Staff Psychologist

Allie Loesch, Psy.D.

Dr. Allie Loesch obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from William James College. She is bilingual (Spanish and English) and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Spanish from Marist College. During her pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training, Dr. Loesch has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including schools/colleges, community mental health clinics, and an eating disorder center. At Life Changes Group, she provides individual therapy services for adolescents and adults. Dr. Loesch has an eclectic therapeutic approach that combines different evidence-based modalities such as CBT, DBT, Interpersonal, and Narrative Therapy in order to customize treatment for each individual in her care. She believes that the therapeutic relationship is an essential component to psychotherapy.

Dr. Loesch works as a general practitioner with a particular interest in working with emerging adulthood and clients from culturally diverse backgrounds. She has specialties in eating disorders and disordered eating, trauma, and anxiety. Dr Loesch is particularly passionate for working with college age individuals exploring their developing identities. As a Spanish-speaker, she is invested is providing culturally sensitive therapy for the Latinx community. Many of the people she has worked with experienced difficulties due to trauma, immigration and acculturation issues.

In her free time, Dr. Loesch enjoys traveling and baking.

Staff Psychologist

Andrea Lapomardo, Psy.D.

Dr. Andrea Lapomardo aims to cultivate a
safe, supportive, and collaborative working environment with each client. 
She uses a cognitive behavioral framework as a foundation from which personal
strength and growth can build and believes in emphasizing the resources an individual
already possesses.  Dr. Lapomardo has specialized training in
trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and maintains a strong
commitment to evidence-based care, integrating components of dialectical
behavior, mindfulness-based, and acceptance/commitment therapies into her
work.  She is thoughtful and flexible in her clinical approach and brings
warmth, creativity, and curiosity to each session.  She tailors
interventions to meet individuals’ unique needs and engages in respectful
dialogue that fosters clinical success and allows individuals to carry insight
into their lives.  Dr. Lapomardo has a specialization in children and
adolescents and has devoted much of her clinical work to serving adolescents,
young adults, and families.

Dr. Andrea Lapomardo received her BA in
psychology from St. Bonaventure University.  She earned a MA in psychology
from Southern Connecticut State University and was the principal investigator
on a project examining the relationship between family dynamics and prosocial
development among preschoolers.  Dr. Lapomardo also assisted with research
at Yale University Child Study Center that investigated parenting beliefs,
stress, and practices of fathers with young children and co-occurring intimate
partner violence and substance abuse.  She completed an independent
project with a subsample of these fathers and published an article in Advances
in Dual Diagnosis that was chosen as the Outstanding Paper Award Winner at
the Literati Network Awards for Excellence. 

Dr. Lapomardo went on to earn a MA and
PsyD in clinical psychology from University of Hartford and served as student
representative to the Doctoral Training Committee.  Her dissertation
research focused on examining the relationship between parenting factors and
emotion regulation/recognition among college students.  She completed an
APA-accredited doctoral internship at Community Healthlink (CHL), Youth and
Family Services in Worcester, MA.  At CHL, she provided services for
individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan and both developed and
implemented a mindfulness-based group for middle school-aged children. 
Dr. Lapomardo also completed an APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship at the
Alpert Medical School of Brown University within Bradley Hospital, Adolescent
Inpatient Units.  In addition to offering individual and brief family
therapy, she facilitated a daily skills group utilizing evidence-based
dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).  At Brown, Dr. Lapomardo trained staff
on empirically-informed CBT interventions for psychiatrically hospitalized
youth and focused research efforts on implementation of brief motivational
enhancement therapy for adolescents who endorse substance use.

Post-Doctoral Clinician

Annette McTague, Psy.D.

Dr. Annette McTague earned her doctorate from the University of Hartford, Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology. She specializes in the treatment of psychiatric illness presenting with alcohol and substance abuse, and, in addition to her role at Life Changes Group, maintains an active role with AdCare Outpatient Services, providing individual and family counseling as well as care coordination with social and legal services. Dr. McTague has extensive experience in behavioral therapy, including Motivational Interviewing, ACT, and CBT. She brings passion, commitment, and care to her clinical work with clients.

Licensed Social Worker

Danielle Metzger, LCSW

Danielle [she/her/hers] earned her Master’s degree (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis, and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Massachusetts. Her studies have focused on Sexual Health & Education, with a concentration in LGBTQ populations. She has experience training educators and social workers in best practices to address the needs of trans and gender nonbinary students, as well as research experience exploring system dynamics pertaining to reducing sexual assault on university campuses.

