Rockland County Counseling is now Embrace Psychotherapy!

Nelson Cordova is a retired NYPD Detective, U.S. Army veteran, 9/11 first responder, and Medal of Valor recipient who brings more than three decades of military, law-enforcement, and public-safety experience to Embrace Psychotherapy & Education.

Nelson served with the NYPD from 2000 to 2024, including service as a Police Officer in Manhattan's 7th Precinct and later as a Detective and Field Intelligence Officer with the Intelligence Bureau. His experience as a 9/11 first responder gives him firsthand understanding of the unique culture of law enforcement and the impact that critical incidents, occupational stress, trauma exposure, and years of service can have on first responders and their families.

Before joining the NYPD, Nelson served in the United States Army as an Intelligence Analyst, including service with the 2nd Infantry Division near the Korean Demilitarized Zone. He later served in the Army National Guard as an Infantry Rifleman.

At Embrace, Nelson serves in a non-clinical consulting and educational role, helping our clinicians better understand the culture, language, experiences, and needs of military and first-responder communities. Alongside Elena Hernandez-Cordova, LCSW, he contributes to Mind on the Frontline and Love on the Frontline, Embrace initiatives focused on mental health, relationships, resilience, and the impact of service on first responders and their families.

Nelson believes that those who dedicate their lives to protecting others—and the families who stand beside them—deserve to feel seen, heard, understood, and supported.