WELCOME TO
Root & Rise Clinical Specialists
Grounding and Growing Through Therapy
We provide comprehensive, holistic, and compassionate mental wealth-care tailored to your unique needs. With over 20 years of combined experience, our dedicated team prioritizes your mental well-being, offering personalized and empathetic support every step of the way.
At Root & Rise, we understand that mental wealth is a vital component of overall well-being. Our approach goes beyond traditional talk therapy, integrating diverse, evidence-based modalities that support the mind, body, and spirit. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where you can explore your thoughts and emotions without fear or judgment.
Our team includes highly skilled Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) and Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs), working collaboratively under expert supervision to ensure the highest standards of care. LCSWs offer advanced therapy services, supervision, and training, while LMSWs provide thoughtful, responsive support—all within a coordinated, client-focused model.
Whether you're navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, or major life transitions, our compassionate clinicians are here to walk with you toward a more grounded, empowered, and fulfilling life.
At Root & Rise Clinical Specialists, therapy is a collaborative journey—rooted in trust, growth, and meaningful transformation. Reach out to learn more or apply to work with one of our specialists. We look forward to supporting you.
Areas of Specialization
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EMDR and trauma recovery
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Postpartum and maternal mental health
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LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy
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Couples and family counseling
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Creative arts therapy combined with CBT
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Adolescent support
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Law of Attraction-based coaching and spiritual development
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Reintegration therapy for families separated by divorce or domestic violence
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Forensic social work referrals
We work best with clients who are motivated for change, ready to invest in their personal growth, and looking for a results-driven, action-oriented therapeutic experience. If you're seeking a deeper, more transformative level of support, Root & Rise may be the right fit for you.
Please note: We are a private-pay practice and do not accept insurance. This allows us to maintain a high level of care, flexibility, and confidentiality without the limitations imposed by third-party providers. Superbills are available upon request if you'd like to seek reimbursement from your insurance provider.
SERVICES OFFERED
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Tailored one-on-one sessions to address your unique needs and concerns in a safe, confidential space.
COUPLES COUNSELING
Guidance and support for couples navigating challenges, enhancing communication, and strengthening relationships.
FAMILY THERAPY
Helping families navigate conflicts, improve communication, and foster healthier relationships.
GROUP THERAPY
Connecting individuals facing similar challenges in a supportive group setting, fostering mutual understanding and growth.
SPECIALIZED TREATMENT MODALITIES
Offering evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based therapy, clinical & therapeutic Art Therapy, and more.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
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IV Treatments
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Reiki Session
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Massage Therapy
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Harmonic Egg Therapy
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Intuition Coaching
Locations may vary.
Meet the Therapists
Kristina Scaglione, LCSW-R, CAHC
Co-Founder of Root & Rise Clinical Specialists
Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Certified Advanced Holistic Counselor | EMDR & DBT Therapist | No B.S.
Clinical Supervisor | Entrepreneurial Coach | Trauma-Informed Healer
Kristina Scaglione, LCSW-R, CAHC, is the co-founder of Root & Rise Clinical Specialists, and the owner of K. Scaglione Therapy and Limitless Integrative Wellness. Known for her fierce presence, clinical depth, and radically honest approach, Kristina offers therapy that is direct, affirming, and deeply transformational. Her practice is rooted in the belief that healing happens when we blend nervous system safety, practical tools, and aligned action.
Kristina is an EMDRIA-trained EMDR provider, Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and holds advanced certification in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Holistic Counseling. She integrates these modalities to support trauma resolution, emotional regulation, and somatic-cognitive healing:
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EMDR: to reprocess trauma and restore nervous system regulation
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DBT: to build skills for emotion regulation, boundaries, and interpersonal clarity
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EFT “Tapping”: to release emotional blocks through mind-body energy work.
She specializes in serving LGBTQIA+ individuals, the polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous community, couples, families, veterans, first responders, and adults in high-pressure careers (including corporate, healthcare, legal, and creative industries). Her work also supports women and men navigating identity shifts, grief, trauma, burnout, and significant life transitions.
Alongside her clinical work, Kristina provides clinical supervision for mental health professionals and offers entrepreneurial and private practice coaching for therapists building mission-driven, heart-centered businesses. Her coaching combines mindset work, boundary-building, and grounded strategy to help healers scale their practices without compromising their values.
Her professional background spans forensic social work, psychiatric rehab, crisis response, and leadership development. She earned her MSW from Stony Brook University and holds specialized training in:
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CBT & Mindfulness-based techniques
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Psycho-pharmacology
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Imago work for PTSD/CPTSD
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“Pure O” OCD
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Grief & Compassion Fatigue
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Crisis Intervention & Systems-Level Advocacy
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Kristina is licensed in New York, Florida, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and offers services virtually and in person.
“Therapy isn’t about perfection. It’s about truth-telling, nervous system safety, and walking your path with integrity.”