Prior to joining Life Changes Group, Danielle worked in a variety of community and higher education settings. Her work has focused largely on sexual health, reproductive justice, and how LGBTQ issues show up for clients who hold intersectional identities. Her previous work at Fenway Community Health Center pertained to interpersonal violence recovery, empowerment, psychoeducation, and PTSD/trauma treatment using Prolonged Exposure Therapy.

Danielle practices therapy from a client-centered, strength-based, and humanistic perspective. She draws heavily from feminist and womanist theories, and utilizes a holistic approach to help clients understand the major parts of their own identities and how this interacts with context. Danielle also loves to work with clients on skill-building related to mindfulness and/or meditation practice, and uses it as a way to complement psychotherapy treatment. 

When she isn’t in the office, Danielle loves to play music and spend time running outside with her dog, Lulu.

Staff Psychologist

Danielle Vasserman, Psy.D.

Dr. Danielle Vasserman is a licensed clinical psychologist
who specializes in working with children and adolescents, though enjoys working
with adults as well. Dr. Vasserman has experience working with mood disorders,
anxiety disorders, trauma, eating disorders, chronic self-harm, substance
abuse, personality disorders and major mental illness in both pediatric and
adult populations. Dr. Vasserman has a special interest in pediatric
neuropsychological and personality assessment, where her specialties include
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disabilities, and
overall social and emotional functioning. She also has training and experience
administering projective tests and is a fluent Russian speaker.

Dr. Vasserman received her undergraduate degree in
Psychology from Brandeis University and a master’s degree in Education from the
Harvard Graduate School of Education before earning her Doctorate in Clinical
Psychology from William James College (formerly the Massachusetts School of Professional
Psychology). Her predoctoral training experiences include working in a school
counseling center with adolescents as well as with adults suffering from major
mental illnesses in an acute hospital setting. She
went on to complete her pre-doctoral internship at the Lynn Community Health
Center, where she received extensive experience working with the chronic
illnesses, substance abuse, and pediatric behavior issues. Dr. Vasserman also
completed a postdoctoral fellowship at MassGeneral for Children at North Shore
Medical Center, where she was given specialized training in pediatric
neuropsychological assessment and working clinically with adolescents in an
acute hospital setting.

Dr. Vasserman has specialized training in both Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and
tends to combine these empirically based modalities with a warm,
strengths-based, and individualized approach to treatment. She enjoys providing
group therapy as well and has run numerous expressive and creative groups, DBT
groups, as well as groups targeted towards recovering from substance abuse and
major mental illness.

Her research interests include the intersection between
psychology and learning as well as the impact of expressive therapies in the
treatment of children with PTSD.

In her free time, Dr. Vasserman enjoys traveling, dancing,
and spending time with loved ones.

Staff Psychologist

Erica Appleman, Ph.D.

Dr. Erica R. Appleman completed her undergraduate studies at
Boston University and returned for her graduate work, earning a Master’s degree
in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her clinical training
included a predoctoral internship in neuropsychology with the Boston VA
Healthcare System and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at
the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial (ENRM) Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Dr. Appleman is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts.

Dr. Appleman’s clinical interests are broadly focused on
neuropsychological assessment and she has experience working with adults
presenting with a wide variety of neurological, neurodevelopmental, and
neuropsychiatric conditions. She has a special interest in working with older
adult populations in clinical and research settings. Dr. Appleman’s current research
interests involve incorporating telehealth technologies into assessment and intervention
for successful cognitive aging and the early identification of
neurodegenerative disease.

Dr. Appleman is a member and
former student board member of the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society.
She is also a member of APA’s Division 40 (Society for Clinical
Neuropsychology) and the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology.

Staff Psychologist

Frank Clouse, Ed.D.

Dr. Frank Clouse received a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston University, after earning a Bachelors degree from Fordham University and a Masters from Boston College. He speaks several languages and has lived in several countries. He has been a Clinical Director at Boston University Medical Center/Boston Public Health Commission, and at Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center. He holds a faculty appointment at Boston University School of Medicine, and has taught undergraduate, graduate, and medical students at several  institutions, and in Spanish in Mexico.

Dr. Clouse’s professional interests include relationship/couples issues, as well as issues of health, depression, anxiety, life adjustment, aging, and substance use/abuse. His approach emphasizes strengths, problem solving, and the constructive and positive use of thought/cognition.

