Our Team
Thurston O’Neal is the CEO of Long Island Teamworks non-profit organization and Owner and Principal of O’Neal Marriage and Family Therapy, PLLC which provides therapeutic services to youth, parents, couples, and families. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a lifetime of experience in underserved communities and insight on the issues that affect them.
Thurston employs an integrative approach, blending elements of different therapeutic models and tailoring treatment according to the needs of each client, couple, and family. Some types of approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Family-Systems Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT).
In addition to being a therapist, Thurston has a history of effective youth and family engagement with an interdisciplinary approach towards community health, drawing from multi-hyphenated experiences including counseling youth, community organizing, advocacy, and crafting effective curricula. He designs and develops curricula to engage, empower, educate, and celebrate youth as they become prevention minded, civically engaged, as well as socially, emotionally, and educationally successful. Thurston has received commendations from local and state officials for his community organizing, advocacy, leadership, and youth engagement efforts.
John Johnson is a Queens native and graduate of Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He went on to receive his master’s in special education from Queens College. After a 30-year career in Youth Development, with jobs ranging from Director of College and Career Services with the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club...to Special Education teacher with the NYC Dept. of Education, John has always been an advocate for young people. He was Special Assistant to the Honorable Helen Marshall, first African American Borough President of Queens, serving in the capacity of "Youth and Community Services Liaison.” His career also included a stint with the Democratic National Committee and their “Get out the Vote” campaign during Bill Clinton’s first run for the presidency. His primary job was to provide Advance work and coordinate the movement of the Reverend Jesse Jackson throughout the United States.
John’s work with the National Alliance on Mental Illness included working with individuals and families dealing with Mental Health challenges. He’s facilitated groups and taught classes for NAMI’s signature program, “Family to Family”, an eight-week class for family and friends who’s loved one deals with the challenges of various degrees of “Mental Wellness.” John has provided an open Community engagement initiative, “Sharing Hope” specifically designed to provide safe and supportive spaces, for Black and Brown Communities of NYC and beyond. He received the “Multicultural Award” from NAMI New York State in 2018 for his groundbreaking work in marginalized communities around the country. In 2024, John was given the prestigious “Community Leadership Award” by NAMI Queens/Nassau. John is the proud father of Kayla who is a senior at Penn State University studying Law.