Erica Frongetta, LMHC

Follow up- A year later after filing a complaint with the NYS Department of Education, the Office of Professions has completed their investigation of Ms. Frongetta and the case has been referred to their Prosecution Division for further action. Ms. Frongetta’s actions surrounding my daughter have caused all of us great pain. However, I do believe she had good intentions. I advise all those seeking counseling services to choose wisely. Make sure your counselor is experienced and able to understand the possible issues.

Update - earlier this year, I received notice from the New York State education department Office of the professions that Ms. Frongetta had settled this matter By admitting to one count of Professional misconduct and paying a small fine. It should be noted That such settlement is not unusual in regulatory settings. And someone who has worked in regulatory compliance for many years, first offenders, who have shown remorse and admitted to guilt of some sort are often allowed to settle in such cases. I am pleased with the result in this case.
However, This case was never thoroughly vetted in front of the professional review board. The fact that it was prosecuted and eventually settled Means that it is very likely that Miss Frongetta Committed more serious Actions then were admitted to. Regulatory agencies simply do not have the time in resources To pursue all cases where significant harm may have occurred. They simply have to pick and choose Their best battles.
Hopefully, Miss Frongetta learned something from this experience And has taken that to heart. She harmed my family.
Christopher Crawford PhD

I am a divorced parent of one of Ms. Frongetta’s minor clients. Without getting into details,  I was asked by Ms. Frongetta to give up custody of my child,  the only explanation for why being that my child was having problems transitioning between homes ( I share custody with the other parent) and that this would help break the anxiety loop and ‘shake the anxiety’ out of my child.  My child had been in therapy with Ms. Frongetta for nearly 18 months when this happened and during that time I had received no information about my child’s progress.  Nearly six months later,  I have had to invoke the legal provisions of state law and federal regulations to get any information about my child from Ms. Frongetta.  Meanwhile,  my ex-spouse is regularly sitting in on sessions with my child.  My relationship with my child has deteriorated significantly since she left my custody and the information that Ms. Frongetta has provided me with so little information that I actually entertain the the idea that my daughter’s counselor and my ex-spouse are consciously keeping my child away from me.  When asked about parental alienation and reunification therapy, Ms. Frongetta was unfamiliar with these concepts. When asked about having a meeting to talk about the history of family dynamics,  Ms. Frongetta stated that therapy was about my child only, not the family.  She had no desire to do family therapy.
My ex-spouse and I are currently in mediation to discuss the need for family therapy and to develop a plan for the return to joint custody.  When requesting information from Ms. Frongetta in writing,  I was met with a reluctance to do so and an insinuation that I would somehow use written information provided by her to the detriment of my child.
Throughout my entire relationship with Ms. Frongetta,  I have found her to be secretive, bias towards my ex-spouse, close minded and potentially dishonest. She has recommended medication for my child, which is beyond her scope of practice.
I do not know what sessions are like with my Ex-spouse and daughter.  But the fact that after 18+ months of therapy, my late teenage daughter can not see her therapist without my ex-spouse present is cause for concern.  When I inquired about this I was given no answer.  Nor was I given an answer, when I inquired about what conditions would have to be met befor Ms. Frongetta would recommend a return to joint custody.
Based on my experience,  I cannot recommend Ms. Frongetta.