Staff Psychologist

Gail Simon-Boyd, Ph.D.

Dr. Gail Simon-Boyd received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University, after earning a Masters degree from Rutgers University and Bachelors degree from Binghamton University.

During her predoctoral training, Gail worked at the college counseling center of the University of South Florida, focusing on career counseling, disordered eating, assessment, and group therapy as well as supervision of counselor trainees. Following her doctoral degree, she worked for 2 years in an outpatient counseling center in Chelmsford, MA, providing brief and longer-term solution-focused therapy to families and individuals aged 5-85.  She now serves mainly adults and is also an online faculty member for Ashford University. As a strong believer in the mind-body connection and creative approaches to healing, she enjoys yoga and painting in her free time.

Gail has over 20 years of experience as a military spouse with first-hand knowledge of its unique culture, and she is licensed in multiple states. Her approach to therapy integrates cognitive behavioral methods with a client-centered, interpersonal base. Her training as a life coach allows her to use the counseling relationship as a collaborative opportunity to empower clients to build resilience to overcome challenges such as anxiety and depression while effectively articulating and achieving life goals.  

Staff Psychologist

Ingrid Deller, Psy.D.

Ingrid Deller is a trilingual clinical Psychologist who is passionate about delivering quality care
to her clients and watching them grow. She uses a multi-cultural/socio-cultural approach to
treatment in order to both capture and address all aspects of her clients’ lives. She earned both
her MA in Forensic Counseling Psychology as well as her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at
William James College, formerly known as Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.
She completed her pre-doctoral training at South Florida State Hospital, where she worked
intensely with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, as well as rehabilitating
individuals to competence to stand trial. Her experience includes working with diverse
populations of all age range, providing individual and group therapy, career counseling, family
and couples therapy, psychological assessments, parent training, and a variety of other services.

Ingrid adopts a collaborative style in therapy, which provides her clients with autonomy over
their treatment. She uses a combination of psychoanalytic approaches, interpersonal therapy,
client-centered, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, or any other
empirically-validated modality that seems appropriate for and amenable to her clients. A quote
which guides Ingrid’s therapy sessions is: “I am human, and let nothing human be alien to me”
(Terence, 185 BC).

Ingrid works with individuals of all age groups. Her clinical interests include: anxiety,
depression, interpersonal difficulties, identity issues and development, issues of social justice,
substance abuse, and a myriad of other difficulties.

In her free time, Ingrid enjoys interior designing, exercising, playing with or walking her dog,
and volunteering.

Staff Psychologist

Jennifer Benger, Psy.D.

Dr. Jennifer Benger is a clinical psychologist, with roots
in the Boston area. She received her BA in Psychology with a minor in Early
Childhood Special Education from Skidmore College, where she graduated Magna
Cum Laude with Departmental Honors. Training experiences included working at an
integrated preschool with typical children and special needs children. She also
trained at a private inpatient psychiatric unit assisting with group therapy
and art therapy treatment with adolescents and adults. Dr. Benger went on to
obtain a Masters and Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Nova
Southeastern University in Davie, FL. Her clinical training specialized in
counseling and assessment of children and adolescents, adult counseling, parent
education training, abuse and trauma, and community mental health.

Following graduation, Dr. Benger completed an internship at
Ulster County Mental Health with a focus on assessment of adolescents,
outpatient counseling, foster care, abuse and trauma, attachment issues and
forensic issues and evaluations. Upon completion of her internship, Dr. Benger
worked at Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center on the inpatient Child and
Adolescent unit with children and adolescents with acute mental health issues
related to ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, abuse and family
crisis’s. She also worked part time in private practice and as a consultant at
a residential facility with children and adolescents conducting evaluations and
running the IEP educational meetings. Following this work, Dr. Benger was
employed for a number of years as the Director of Psychology at The Children’s
Institute, a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. In addition to running the
psychology and educational departments, Dr. Benger provided clinical services
to children and families at the hospital with a special focus on individuals
with Prader-Willi Syndrome, Pediatric Feeding Disorders, Transplant and
providing counseling to help support children and families cope with the
stressors of new and chronic medical challenges. Dr. Benger did several Grand
Rounds focused on the Adjustment of Parents with Medically Ill Children and Pediatric
Feeding Disorders. Research interests include parent perspectives on
rehabilitation services for their children with disabilities, adjustment of
parents who have lost custody of their children due to abuse or neglect
allegations and college students with learning disabilities. Most recently, Dr.
Benger worked with adults in nursing facilities who were coping with challenges
related to chronic illness, life changes, decline in physical health or
cognitive functioning and death and dying.

