Staff of the Rainbow Heights Club
Christian Huygen ( www.christianhuygen.com
) is the Executive Director of Rainbow Heights Club. He received
his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The New School for Social Research.
Dr. Huygen began working with LGBT consumers over ten years ago, as a volunteer
at an AIDS hospice in San Francisco. His research interests include autobiographical
and social remembering, consumer satisfaction, and quality of life.
Before he came to New York City to become a psychologist, he was an actor,
writer and playwright; his play Waiting for Godette, starring Justin
Bond, was produced at Theater Rhinoceros in 1993. He co-authored articles
on Rainbow Heights Club for the journal Best Practices in Mental Health
and the anthology Community Mental Health: 21st Century
Challenges.
Email: christianhuygen@rainbowheights.org Phone: 718.852.5212
Nicole
Avallone is
the Director of Member Services and newest member of Rainbow Heights Club’s
clinical team. She began work in social services while living on the West
coast, and returned East to complete her Master’s in Social Work at New
York University. In her previous work, as a psychotherapist and later program
director at a harm reduction agency, she secured funding for and developed
LGBT-specific programming and has consistently advanced the particular needs
of LGBT consumers. For the past several years she has facilitated groups
within trans/gender-non-conforming communities, including support for trans-partners. She
believes that the strength of any community comes from its members and is
excited about embarking on a new journey with Rainbow Heights Club as we
learn and grow together.
Email: navallone@rainbowheights.org Phone: 718-852-5217
Dina Curet is the senior member of our Peer Specialist
team. At an early age, Dina dreamed about growing up and traveling
around the continent helping people lead better lives. Her dream came true
over three years ago when she became a Peer Specialist at Rainbow Heights
Club, where she makes a difference and has helped many members live happier
lives as LGBT consumers.
Email: dinacuret@rainbowheights.org
Phone: 718.852.2584
Adriane Patsiotis is an up and coming CASAC counselor.
She has personally dealt with many of the struggles that life has to offer.
Her wish was to bring to Rainbow Heights Club "a way to bring some
semblance to an ever changing world." The decision to alter her
life and try to make some change come about came from her first hand experience
in the shelter system. Fueled by seeing a sense of accomplishment
in others, Adriane has endeavored to absorb all the knowledge she could
about mental illness and the stresses that come along with it. She
loves Rainbow Heights Club because she finds kinship like no other here.
And she looks forward to continuing to be a positive influence on others.
Email: adrianepatsiotis@rainbowheights.org
Phone: 718.852.2584
Parker
recently graduated with a master’s degree from Hunter College School of
Social Work, with a concentration in community organizing. In hir tenure
s/he has been committed to bringing visibility to the disparities in access
to healthcare and social services to dually stigmatized and otherwise marginalized
populations. S/he has provided advocacy and support within the LGBT community
to individuals with major mental illness, people of color, and seniors.
S/he is currently serving as the outreach coordinator for the Rainbow Heights Club. S/he works to bring awareness to mental health providers through trainings about how to provide effective and culturally competent treatment to LGBT mental health consumers. S/he boasts a weekly support group for trans and gender non-conforming individuals living with major mental illness and looks forward to begin work as an HIV Educator and counselor here at Rainbow Heights.
Email:
parker@rainbowheights.org
Phone: 718-852-5211
Bob
English
is the Clinical Social Worker at Rainbow Heights. In addition to working
with the members of Rainbow Heights, he sees other clients individually
at the Training Institute for Mental Health where he is a candidate for
certification in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Bob has spent several years
as a trainer helping medical students, interns and residents improve their
interpersonal and communication skills. He also worked extensively throughout
the NYC public schools as an actor providing drama therapy to at risk
kids. Just before coming to Rainbow Heights, he served as a counselor
for a year at a Manhattan rehab/detox. He earned his Masters in Social
Work at New York University.
Email: bobenglish@rainbowheights.org Phone: 718-852-2584
Tiffany Wayman is a Psychologist at Rainbow Heights Club; she began her career as a New York City correction’s officer. After receiving her PhD in Forensic Psychology, Tiffany’s journey continued on as she began her career in the not for profit sector. Tiffany also volunteers as a suicide prevention counselor for the Good Samaritans Suicide Prevention Hotline.
Email: tiffanywayman@rainbowheights.org Phone: 718-852-2584
We look forward to welcoming you to Rainbow Heights . Get to know us!
If you have
any questions, please contact us at:
718-852-2584, or e-mail us at info@rainbowheights.org.