Counseling Center
Meet the Counselors
The counseling staff are experienced mental health clinicians who are dedicated to the personal development and growth of SUNYIT’s students. It is important that you have confidence in your counselor’s ability to help you. Please take a look at our bios below.
Sandra A. Mizerak NCC, LMHC
Mental Health Counselor
Sandra.Mizerak@sunyit.edu
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. I graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a Master’s Degree in counseling specializing in Community Mental Health.
I joined SUNYIT as a full time mental health counselor in 2011. I began working as a college counselor in 2003 at Herkimer County Community College. In addition to counseling students I have facilitated various psycho-educational groups, been involved with the college’s Alcohol & Other Drug Board and Sexual Assault Committee, participated in RA trainings, and used to be advisor of Herkimer County Community College’s Gay Straight Alliance Club.
My story began years ago in the field of human services, working with individuals with developmental disabilities and chronic mental illness. Although I loved my work I knew eventually I wanted to pursue my real passion which was to become a therapist. The second part of my journey led me to work in a variety of clinical settings; as a therapist in a mental health clinic, a crisis counselor in a hospital, a family therapist, and a sexual assault/domestic violence counselor. These experiences all have helped me in my current role as a college counselor, which I have been doing for the past 10 years.
My clinical orientation is a bit eclectic, ranging from a variety of techniques including, but not limited to Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. My professional interests are in childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, partner abuse, sexual violence, self-esteem, LGBTQ issues and grief issues. My strengths lie in my ability to be empathetic, compassionate, helping a person find their “inner voice” and teaching them how to use it. My motto has always been “ know your own worth.”
I really enjoy working with college students and feel fortunate to be a part of the SUNYTIT Counseling Center.
Colleen B. McSweeney LCSW-R, ACSW, CSW
Mental Health Counselor
mcsweec@sunyit.edu
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and joined the SUNYIT family as a part time staff counselor in the Counseling Center in 2011. I began working with college students in 1997 as the director of counseling at Morrisville State College for approximately 10 years. I provided direct clinical service to students as well as facilitating psycho-educational groups, RA/RD trainings, and campus community and leadership programs, in addition to adjunct teaching. Working with college students is my passion. After leaving Morrisville I have been fortunate to be able to stay connected to my work with students by working part time as an adjunct counselor at Colgate University and maintaining a private practice in Hamilton, N.Y.
I have extensive experience working in the mental health field with diverse populations with a myriad of issues; as director of a women’s residence that provided transitional/safe housing for single women (with or without small children) while pursuing educational/career goals to become self sufficient; as a supervising therapist in a mental health clinic; a therapist in a cancer treatment center; providing EAP services to faculty and staff in colleges and universities which include direct clinical work and staff training and workshops; and providing clinical supervision for professional counselors and graduate students for over 16 years.
I graduated from Syracuse University’s graduate School of Social Work with a concentration in family mental health and I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
My clinical orientation and framework is systems theory combined with some cognitive-behavioral work. I consider myself to be a generalist and my areas of professional interest are relationship concerns, college adjustment issues, developmental issues, family systems/family of origin issues, couples, pressures of sexual activity early on in relationships, date rape/sexual assault, women’s issues, self-esteem issues, chronic pain/illness, anxiety (including social anxiety and adjustment), depression, spiritual discovery/awareness, and discovering the whole ‘self’. My overall goal is to help students make the changes they wish to make in their lives by learning to find their ‘true’ self. I strive to make my relationship with each student compassionate, caring, interactive and mutually respectful.