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New Beginnings Counseling Center LLC (NBCC) located in Madison, WI, was founded in 2017 by Frederick Harris. Frederick noticed there was a lack of diverse providers in Dane County and many agencies were ethnocentric in their services to culturally diverse populations, which resulted in treatment approaches that were color-blind. To address the underutilization of mental health services by minorities, which continues to be an ongoing issue in the behavioral health field, Fred offered low-cost, self-pay, therapeutic services to children, adults, and families of marginalized groups.
As the Executive Clinical Director and Founder of New Beginnings Counseling Center, LLC Frederick began his career twenty years ago as a case manager in Toledo, OH, at a maximum-security prison providing services to incarcerated men of color and reunifying them with their families. His journey started working in the criminal justice system; where he served a diverse population comprised of substance abuse, mental health, homelessness, transitions, family dynamics, and criminal behavior. He has had great opportunities to develop restorative and rehabilitation programs, managed in-patient, and outpatient programs for co-occurring disorders, and provided clinical therapy to adolescents and adults from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. His direct, warm, and honest approach has been effective in building and maintaining therapeutic relationships.
Frederick holds two marginalized identities, being a person of color and gay. Frederick brings a deep understanding of multicultural, sexuality, and other identity issues, where he offers a multidimensional perspective and insights from different populations and personal life experiences. His clinical training includes an array of treatment modalities, which he finds to be important because his belief is that one single approach does not work for every individual. People with marginalized identities are seeking therapy from therapists they can identify with, relate to, and feel safe with. NBCC aims to incorporate staff that are diverse, hold marginalized identities, and are representative of the client populations we serve.
There are many barriers to receiving therapy including, but not limited to, affordability, access to culturally competent care, and the stigma of mental health issues. In addressing these barriers, New Beginnings Counseling Center, LLC provides culturally specific services and broaches dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, and culture during the counseling process. Also, by giving attention to these identities and the intersectionality of clients. New Beginnings Counseling Center, LLC addresses the barrier to receiving culturally competent care, in hopes that the clients feel validated and affirmed.
Tony (he/his) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Substance Abuse Counselor who graduated from UW-Madison. First, with a BA in psychology and later, a Master’s of Social Work. He has developed and honed his therapeutic practice in Madison, working with individuals experiencing co-occurring disorders, substance use issues, or persistent mental health concerns.
Tony has also worked in higher education at UW-Madison, providing case management for vulnerable students at UW-Madison and as a core member of the campus’s Behavioral Intervention Team. Tony began his professional career as a resident counselor, working with individuals to build mental health management and independent living skills. Tony also has a strong coaching background from his time as a recreation coordinator for the YMCA and as a volunteer youth sports coach. Through his myriad experiences working with individuals, groups, and communities, Tony has benefited from exposure to many forms of diversity and allowed Tony to build a reputation as a fierce advocate, ally, and ethical practitioner.
Tony’s core belief in the value, dignity, and worth of all individuals, community building, and the ability all individuals possess to heal, is what forms his clinical foundation. His focus in therapy is to offer healing and harmony to clients’ lives through introspection, positive communication, mutual commitment, and intentional trust-building.
Katie (she/her) is a Professional Counselor and Substance Abuse Counselor who graduated with a Master of Arts in Counseling Degree from Lakeland University. Katie enjoys therapeutic work with people from all walks of life, especially adolescents and young adults who are struggling co-occurring with mental health and substance use disorders. Additionally, Katie has experience working with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other types of adjustments to various life changes.
Katie began her career working at Mendota Mental Health Institute within the Juvenile Treatment Center, prior to returning to graduate school. There, she provided case management to individuals within the criminal justice system and assisted individuals in exploring mental health and substance abuse concerns, family dynamics, and systemic injustices.
Katie believes in empowering clients through a person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach and works alongside clients to create healthy relationships with others and with oneself. Katie works to create a safe space where clients can explore life’s challenges and feel heard and accepted. Additionally, Katie is working towards obtaining a certification in Animal Assisted Therapy where she will incorporate her personal connection with horses and guide clients to have a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them utilizing equine facilitated therapy.
