My story

Beth Niestemski, LCSW, MPA (she/her) obtained a Masters of Social Work from New York University and a Masters of Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She provided clinical therapeutic support for five years in the New York City jail system, first at Horizon Juvenile Detention Center during the implementation of the Raise the Age Initiative, and subsequently on Rikers Island. As a Clinical Supervisor on Rikers Island, Beth managed the mental health services in the intake and maximum-security facilities. Following her time in the jail system, Beth worked in hospital administration for several years as the Director of Workforce Wellness at Woodhull Hospital, developing a robust staff support program to manage stress, reduce burnout, and mitigate harms caused by structural inequities. In addition to providing individual therapy and criminal legal mitigation services, Beth is now pursuing a PhD in Criminal Justice at the CUNY Graduate Center/ John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Beth's work sits at the intersections of clinical social work, public policy, and the criminal legal system. She has extensive experience in crisis deescalation, program development, therapeutic interventions, diagnostic assessments, clinical risk assessments, and clinical supervision. Beth's ideological frameworks are grounded in the work of thoughtful abolitionist-scholars like Mariame Kaba, who describes abolition as the positive, creative act of imagining new methods to address harm and promote healing while dismantling oppressive structures. In all her work, Beth seeks to interrogate the ways colonialism and systemic racism shape both individuals and the institutions that govern their lives.

In her free time, Beth enjoys crafting, hiking, and spending time with her partner and their beloved dog, Harriet.

New York State LCSW #093143

NPI #1891642039