Cuda Counseling

06/16/2026

Meet Wanda Velez, LMSW.

For Wanda, meaningful connection begins with listening.

Not just hearing the words someone says, but taking the time to understand the experiences, emotions, and stories behind them.

She believes trust grows when people feel genuinely heard, understood, and accepted without judgment.

Wanda is also bilingual, which allows clients to engage in therapy in the language they are most comfortable speaking. For many individuals and families, that can make all the difference.

By helping remove language barriers, Wanda is expanding access to mental health care for more members of our community.

And a little fun fact about Wanda:

When she wants a fresh start, she does not just tidy up. She creates a full reset. Music on, furniture moved, everything reorganized, and suddenly the entire room has a new energy.

If you have ever rearranged a room for no reason other than “it felt right,” you are in good company.

We are so grateful to have Wanda as part of the Cuda Counseling team.

Contact Cuda Counseling to learn more about working with Wanda or to schedule an appointment.

https://www.cudacounseling.org/book

06/10/2026

This month, we are excited to share some big news at Cuda Counseling.

Our team is growing!

As more people throughout Herkimer, Rome, Utica, and the surrounding Mohawk Valley seek support for their mental health, we are committed to making quality therapy more accessible.

That is why we are proud to welcome four new clinicians to the Cuda Counseling family:

Lauren Mossing, LMSW
Wanda Velez, LMSW
Alan Mackie, PhD, MSW, LCSW-PR
Jennifer Yager, LMSW

Each therapist brings their own unique experience, personality, and approach to care. But they all share something important: a genuine passion for helping people feel heard, supported, and understood.

Because finding the right therapist is about more than credentials, we will be introducing each of them this month so you can get to know the people behind the practice.

If you have been considering therapy, this may be the right time to take that first step.

Contact Cuda Counseling to learn more about our therapists or schedule an appointment in Herkimer, Rome, or through telehealth.

05/28/2026

To close out Mental Health month, Craig bravely demonstrated exposure therapy!

And by “bravely,” we mean he appears to be silently negotiating with every life choice that led him to holding this snake.

Exposure therapy is the process of gradually facing something that creates fear or anxiety in a safe, supported, and intentional way.

It is not about forcing yourself to “just get over it.” It is about taking small steps, building confidence, and helping your brain learn that fear does not always have to be in control.

Sometimes growth looks calm.

Sometimes growth looks like Craig holding a snake.

Either way, small supported steps can lead to real progress.

If fear, anxiety, or avoidance has been holding you back, counseling can help. Contact Cuda Counseling to learn more or schedule a session.

05/26/2026

Mental health challenges can feel isolating.

When someone is struggling, they may start to believe they are the only one feeling that way.

They may pull away.

They may stop talking.

They may minimize what they are going through.

But healing often begins when people feel safe enough to be honest.

A supportive conversation can matter.

A trusted professional can matter.

A caring family member, friend, teacher, or community member can matter.

Mental Health Month reminds us that connection is powerful.

We all play a role in creating communities where people feel safe enough to say, “I am not okay,” and still feel accepted.

At Cuda Counseling, we believe support should feel human, compassionate, and grounded in trust.

05/25/2026

As Mental Health Month comes to a close, the message should not end here.

Mental health matters in May.

But it also matters in June, July, and every month after.

The conversations we start this month can continue.

The stigma we challenge this month can keep breaking down.

The support people seek this month can become the beginning of lasting change.

If this month made you realize you have been carrying too much, that matters.

If it made you think about reaching out, that matters.

If it reminded you to check on someone else, that matters too.

Mental health care is not about having everything figured out.

It is about taking the next honest step.

If you are ready to begin counseling or want to learn more about services, contact Cuda Counseling to book a session.

05/21/2026

Counseling is not about someone telling you what to do.

It is about having a safe space to better understand what is happening, why it may be happening, and what can help.

Counseling can help you:

Understand emotional patterns.

Build healthier coping skills.

Improve communication.

Process stress, grief, anxiety, or life changes.

Strengthen relationships.

Set boundaries.

Feel less alone.

Develop tools for everyday life.

Sometimes people come to counseling because something big happened.

Sometimes they come because they are tired of feeling stuck.

Both are valid reasons to seek support.

You do not need to have the perfect words.

You just need a starting point.

If counseling has been on your mind, reach out to Cuda Counseling to begin the conversation.

05/20/2026

https://www.cudacounseling.org/blog/mental-health-awareness-month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to encourage open conversations, reduce stigma, and remind people that support is available when they need it.

05/19/2026

Healing does not happen all at once.

For Mental Health Month, Jennifer shares an important reminder.

You do not have to figure everything out overnight. Healing is a process, and every step forward matters.

If you have been feeling overwhelmed or stuck, counseling can help you begin taking those steps with support. Contact Cuda Counseling to schedule a session.

05/18/2026

A Good Day Can Be Simple

A good mental health day does not always mean everything is perfect.

Sometimes a good day means you got out of bed.

You answered the message you had been avoiding.

You took a walk.

You asked for help.

You paused before reacting.

You made it through a hard moment without giving up.

You were honest about how you felt.

Mental wellness is not always built through big life changes.

Sometimes it is built through small, repeated moments of care.

This Mental Health Month, give yourself permission to recognize the small steps.

They count.

And sometimes those small steps are the beginning of real change.

If you are ready to take a step toward support, Cuda Counseling is here to help.

05/13/2026

Finding the right counseling support matters.

People are not looking for a place where they feel judged, rushed, or treated like a number.

They are looking for a place where they can breathe.

A place where they can be honest.

A place where their story is heard with care.

At Cuda Counseling, the goal is to create a supportive environment where clients feel safe, respected, and understood.

Mental health care is not one-size-fits-all.

Every person brings a different story, different stressors, different strengths, and different needs.

That is why care should feel personal.

The work is not just about talking.

It is about helping people better understand what they are experiencing, build tools that fit their life, and move forward with support.

If you are looking for counseling support that feels compassionate and personal, reach out to Cuda Counseling to learn more.