Ashanti Rogers (she/her) is a graduate of University of Wisconsin. Other Identities that are central to her are that she is Black, female, Queer, first-generation college and graduate student, Spiritual, and a survivor. Her specialty is working with and healing the youth; however, she has worked with a plethora of clients of all backgrounds, ages, identities, and concerns - including family therapy, couples therapy, and parental support.
Ashanti’s goal as a therapist is not just providing care for children and their families, but to break the stigma around mental health within Black, Indigenous, and people-of-color (BIPOC) communities. She wants to be an agent in redirecting how children of color deal with trauma and works to break future problematic cycles surrounding trauma and coping mechanisms. She looks for ways to empower her clients to separate themselves from their stories/problems/challenges, while also recognizing the systems that affect and oftentimes oppress them. She collaborates with clients to highlight their skills and self-efficacy to achieve their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual goals of healing and wellness.
Outside of being a therapist, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, as well as her godson. She is also in the process of becoming a doula partner with Saving Our Babies, an organization radicalizing the care and treatment of Black women, Black pregnant bodies, and Black babies. The organization was founded by The Foundation for Black Women's Wellness (FFBWW) in Madison.
Marcus Weathers Jr. (he/his) is a doctoral student in the Rehabilitation Counselor Education program at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Marcus is a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and a licensed professional counselor in-training (LPC-IT) with experience in working with transition-aged youth (ages 13-26) with intellectual and developmental disabilities and in the juvenile justice system. He also has experience in working with adults living with psychiatric disabilities.
His expertise lies in emotional regulation and soft skills training, which he believes are crucial for personal growth and success. Across his educational journey and field work experience, Marcus has developed a deeper understanding of the unique challenges that young people of color face, including systemic injustices and cultural barriers. When working with youth of color, he focuses on creating a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their emotions, build their self-esteem, and learn practical tools for managing stress and anxiety. Marcus is committed to helping them develop a strong sense of identity and purpose, and to empowering them to navigate the challenges of adolescence and beyond with confidence and resilience.
His clinical values are rooted in humanistic and mindfulness practices, which means that he prioritizes empathy, authenticity, and non-judgmental listening in his work. Marcus believes that every individual has the capacity for self-awareness and positive change, and his job is to facilitate that process through a collaborative and empowering approach. He also has experience in teaching (both graduate and undergraduate level courses) and conducting research (specifically examining how stigma influences the behaviors of individuals who have been involved with the criminal justice system) at UW-Madison.
Taylor (she/her) is an advanced practice social worker who graduated with her master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2023. She enjoys working with individuals across the life span, from childhood to adulthood.
Taylor strives to approach each therapeutic relationship with a strengths-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed perspective. She draws from motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and more in her work with clients. Taylor believes that every individual’s journey to healing is different and that every person deserves dignity and respect.
Nico (he/his) is an advanced practice social worker who graduated in 2023 from UW-Milwaukee with a master's degree in social work. While he enjoys working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds, Nico has a particular passion for helping elevate underserved individuals and communities. Working with teens, young children, and those with intellectual disabilities is another primary interest of his, as Nico is very motivated to advocate and support those who have difficulties doing so on their own.
Nico is excited to bring a very individualized and adaptable approach to New Beginnings Counseling Center and help clients with any myriad of presenting issues from anxiety and mood disorders, relationship/ interpersonal conflicts, and those struggling with their sexual identity or self-esteem.
In his free time, Nico lives a very active lifestyle while playing a multitude of sports and going on frequent hikes with his dog, Bodhi. Additionally, he also plays the piano and multiple other instruments and writes poetry in his spare time.
