Meet your therapist
Russell Needham
he/him · LCSW-R, Clinical Supervisor, Senior Staff Therapist
Russell received his B.A. from Columbia in Political Science and his Master's in Social Work from Hunter College. Russell is a Social Work Supervisor and former Program Director for the New York State Office of Mental Health. He also has formerly worked as a legislative aide for a United States Senator in Washington and as a representative to the New York State Pride Agenda, lobbying for LGBT program funding and equal rights.
Russell was a member of the IHI Steering Committee from 2002-2009, as well as the former Director of the Student Intern Program. He has also published articles in clinical journals relating to individual and group therapies. In recent years he has lectured at college seminars on pre-Stonewall LGBT history. He has supervised social work graduate interns from Columbia, Fordham, Yeshiva, Adelphi, Hunter, and New York University. Modalities practiced: Individual, group, couples, and vocational.
Areas of focus
Our clinicians address the full range of sexuality + gender identity exploration, and mental health support.
- Anxiety
- Compulsive behavior
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Grief and bereavement
- Self-acceptance
- Overcoming barriers to self-actualization
- Panic disorders
- Personality disorders
- Phase of life issues
- Phobias
- Stress
- PTSD and trauma reaction
- Relationships problems
- Substance abuse and recovery support
- Challenges in reaching career goals
- Validating your sexuality and gender expression
- Coming out
- Addressing sexual difficulties
- Navigating non-traditional relationship styles
- Working through challenges related to LGBTQ+ family-building and parenting issues
- Interpersonal challenges and problems relating to others
- Relating to others who identify as LGBTQ+
- Locating community under the LGBTQ+ umbrella