Natalie Mena

Natalie Mena is an accomplished psychotherapist, business owner, and mental health advocate for communities of color. Natalie received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Binghamton University and was a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. She then went on to receive a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work. Natalie also received a 2-year Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program certificate from the Postgraduate Psychoanalytic Society & Institute in New York City. 
Natalie has been providing quality clinical care as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) since 2011. She is experienced in working with adults, families & children, individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), and substance abuse. Natalie is passionate about helping others and treating those affected by trauma, anxiety, and depression. As an advocate for equitable mental health care access, Natalie’s interest in understanding complex trauma is a staple to helping others access care that they may need.
As a student at CSSW, Natalie participated in Undoing Racism workshops that helped shaped her professional career. As an esteemed adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work, Natalie enjoys teaching courses including Building Resilience to Trauma, Foundations of Social Work, and Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice. She actively engages in matters that address racism in behavioral health care, creates workshops around mental health education and treatment, provides psychoeducation around trauma, and cultivating ways for self-care from a culturally competent framework