About Legacy Counseling
Our Mission
The mission of Legacy Counseling, LLC is to provide meaningful, purpose–driven action, our legacy for tomorrow. Legacy provides therapeutic services to individuals and families utilizing a holistic approach that recognizes both the person and their core needs. Our core values at Legacy are what we call the 5 C’s:
Compassion, Care, Credibility, Competence and Cultural diversity and sensitivity.
Meet Our Founder
Mala Deodhari-Beni, LCSW
Mala is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who believes life should be something one fully engages in and sees therapy as a uniquely potent tool to accomplish this. Therapy in its purest form should remove barriers and free constraints to assist one to embrace the best life has to offer. Mala is a double alum of Rutgers University where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Douglass College and her Masters in Social Work.
Her experience consists of work with elders as a Certified Dementia Practitioner to young adults, adolescents and children coping with trauma, terminal illness, chronic mental and behavioral health needs. Mala has extensive experience providing Psychotherapeutic services as an Inpatient Clinician and Case Manager at both Carrier Clinic and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital as well as Social Work Director of Nursing Home/Sub-Acute Rehab. These experiences have provided her with opportunities to engage individuals of various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds with varying needs.
Mala utilizes her platform with Legacy Counseling, LLC to actively guide and support the 15+ Clinicians that work within Legacy to assist the communities they serve towards identifying and understanding the treatment process, interventions, goals and strategies. Her service to the community sits upon a foundation of effective, evidence-based treatment interventions that are culturally competent and strength based. Her scope encompasses Clinicians, Case Management Organizations, Family Members and Community partners. Mala is dedicated to continuing to assist the Legacy families and communities of New Jersey to maintain stability and achieve personal goals by providing compassion, support and solutions. She refers to all youth as her children because Mala feels that all children are ours and it is our responsibility to protect them. She truly believes and attempts to embody the proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.”
Meet Our Family
Davendra "DJ", CFO/Controller of Legacy
Davendra "DJ" serves as the Chief Financial Officer/ Controller of Legacy Counseling, LLC. He oversees all matters pertaining to financial records, payroll, bookkeeping and documentation, assistance on developing and establishing expansion efforts, recruitment and retention of staff, staff development and training opportunities, reporting and assessment metrics, and other duties. He has built a hybrid career. He currently serves as a Senior Accountant for a pharmaceutical company that specializes in infusion therapy. He has held several roles concurrently with Rutgers University- Newark. He had served as the Assistant Director for the Student Life and Leadership Office where he was responsible for the coordination and facilitation of new student programs and on-boarding, campus-wide programs and advisement of student organizations.
Prior to that, he worked for 4 years with the Educational Opportunity Fund Program at Rutgers where he served as the Program and Academic Coordinator and had a caseload of almost 700 students. He also has experience working with Rutgers Future Scholars, the Cooperman College Scholars Pre-College Program, the Upward Bound Pre-College Program, the RU-NEXT Pre-College Program and the Braven Leadership Program. His entire experience focuses on developing and bridging the gap for urban youth regarding economic and education equity while taking a holistic approach to their growth. Prior to transitioning to higher education, he has several years of experience in the Corporate Finance and Private Accounting sector. His experience is within corporate taxation- state and federal; asset management controllership and reporting; internal audit and compliance; financial planning and forecasting; and internal markets and risk. He also created a small management and business consulting company for his clients, he focused on small business growth and efficiency and financial effectiveness and compliance. He is an EOF and Honors College alum of the Rutgers Business School and the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice. He is also soon to be an alum of the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration. DJ is actively pursuing his C.P.A. designation and intends completion by 2023.
Sandiya, Human Resources Director
Sandiya is a Rutgers University, Douglass College Alumni with Bachelors’ degrees in Business Management and Labor Relations. She started her journey with Legacy Counseling LLC as an Administrative Coordinator, where she played a pivotal role in the agency’s expansion over various counties across Central and Southern New Jersey. As Legacy grew, Sandiya added Billing Support to her role, working closely with Molina, Gainwell and now DXC. She then became the Human Resources Director and supported the Legacy Team’s seamless transition to Tele-Therapy during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Her direct work with Legacy’s outstanding Therapists and Behavioral Assistants has fostered the development of a diverse, dynamic team that is able to render the highest quality of care to the client population. Sandiya continues to be an asset to Legacy Counseling LLC as the agency expands into Group and Outpatient Therapy and Parent Mentoring/Coaching.