Dr. Benger enjoys working with the full life span from
children and families to adults and the elderly. Specific clinical interests
include helping people experience personal growth and dealing with stress
effectively, especially with the current pandemic. She also enjoys working with
children, adolescents and their families who are gender non-conforming or
transgender, parenting concerns, woman’s issues, chronic illness in children
and adults, adults with depression or anxiety, self-esteem issues, children and
adolescents
who are gifted or learning disabled/dyslexia, special needs/medically ill
children and family and sibling issues. Dr. Benger utilizes a warm, engaging
therapeutic relationship style and utilizes evidence based techniques in
therapy including Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) techniques, while also incorporating
humanistic, interpersonal
therapy, mindfulness, insight oriented therapy and supportive counseling
techniques when appropriate. Dr. Benger also has a special interest in
art therapy and play therapy. She is an ally for LGBTQ+ individuals and
welcomes those from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Staff Psychologist

Jennifer Yu, Psy.D.

Dr. Jennifer Yu received her B.A. in Psychology from Wellesley
College and her M.S. and Psy.D. degrees in School and Clinical Child Psychology
from Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in New York. She
also holds a M.A. in Special Education from National Louis University.

Dr. Yu has training in neuropsychological assessment,
as well as providing individual, group, and family therapy. She specializes in
the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Yu has worked
with a range of culturally and diagnostically diverse individuals in a variety
of settings, including schools, outpatient clinics, and inpatient hospitals. She
completed her pre-doctoral training at Kings County Hospital Center, where she worked
on the outpatient, inpatient, and forensic services. Currently, she is
completing a post-doctoral fellowship in the Developmental Medicine Center at
Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where she is conducting assessments
for individuals with a range of
neurodevelopmental disorders and psychological/psychiatric concerns.

Dr. Yu’s
assessment repertoire includes a plethora of cognitive, academic,
neuropsychological, and social-emotional/projective measures. Additionally, she
is clinically trained in the ADOS-2. While she is skilled in psychodynamic talk and play therapy, as well as cognitive-behavioral
modalities, Dr. Yu believes in using an integrative, individualized approach
with her clients. Above all, she values attention to each individual’s needs,
fostering of the therapeutic alliance, and flexibility in the therapy.

Staff Psychologist

Jessica Gibson, Psy.D.

Dr. Jessica Gibson is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish from Smith College in Northampton, MA, and her master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Antioch University New England in Keene, NH. Dr. Gibson completed her pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health in Omaha, NE. During her pre-doctoral and postdoctoral training, Dr. Gibson has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including community outpatient clinics, hospitals, prisons, trauma recovery clinics, and primary care offices. In addition to providing therapy to individuals, couples, and groups, she has worked to educate the community on strengths-based outcomes from trauma, integrated care, and LGBTQ+ competence. She primarily works with adults of all ages, but enjoys working with older adolescents and couples as well.

Dr. Gibson is passionate about providing client-centered, trauma-informed, and multiculturally competent care. She uses an integrative approach to therapy that incorporates aspects of Humanistic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS), to individualize treatment to the specific needs of her clients. Dr. Gibson believes having a strong therapeutic alliance is a crucial component to effective treatment and works collaboratively with her clients to create meaningful, trusting relationships. She strives to create a safe therapeutic space in which her clients feel supported, empowered, understood, and respected. Her clinical specialties include trauma, relationship concerns, LGBTQ+ considerations, anxiety, and depression.

In her free time, Dr. Gibson enjoys Krav Maga, hiking, and creative writing.

Director of Clinical Training

Jillian Russo, Psy.D.

Dr. Jillian Russo received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Cornell University and her Masters and Doctoral degrees from Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Clinical psychology. She graduated with a concentration in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and has worked with children, adolescents, parents, and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, adjustment, and mood and behavioral dysregulation. Her dissertation research focused on using fMRI technology to identify potential biomarkers for adolescents who are at risk for bipolar disorder. She hopes to be able to utilize research in everyday clinical settings in order to enhance treatment outcomes.

