Gabrielle Brainard, LCSW
Gabrielle Brainard’s path to working with people seemed meant to be. As a resident of a small town in western New York State, she grew up in Arkansas and spent some time in New York before starting her advanced education in Maryland. However, it was in Baltimore, where her aunt was a psychiatric nurse in a behavioral health hospital, that she was exposed to therapy. After getting her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Law Enforcement at Towson University and studying abroad in London, she continued her education, earning a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in Pennsylvania. Now she spends most of her days utilizing her training as an LCSW, MSW, and trauma counselor working with young people at an alternative education high school and providing counseling services to adults via telehealth. “Social workers are knowledgeable and helpful in many areas—medical, school, home, and family. It’s a versatile field and is person-centered,” she says, also emphasizing how telehealth opens up a spectrum of treatment options for people in small, rural towns. “Living in a rural area, transportation tends to be a huge barrier, as is having limited resources. Telehealth opens up opportunities for individuals to receive treatment from the privacy and comfort of their own homes.” As a mother of three, Gabrielle has a passion for travelling. Growing up, she visited all 50 states with her mother and now is building a ‘travel bucket list’ which includes Iceland and New Zealand.Close
Jason Mancini, LCSW-R
Growing up in the college town of Binghamton, NY, Jason found his calling early in life while taking a high school psychology course. He would go on to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from SUNY Oneonta before returning home to earn his Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from SUNY Binghamton. “I’ve always had a calm demeanor, and, even as a teenager I would help people with their problems,” says Jason, who later applied his concern for young adults while working for Child Protective Services before entering grad school. He currently works as Clinical Supervisor at an Outpatient Mental Health Clinic where he helps his patients (who range in age from five to adulthood) deal with an array of life’s challenges, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and behavioral disorders. A firm believer that developing a trusting therapeutic relationship is essential to patient success, Jason emphasizes the importance of creating a calm, warming environment, explaining, “I believe therapy should be a rewarding and enjoyable experience.” Jason sees many advantages to working with patients online. “With adults, I’ve been surprised at how much can be achieved through virtual visits. You get to see into people’s personal lives, their home environment, and overall living situations. That’s very helpful.” In his free time, he enjoys lifting weights, spending time with his wife and their Lhasa Apso, and winter getaways to Florida.Close
Patricia Sage, LCSW-R
Patricia Sage-McLean, LCSW-R, hails from a small town in upstate New York. After receiving her BA from Binghamton University, she completed her MSW at the University at Albany School of Social Welfare. She received advanced training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy from Upstate Medical University at SUNY Syracuse. For the last four years, she has been part of a multi-disciplinary team at Lourdes Center for Pain and Wellness. Before that, Patricia worked for a substance abuse facility and an inpatient psychiatric hospital. Patricia strives to create a safe space where her patients feel welcome and validated. She takes a person-centered approach, allowing for self-exploration of past and current struggles to work on problem-solving and growth. She focuses on strength building and working on areas of life that they value most. Interested in the human being behind the story, she facilitates a therapeutic relationship that encourages patients to open up about their lived experience. Patricia has worked with patients online for two years and sees teletherapy as a solution to the transportation, scheduling, and accessibility issues commonly associated with in-office care. While she specializes in treating personality disorders, Patricia has extensive experience treating schizophrenia, chronic pain, substance abuse issues, stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, grief, and coping with life changes. In her free time, she enjoys working on her daughter’s farm and playing golf. She is also an avid nature photographer and animal lover.Close