Counseling and Mental Health
About Hartford HealthCare and Providers
Counseling and Mental Health
About Hartford HealthCare and Providers
Counseling services are provided free of charge to Quinnipiac students on all three campuses. Meet members of our professional and friendly counseling team below.
Our Clinicians
Christine Chew
Christine Chew, Ph.D., (she/her) is a licensed psychologist who earned her master’s and doctoral degrees at Saint Louis University. Chris has more than 20 years of experience working in a variety of multidisciplinary settings including hospitals, primary care clinics, outpatient counseling practices and on medical teams. She has been the psychology internship director at two previous sites and has taught in a medical residency program. Her clinical orientation is primarily cognitive behavioral, addressing the ways thoughts and behaviors impact mood, anxiety and coping. Chris is interested not only in providing evidence-based counseling services, but is also interested in prevention of behavioral health issues by promoting good self-care and health coping strategies for all students. When not at work, Chris enjoys exploring nature and spending time with her wife, their adopted son, and their two, three-legged goldendoodles.
Jamila Lamucha Ayeh
Jamila Lamucha Ayeh (she/her) is a licensed master’s social worker with a diverse clinical experience in individual and group therapy. With a bachelor’s degree from State University of New York Geneseo and a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University, Jamila has worked in several outpatient clinics where she has assisted patients with their mental illnesses and substance-use disorders. She is well-versed in a range of modalities, including trauma focus cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and motivational interviewing. Jamila takes a whole-health, integrated approach to her practice, prioritizing the physical, emotional, occupational, social, environmental, intellectual, financial and spiritual well-being of her clients, with their goals and values at the heart of her work. Jamila is also an active member of the U.S. Army, serving with distinction in the Connecticut Army National Guard.
Nakia Black
Nakia Black (she/her), PhD, LCSW, MSW, a licensed clinical social worker, is the Director of Counseling Services at Quinnipiac through the Hartford HealthCare Medical Group. She earned her PhD in social work from Yeshiva University and her master’s degree from the University of Connecticut. Black and her team lead campus-wide behavioral health initiatives and collaborate with campus departments to support student well-being and equity. She provides integrative care, advancing trauma-informed and culturally grounded services for students. She offers culturally responsive psychotherapy for those navigating trauma and healing. With a background that spans higher education, military service, clinical practice, and global travel studies in Germany and Armenia, Black embodies a distinctive blend of insight, compassion, and strategy. Whether she’s leading, teaching, or healing, she brings a consistent call: to show up and help restore and transform lives.
Samantha Kennedy
Samantha Kennedy (she/her) is a licensed professional counselor in Connecticut. She earned her master’s degree in counseling and human services with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling from Post University, along with a graduate certificate in alcohol and drug counseling. Sam has over five years of experience providing counseling for individuals navigating mental health and substance use concerns. She has worked in both clinical and private practice settings and has collaborated with community providers, school systems and the family court system. In her work with students, Sam takes a holistic and person-centered approach. She focuses on helping students better understand their thoughts and behavior patterns while building practical skills to support their growth, resilience and overall well-being.
Jordan Nesi
Jordan Nesi (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker with a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut. With more than five years of experience in mental health and substance-use disorders, Jordan has worked in various settings, including schools, youth services agencies, and shelters for unhoused women and families. Jordan uses a person-centered, relational approach and mindfulness-based interventions to help her clients build stress resilience and effectively cope with life's challenges. Additionally, Jordan is an LGBTQ+ affirming counselor who takes pride in working with gender diverse and queer/questioning individuals.
Sheila van den Broeck
Sheila van den Broeck (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker in Connecticut with more than 15 years of service in individual and group therapy. She earned her master of social work from Fordham University in 2005 while working as a case manager, which cultivated her passion for social work. Sheila has studied several modalities which include cognitive-behavioral therapy as well as dialectical-behavioral therapy, and applies them to bring healing and growth for the students’ goals in therapy.
Siena Vicencio
Siena Vicencio (she/her) is a licensed clinical wocial Worker who earned her BA in psychology and Master of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University. Throughout her years of experience, Siena believes that having at least one person who wholeheartedly supports and believes in us can help us tremendously in our path to healing and growth. Therefore, she goes above and beyond in creating therapeutic relationships that are anchored on empathy, trust and positive regard. Siena has worked in diverse settings, utilizing individualized treatment plans and approaches tailored to each person’s needs; after all, therapy is not one-size-fits-all. She takes pride in being her clients’ therapist, support person and advocate!
Jen Zitser
Jen Zitser (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker who has been practicing psychotherapy for over 30 years, with nearly two decades at Quinnipiac. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and a master’s degree from University of Connecticut. Jen's style is direct, interactive and supportive. Her work often focuses on recognizing patterns from the past that are being unknowingly recreated in the present, and involves an examination of how family and other early relationships influence the way we view the world. She believes that all obstacles have the potential to lead us to discover new aspects of ourselves and she often encourages clients to push themselves to generate new ways of addressing problems they face while providing a safe, supportive environment for exploring their concerns.
The Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network affiliates provide a full array of behavioral health services for all ages, with specialty services to treat the full spectrum of mental health needs.