Join social therapists and social therapeutic life coaches in this candid conversation led by their clients, about what it's like for them to build a relationship with one another, work to challenge “the authority of the chair,” break out of identities, and relate to one another as people in the world. And discover the therapeutic value in doing that. Clients will have the opportunity to ask about things they've been curious about but thought maybe they couldn't or shouldn't ask!

Ann Green, PMHNP, is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and social therapist in private practice in NYC. She is the East Side Institute’s director of professional outreach, introducing clinicians, coaches and peer counselors to Social Therapy and social therapeutics. Ann received a Master’s degree from Hunter College, where she was awarded the Certificate of Merit for Demonstrated Commitment in Professional Leadership.

Rachel Mickenberg, LCSW is a social therapist who is co-founder of the High School for Public Service in Brooklyn, NY where she created a mental health program open to all students. She is also in private practice where she leads groups with pre-teens, teens and adults. Rachel is a co-leader, with Dr. Hugh Polk, of the East Side Institute’s Creating Our Mental Health monthly series, a community conversation designed to explore our understanding of mental health and emotional distress.

Randy Wilson (they/them) is an experienced life coach trained in social therapeutics who excels at creating intimate and philosophical environments that are both loving and challenging. Having lived with HIV – and faced other serious challenges – over the last four decades, Randy is passionate about helping clients become more creative choice makers and believes that participating in building communities of development helps to reshape and redefine their relationship to emotional and physical pain.

Thecla Farrell, known for her work producing and performing political theatre with the Castillo Theatre in NYC, jumped at the invitation to study a social therapeutic approach after a short foray with a traditional coaching program. A year-long emotional interplay with social therapeutic writings and an inquisitive cohort of trainees ensued, alongside the support and encouragement of many social therapist friends. Thecla has since begun a nascent practice where she co-leads groups several times per week with Joyce Dattner and Randy Wilson. The art of co-creating an environment to grow a life performance excites her to tears. By day Thecla performs as an operations manager.