Meet Our Therapists – Westfield & Wall, NJ

A native of Swarthmore, PA, Cynthia has well over three decades of experience as a social worker. Her favorite thing about her work is being able to have a major and positive impact on the lives of clients while helping them reach their full potential and self-awareness. After graduating from Dickinson College, she went on to study at New York University to earn her Master of Social Work, and she also earned her certificate in treating sexual abuse/trauma. Today, she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who also works as a middle school counselor and is even a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Outside of the office, Cynthia is happily married and has a daughter and son. Whenever she’s free, she loves to read and spend time outdoors with her family and their two English bulldogs. One fun fact about her: she’s completed two sprint triathlons!

Born and raised in Garwood, NJ, Rachel has been working as a social worker for several years and counting. After graduating from high school, she discovered the world of psychology and social work and the positive impact she could have in the lives of others. She also worked with children at her local YMCA, which helped her grow her passion for guiding individuals toward their best mental and emotional well-being. Now, she gets to build strong relationships with others while helping them to lead fulfilling lives.

Rachel attended Seton Hall University for her undergraduate, where she also worked in Child Protective Services for the state of New Jersey. There, she learned about the kind of positive change social work can have on people and the community. After this opportunity ignited her passion even further, she went on to intern at a local community mental health agency in Elizabeth, NJ, learning about the profound power of one-on-one therapy and the significance of evidence-based practices. Simultaneously, she studied at Fordham University for her Master of Social Welfare, specializing in areas such as phase of life challenges, emotion regulation, relationship issues, and problem-solving for adults. She’s also a proud member of the National Association of Social Workers.

When she isn’t at the office, Rachel enjoys spending time painting, reading, exercising (strength training), practicing digital art, and reading tarot cards. She’s also a do-it-yourself enthusiast, as she likes tailoring her clothes, cutting her hair, and decorating her home to express her unique style!

Karen says that helping others is her passion and an integral part of who she is. Although she knew this to her core, she decided to get her undergraduate degree in business administration, mostly because her mom and sister were therapists. Truthfully, she just wanted to do something different! After graduating and working in a business environment, it was clear that it was not for her. Karen wasn’t fulfilled and knew she needed to make a change. So, she started working at a residential facility for adolescents with eating disorders as a milieu counselor and instantly felt more fulfilled. Eventually, she went back to get her master’s in social work from the Catholic University of America and is now an LSW. Today, she has been in the mental health field for over a decade.

Karen strives to create a calm, safe space for individuals, one that fosters hope and openness. She’s eager to meet you where you are and help you recognize there is space to grow, heal, and change.

Dr. Lum loved learning about psychology and biology in college, and these passions eventually led her to the field of neuropsychology. Today, she is uniquely qualified to help our patients work through even the most difficult emotions and personal situations! After earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, she has cared for numerous populations, including veterans, individuals with brain injuries, older adults, teens, and more.

In addition to her degrees, Dr. Lum has completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology. She’s also worked within numerous Veterans Affairs and private hospital systems, as well as private practices and community mental health resources. She is a current member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology and the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology.

When Dr. Lum isn’t busy at work, she spends her time reading good books, painting, discovering new restaurants, and taking her dog on long walks. She also loves dance and even danced ballet for a decade!

Randye is dedicated to combining her experience, skills, and compassion to help her clients develop the tools that a person needs to navigate through various stages of life. Her work combines cognitive, behavioral, and psychodynamic techniques. She believes in a collaborative approach, working together with her clients in a warm and caring environment.

Originally from St. Louis, she graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in Speech and Hearing and then went on to earn her MSW from Rutgers. She is certified to provide supervision to social workers who are working toward their clinical licenses.

When not at the office, Randye enjoys spending time with her family.

Mary Margaret Boyle is a dually licensed therapist (LPC, LCADC) with over 13 years of experience supporting individuals on their journey toward healing and self-improvement. She recently joined Embrace Psychiatric Wellness Center in Westfield, NJ, bringing with her a rich background in community mental health, substance abuse treatment, school-based counseling, and higher education.

Mary Margaret holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is licensed in both Mental Health Counseling and Alcohol & Drug Counseling. She spent nearly a decade working specifically in the field of addiction, supporting clients in addressing both substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns. She also has advanced training in Domestic Violence, where she began her career as an advocate and counselor for survivors.

Deeply rooted in the local community, Mary Margaret grew up in Scotch Plains, NJ, and is a proud graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School ("Go Raiders!"). She earned her undergraduate degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where she first discovered her passion for counseling while working with foster youth through a local nonprofit.

Mary Margaret is known for her compassionate, grounded, and relational approach to therapy. She loves building strong, supportive relationships with her clients and walking alongside them through life’s challenges.

