Meet the Clinical Team
If our team determines that our services are the best fit for your needs, you will be matched with a therapist based on a variety of factors, including scheduling, openings, skillset, and personality.
- Shanti Krigel, Addictions Specialist & Mental Health Counselor
It is my great pleasure to serve as both a therapist and the Addictions Specialist at JFS! I have been a practicing mental health counselor, chemical dependency counselor and dance/ movement therapist for more than 18 years and hold LMHC, CDP and R-DMT licenses.
I am passionate about helping clients navigate through a wide variety of challenges including trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, grief, domestic violence and addiction. With deep compassion and non-judgmental listening, I hold space for healing and growth to occur. Utilizing EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Somatic Psychotherapy, Mindfulness and other practices, I help my clients find the freedom to live life more fully.
It is vitally important to me to create an affirming space that includes people of all religions, races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. It is my honor to stand by your side through this healing journey!
- Aliyah Vinikoor, Mental Health Counselor
I grew up deeply embedded in Seattle’s Jewish community. After many years in New York where I received my MSW and LICSW, I returned in 2015 and began working at JFS shortly thereafter. My social work has been focused on serving survivors—at a teen anti-violence center, homeless shelters and in teen and adult psychotherapy clinics.
I believe that therapy presents an opportunity to deepen our understanding of patterns and behaviors—and ultimately cultivate more authentic, genuine relationships. I work with individuals to successfully meet life’s challenges, navigate transitions and develop practices to grow into our best selves. From a place of collaboration and warmth, I assist clients to uncover the strengths, clarity and resources needed for lasting change. Some of the approaches I use include: Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapies, EMDR, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing and Relational Therapy.
I customize therapy for each person and provide an affirming environment for clients of all religious, ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations. I especially love working with Jewish clients, teens and young adults, trauma survivors and folks finding themselves at a personal crossroads.
- Danica Bornstein, Lead Mental Health Counselor
I began working with survivors of trauma in 1994 and completed my MSW in 1998. Since then, I’ve worked for many years as a domestic violence advocate, therapist, and somatic practitioner.
Although I work with clients on many different goals, I have the most experience with and am the most passionate about healing from trauma—including sexual violence, other forms of interpersonal harm, and institutional and historical trauma such as racism and anti-Semitism. I have worked inside both Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities, and often work with trans and non-binary folks.
Therapy is a very particular kind of relationship that holds your healing and growth at its heart. In my own practice, I bring a variety of methods with me including: EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy and somatic approaches. I tend to be straightforward, intuitive and (as appropriate) humorous. I grew up in Brooklyn and although I’ve mostly lost my accent, I think it still shows! Supporting people to heal, build resilience and deepen their connections with others is an honor and a joy.
- Kelsey Schulman, Mental Health Clinician / Clinical Intake Specialist
I am delighted to serve as the Intake Specialist and a Mental Health Counselor on the team. I received my MSW from University of Washington in 2018 specializing in mental health and have worked in a variety of community mental health and non-profit settings since 2014. I use an eclectic approach that integrates modalities such as DBT, CBT, ACT, Somatics, and Mindfulness to address the various challenges that clients face throughout their lifespan. I am most passionate about working with young adults and the LGBTQIA community, specifically with queer and trans folks.
I believe that therapy is a co-created space where healing takes place. I use a clinical approach that is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and client-centered to support you in building the life you wish to live. I approach each client with warmth and positive regard as we work together to challenge patterns that are no longer serving you. Through an anti-racist lens, I offer a space to explore life’s up’s and downs through building on each person’s inherent resilience’s and resources to create lasting change. I work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, relationships issues, ADHD, and trauma. I am experienced in working with people from a diverse religious, ethnic, racial, socioeconomic backgrounds and clients from all sexual orientations and gender identities.
