NOAH Workshops

NOAH Workshops are custom designed sessions, facilitated by a licensed professional, which address social emotional and educational needs, providing a deeper connection to others while building the NOAH community.

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Learn more about our workshop facilitators:

Megan Pitt, LMHC is a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a graduate of the University at Buffalo and Fordham University. Megan currently resides in NYS with her husband and two sons. Megans oldest son has Albinism. Megan currently owns her own private counseling practice. She is apart of the New Parent Program for the National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation and is a Tele-Support group facilitator for The Lighthouse Guild.

Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an additional certification in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling. She is currently providing individual, couple and family therapy in private practice as well as is the co-owner of Building Parent Connections which provides education, guidance and support to parents of children with special needs. Ms. Adamo served on the NOAH board of directors for eight years and as board chair for two years and currently manages NOAH’s New Parent Program in addition to being a regular workshop presenter. Ms. Adamo is a mother of four children, one of which has albinism, and lives with her family in Naperville, Illinois.

Kelsey Thompson, MHA, MS, CRC, LCPC: Since 2011, Ms. Thompson has been employed with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the Vocational Rehabilitation Service (formerly Compensated Work Therapy/CWT) at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, a program that supports disabled veterans in finding and keeping meaningful employment. Kelsey currently holds a leadership role as a Rehabilitation Counseling Program Coordinator. As part of her collateral duties, Ms. Thompson co-chairs the Hines EEO Special Emphasis Program for Individuals with Disabilities, which advocates for the hiring and advancement of individuals with disabilities in the federal service. Prior to joining VA, Ms. Thompson worked as a rehabilitation counselor at a large nonprofit organization serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Kelsey holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Scranton. Kelsey is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a VHA Certified Mentor. Ms. Thompson was the recipient of the 2020: Dr. Jackie Bethany Award for Excellence in Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Vocational Rehabilitation Service Delivery and the NOAH Founders Award in 2016. Kelsey has volunteered extensively with the National Organization for Albinism & Hypopigmentation (NOAH), previously serving for ten years on the Board of Directors and as editor of the organization’s quarterly magazine. Through NOAH, Kelsey has presented at numerous national conferences on topics such as employment and social/emotional aspects of albinism, and has co-authored a book chapter on the subject.

Jocelyn Leworthy, MSc, CCLS, RECE is a young adult living with Albinism from Ontario Canada. She has been involved with NOAH since she was in her teen years and has more recently become involved with the Junior Youth Advisory Council while also hosting calls for child and youth with Albinism. Jocelyn is a Certified Child Life Specialist and Registered Early Childhood Educator with her Master of Science in Paediatric Psychosocial Care. She has expertise in supporting the psychosocial well-being of children, youth and families impacted by illness, trauma, and disability. Jocelyn utilizes an array of creative developmentally appropriate modalities and interventions in her practice (play, art, games, talk) to provide education, preparation for potentially stressful experiences, teach coping strategies, promote emotional expression etc, all done with the goal to help empower children to be prepared with the tools to manage any challenges that come their way. Jocelyn currently holds a number of roles in her work in the community. Jocelyn works full-time as a CCLS at Gilda’s Club supporting children/families impacted by Cancer, she facilitates support bereavement groups for children at Seasons Centre for Grieving Children, is a part-time professor in the Early Childhood Education program at Georgian College, and is an occasional kindergarten educator for her local school board. From a personal and professional stance Jocelyn is very passionate about advocating for the psychosocial well-being of all individuals with Albinism- especially for children and teens!

Bianca Rivera, MSW, LCSW
I believe life is all about the journey, not the destination. My goal is to walk alongside you and support your discovery of a path toward identifying and developing a peaceful and purposeful sense of wellness. Whether you are dealing with a daunting new medical diagnosis, chronic or acute illness, a difficult life transition, grieving a loss, or simply feeling stuck, we will discover tools and depth of understanding to promote insight and long-term comfort.

Perhaps you are a healthcare professional encountering chronic distress or a caregiver who is overwhelmed, during our time together, you can safely unpack and understand the complexity of what you think and feel and their interactions with these difficult elements in your story.

My specialties are supporting individuals and families who are attempting to understand and cope with living with a chronic or terminal medical diagnosis, grief and loss, as well as the family caregivers who are caring for a sick or elderly loved one, and health care professionals. I also work well with teens, young adults, and other individuals who would like to better understand how to manage depression, anxiety, and life transitions.

My purpose here is to provide a nurturing, warm, and connected experience for you. I utilize attachment-focused, mindfulness techniques, and other evidence-based treatments to empower clients to discover their full potential and make sense of their struggle. Although we cannot rewrite your past story, you have the power within yourself to write multiple endings.

Ashley Ullyot MA, LMFT
I enjoy working with clients who are looking to enhance the connections within themselves, their relationships, and their families. I believe growth happens when people have a safe place that encourages them to communicate what is often hard to express in times of distress, conflict, and traumatic life experiences. As a trauma-informed therapist, I work with individuals/couples/families and children, utilizing various relationally focused approaches, including play, to identify and support the challenges they are facing. Together in therapy, I strive to uncover healing methods that continually strengthen each chapter of your life.

My experience expands from helping families and children with special needs to relationship conflict, including domestic violence, sexual assault survivors, and divorce. I provide individuals and couples with the support and skills needed to help navigate difficult experiences or struggles with anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

My goal is for you to experience a deeper connection within your relationships or family by empowering each individual’s story. In witnessing the transformation of healing in children, teens, families, and couples, I look forward to accompanying anyone on the journey of discovering who they are and want to be—offering a path for you never to walk alone.

I work with children, teens, and their families who have been impacted by major life events. I facilitate playful activities that foster new interactions between the child and the important people in their lives. I work with children and parents individually to provide them with support and skills that they can use to navigate difficult situations.

It is possible for you to experience a deeper connection with your child and feel empowered in your role as a parent. If you are interested in making this happen, I would love to work alongside you and your child. Feel free to reach out to me via email or phone so that we can get started in the therapy process.

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Previous Workshops:

Albinism and the Family
A workshop intended for parents, grandparents, & caregivers, facilitated by Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC

Grandparenting a Child with Albinism
A workshop intended for grandparents, facilitated by Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC

Parents of Newly Diagnosed Children
A workshop intended for parents & caregivers, facilitated by Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC & Megan Pitt, LMHC

Worry Creatures Workshop
A workshop for children and families facilitated by Jocelyn Leworthy, MSc, CCLS, RECE

Adapting to the Diagnosis of Albinism as a Family
A workshop intended for parents, grandparents, & caregivers, facilitated by Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC

All the Feels
A workshop intended for children & families, facilitated by Jocelyn Leworthy, MSc, CCLS, RECE

Dealing with Comments & Questions
A workshop intended for parents, grandparents, & caregivers, facilitated by Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC

Stares, Smirks, & Shout-outs
A workshop intended for adults with albinism, facilitated by Kelsey Thompson, MHA, MS, CRC, LCPC

Kids’ Mindfulness
A workshop intended for children & families, facilitated by Jocelyn Leworthy, MSc, CCLS, RECE

Your Mind Matters – Parent & Teen Guide
A workshop intended for teens & parents, facilitated by Bianca Rivera MSW, LCSW and Ashley Ullyot MA, LMFT