samaritanendicott.com

Executive Director Marian Towers M.S. - Human Services Administration, College Misericordia, Dallas, PA B.S. - Bible, Valley Forge Christian College, Phoenixville, PA As the Executive Director of the Samaritan Counseling Center, Marian works with the Board of Directors and Center Staff in carrying out the mission of the Center to provide individual, group and family counseling, church and clergy consultation services, and community educational programs. She manages daily and financial operations, facilitates programs and services, and coordinates public relations and marketing activities on behalf of the Center. Marian loves creating mosaics, writing icons, and quilting. She is a long-standing member of P.E.O. (a Philanthropic Educational Organization) whose primary mission is to support women’s education. Marian’s husband, Paul, is a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. Together they enjoy travel and hiking.
Counseling Staff The Rev. Roy Carter - Staff Therapist LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) Ph.D. - Personality and Theology, Claremont School of Theology D. Min. - Christian Theological Seminary M. Div. - Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary B.A. - West Virginia Wesleyan College Roy joined the Samaritan Counseling Center in August of 1984. He provides individual, marriage and family counseling. Besides his work at the Samaritan Center, Roy is the Protestant Chaplain at the Greater Binghamton Health Center. He is also a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and administers the Psychological testing for United Methodist Church clergy. Roy is trained in Conflict Management and meets with candidates for ministry to work with them in developing their crisis counseling skills and conflict management skills in their parish work. He also meets with pastors in the Wyoming Conference who are changing appointments. Roy helps them deal with the emotional work of leaving a church and preparing for a new appointment.
Margaret Hanson - Staff Therapist LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) M.S.W., Marywood University M.A. - The Catholic University of America B.A. - The College of Saint Rose Margaret is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State. She came to work at the Samaritan Counseling Center after retiring from a position of clinical social worker in in-patient psychiatry at Binghamton General Hospital, a position she held for 23 years. During that time, she has provided mental healthcare services to individuals, couples, families and groups in the greater Binghamton area. Margaret is a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD), a national credential issued to advanced practitioners by the America Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work. BCD re-certification is annual and based on the attainment of specified levels of continuing education, currency of practice, and maintenance of state licensure in good standing.
Lois Koston-Chojnacki - Staff Therapist LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) M.S.W., Marywood University B.A. - Binghamton University Lois is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State. She joined the Samaritan Counseling Center in February of 2002. Lois has 10 years experience working at Broome County Social Services. She has also worked for Gateway and the United Health Services EAP. She brings her extensive experience working with youth and families. Lois is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which helps with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and other traumas. She is also trained in sexual abuse counseling for children and adults. Lois is Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Christopher's Roman Catholic Parish. She enjoys a good mystery book and Sunday dinners with family and friends.
Tricia L. Park - Staff Psychologist Ph.D. - Licensed Clinical Psychologist; concentration: Medical and Health Psychology; University of Florida M.S. - University of Florida B.A. - State University of New York at Binghamton Biblical Training - Abundant Life Institute (2004 – to present) Tricia is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a broad background of assessment, psychotherapy, and teaching experience. She has enjoyed working with both children and adults, and has a specialization in medical and health psychology. Her areas of concern include (but are not limited to) weight, mood, and stress management (including eating disorders), as well as coping with mental, physical, and emotional pain and illness. She is a strong advocate for the health and well-being of the whole person, spirit, soul and body, and engages in prevention and intervention programs in professional and community-based settings. She is open to receiving speaking invitations and welcomes the opportunity to consult with individuals and groups in the community. She believes that by working together we can all greatly enhance the quality of life, health, and well-being of individuals living in the Upstate New York region.
Jan Prentice - Staff Therapist LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) M.S.W., Marywood University B.A. - Binghamton University Jan has been a counselor at Samaritan Counseling Center since 1999. She received her Masters of Social Work from Marywood University in 1998. Her work as a counselor centers mainly on marriage and relationship skills and life coping skills. She considers herself a lifelong learner and loves to share her insights with clients. Before coming to counseling she worked as a Chemist in the laboratory at Lourdes Hospital. Her background in science helps her approach subjects with curiosity and logic. In her view, problems only present interesting challenges to be overcome. Life experiences that have enriched her personal perspective include marriage, adoption and parenting. Jan believes the process of counseling helps people see their situation more clearly and opens up more possibilities for solutions to problems. Jan also enjoys teaching adults. Her strength is being a lively presenter with an enthusiastic approach. Her engaging style invites participation and reflection on the material being taught so you can take away skills you can use. Her goal when teaching is for her audience to find personal applications of the principles being taught.
Janelle M. Smith - Staff Therapist LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) NYS Provisional School Social Worker Certification M.S.W., New York State University at Albany, School of Social Welfare and Public Policy M.A., Binghamton University, School of Education and Human Development B.A., Binghamton University, Harpur College Janelle is a recent addition to the staff at Samaritan Counseling Center and works primarily at our new Windsor location. She completed a dual MSW/MA program at SUNY Albany and Binghamton University in 2003. She has over five years of experience working in a state licensed community based mental health clinic as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. She has strong experience working with families, children, and adolescents and has also worked in private practice and school settings. Having lived and worked locally all of her life, Janelle’s therapy style tends to sensitive to the needs of people in our community. Being an artist, she brings a bit of whimsical creativity to her practice. She believes in the basic good and worth of all people and seeks to help her clients develop insight and hope about situations they would like to change. She particularly enjoys work with families and couples and is devoted to her rural community of Windsor, NY.

Executive Director