Dr. Charmaine Samuda is the founder of Best Practice Psychotherapy and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Connecticut. She earned her Doctor of Social Work degree from Southern Connecticut State University and her Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Samuda has worked across schools, hospitals, and intensive outpatient settings. Her breadth of experience allows her to support clients with both warmth and clinical depth, particularly when they are navigating emotional stress, life changes, or more layered personal and family challenges. She works with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and families, and is especially well suited for clients seeking support with anxiety, depression, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions. Her work is grounded in evidence-based treatment, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy, with care tailored to each client’s individual needs and goals.

Tanisha Fougy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who brings a collaborative, person-centered approach to her work. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work and has experience supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds and across various stages of life. Tanisha creates a supportive and grounded therapeutic space where clients can work through emotional pain, practical stressors, and meaningful life change with care and clarity. Her work reflects both warmth and clinical focus, helping clients feel understood while also supporting real progress. She works with clients navigating trauma, PTSD symptoms, substance use concerns, depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. She also offers Prolonged Exposure therapy for individuals experiencing PTSD symptoms.

Esteban N. Mercado is a Licensed Master Social Worker who provides therapy with compassion, insight, and a strong commitment to culturally responsive care. He earned his Master’s degree in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University and brings valuable experience from both medical oncology and addiction recovery settings. He completed a year-long internship at Smilow Cancer Center in Guilford, where he supported patients through emotionally and medically complex experiences. He is fluent in Spanish and is especially committed to serving underserved communities, including the Latino population. Esteban’s work is integrative and strengths-based, helping clients build on their resilience while working toward meaningful and sustainable change. He offers a therapeutic space that is respectful, supportive, and attentive to each client’s lived experience.

Tezeta G. Mammo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 19 years of experience supporting children and families across outpatient and school-based settings. She provides therapy with warmth, clinical depth, and a thoughtful understanding of the many factors that shape a child’s emotional and behavioral well-being. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful treatment begins with understanding the whole child within the context of family, development, environment, and culture. Tezeta earned her Master of Social Work degree from Southern Connecticut State University with a concentration in Children and Families. She further advanced her clinical training through a post-graduate fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center, where she deepened her expertise in child and family mental health. Born and raised outside of the United States, Tezeta brings a meaningful sensitivity to the challenges many children and families face while adjusting to new environments and cultural expectations. She is committed to providing care that is respectful, collaborative, and responsive to each family’s unique background and needs.

Domonique Fuller is the Office Manager at Best Practice Psychotherapy. She brings a strong background in business, operations, and marketing, and plays an important role in helping the practice function with consistency, care, and professionalism. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of the West Indies, an Associate’s degree in Business Studies and Accounting, and has completed additional coursework in digital and social media marketing. Domonique supports the client experience from the very first point of contact and helps ensure that individuals are guided through the intake process in a timely, thoughtful, and organized way. Her work helps reinforce BPP’s commitment to a polished client experience, strong operational systems, and meaningful community connection.