Dr. Russo completed her clinical internship at Yale University School of Medicine’s adolescent services program working with adolescents and young adults on both a psychiatric inpatient unit and in an intensive outpatient program. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University’s Department of Mental Health and Counseling, where she continued for a year as a staff psychologist. There she conducted both individual and group therapy, focusing on evidence based techniques. Dr. Russo’s primary interest is utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in individual and group settings, as well as parent training and dialectical behavior therapy skills, with children and adolescents suffering from mood and anxiety disorders.  

Staff Psychologist

Jodi Coochise, Ph.D.

Dr. Jodi Coochise is a licensed psychologist who grew up in the Seattle, WA area and received her BA in Psychology from Gonzaga University. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University where her research focused on exploring the process of grief with adult women. Her clinical training included work with college students, drug and alcohol abuse, grief, sexual assault, trauma, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, relationship concerns and stress management.

She completed her doctoral internship at Suffolk University’s Counseling Center where she continued to develop expertise in grief counseling, sexual assault, anxiety, depression, identity development, and trauma. Upon completion of her internship Dr. Coochise worked at Bentley University as a staff clinician and Wheaton College as a therapist and Coordinator for the college’s Sexual Misconduct Response Team.

Dr. Coochise’s non-clinical work currently includes consulting for a Boston financial advising firm, where she coaches advisors to achieve their business development goals and integrate Behavioral Finance principles into their client interactions. She has presented on empirically supported treatments for grief and traumatic grief in hospitals, nursing homes, and college counseling centers. She has also presented to business professionals, organizations, and charitable foundations where the focus has been educating client service professionals on how to offer emotional support and help clients navigate difficult life choices while in the midst of transition.

Primarily drawing from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Dr. Coochise also utilizes Solution-Focused Treatment and Mindfulness-based strategies tailoring therapy to her client’s needs. She enjoys working with clients across the lifespan including young adults, adults, and couples and appreciates the opportunity to work with those from ethnic and culturally diverse backgrounds.

Staff Psychologist

John Servinskas, Psy.D.

Dr. John Servinskas is a licensed psychologist with specialized training and experience providing therapy and assessment services to children, adolescents, and families. He believes in the importance of creating a trusting therapeutic alliance between clinician and client, in order to establish common therapeutic goals for effective treatment.

Dr. Servinskas utilizes an integrative approach to therapy. He incorporates aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as mindfulness techniques in order to assist clients in creating and maintaining change. Dr. Servinskas has specialized training in working with children and adolescents. He also has specific interest and training working with individuals on the autism spectrum, individuals experiencing LGBTQIA+ issues, and in neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents.

Dr. Servinskas received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from William James College in Newton, Massachusetts. He completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship at The Freedman Center for Child and Family Development, where he provided individual and group therapy, as well as psychological assessments for children and adolescents.

Dr. Servinskas also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychological assessment at Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) Lurie Center for Autism with an appointment at Harvard Medical School. At MGH Dr. Servinskas conducted complete diagnostic and neuropsychological assessments for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopment disabilities. Additionally, during his fellowship he participated in therapeutic group treatment for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum through the ASPIRE program and acted as a clinical consultant to the ASPIRE day camp for children.

Founder/CEO

Jonathan E. Goldberg, Ph.D.

Dr. Jonathan Goldberg is the founder and clinical director of Life Changes Group and oversees the direction and management of our clinical offices in Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and Somerville.

Dr. Goldberg earned two masters degrees and a doctorate in clinical/school psychology from the Derner Institute at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. He completed three years of clinical externships in neurocognitive testing, child/adolescent psychiatry, and adult psychiatry at North Shore University Hospital, as well as eight years of inpatient psychiatric work at The Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, MA, and Long Island Jewish Hospital in Manhasset, NY. During this time, Dr. Goldberg helped implement several research grants investigating genetic determinants of adverse reactions to antipsychotic agents used in treating schizophrenia.

Dr. Goldberg completed his clinical internship in adult psychiatry at Columbia University. He was then selected for a post-doctoral fellowship at The Addiction Institute of New York (formerly Smithers) a nationally-recognized institute for the treatment of chemical addiction.

Dr. Goldberg has since worked as a Staff Psychologist at the Learning Lab @ Lesley University, conducting neurocognitive evaluations for children with learning disabilities, and as a PACT team member at Westbridge Community Services.  He offers individual, group, and couples counseling addressing a range of psychiatric issues, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, emetophobia, online gaming addiction, and trauma.

