WHO ARE WE?
Our co-founders
Sarah Ross Bussey, PhD, LCSW, MSW is co-founder/co-owner/trainer/consultant/continuing education direactor of de-Liberate LLC, a private practitioner/supervisor, contract research assistant, and adjunct professor at Hunter College, City University of New York. Sarah received her B.A. in Sociology from Reed College, Masters in Social Work at Portland State University, (where she was awarded the 2008 NASW Community Based Practice Award), a PhD in Social Welfare at the CUNY Graduate Center, and a post-doctoral fellowship with the Briar Patch Collaboratory. She worked in various capacities of youth work—with a focus on complex trauma, gang-involvement, transgenerational poverty, justice-system entrenchment, housing insecurity, and skill development—before joining an innovative program addressing clinical case management needs in a health care setting. Sarah worked for 14 years at Mount Sinai Health System as a direct clinical social worker, clinical supervisor, associate director, and director—all within Care Management. Her research interests include anti-racism clinical and community-based interventions; social work practice and anti-racism supervision; effective interventions to enhance and tools to measure critical consciousness; restorative justice and community healing; health disparities; and critical qualitative methods.
Sarah Ross Bussey, PhD, LCSW, MSW
Monica X. Thompson, MPhil, LCSW, MSW, LCAS
Monica X. Thompson, MPhil, LCSW, MSW, LCAS is co-founder/co-owner/trainer/consultant of de-Liberate, LLC, Driven by a deep passion for transformative change, Monica is the Co-Founder of Deliberate, LLC, where she leads initiatives that embody her vision for healing and empowerment. She also serves as the Executive Director of Clinicians of the Diaspora, LLC, a venture through which she has merged her commitment to social justice with her dedication to promoting health within the BIPoC community. As a licensed clinical addiction specialist, she brings specialized expertise to her therapeutic practice, where she crafts a blend of relational depth and solution-focused strategies. She recognizes the profound impact of storytelling in healing, especially within groups of diverse indigenous and ethnic backgrounds, a cornerstone of her collaborative work with clients. Monica's commitment to anti-racism work, racial trauma, and restorative justice is evident in every facet of her professional life. She firmly believes that healing is both revolutionary and a radical act of self-love, a philosophy that drives her dedication to social justice causes. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Welfare at the Graduate Center at CUNY and holds academic positions at NYU and Hunter College. Through her work with Trauma Free Wealth, she employs a trauma-informed approach to help individuals achieve financial prosperity.
Our Consultant and Training Team
-
Karen Ciego, LCSW, MSW
SOCIAL WORK CONSULTANT AND TRAINER
Bio coming…
-
Myrtho Gardiner, MPhil, LCSW-R, MSW
SOCIAL WORK CONSULTANT AND TRAINER
Myrtho Gardiner, LCSW-R, MPhil is a seasoned consultant, therapist, trainer and academic with a passion for helping organizations and individuals transform with purpose and integrity. With two decades of experience in mental health, social justice, and organizational development, he brings a unique blend of clinical insight, strategic thinking, and evidence-based practice to every project.
His work focuses on building equity-centered programs, supporting healing in marginalized communities, and helping mission-driven teams measure and amplify their impact. Drawing on a background that includes leadership in nonprofit, academic, and community-based settings, he specializes in trauma-informed practices, culturally responsive evaluation, and inclusive capacity building.
Known for his thoughtful facilitation and grounded presence, Myrtho Gardiner partners with organizations to clarify their vision, align their values, and manifest sustainable change. Whether delivering training, coaching leaders, or designing data strategies, he approaches each engagement with deep empathy, intellectual rigor, and a belief in the power of collective transformation.
He holds a master’s degree in social work and a master’s in philosophy in social welfare, and is a doctoral candidate continues to center liberation, healing, and accountability in all facets of his work.