Outside of work, you can often find her running around town—a passion she’s held since high school—or spending time with her husband and their two active sons. She enjoys family adventures, cheering from the sidelines at sports games, relaxing at the beach, and getting lost in a good book whenever she gets a quiet moment.

With 15+ years of experience in the medical field so far, Lauren is a true expert when it comes to helping people feel confident and live up to their best potential! This profession naturally fits with her natural empathy and desire to care for those in need. She attended graduate school at Yeshiva University and has taken extensive training courses for the treatment of trauma and dually diagnosed individuals with an intellectual disability and mental illness. Additionally, she has a post master’s endorsement for school counseling, which has provided lots of valuable knowledge about how to navigate the school system and provide support for students and parents alike.

Today, Lauren has a vast wealth of experience when it comes to caring for patients with mental illnesses, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and /or traumas. She does a great job of helping parents navigate the world of special education and can even coach them to manage or modify behaviors of concern. Her additional areas of specialty include depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, substance use, and overall emotional distress.

At home, Lauren is happily married with a daughter, a son, and a dog. Her favorite hobbies include going on outdoor adventures, traveling, and spending lots of quality time with her loved ones.

Originally from Interlaken, Christina has been in the medical field for a couple of years now, and she truly finds her work fulfilling. She used to work in education for over a decade until she realized just how little support there was when it came to parents and families with children who are neurodivergent or have cognitive disabilities. She saw just how difficult this situation can be for people, especially when they have no one to consult or who recognizes the impact it can have on families, so she decided to go into the psychiatric field.

Christina studied at Brookdale for her associate’s degrees in Humanities-English and Art History and earned her bachelor’s in Education with a specialty in Special Education (strong focus on autism) from Georgian Court University. She later attended Monmouth University to obtain her master's in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health. She’s worked in substance abuse and mental health partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) for adolescents, and is currently a member of the American Counseling Association and the Monmouth County School Counselors’ Association.

Other than being able to help families with their mental health, Christina finds her coworkers to be the best part of her job. Away from the office, she is a mother of two boys—one with multiple disabilities—as well as two dogs and two leopard geckos. Her hobbies involve biking, going to the beach, paddle boarding, going to the gym, foraging, baking from scratch, spending time with friends, getting tattoos, and having fun. She also loves horror movies!

Ever since he can remember, Timothy has had a strong desire to be of service to people in need. Today, with nearly a full decade of experience in this essential field, he loves the strong relationships he’s built with patients! He studied at the University of Montana and achieved his Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from FDU Madison. He also has his LPC (Licensed Practicing Counselor) LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor) certifications.  

When Timothy isn’t busy at work, his favorite hobbies include completing crosswords, caring for his trees and butterfly garden, and going on long walks and hikes with his two Springer Spaniels.

Throughout her teen and young adult years, Cherilyn faced many barriers to accessing the mental healthcare she needed, including: long waitlists, no health insurance, high costs, and a lack of support. Once she was able to get her own treatment and was making progress, she knew she wanted to help others as well. For her, TMS treatment was life-changing, and she encourages anyone – providers and clients – with questions about it to ask her!

On top of having a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California, Cherilyn took classes through The Mental Health Association of NJ to become a Certified Recovery Support Practitioner, worked as a peer counselor at Easterseals women's mental health residential program, provided EISS (Early Intervention Support Services) in Piscataway, and has done a lot of training focused on LGBTQ+ identity and DBT. She is passionate about helping people overcome self-harm behaviors as she is many years in recovery.

Cherilyn loves spending most of her free time with her girlfriend as well as their dog and seven cats. When she isn’t hanging out with them, you’ll usually find her at the beach, paddleboarding, hiking, or traveling.

Veronica earned her master's degree in counseling from the Alliance Graduate School of Counseling, where she developed a strong foundation in providing therapeutic services to individuals, families, and couples. She is a trilingual therapist providing services in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Her empathetic and creative approach enables her to connect with clients and offer practical solutions tailored to their needs. Veronica specializes in treating anxiety, depression, family conflict, and building coping skills. She helps clients manage stress, improve communication in relationships, and navigate life transitions. Veronica is passionate about guiding individuals on their journey toward healing and personal growth.

Outside of her practice, Veronica enjoys spending quality time with her family. She loves yoga to stay fit and unwind, listens to music to lift her spirits, and explores new, delicious foods as a way to relax and recharge.

After growing up being trained and working as an actor, Larry decided that he wanted to use his life experiences to help others. This eventually saw him graduate from Montclair State University and Rutgers University as well as training at the Identity House Counseling Center in NYC. He also has experience serving in psychiatric units at Trinitas Hospital.

He deeply enjoys meeting and working with new people and helping them get the care they need to achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives. Not forgetting his past, his main passions beyond his work are music and theater.