Amy Frisch

Amy Frisch, LCSWR, is a psychotherapist and the founder of It's a Girl Thing!  Amy specializes in issues of adolescence, and has developed a dynamic, creative and unique private practice over the past 20 years. 

The Weekend Retreat is one of Amy’s favorite programs because it allows her to connect with young women in a more relaxed setting.  "We create a true sense of family."  

Amy is a fan of being near the ocean, scuba diving, and new adventures. She loves a good challenge, appreciates a funny joke, and cherishes down time with her family. She holds firmly to the  belief that most of life’s problems look a little less intimidating after a good run.  

Amy received her MSW from Fordham University way way back in 1994!

Rachel Spear

Rachel Spear is a licensed clinical social worker, who obtained her master's degree in clinical social work from Fordham University. She is also a trauma-informed yoga teacher and is trained in EMDR, an effective form of trauma therapy. Additionally, Rachel serves as part of the Ulster County Eating Disorder Coalition. Academically, she has taught master's level counseling students at SUNY New Paltz. Rachel sees individuals, groups, families, and couples. She serves as the Retreat Coordinator for It’s a Girl Thing!+, which is her favorite role to date. Rachel loves to connect, write, watch movies, cook, stargaze, and laugh. Rachel believes that you know you best, and she can’t wait to meet the true you!

nicole loiodice

Nicole Loiodice, MS. ED., LMHC. Nicole received both of her Master's degrees at SUNY New Paltz. We are excited to welcome Nicole to the IGT team as our Clinical Intake Coordinator and Staff Therapist.

When not working, you’ll likely find Nicole painting, watching documentaries, being out in nature, or experimenting with a new recipe.

Prior to receiving her Master's Degree, Nicole volunteered with the AmeriCorps for two years in New Hampshire where she found her passion of listening to and counseling at-risk teenagers.

We think thats part of what makes her a perfect fit for co-leading IGT teen groups and providing individual therapy. Nicole enjoys every person's uniqueness and aims to empower and connect others with their true inner selves.

Casey Dederick

Casey is a MSW graduate from Adelphi University. When she's not working you can find her volunteering at the Walden Humane Society. She enjoys photography, spending time with family, a good joke, and connecting with friends.

This retreat is something that is near and dear to her heart. In high school Casey joined It’s A Girl Thing! expressive arts group for support during her teens years.  "The love and guidance provided by this group allowed me to blossom into the woman I am now: fearless and healthy."

Casey is the lead co-facilitator of Beyond the Label expressive art support group.

Kaitlyn Hutchinson

Kaitlyn Hutchinson will be joining us for her 7th year at It’s a Girl Thing! Weekend Retreat. A graduate from SUNY New Paltz, Kait works for a local non-profit organization, doing home visits for families who need pregnancy and parenting support and education. Her passion is rooted in helping women realize their own power and true beauty.  

Kait, who lives in Kingston with her fiance and fearless beagle, describes herself a corny, hoaky, silly gal who loves to make people smile and laugh. She is a bonified Netflix junky, and is always, always looking for music recommendations (hint! hint!)

"I truly cannot wait for these upcoming weekends, and so look forward to meeting you!!"

Emma Elisabeth

Emma Elisabeth is a young woman on a mission to transform through writing, supported by the beautiful Hudson River Valley. She fell in love with language at an early age, seeking to capture the spark in everyday life. Her inspiration stems from children’s shining faces, the smells of the forest, and anything that she can create with her hands. You may find her journaling in red ink, cooking a nourishing meal, or teaching yoga ~ doing her best to share her passions with others. You can find her on her: https://emmaelisabethmurphy.wordpress.com/ or on https://instagram.com/cardinalmuse

SARAHROSE STERN

SarahRose is a licensed social worker who received her degree from the University of Albany in 2014. She decided to become a helper at 7-years-old when she volunteered at a soup kitchen in Berkeley, California where she grew up. Since that time, she has devoted her life to the field of social work. We are grateful to have Sarah as a part of our IGT team, working with individual teens and and co-facilitating It’s a Girl Thing in our New Paltz office. She specializes in work with children and families experiencing any of the hardships of life and works as a therapist for the Institute of Family Health. SarahRose believes everyone has the capacity to heal themselves given the right guidance and support.  She loves being outdoors hiking in the woods, crafting, indoor gardening or cooking in the kitchen. She feels there’s nothing better than connecting to your inner spirit through nature.

Sharon Sarra

Sharon Sarra, MHC-LP, is a graduate of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s program at SUNY New Paltz and joined IGT in 2021. Sharon first recognized her passion for working with teens/young adults during her undergraduate studies while serving as a Research Assistant to Dr. Caitlin Abar, who holds a PhD in Psychology and Human Development. During this time, she assisted in research analyzing topics such as adolescent health/substance use behaviors, adolescent social media use, the impact specific parenting styles of adolescent health/social behaviors, and eventually published her own research study examining factors associated with disordering eating behaviors among teens/young adults. After recognizing her desire to expand on her knowledge and work more directly with this specific population, she began seeking out experiences to do just that. She took on various roles during her undergraduate and master’s degree that allowed her to work with and help teens such as peer mentor, tutor, and advocate, which ultimately led her to IGT! Her hope is to provide the individuals she serves with the empathy, consistency, and unconditional support they deserve, assisting them in reaching their true potentials and recognizing their intrinsic worth.

When she is not in the office, Sharon enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, catching up on her favorite shows, and trying out new recipes!