Franchel Mendoza, LMSW (he/him/his)
(pronounced Fran-CHELL Men-DOH-zah)
Therapist | Bilingual (English–Spanish)

College can be a time of opportunity and growth, but it can also bring pressure, uncertainty, and moments where you may feel like you have to carry a lot on your own. In therapy, my goal is to create a space where you can slow down, think clearly about what you’re navigating, and develop practical strategies that help you move forward with confidence.

Through Amira the Healing Space, I provide counseling services to SUNY Oneonta students who are navigating the emotional, academic, and personal challenges that often come with young adulthood. I work with students who may be feeling overwhelmed by expectations, balancing responsibilities, or trying to make important decisions about relationships, identity, and future goals.

Students often seek support with:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Academic and career pressure
• Burnout and performance stress
• Identity development
• Family expectations
• Relationship challenges
• Life transitions

I am especially attuned to students who are high-achieving but may feel pressure to succeed while managing stress quietly. Therapy can be a place to unpack those pressures, strengthen emotional awareness, and develop strategies that help you move from feeling stuck to feeling more intentional and in control of your direction.

I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and raised in the South Bronx, New York. Growing up in a low-income household in NYCHA housing, I experienced firsthand the realities of systemic barriers while also being shaped by a family that emphasized discipline, sacrifice, and the importance of education.

Those early experiences inform how I show up as a therapist today — steady, strategic, and grounded.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts from Siena College and my Master of Science from Columbia University, specializing in Social Enterprise Administration and Social Work. My professional background includes leading educational and social service initiatives, managing complex systems, and teaching at the university level.

My clinical approach integrates:

• Motivational Interviewing
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral strategies

Therapy with me is both reflective and strategic. You are the expert on your own life; my role is to help organize insight into action. Together, we break overwhelming challenges into structured, achievable steps so that progress feels realistic and sustainable.

Clients often describe working with me as direct, grounded, and affirming. I listen with intention and challenge with purpose. My goal is for you to leave sessions feeling clearer, stronger, and more confident in your ability to navigate the next steps in your life.

Outside of therapy, music is an important grounding force in my life. I often think of life like rhythm — sometimes intense, sometimes uncertain — but always offering the opportunity to find your own tempo.

If you're navigating stress, uncertainty, or major decisions during your college years, therapy can provide the space to reflect, reset, and move forward with greater clarity.

Schedule with me here: AmiraTheHealingSpace.as.me