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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 an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. Together they enjoy travel and hiking.
|  | Counseling Staff
Deena Dement - Staff Therapist
LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
M.S. - Oklahoma State University
B.A. - MidAmerica Nazarene University
In 2011, Deena moved to Binghamton from the Kansas City area where she had practiced Marriage and Family Therapy since 2004. Deena has extensive experience working with all ages including children and adolescents. She received post-graduate training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Integrated Treatment of Complex Trauma. Deena specifically chose to study and practice Marriage and Family Therapy because she was drawn to using an approach based on Systems Theory to address individual, couple and family problems. A premise of Systems Theory is that a person’s mental, emotional, and even physical health must be considered in the context of their relationships. Using a systemic approach to therapy, Deena enjoys collaborating with individuals, couples, and families to resolve problems and achieve personal and relational growth.
Deena is an active member of the New York Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She enjoys traveling and has lived abroad with her husband. These experiences in other cultures have broadened her perspective and enriched her relationships.
|  | 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.
|  | Susan Kermidas - Staff Therapist
LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
M.S.W., Marywood University
B.A. - Binghamton University
Susan, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State, joined the staff at the Samaritan Counseling Center in January 2012. She recently retired with 25 years experience from her clinical social work position in the Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Her focus has been in the area of empowering persons with developmental disabilities to lead richer lives. Within the scope of OPWDD, Susan has worked in a variety of treatment settings, both in-house and community-based including eight years at the High Risk Births Clinic.
Susan’s areas of experience include (but are not limited to): women’s issues, stress management, chronic pain and illness, depression, life coping skills, emotional eating, and empowering families who have persons with developmental disabilities. She is a strong advocate for balanced health and well being, encompassing the person’s body, mind, and spirit.
Susan believes the process of counseling enables a person to process and reflect on areas of their lives they wish to enhance or perhaps change. This empowers people to see more possibilities involving their current situation and to lead richer lives.
|  | 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.
|  | 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.
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