Our Team.
A Collective of Compassionate Clinicians
At The Empty Chair, our team is united by one mission: to provide healing spaces where every voice is valued and every story matters.
We are a diverse group of licensed therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals who bring a wealth of experience, cultural understanding, and clinical expertise to our work. Each clinician offers a unique lens, but we share a common commitment, to walk alongside you with empathy, authenticity, and purpose.
Whether you're seeking support for anxiety, trauma, addiction recovery, life transitions, or relationship concerns, someone on our team is here to meet you where you are, with care that’s personalized, affirming, and rooted in evidence-based practices.
We believe healing isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. That’s why our team reflects the communities we serve—multicultural, trauma-informed, and ready to help you reclaim your peace.
.jpg)
Sakera Lane,.LPC,NCC,CAADC
Founder & Chief Executive Officer |
Sakera Lane is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), and National Certified Counselor (NCC) with extensive experience in behavioral health, clinical leadership, and organizational management. Throughout her career, she has held various clinical leadership positions, overseeing multidisciplinary teams, developing treatment programs, supervising clinicians, and advocating for individuals with complex mental health and substance use needs.
More than a therapist, Sakera is a behavioral health leader, entrepreneur, and community advocate dedicated to transforming how mental health care is delivered and accessed. Her professional journey has strengthened her commitment to bridging gaps in behavioral health services, reducing stigma, and creating opportunities for individuals and families to receive compassionate, quality care.
Her Why
Sakera founded The Empty Chair, LLC with a simple yet powerful belief: Everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, regardless of their financial circumstances, background, or life experiences.
After witnessing the challenges individuals and families face when seeking mental health treatment, including financial barriers, limited resources, and gaps in care, she was inspired to create something different. Her vision was to build more than a traditional therapy practice—a welcoming, inclusive environment where people feel seen, heard, respected, and empowered to heal.
Her passion extends beyond the therapy room. Through clinical leadership, mentorship, community partnerships, and advocacy, Sakera remains committed to developing the next generation of mental health professionals while expanding access to behavioral health services in underserved communities.
As Founder and CEO, Sakera continues to lead with compassion, purpose, and a commitment to making mental health care more accessible, equitable, and person-centered.
Her Philosophy: "Everyone deserves a seat, a voice, and an opportunity to heal."
Cassandra Plumer
Executive Administrator
Welcome! I’m here to make taking your first step toward healing as seamless, comfortable, and reassuring as possible. From scheduling your initial appointment to answering any questions about getting started, I am dedicated to providing a warm, supportive, and stress-free environment from the moment you reach out. Every step of your journey matters, and I look forward to guiding you through the intake process so you can focus entirely on your personal growth and well-being.
​Shardell Moore, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-C
Dr. Shardell Moore is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who believes that mental health care should feel personal, collaborative, and judgment-free.
With more than a decade of experience in healthcare, Shardell brings a whole-person perspective to psychiatric care. Her background in family medicine gives her a unique appreciation for the connection between mental and physical health and for the many ways life experiences can impact both.
​
Her approach is centered on listening first, understanding the person behind the symptoms, and creating a treatment plan that feels realistic and meaningful to each individual. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, or simply feel like something has changed and you’re not quite yourself, she wants her patients to know they don't have to figure it all out alone.
Her goal is simple: to create a space where you feel heard, respected, supported, and empowered to take the next step toward feeling like yourself again.
Tina Plumer,.LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC with ten years of experience supporting adults navigating mental health and substance use challenges. My therapeutic approach is warm, person‑centered, and grounded in cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT). I am also certified in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which allows me to help clients build skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
I am committed to creating a safe, collaborative space where clients can process their experiences, strengthen their sense of self, and develop practical tools for long‑term emotional wellness. I am especially passionate about working with women of color, individuals exploring identity and self‑worth, and foundational Black families experiencing crisis.
I am currently working on completing my Doctorate in Counselor Education and Clinical Supervision, where my work centers on advocacy, equity, and culturally responsive care.
​Naja Macon,.LSW
I'm a Licensed Social Worker, LSW in the state of Pennsylvania with over ten years’ experience counseling children and adolescents with various mental health and life challenges. I assist clients in removing barriers to their success throughout life’s transitions. My approach is warm, collaborative, and rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy as well as attachment- based therapy. I believe in creating a safe and empowering space for clients to process their experiences, challenges, and emotions. I am especially passionate about working with children and adolescents around emotional and relational wellness.
