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Harlem Family Services

Reclaim Your Strength

Community Mental Health in the Heart of Harlem

Harlem Family Services is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing community-focused mental health services for the historic Harlem neighborhood in New York City.

Based at The Margaret Morgan Lawrence Center for Family and Child Development, the licensed clinic is staffed by an experienced team of therapists, psychoanalysts, and psychiatrists.

The organization offers both in-person and virtual clinical services, designed to meet the unique mental health of local residents. The clinic accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and most major insurance.

Learn more

Services We Offer

Our Approach

Transforming Children’s Lives—Together, In Every Circle of Support

We stand apart by helping people to find strength in thmselves and community

Psychodynamic Modalities

We help individuals and families through the use of psychodynamic modalities rooted in psychoanalytic theory but adapted for contemporary practice. Our professionals emphasize how unconscious processes, early life experiences, and relational patterns shape current behavior, emotions, and relationships.

Reflective Network Therapy

Reflective Network Therapy (RNT), created by visionary Gilbert Kliman, MD, brings skilled therapists directly into the rhythms of a child’s daily life. Through play, group activities, and real moments with family, educators, and peers, each child benefits from a vibrant circle of support. In this nurturing group setting, every caring adult becomes part of the growth, healing, and joy—turning everyday interactions into opportunities for confidence, connection, and resilience.

Community-Centered

Our clinic continues the pioneering work of Margaret Morgan Lawrence’s focus on community-centered mental health services and advocacy for systemic change, especially for people who are struggling to affirm their identities against structural racism and oppression.

Meet Our Providers

Joanna Fahey, LCSW-R

Tom Perron, NPP

Neil E. Altman, Ph.D.

Ernest P. Smith, LCSW-R

Lou Pansulla, LCSW-R

Vision Statement

We envision a future where cycles of trauma and systemic inequality are broken through the power of community-driven care. By fostering mental wellness, equity, and collective healing, we aim to uplift all families and create a world where justice and compassion thrive. Together, we seek to become a national model for culturally informed, equitable mental health services in underserved neighborhoods, inspiring transformative change for generational healing.

Mission Statement

We empower marginalized communities by providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health care that prioritizes healing, resilience, and social justice. Through accessible therapy, advocacy, and support for children, families, individuals, and schools, we strive to create spaces of safety and belonging. Rooted in the heart of Harlem, the Bronx, and Washington Heights, we are committed to offering low-cost, affordable services that meet the needs of those often overlooked.

What Makes Our Practice Stand Out?

Harlem Family Services stands out by doing more than just therapy; we create connections through care and collaboration. By empowering individuals, strengthening families, partnering with communities, and advocating for justice, we ensure that healing is personal, collective, and transformative. At HFS, mental health care is not just a service — it’s a shared journey toward dignity, resilience, and hope.

Trauma- and Socioculturally-Informed Care

HFS tailors services to reflect the unique experiences of each client, addressing the intersections of race, culture, gender, and socioeconomic status. We meet clients where they are—emotionally, culturally, and logistically—providing care that is personal, respectful, and empowering.

Empowerment Through Respect

For individuals who have faced lifelong marginalization, HFS provides a safe, judgment-free environment where dignity is restored. We listen deeply, reject stereotypes, and honor each client’s unique story and potential.

Legacy of Advocacy and Healing

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. Margaret Morgan Lawrence, HFS continues her legacy of empowering individuals to transform adversity into strength while advocating for systemic change. Her vision of resilience and inclusion drives our mission.

A Collaborative, Holistic Approach

Collaboration is central to HFS’s mission, ensuring that care is both comprehensive and effective by uniting individuals, families, schools, and communities. Through Reflective Network Therapy, HFS facilitates real-time partnerships among therapists, teachers, and families to support children’s emotional development. The organization also forms strategic alliances with schools, community centers, houses of worship, and safe havens to provide accessible, stigma-free mental health care to unhoused and vulnerable populations. Family engagement is prioritized through initiatives such as parent support groups, which are designed to strengthen family bonds and foster collective healing. Furthermore, HFS enhances trauma-informed care by training and collaborating with educators, healthcare providers, clergy, and legal professionals, thereby expanding its network of support across multiple sectors.

Community-Centered Services

HFS brings mental health care into the neighborhoods we serve, eliminating barriers to access. By embedding services in schools, safe havens, and other trusted community spaces, we create a sense of safety and belonging for clients.

Accessibility for All

HFS provides low-cost, affordable therapy for all. Virtual services, rapid response times, and culturally competent care ensure no one is left behind.

Specialized Focus

HFS creates programs that reach individuals and communities often overlooked by traditional services. Our offerings include mental health support, family therapy, culturally responsive care, relationship-building guidance, and resources for managing stress and burnout. We serve a diverse range of people, including those experiencing homelessness, families, immigrants, individuals in foster care, and professionals across education, healthcare, legal, and community sectors.

Commitment to Social Justice

HFS treats individuals and drives systemic change. By addressing inequities and amplifying marginalized voices, we work to create a mental health landscape that is truly equitable and inclusive.

Healing Through Connection

HFS believes healing is rooted in connection. Whether through group programs, family engagement, or community partnerships, we create networks of care that foster resilience, reduce isolation, and strengthen communities.

Harlem Family Services is different because we go beyond therapy—we build bridges of care and collaboration.

By empowering individuals, strengthening families, partnering with communities, and advocating for justice, we ensure that healing is personal, collective, and transformative. At HFS, mental health care is not just a service — it’s a shared journey toward dignity, resilience, and hope.