In addition to his hospital work, Dr. Goldberg has received extensive training in behavioral models for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT). He has also received formal training in “stages of change” and motivational interviewing techniques for the treatment of addiction.

Dr. Goldberg is presently a Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School where he teaches and supervises interns in the practice of behavioral therapies.

For the past 15 years, Dr. Goldberg has served as psychiatric consultant to The Fessenden School in West Newton, MA. In this role, Dr. Goldberg lectures and provides counseling for children, parents, and teachers on a diverse range of topics, including ADHD, educational testing, childhood depression, anxiety disorders, learning differences, and child/adolescent development.

Dr. Goldberg’s non-clinical work includes consultation with market research and advertising firms regarding implicit perceptions of brand personality and the development of research instruments for measuring unconscious variables associated with group process.

Staff Clinician

Kelsey Oakes, LICSW

Kelsey Oakes is a
Licensed Independent Social Worker in Massachusetts. She has experience working
in a variety of settings with clients from diverse backgrounds and with various
diagnostic presentations or concerns. She provides therapy to adults and her clinical
interests include: trauma, anxiety, depression, identity exploration , life
transitions, and relationship concerns. Kelsey is passionate about working with
those in the LGBTQ+ community and affirms all gender identities, sexual
orientations, and relationship orientations.

Kelsey prioritizes creating a
warm, relational environment in which clients can feel safe working toward
achieving healthier, more fulfilling lives. She helps clients recognize the
mind-body connection and understand experiences in the context of their
environment, while working to identify both individual and societal narratives
that impact well-being. Kelsey is trauma informed and strengths-based. She
pulls from a range of humanistic and evidence based therapeutic approaches, including
Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to meet each
client’s needs in a creative and personal way.

Kelsey
received her Master of Social Work from Boston College and her undergraduate
degree in Development and Family Studies and Counseling from the University of
North Texas. She has received training and worked in a range of clinical
settings including an integrated

medical-behavioral
health setting at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Vanguard, a
residential care setting for women with chronic mental illness, and an
immigration clinic for individuals seeking asylum. Much of Kelsey’s work has
focused on working with the traumatic effects of both gender and sexual-based
violence.

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys
traveling, hiking, catching up on her ever-growing list of books to read, and
experimenting with different artistic mediums.

Staff Psychologist

Laura Meza-Valencia, Psy.D.

Dr. Laura Meza Valencia specializes in neuropsychological
evaluations and psychotherapeutic treatment. Her specialty area is the
treatment and evaluation of adolescents and young adults on the autism
spectrum. Dr. Meza Valencia also has vast experience in neuropsychological assessment
with individuals presenting with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain
injury, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, aphasia, learning
disabilities, and neurodevelopmental disorders. She also provides
psychotherapeutic treatment for individuals suffering with depression, anxiety,
OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and chronic pain.
Dr. Meza Valencia also specializes in couples therapy and is a certified
Gottman therapist, who offers a top of the line research based interventions
for couples with relational issues.

Dr. Meza Valencia earned her bachelor’s degree in Medical
Humanities from Baylor University, and her doctoral degree in Clinical
Psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology from the American School of
Professional Psychology in Washington, DC. She completed her doctoral training
in outpatient psychiatric clinics, private practice, and integrated primary
care facilities. During her postdoctoral fellowship she continued to receive
specialized training in conducting neuropsychological evaluations, as well as a
wide range of other assessments, in a private practice setting in contract with
the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Dr. Meza Valencia also has been involved in collaborative
research studies, including a published article on autism intervention
development for gender non-conforming adolescents. She has research experience
focused on validity and utility of a computerized neurocognitive assessment
battery in assessing cognitive dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis, as well as research
focused on verbal fluency and depression in Parkinson’s disease.

Staff Psychologist

Lily Cahman, Psy.D.

My approach to therapy centers on building an environment in which you feel heard and understood. I will support you in developing resources and skills to relieve your immediate concerns as well as encourage your exploration and understanding of underlying maladaptive patterns to enhance your relationships long-term.

I have extensive experience working in university counseling centers and in a private practice setting with young adults and working professionals individually, in couples, and in groups. My areas of specialty include depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, identity, and relationship concerns. My theoretical orientation stems from a client-centered, relational, trauma-sensitive, and multicultural framework. I also regularly integrate mindfulness, self-compassion, and cognitive behavioral techniques.

I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. I earned my Masters of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degrees from the APA-accredited Clinical Psychology program at Roosevelt University in Chicago. I also completed my predoctoral internship training at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Counseling Center and began my postdoctoral training at a private practice in Chicago, IL.