Spencer Brown Jr, LSW
I'm a Licensed Social Worker, LSW dedicated to supporting adults navigating behavioral health challenges, chronic illness, and life transitions. My work is grounded in a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach that incorporates cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques and emphasizes collaboration, cultural humility, and client empowerment. I have over seven years of experience in HIV prevention, medical case management, and harm reduction, with a strong commitment to serving underserved communities, particularly those within the LGBTQIA+ community. I strive to create an affirming and supportive space where clients can explore identity, build resilience, and strengthen their sense of self and personal agency. I aim to foster a safe and affirming therapeutic environment where clients can deepen self-understanding, reconnect with their values, and cultivate confidence in who they are and how they move through the world.
Edward Williams, LCSW
Life can feel overwhelming, whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, major life transitions, or simply trying to better understand yourself. Therapy provides a safe, supportive space to feel heard, gain clarity, and work through life's challenges without judgment.
With more than 20 years of experience, I work with adults and adolescents, offering personalized therapy based on each person's unique needs, experiences, and goals. I believe therapy is a collaborative process where your voice matters and you are empowered to take an active role in your growth.
My approach is holistic and strengths-based, focusing not only on challenges but also on the resilience and strengths you already possess. Together, we'll work to develop healthy coping strategies, strengthen relationships, build self-awareness, and help you move toward a more confident and purposeful future.
For adolescents, I provide a supportive environment to explore identity, manage emotions, navigate relationships, and develop skills for life's challenges.
Your story matters. Your voice deserves to be heard. And you don't have to navigate it alone.
I am in-network with several major insurance plans through Headway, including Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Oxford, Highmark, Oscar, and Cigna.
Tynisha Moreno,.LPC,LBS
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC​
Your well-being is my ultimate concern. Since 2012, I have provided Behavioral Therapy to patients in the Delaware Valley. Being a person-centered therapist, I provide psychological and counseling services to suit my client's individual needs. Whether you're an individual, a couple, or a family looking for help-my therapy sessions are designed to strengthen your confidence and assist you in the healing process.
Ciani Jones, LAPC
Licensed Associate Professional Counselor, LAPC
I am an experienced clinician dedicated to helping adolescents and adults navigate substance use, trauma, anger management, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and life’s transitions. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel heard, supported, and empowered to grow at your own pace. My approach is warm, client-centered, and collaborative, incorporating holistic perspectives alongside evidence-based practices such as CBT and DBT. Together, we’ll work to build confidence, strengthen resilience, and create meaningful change so you can improve your quality of life and build a fulfilling life no matter where you’re starting from. I am committed to walking alongside you throughout the therapeutic process as we work toward the life you deserve.
​Anaya Gomez,.LAPC
Licensed Associate Professional Counselor, LAPC
Hi Everyone, I'm Anaya Thomas-Gomez, LAPC, and I work with adolescents and adults navigating substance use, anger management, life transitions, and everyday challenges. My approach to therapy is simple: I want you to feel comfortable, seen, and heard. I believe meaningful change happens when you have a safe, supportive space where you can be yourself without fear of judgment. I strive to build genuine connections with my clients by showing up authentically and meeting them where they are. Drawing from both my professional training and life experiences, I work collaboratively with clients to develop healthier coping skills, improve emotional regulation, strengthen relationships, and achieve their personal goals. Whether you are seeking support through a difficult time or looking to create lasting change, I am committed to helping you build the confidence and tools needed to move forward.
​Malik Powell, MS, LAPC
Malik works primarily with adolescents and young adults who are struggling emotionally, behaviorally, or with major life changes. I also have a strong focus on supporting Black men who may be navigating stress, relationships, identity, emotional health, and the pressure to carry difficult experiences without always having space place to process them.
A central focus of my work is understanding the connection between trauma, emotional dysregulation, and behavior. I believe behavior often tells us something deeper about what a person is experiencing, and therapy can help uncover those patterns while building healthier ways to cope, communicate, and respond.
My style is warm, direct, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. I want clients to feel understood, supported, and challenged in ways that help them grow with greater clarity and confidence.
.png)
Interns/Practicum
Students
​At The Empty Chair, LLC, we are proud to support the next generation of mental health professionals. Our interns and practicum students are actively engaged in clinical training and professional development under the guidance of experienced clinicians. As part of their learning experience, students may observe or participate in therapy sessions with the client's prior consent. Client comfort, privacy, and confidentiality remain our top priorities, and participation is always voluntary.
Call
(267) 406-1173
LOCATION
1501 E WADSWORTH AVE
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19150
​
FOLLOW
