Heather Burack

Heather Despres Burack, LCSW has over 25 years of experience working in the field of mental health, post-secondary programming, and youth development. In addition to teaching Group Work for Youth through the graduate program of the Youth Studies program at CUNY, Heather is a therapist, clinical supervisor, and group coordinator at The New School in their college counseling office.  Previously she served for 13 years as a Senior Program Director at Good Shepherd Services providing clinical and social/emotional programming in East NY, Brooklyn, New York. In addition to working with youth, she has extensive experience with those labelled mentally ill through the Clubhouse Model, which is designed to foster positive mutual aid and challenge hierarchies of 'normalcy'. Ms. Burack has expertise in social group work and uses this approach in building teams as well as training staff on infusing this method with other strengths-based approaches. She also has experience in dance and film and embraces a creative approach in her community-based work. Trained at the Gestalt Center for Psychotherapy and Training, and informed by other body-oriented and trauma-informed approaches, she also maintains a private practice serving adults and couples and also provides clinical supervision, consultation, and training to staff at various agencies throughout the region, such as the Boys Club of NY, Resilience Advocacy Project, Brooklyn Boatworks, Lighthouse Counseling PLLC and more. Heather has a BA from Swarthmore College, an MA in media studies from the New School, and an MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work. She lives in Brooklyn, loves hiking, and has discovered a passion for pottery. She extends home and heart to family and friends – near and far.