Outside of her professional role, Sandiya has been married for eight years and is a rockstar Momma to two brilliant daughters who are four and seven. The potential for growth and balance both professionally and personally is an attainable goal when working with the Legacy Team!
Sallyanne, LCSW, LCADC, Clinical Director
Sallyanne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) who has worked with youths and adults with co-occurring diagnoses. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work and has accrued more than 12 years of experience leading, managing and supervising professional staff in social services and addictions. From humble beginnings as a student intern in the residential substance abuse arena, Sallyanne evolved and became the Director of Admissions and Co-Occurring Services. The knowledge and skill set she developed then led her to accept a position as a Clinical Supervisor at an outpatient adolescent substance abuse program. Sallyanne continued to be an enthusiastic learner and earned certifications in: Strengths and Needs Assessments, School of Social Work, Arc Grow, Trauma-Focused CBT and Motivational Interviewing.
Through the application of appropriate clinical interventions and meaningful support, Sallyanne is able to serve youths and families in crisis as an advocate and guide to help her clients navigate difficult and often dangerous, emotionally draining situations. Sallyanne knows all too well that life poses many challenges along the way and utilizes a mixture of mindfulness, cognitive behavioral approaches and Trauma-Focused CBT to create a calm, emotionally supportive therapeutic environment. Her goal is to help her clients develop the tools they need to make healthy changes and choices to attain mental health and wellness.
Tara, LPC
Tara has been practicing as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor for over 20 years. Her top priority is to meet your mental health needs and provide support through difficult life transitions. Conditions such as anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, grief, parenting and coping with disabilities can cause people to lose their vision. Tara works with her clients to find healthy ways to cope and find freedom from negative thoughts, fears, stress, grief and trauma through implementing coping skills such as positive self-talk and self-care to help change thought patterns and address cognitive distortions. She enjoys working with adults and families using an eclectic mix of evidenced-based techniques to help her clients live their best lives!
Tara’s philosophy is: “You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be able to master change rather than allowing it to master you.” A fun fact about her is that she loves fall and everything pumpkin spice!
Donna, LCSW
Donna has been working in the Social Work field since 1992. She started her career working at a drug rehabilitation center in Newark before moving on to work with older teens who were aging out of the DYFS system and needed access to services to assist with the transition. Her next phase was working for UMDNJ at a School Based program providing individual, group and family therapy. For the past 21 years, Donna has been a School Social Worker and a Child Study Team Social Worker providing services to children and their families. She enjoys working with children and families by helping them to develop new routines, improve their communication skills and foster a better understanding of one another.
Donna graduated from Montclair State College (now University) with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Counseling. She then earned her M.S.W. from Rutgers University and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2004. She loves working with people to offer solutions, utilizing CBT techniques to help parents understand their children’s behavior and engaging in deep processing to help youths and their families enjoy a better quality of life.
Yanira, Behavioral Assistant
Yanira is a Bilingual (English/Spanish) Behavioral Assistant who began her journey with Legacy Counseling, LLC as an intern. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was raised in New Jersey for the majority of her life. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University Newark in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience in May 2021. From a young age, she has always loved community work and continued her studies in Social Work, graduating in May 2023 from the School of Social Work in New Brunswick with her Masters.
Yanira has been working with Legacy since February 2021 and advanced to the Behavioral Assistant role in August 2021. As a BA, she is responsible for running group sessions for females ages 10-13 years old. In the group sessions, they review different coping mechanisms and skills from the ARC Grow training program that might be useful for the youth’s emotional and behavioral regulation. In the past, she has worked with children ages 5-18 years old with behavioral and emotional regulation difficulties. This year, she took on the endeavor of providing Parent Coaching/Mentoring for the caregivers they service. Her plan for the future is to continue working at Legacy as a DBT Therapist.
