Meet Our Therapists & Staff

Dr. Andrew Kinney is a New York State Licensed Psychologist and is certified as a Cognitive Behavior Therapist by the Atlanta Center for Cognitive Therapy in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Kinney is also an Associate Fellow at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City where he received extensive training in Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy.  He has also received training in Clinical Hypnosis from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). Dr. Kinney has published in numerous scientific and professional peer reviewed journals and has been a professor of psychology for three decades.  Dr. Kinney is a graduate of SUNY Cobleskill, West Virginia University, SUNY Cortland and Syracuse University where he earned his Ph.D. He also completed several years of post-doctoral study.

Dr. R. Scott Smith earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Duke University in 1990, and has experience working with adult clients from a variety of cultural backgrounds. He sees people with concerns ranging from anxiety to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and difficulties adjusting to various life transitions. Dr. Smith's approach to helping clients focuses on developing an understanding of how our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors can influence each other in both positive and problematic ways, as well as building skills to use this knowledge to pursue what's most important to them in life.  A Professor of Psychology for 25 years, Dr. Smith is familiar with college students, their families, and the challenges that accompany seeking an education, particularly for those who are the first generation in their family to go to college.

Dr. Hama is a NYS licensed counseling psychologist.  He earned his doctoral degree in Counseling/School Psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and completed his internship at the University of Florida.  He has experience working in a hospital setting and specializes in interpersonal processing and cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescents, college students, and adults, addressing a wide variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, college preparation/adjustment, and identity development.  Therapeutically, Dr. Hama strives to develop a strong client-therapist alliance by paying close attention to the clients' narratives and cultural contexts in which they live. 

Cheryl Plescia, LCSW-R has been a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1994.  She has provided therapy to both youth and adults within hospital settings as well as mental health community clinics.  Cheryl graduated from Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), Utica, NY and received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Hamilton College, Clinton, NY.  She earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from Syracuse University.  Besides providing mental health counseling, Cheryl has been a professor of human services and psychology at MVCC.  While providing therapy and counseling services, Cheryl has utilized several professional treatment modalities including, but not limited to, Family System's theory, Cognitive-Behavioral theory, Person Centered theory, Solution Focused theory, and Gestalt therapies. 

Linda Troutman-Zelows, LCSW-R earned her BA in History and Sociology from Utica College of Syracuse University and went on to pursue her Master's Degree in Social Work from Syracuse university, graduating in 2005.  She has been practicing for over 13 years and uses a variety of treatment modalities.  She has in-depth experience in working with children, teens, adults and couples for marriage and family counseling.  Linda holds certification in Trauma work.  Linda has worked in forensic settings as well as public mental health and developmental disabilities throughout her career.  She has experience in doing evaluations for court, developmental disabilities for accessing services, and mental health evaluations.  She uses various modalities including but, not limited to, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing along with music and play therapies.  She also has training as a pastoral counselor.

Charles (Chaz) earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton in Ohio and his MSW from the University of Louisville in Kentucky.  He has been a social work practitioner since 1982.  Chaz has practiced in medical settings, worked with people having intellectual disabilities, and as a therapist for Catholic Charities in Herkimer County.  Additionally, Chaz has experience working in the areas of alcoholism, trauma, and behavior management.

Robin is an enthusiastic and innovative professional who has been dedicated to providing outstanding patient satisfaction for over 25 years. Her outgoing personality and warm demeanor have been a great addition to NHPS and she feels very fortunate to work with such a great team. On a personal level, she is dedicated to providing flexible and family focused service so that all patients feel comfortable. She is happy to have joined a practice of doctors and therapists who will support her throughout the remainder of her career so she can focus on providing superior quality patient care. She most enjoys the positive relationships that she has developed with the patient clientele. As the Office Manager, Robin oversees the efficiency and effectiveness of daily operations, setting long-term goals for the practice. She is available for all issues pertaining to billing, insurances, scheduling and general questions about the practice.