Bernardo Villafañe

Bio

New Start Services was established in 1999 to assist men who traditionally resist seeking mental health services. Our goal is to help men change their belief systems in order to prevent or reduce negative and/or dangerous behaviors. So called “men’s issues” (i.e., emotional, psychological and communication problems) not only have detrimental effects on the men themselves, but have life long consequences to the partners, children, other family and friends, and our communities. While New Start attempts to focus its services on men, we also offer multiple services, including group and individual psychotherapy to men, women, adolescents and couples as well. Referrals: New Start accepts referrals for group and individual services from various sources, including NYC Family and Criminal Courts, New York State and City Probation and local and Interstate Parole Departments, Legal Aid, Administration for Children Services, hospitals, victim service agencies, foster care organizations, and even other Batterer Intervention/Accountability Programs. New Start maintains on-going collaboration with referral sources and ensure timely updates as necessary to coordinate services. In addition, New Start accepts Self-Referrals. New Start is committed to providing services to individuals who feel ready to take the next step towards changing their abusive behavior. Our intake evaluation includes an assessment of motivation to ensure that self-referrals are not seeking this service to manipulate or delay consequences by the courts or their partner. Bernardo Villafañe achieved his Master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University in 1998. He also completed post graduate program at NYU's Adult Psychoanalytic Institute, The Post Graduate Center's Child and Adolescent Center, as well as receiving over 5 years of training with Psychosynthesis Manhattan Institute. He is also a clinical Social Worker at Rockland Psychiatric Center working with the chronically mentally ill.