Julie Stark, LCSW
Co- Founder of Root & Rise Clinical Specialists
Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Creator of “Mental Wealth” |
Relational Therapist | Creative Arts Facilitator | Wordsmith & Visual Storyteller
A Therapist with an Integrative, Insightful Approach to Healing
Julie is a compassionate and highly experienced therapist who blends the depth of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with the transformative power of creative expression. Her practice is rooted in a belief that healing is not one-size-fits-all; instead, it’s a dynamic, evolving process that honors each client’s unique story and emotional landscape.
With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Maryland, Julie went on to deepen her understanding of the therapeutic use of the arts through graduate studies at the prestigious Pratt Institute. She later earned her Master’s in Clinical Social Work from SUNY Stony Brook, continuing her commitment to evidence-based and holistic care. Her foundation in psychology and the arts, combined with extensive clinical training, enables her to connect with clients across a wide spectrum of needs and life stages.
Julie’s therapeutic experience is as diverse as it is deep. She has supported adolescents, adults, and families in a range of settings, including domestic violence shelters and the high-intensity environment of Stony Brook University Hospital’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). These experiences sharpened her ability to remain calm, clear, and connected—even in crisis—while offering clients the tools they need to manage acute stress and navigate long-term challenges.
Certified in Trial-Based Cognitive Therapy (TBCT), Julie offers a uniquely structured, compassionate approach to helping clients examine and transform the deeply held beliefs that often underlie emotional suffering. This method, rooted in CBT yet distinct in its technique and conceptual clarity, empowers clients to move from stuck patterns toward greater self-awareness and resilience.
What sets Julie apart is her natural ability to weave creativity into clinical practice. With a background in the arts and a lifelong passion for photography, Julie uses metaphor, narrative, and visual reflection as therapeutic tools—not just for insight, but for action and healing. Her approach is flexible, intuitive, and deeply attuned to each person she works with. Whether engaging in structured cognitive work, exploring emotion through creative processes, or simply holding space for reflection, Julie meets her clients exactly where they are.
At her core, Julie is a relational therapist. Her pragmatic, nonjudgmental style creates a sense of safety and trust, making it easier for clients to explore difficult thoughts and feelings. She brings special care to working with those navigating reintegration into social life, including in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic—a time that has reshaped many people’s sense of self, connection, and purpose.
Julie Stark, LCSW, is helping redefine what therapy can look like: grounded in science, enriched by creativity, and led by deep compassion. As co-owner and a key developer of our clinical team and environment, Julie has played an integral role in shaping Root & Rise Clinical Specialists into the boutique practice it is today—one rooted in authenticity, innovation, and personalized care.
We are proud to offer a space where clients receive thoughtful, effective therapy in an environment that fosters both healing and human connection. With Julie’s leadership and clinical vision, our team is uniquely equipped to meet clients wherever they are on their journey—and walk with them toward meaningful growth.
At Root & Rise, Julie has been instrumental in shaping a practice where clinical depth meets creative soul—a space rooted in connection, innovation, and personalized care. Her sessions are fluid, intuitive, and co-created, blending structured cognitive therapy with narrative, photography, poetry, and metaphor to meet each client exactly where they are.
“Mental Wealth is about more than mental health. It’s the legacy we build through language, expression, and our capacity to rise from what we’ve endured.”
Through Julie’s leadership and vision, clients are invited into therapy that’s not just effective—but deeply human, healing, and artfully attuned to growth.
Christina Scheinberg, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (NY & FL)
Certified RTM Provider | Trauma Specialist | Integrative Mental Health Clinician
Helping You Reclaim Peace, One Memory at a Time
I’m Christina Scheinberg, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), in both NY & FL specializing in an innovative, research-informed trauma therapy known as the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) protocol.
RTM is a gentle, visualization-based process grounded in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). This approach offers relief from flashbacks, nightmares, fear, terror and helplessness—without requiring clients to relive their trauma. It is one of the few interventions I’ve encountered that is both non-invasive and rapidly effective, often transforming even long-standing traumatic memories in a matter of sessions.
With over 17 years of experience in the mental health field, I’ve supported individuals through a wide range of traumatic experiences—from domestic violence to the lasting emotional impact of 9/11. No matter the story, I believe healing is possible. And with the right tools and the right support, clients can regain their sense of safety, clarity, and inner calm.
What I love most about RTM is how it honors the depth of each person’s story—while allowing them to move forward without being trapped by it. My role is to hold a safe, grounded space where healing can begin, where peace becomes more than a hope—it becomes real, one step at a time.
I joined the Limitless Integrative Wellness Collective because I believe in the power of community-based healing. Therapy is powerful, but long-lasting transformation often requires support that extends beyond the therapy room. At Limitless, clients have access to a multidisciplinary team—from wellness coaches and fitness professionals to creative services and life strategists—all working together to nurture mind, body, and spirit.
Through this collective, I help clients begin their healing journey with RTM, and they continue that journey surrounded by a holistic, empowered team. It’s an honor to be part of a space where personal growth is not only possible, but truly supported at every level.
