# About Source: https://spingarncounselingservices.com/about/ About the practice # Two social workers, one practice. Spingarn Counseling Services Inc. is a New York State registered practice offering counseling, workshops, educational advocacy, and written assessments for courts and agencies. It is led by David W. Perkins, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and Debbie K. Perkins, Master of Social Work (MSW), who bring complementary experience to the same table. ## How we work “As social workers, we provide compassionate, client-centered counseling from a holistic perspective, recognizing and addressing the emotional, social, environmental, and individual factors that influence each person's well-being. We create a supportive and nonjudgmental space where individuals can explore their concerns, identify strengths, develop effective coping strategies, and work toward meaningful solutions.” That approach was not formed in a seminar. It comes out of hospital wards, school buildings, county offices, church halls, and community centers. Between the two of us we have counseled combat veterans, sat with families in crisis, prepared reports for courts, run parenting and marital workshops, supported foster and adoptive families, and trained the staff who do this work every day. You will not be handed a manual. What you get is two experienced clinicians who have seen a great deal, who will tell you plainly what they think, and who treat your judgment about your own life as the starting point rather than an obstacle. [Get in touch](https://spingarncounselingservices.com/contact/) [See what we work on](https://spingarncounselingservices.com/counseling/) #### At a glance - David W. Perkins, LCSW, and Debbie K. Perkins, MSW - Counseling for veterans, including combat-related readjustment - Assistant Clinical Professor, Stony Brook University - Approved by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) for substance use and mental health assessment - Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), immigration, and Family Court assessments - Workshops for churches, schools, and community agencies - Member, National Association of Social Workers - U.S. Army veteran [Contact the practice](https://spingarncounselingservices.com/contact/) #### Where this experience comes from - **The Babylon Vet Center** in West Babylon, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Readjustment Counseling Service and tied to the VA medical center in Northport, where the counseling is specifically for veterans who have served in combat, and for their families - **Northport VA Hospital**, preparing psychosocial assessments and providing individual and family therapy to veterans - **Directing therapeutic groups** for post-traumatic stress, substance use, and women veterans - **Screening veterans** for residential community programs - **Service in the United States Army** as a drug education specialist, counseling soldiers and providing crisis intervention ## Counseling for veterans If you have served, you will not have to explain the basics. A great deal of this practice's clinical experience is with veterans. That includes ongoing work at the Babylon Vet Center in West Babylon, which is tied to the VA medical center in Northport, where counseling is provided specifically to veterans who have been in combat and to the families who live alongside what they brought home. It also includes earlier hospital work at the Northport VA itself, preparing psychosocial assessments, running post-traumatic stress and substance use groups, and providing individual and family therapy. What that means in practice is simple. You will not spend your first session teaching your counselor what a deployment is, why you do not sleep, why crowds are hard, or why the people who love you have started walking on eggshells. That ground is already understood. David is also a veteran of the United States Army, where he served as a drug education specialist counseling soldiers and providing crisis intervention. **Please note.** This is a private practice. It is not part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and nothing here should be read as VA endorsement. The experience described above is professional background. If you are eligible for care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or from a Vet Center, including the Babylon Vet Center, you are entitled to it directly and we will gladly point you toward it. ## Professional background More than thirty years across hospitals, schools, counties, and community programs, so your situation is unlikely to be unfamiliar territory. - **Veterans and hospital care.** Counseling at the Babylon Vet Center and hospital social work at the Northport VA. - **Schools and families.** School social work, district student services, foster care, parenting, and young families. - **County and community services.** Program coordination, provider evaluation, and consultation to churches and agencies. - **Teaching.** Assistant Clinical Professor at Stony Brook University's School of Social Welfare. [Read the full professional background](https://spingarncounselingservices.com/about/background/) ### Education **Master of Social Work** Stony Brook University. Concentration in clinical intervention with emphasis on alcoholism and work with children. Thesis: *Alcoholism in the U.S. Army*. **Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Sociology** St. Martin's College, Olympia, Washington. ### Licensure and certification **Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)** New York State. Held by David W. Perkins. **School District Administrator (SDA)** Queens College. Special diploma in administration and supervision. **OASAS approved** New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, for substance use and mental health assessment. ### Affiliations and service **National Association of Social Workers**, professional member. Ongoing consultation to schools, churches, and community agencies. Counseling and advocacy services are provided through private practice in Suffolk County Medford and Springfield Gardens Queens. **Debbie K. Perkins** holds a Master of Social Work (MSW). ## Have a question before booking? A brief phone conversation costs nothing and often answers everything. You are welcome to call or write with questions about fit, fees, scheduling, or assessments. [Get in touch](https://spingarncounselingservices.com/contact/)