You're not here to find a therapist.
You're here to choose one.

Our team

Every therapist at The Nest was chosen for who they are and what they bring to the room. Based on your personality, your goals, and what you're carrying, we'll connect you with the therapist at The Nest who's actually the right fit for you.

Alicia Italiano, LCSW

Founder & Therapist

Some people come to therapy because they're falling apart. Alicia's clients usually come because they're still holding everything together but they can't keep living this way. They're the dependable friend, the capable partner, the high-achiever everyone leans on. Beneath the surface, they're exhausted. For over a decade, Alicia has helped clients understand the patterns keeping them stuck so they can build lives that feel lighter, more intentional, and genuinely their own.

Meet Alicia
A woman with wavy brown hair sits on a dark couch near a window with white blinds, smiling, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, with a large leafy plant in the background.

Jamie Edwards, LCSW-R

Therapist

Sixteen years on Long Island helping people get back into alignment. Jamie creates a judgment-free space where your brilliant mind can finally find peace, whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just ready to reconnect with yourself.

Meet Jamie
A woman with long brown hair wearing glasses, a turquoise blouse, and black pants, sitting indoors with a large potted plant in the background, smiling at the camera.

Samantha Alotta, LMSW

Therapist

Based on East Setauket and powered by unapologetic black cat energy. Sam is here for the deep work, the dark humor, and the quiet courage it takes to grow, at a pace that feels safe, real, and entirely yours.

Meet Sam
A woman with wavy brown hair and glasses standing by a window, wearing a sleeveless green top and blue jeans, with tattoos on her left arm.

Johanna Schwartz, LCSW

Therapist

Brooklyn-based and available virtually across New York State. For over a decade, Johanna has been the therapist for the ones who are everyone's strong friend. If you're the person who handles the crisis, coordinates the dinner, and keeps the family peace while running on fumes, she's here to give you the one thing you rarely give yourself: permission to stop and breathe.

Meet Johanna
Man with dark hair, glasses, and a beard sitting at a desk with a yellow laptop and a white coffee mug, smiling and holding a pen, in a bright room with white curtains.

Robert Edwards, LMSW

Therapist

Rob is the therapist who feels less like a therapist and more like that one friend who actually listens and then tells you the truth. He works with teens, women, young adults in the college years, and older men, with a deep specialization in men's health and couples therapy. His style is reality-based and action-oriented: he'll build on your strengths, bring in inner child work when the moment calls for it, and call you out (gently) when you need that push.

Meet Rob
A young woman with long dark hair, smiling, holding a ceramic mug with both hands. She is sitting in front of a potted plant and a light-colored wall, wearing a casual color-blocked t-shirt and blue jeans.

Maria Montelione, LCSW, PMH-C

Therapist

Nearly a decade of clinical experience and Maria still shows up to every session like it's personal. Because for her, it is. She specializes in supporting women and young men in their 20s and 40s navigating anxiety, depression, and the kind of invisible losses the world doesn't always make room for — think birth trauma, pregnancy loss, mom guilt, and the quiet overwhelm of holding it all together when no one's watching.

Meet Maria 
Let's see if we're the right fit.

Not sure who to choose?

That's what the vibe check call is for. Book a free consult and we'll help you figure out who feels like the right fit before you commit to anything.

Book Your Vibe Check Call