Michael, LPC
Michael is a Professional Counselor in West Long Branch, NJ with special training and skill in assessing patient mental health and treating cognitive, psychological, and behavioral disorders using a wide variety of therapy techniques. As a Professional Counselor, Michael assists Legacy in diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders, providing therapy to clients in individual and group settings, researching advanced therapy techniques and applications, and referring to medical mental health professionals as needed.
Professional Counseling is a healthcare specialty centered on providing mental and emotional guidance and therapy to treat mental, emotional, and addictive disorders. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Professional Counselors include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), behavioral disorders, phobias, bereavement, marital hardship, attempted suicide, drug and alcohol addiction, sexual abuse. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Professional Counselors include psychotherapy, Arc-Grow Parenting, cognitive behavior disorder (CBD) therapy, crisis management, mental health assessment, intelligence quotient examinations, marriage counseling, one-on-one therapy sessions, anger management therapy, and stress management.
Ashley, LAC
Ashley is a licensed associate counselor who obtained her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling Clinical Mental Health from Rutgers University School of Health Professions. She has a passion for working with people from various backgrounds. She began her profession working in partial care programs, helping adults with schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder, among other diagnoses, learn to manage their symptoms with various therapeutic tools.
Ashley has facilitated various psychoeducation, trauma, CBT, and mindfulness groups and hopes to pass on that valuable information during sessions. She loves to utilize both CBT and DBT techniques and believes that thoughts influence the way we view the world around us and that achieving mindfulness can bring a sense of peace. She utilizes a gentle approach when helping individuals deal with trauma, anxiety, or unwanted thoughts while striving to create a safe and warm environment.
Sadikie, LSW
Sadikie is a dedicated Licensed Social Worker (LSW) committed to providing compassionate and effective therapy to individuals seeking support and growth. She holds a Master's in Social Work from Rutgers University, where she gained a strong foundation in evidence-based therapeutic practices. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change negative thought patterns, and Trauma-Focused Therapy to support those who have experienced significant trauma.
Sadikie's background includes working with adults and families, addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, and life transitions. Her approach to therapy is client-centered and holistic, focusing on the unique strengths and needs of each individual. She strives to create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their feelings, identify challenges, and develop effective coping skills. Whether seeking support for a specific issue or looking to enhance overall well-being, Sadikie is here to help on the journey!
Sadikie believes in the power of resilience and the potential for positive change in every person. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, which helps her stay balanced and connected to the world around her.
Dhruva, LSW
Dhruva is a Licensed Social Worker with a Master's in Social Work from Rutgers University and an Associate Degree in Psychology from Middlesex College. She has experience working with kids, teenagers, adults, and senior citizens impacted by symptoms of depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, self-esteem, and trauma-related issues. Understanding that no single approach works for everyone, Dhruva tailors her methods to each client's individual needs, utilizing DBT, CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, and Trauma-informed therapy.
Dhruva believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship and strives to create a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings. Guided by values of empathy, respect, and integrity, she believes that everyone has the capacity for change and growth. She views therapy as a powerful tool in achieving a more fulfilling and balanced life and aims to support her clients on their journey toward self-discovery and mental well-being.
A QUOTE FROM
Fred Rogers
“In a way, you’ve already won in this world because you’re the only one who can be you.”
Coping with Covid
Legacy has been able to navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic by adapting and evolving both its processes and resources to match what our youths and families have needed. We have leveraged our electronic health records system to assist our Clinicians in navigating and utilizing Tele-psych as well as provide access to our families so that they are able to complete their respective documentation for sessions. We hired and private paid contractors, while adhering to internal and CDC guidelines, to directly interface with families to uphold HIPPA documentation requirements and ensure that families understood their rights to therapeutic interventions during the pandemic. Legacy also leveraged financial opportunities such as assistance loans to ensure our staff stability and the financial resources necessary to maintain Legacy. Legacy focused on enhanced communication and fostering the relationships with Care Managers and Private HMO’s to ensure continuation of services as a means to support Clinicians and families remotely.