Amanda (she/her) has 13+ years of experience in the nursing profession, after earning her degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began her work in Phoenix, Arizona as a Nurse Resident at Maricopa County Mental Health Hospital. Amanda has worked in both public and private sectors of mental health, which include gerontology, a specialized all-women’s unit as well as a specialized unit for veterans. In 2022, Amanda earned her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI.
Along with medication, Amanda focuses on sleep, exercise, diet/gut health and therapy to address mental health concerns and struggles.
Mya Berry (they/them) is an advocate for Black and Brown people as well as the LGBTQIA+ community. They have a deep passion to liberate marginalized communities with resources and love.
Mya recently earned a Master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education where they studied Human Development and Education. In their role at New Beginnings, they hope to use their knowledge to secure grants in order to cultivate culturally appropriate environments that are safe, joyful, and uplifting for the community.
Salinda (she/her) has extensive experience in the human services field and enjoys helping others. Salinda has worked in assisted living facilities helping the elderly and disabled. She has also worked in substance abuse facilities and helped people experiencing homelessness.
Salina enjoys baking and caring for animals as well as spending time with her son.
Reagan (she/her) is currently a graduate student studying clinical mental health counseling at Moody in downtown Chicago. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology with a certificate in health development from Texas A&M University. She is excited to be a part of the NBCC team!
Reagan is eager to apply her education and experience with clients of all ages and demographics. She is passionate about supporting foster, adoptive, and at-risk families. Reagan is knowledgeable in youth and adolescent development, including social, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive strategies.
Logan (he/his) is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater studying clinical mental health counseling. He received his bachelor's degree in genetics and plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Logan is excited to work as part of the New Beginnings team. He is passionate about helping people all stages of life and supporting their mental wellness journey. Logan enjoys working with relationship and family concerns, LGBTQ+ populations, and identity exploration.
In his free time, Logan enjoys board games, Dungeons and Dragons, movies, and creating art.
Andrew (he/his) is pursuing a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. He's dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and is well-versed in anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and trauma-informed care.
Andrew embraces an adaptable and holistic approach, drawing inspiration from motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practices. He firmly believes in tailoring his methods to fit each client's unique needs, recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Rooted in his core values, Andrew prioritizes the significance of diversity and inclusion within therapeutic spaces. He aspires to create safe spaces where individuals from all walks of life can explore their experiences and emotions without judgment.
Paul Gapinski (he/his) is a masters student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison studying Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education. Paul is training to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), and has experience working with individuals in the criminal justice system and individuals with severe and persistent psychiatric disabilities.
Paul’s counseling experience includes the incorporation of coping skills and mindfulness strategies to self-regulate. Throughout Paul’s professional and educational development, he has learned client-directed approaches to counseling, and believes that creating a strong therapeutic bond is crucial for personal growth. Throughout his work in corrections and community mental health, Paul has learned about the environmental and societal barriers that exist both within the criminal justice system and the social services system. Paul’s work centers around the broadening of perspective, strengthening of self-esteem, and the processing and recognition of self-actualization.
Paul believes that counseling occurs best within a strong client-counselor dynamic, and places emphasis on empathy and strong rapport building. Mindfulness strategies and cognitive behavioral skills are a large part of Paul’s therapeutic approach.
Kaylin (she/they) is a graduate student at Marquette University studying clinical mental health counseling. They received their undergraduate degrees in psychology and sociology from UW Madison. Kaylin works with clients to understand how personal, environmental, and systemic factors contribute to mental health and wellbeing. They enjoy working with individuals who hold an LGBTQ+ identity and are passionate in supporting people through identity exploration and navigating nontraditional relationship models.
Kaylin believes in a holistic approach to therapy, drawing from person-centered therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness practices. They recognize that culturally appropriate care is a necessary component of counseling and believe in tailoring sessions and treatment plans to meet the needs of each individual client. Kaylin strives to create a safe space for clients to explore parts of themselves while practicing self-compassion and nonjudgment.
In their free time, Kaylin enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, reading, and taking care of their ever-growing houseplant collection.
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