance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and M.A. in Dance Movement Therapy & Counseling at Drexel University. Most recently, I worked as Lead Clinical Partial Hospital Group Therapist with the offenders program at Joseph J. Peters Institute and as Allied Therapist at Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital. I've worked in Philly's shelter system, Criminal Justice System, with Older Adults, those with developmental and intellectual disabilities and with adjudicated and at-risk youth. In all this I've come to cherish my most valued training/ experience: Compassion.
My aspiration in life is to be provocative! As a dance instructor I work to stimulate creativity in audiences and performers. As a therapist, I work to kindle hope, resilience and strength in those I have the opportunity to support. I am excited to do both in my new role as Therapist here at Women In Transition. I aspire to bring and support creative ways of learning, healing, and empowerment to clients through WIT's new therapy program!
Community Outreach Coordinator: Al
(they/them/their pronouns)
Thank you to the WIT family for having me on this dynamic team as the Community Outreach Coordinator! I'm excited to work with the WIT community at large to enhance our current services and expand our capacity and clientele.
After earning my double B.A. in Women & Gender Studies and English Literature from the University of Delaware (Go Fighting Blue Hens!), I began working at Gearing Up - a Philadelphia local nonprofit. As the Community Liaison, I was doing similar work expanding our reach and finding the best supports for clients. In my time with Gearing Up, I enjoyed working with women and transgender clients, who were working through trauma and histories of abuse, drug and alcohol recovery, and incarceration through the intervention of physical exercise and biking! As the former Program Director of Gearing Up, I come with a passion for programming that integrates a diversity of ideas and strategies.
When not at work, I enjoy biking around our beautiful city and hanging out with my dog. I like to hike and garden and am always looking for a good vegan dinner recipe.
Bilingual Counselor: Cristina
I've dedicated my professional career to working with Latino and Spanish-speaking populations, including a fellowship at the Smithsonian's Program in Latino History & Culture and teaching at a bilingual elementary school in Madrid, Spain. For the last three years, I served the Philadelphia Latino community at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, where I was the Prevention Education Coordinator for the Latina Domestic Violence Program. I began my work in Domestic Violence in college, assisting survivors in petitioning for Protection From Abuse orders in the New Castle County courthouse in Delaware.
I have a BA in English from the University of Delaware, a MA in American Studies from George Washington University, and I am currently pursuing a MS in Clinical & Counseling Psychology at Chestnut Hill College.
In my life outside of WIT, I love taking my dog Daisy on walks in the Wissahickon, reading, and writing. In fact, I had two small pieces published in an online Latino literary magazine this past year. I also love traveling! I have been to 13 different countries and I can't wait to add more to the list.