Christina’s presence at Root & Rise Clinical Specialists strengthens our identity as a boutique practice—where specialized trauma care is delivered with precision, warmth, and a commitment to holistic healing.
Caralee Piccola, LCSW
A Guiding Light for Women on the Path to Healing and Wholeness
We are honored to welcome Caralee Piccola, LCSW, to Root & Rise Clinical Specialists! With more than a decade of experience as a social worker, Caralee offers compassionate, trauma-informed therapy to young adults, women, and parents navigating the emotional weight of stress, anxiety, and life transitions.
Caralee is a steady, affirming presence—offering a calm and grounded space where clients can feel safe, seen, and supported. Her integrative, client-centered approach empowers individuals to process past experiences and develop tools for greater emotional resilience and self-compassion.
EMDR Therapy
Caralee is EMDRIA-trained and actively engaged in ongoing consultation in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. She offers this powerful trauma-focused modality to help clients work through painful memories and experiences with care, clarity, and hope.
Individual Counseling for Women
Specializing in women’s mental health, Caralee works closely with women and mothers seeking to better understand their emotional patterns, reduce anxiety, and cultivate presence and peace. Her holistic framework blends spirituality, positive psychology, and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), always honoring the whole person.
Postpartum Support Specialist
As a dedicated postpartum specialist, Caralee supports new mothers through one of life’s most transformative and vulnerable chapters. With a deep understanding of postpartum stress, identity shifts, and emotional overwhelm, she provides practical tools and warm, compassionate guidance tailored to each client’s journey.
Community Support Circles
Beyond individual sessions, Caralee fosters community healing through group experiences. At Root & Rise Clinical Specialists, she leads meditation circles, educational workshops, and postpartum support groups. These gatherings offer a sacred space for reflection, connection, and collective healing—nurturing mind, body, and soul.
At Root & Rise Clinical Specialists, we are deeply committed to transformative care. With Caralee’s expertise, presence, and heart, we are even better equipped to walk alongside our clients through healing and into wholeness.
April Lee, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | Integrative Wellness & Aesthetic Specialist
Serving Root & Rise Clinical Specialists in New York & Florida
April Lee, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with more than 20 years of medical experience across oncology, emergency care, and psychiatry. Her career began in high-acuity hospital settings, where she developed a deep understanding of how physical illness affects every aspect of a person’s life. During her time in oncology, April witnessed firsthand how patients often lacked the emotional and psychological support they needed—not just for themselves, but for their families and loved ones navigating the journey alongside them. This insight ignited her passion for delivering care that treats the whole person and their support system.
April earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Stony Brook University and now specializes in nervous system-informed psychiatric care, medication management, and integrative wellness practices. Her approach blends medical precision with emotional attunement, ensuring that both clients and their support networks feel seen, heard, and guided throughout the treatment process.
As the founder of Mindful Med Health & Wellness, April has created a model of care that bridges psychiatry, IV vitamin therapy, and aesthetic medicine—delivered in a warm, judgment-free space. Through her collaboration with Root & Rise Clinical Specialists in both New York and Florida, she extends this comprehensive support to a wider community, offering personalized care for individuals and families alike.
Known for her grounded presence and compassionate, no-nonsense approach, April empowers clients to take ownership of their mental health while also honoring the essential role that loved ones and caregivers play in the healing process.
Join Our Growing Mental Health Practice Team!
Are you a passionate mental health clinician looking for an opportunity to make a difference in people's lives? We're excited to announce openings for 1099 mental health clinicians to join our team at Root & Rise Clinical Specialists.
About Us:
Root & Rise is a newly established hybrid holistic mental health practice dedicated to providing high-quality care to individuals in our community. Our team is comprised of compassionate professionals who are committed to supporting clients on their journey towards improved mental well-being and integrated holistic wellness.
Position:
1099 Mental Health Clinician As a 1099 mental health clinician with Root & Rise, you will have the opportunity to:
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Provide therapy services to individuals, couples, and families
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Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop personalized treatment plans
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Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure holistic care
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Hybrid and flexible scheduling options to accommodate your availability
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Competitive compensation package
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Supervision (group & individual)
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Trainings & Workshops
Qualifications:
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Master's or doctoral degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field
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Licensed or license-eligible in NY or FL (LCSW, LMHC, LMSW)
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Experience working with diverse populations and a variety of mental health concerns
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Strong communication and interpersonal skills
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Commitment to ongoing professional development and best practices in mental health care
Why Join Us?
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Opportunity to be part of a supportive and collaborative team environment.
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Flexibility to create your own schedule and manage your caseload.
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Competitive compensation with potential for growth.
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Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities
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Make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals in our community
How to Apply:
If you're passionate about making a difference and ready to take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you! Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in joining our team:
Join us in empowering individuals to achieve their full potential and live fulfilling lives.
Together, we can make a difference!
Client Inquiry & Readiness Form
Thank you for your interest in Root & Rise Clinical Specialists. We value intentional, results-driven therapy and appreciate your time in completing this form. Your responses will help us determine if our services are the right fit for your healing journey.