Our Team.
Get to know the compassionate professionals dedicated to supporting your journey. Each therapist brings unique expertise and a caring approach to help you navigate life's challenges. Discover who we are and how we can work together toward your growth and healing.
Sara Daly, LMHC/LPC
Director and Co-Founder
Sara is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in both New York and New Jersey, and a National Certified Counselor (NCC), with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. She holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College and began her career at SUNY New Paltz, where she volunteered at a campus crisis center during her undergraduate years. Her professional experience spans a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, private practices, non-profits, and large corporate therapy clinics. Throughout her career, Sara has worked with adolescents, young adults, and families facing challenges related to anxiety, depression, self-esteem, life transitions, family dynamics, and interpersonal relationships. Sara founded Balanced Mind Therapy after seeing firsthand how difficult it was for friends and loved ones to find quality therapists who accept insurance. She created the practice with the goal of increasing access to compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals and families across New York and New Jersey. In addition to her clinical background, Sara is also a certified yoga instructor. She brings a holistic lens to her work, occasionally incorporating mindfulness, breathwork, and movement into sessions when appropriate to support clients in managing stress and anxiety. Outside of work, Sara enjoys hiking, practicing and teaching yoga, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.
Ally Nektalov, LCSW, MASTER CASAC
Co-Founder
Ally is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist with an MSW (Master’s of Social Work) from New York University and holds a certificate from New York State as an Master CASAC (Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor). She also completed Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training at the Alanson J. White Institute; which uses an interpersonal psychoanalytic model. Ally is an Adjunct Professor at New York University and Touro College teaching Clinical Practice for social work graduate students. Prior to Balanced Mind Therapy Ally was the Director and Clinical Supervisor of an outpatient clinic treating substance use operating under a Federal Grant. Clients in this program participated in individual and/or group psychotherapy addressing triggers to substance use and past trauma. She was responsible for program operations, administering the grant, and supervised staff while ensuring quality care and compliance. In her free time, Ally enjoys practicing yoga, boxing, and playing tennis. She likes to cook and explore vegan restaurants with friends and family. Ally is a dog mom to baby Capri, a toy poodle.
Carly Scanlon, LPC
Psychotherapist in NJ
Carly Scanlon, LPC, NCC is a New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The College of New Jersey. Carly has a diverse background, with experience in intensive outpatient, outpatient, and school settings, where she has provided clinical mental health treatment to children, adolescents, and adults facing a range of mental health challenges. Carly specializes in individual counseling for adolescents and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem issues, and interpersonal relationship difficulties. She recognizes that people seek therapy for a variety of reasons, and her approach is to meet each client where they are. Carly is committed to building a collaborative and trusting therapeutic relationship that allows clients to explore difficult emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a safe and supportive space. Her ultimate goal is to help clients overcome obstacles and live more meaningful, fulfilling lives. With a flexible and integrative approach, Carly tailors her therapeutic methods to each client's unique needs. She draws on evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness practices to create an effective treatment plan that fosters growth and healing. Outside of work, Carly enjoys attending hot yoga classes, trying new workout classes, cooking new recipes, and spending time with her friends and family.
Heudeliss Placencio, MHC-LP
Psychotherapist in NY
Heudeliss (Eh-duh-lees) Placencio, MHC-LP, is a compassionate and culturally attuned mental health counselor with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. As a queer, neurodivergent Dominican-American, she draws on her lived experiences and bilingual fluency in English and Spanish to create affirming spaces for first-generation Hispanic Americans, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and neurodiverse clients. Specializing in supporting those progressing out of generational poverty, Heudeliss empowers clients to navigate professional and personal growth with resilience and confidence. She incorporates mindfulness-based practices, rooted in her yoga teacher certification, to enhance body-mind awareness and promote holistic well-being. With a diverse background spanning clinic-based, field-based, and private practice settings, Heudeliss provides personalized, strengths-based care tailored to each client’s or family’s unique values, aspirations, and challenges. Outside of providing therapy, Heudeliss is a jazz-trained musician, athlete, and proud nerd. She celebrates her Dominican roots through bachata, veganizing recipes, and bossa nova performances. In her downtime, she enjoys cycling, tarot, Legos, nail art, and low-waste living.
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Arryonna Pinkney, MHC-LP
Psychotherapist in NY
Arryonna Pinkney is a skilled and compassionate Mental Health Counselor (MHC-LP) who specializes in guiding individuals through trauma, anxiety, and life transitions. A graduate of New York University's Master's program in Mental Health Counseling and Wellness, she blends clinical expertise with deep empathy to help clients reconnect with their strengths and move toward healing. Arryonna is trained in evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, and solution-focused techniques. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and culturally responsive-rooted in the belief that therapy should be a space where clients feel safe to explore their stories, challenge old patterns, and build new possibilities. Arryonna's mission is to offer more than just coping tools-she partners with clients to help them reclaim their voice, deepen self-understanding, and step into a life shaped by intention rather than fear. Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or ready for transformation, she meets you where you are-with presence, skill, and an unwavering belief in your capacity to heal and grow.
If you're in emotional distress, here are some resources for immediate help
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
Call 988 or 1-800-273-8255 (Available 24/7)
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