Staff Psychologist

Lisa Cohen, Psy.D.

Dr. Lisa Cohen is originally from the Boston area. She earned her BA in Psychology and earned a certification in Human Services from Clark University. She earned her MA in Professional Psychology and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology in Boston, MA. Her predoctoral training included school-based counseling, college counseling, working with medically challenged individuals and in outpatient counseling working with multi-cultural and diverse populations. She also completed a predoctoral fellowship in Solution Focused Therapy at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates.

Dr. Cohen’s postdoctoral training occurred at Arbour Counseling services where she received training in working with depression, anxiety, panic disorders, trauma, general life issues, self-esteem, emotional development in adolescence and early adulthood, as well as extensive training in substance abuse/dependence and addiction disorders. In addition to her work at the Life Changes Group, Dr. Cohen has a position as a Staff Psychologist at a community health center north of Boston.

Dr. Cohen believes that through the collaborative work in therapy, a person can achieve the personal goals they set for themselves. She primarily uses a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) treatment modality, but also draws on aspects of interpersonal therapy, narrative therapy and psychodynamic therapy to help individuals identify strengths and weaknesses in their lives, as well as identifying healthy ways to make positive changes in their lives. She works with individuals of all ages including children, adolescents and adults.

Staff Psychologist

Lisa Taylor, Psy.D.

Dr. Lisa Taylor is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL and her masters and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Dr. Taylor completed her pre-doctoral internship at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland, OH and her post-doctoral fellowship at Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial (ENRM) Veterans Hospital in Bedford, MA. Dr. Taylor’s primary position is at the ENRM VA, where she is a staff psychologist working on multiple interdisciplinary teams, with the majority of her time focused in Home Based Primary Care.

Dr. Taylor’s clinical experience includes working with young adults, adults, and older adults. She has worked in multiple settings including primary care, physical rehabilitation units, hospice care, long-term care units, sports medicine clinics, psychiatric day hospitals, domiciles (working with homeless veterans), and substance use disorder programs. Dr. Taylor works from a humanistic, person centered, approach while utilizing a variety of evidence based practices to effectively meet patients goals.

Staff Psychologist

Louise Ross, Ed.D.

Dr. Louise Ross is a clinical psychologist licensed in Massachusetts. She has a Master’s and Doctorate in Human Development from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and a Master’s in School Psychology from New York University.

After completing a post doctoral program at Boston Children’s Hospital pre-school and school clinics, she taught psychology at UMass Boston, worked in a clinic, and worked as a staff psychologist at the Language and Cognitive Development Center, a 12-month school founded on teaching meaning to students with autism throughout skill acquisition, and for children needing greater emotional support. She believes in student-treatment match, drawing on all relevant interventions within the context of a comprehensive curriculum (ABA, ToM, the Miller Method). She served on the Massachusetts Chapter of the Autism Society of America, ran its public speaker series and had a column in its newsletter. Her training at NYU enables her to administer and interpret neuropsychological tests. She has consulted to school districts throughout New England and formerly had a private practice.

Dr. Ross works primarily with children, adolescents, and families and also couples, addressing anxiety, life adjustment, learning and behavior, relationship concerns, communication, social skills, and child and adolescent development. She integrates mindfulness, CBT, ACT, Behavior Mod, psychodynamic talk therapy and, with children, play therapy to help families, couples and youth develop new ways to communicate, develop their skills, and unique identities. Dr. Ross sees compassion and empathy towards oneself as keys to fulfillment. She has a daily yoga and meditation practice and plays flute, guitar, and harmonica, sometimes with Kirtan groups.

Staff Psychologist

Lucy Krivitsky, Ph.D.

My approach to
therapy is active, flexible, goal-oriented, and collaborative. Ultimately, my
role is to help clients gain the skills, insights, and self-compassion to be
their own therapists. I meet clients where they are, help them to clarify their
goals, identify what stands in their way, and work through (or with) these
obstacles through the use of evidence-based techniques that include CBT, ACT
and mindfulness. In conceptualizing clients’ treatment, I pay close attention
to contextual and cultural factors that may be relevant to a client’s concerns
and treatment.

In my work in
college settings, a refugee clinic, and several veterans’ clinics, I had the
opportunity to engage with diverse populations and a wide array of presenting
concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions and
relationship concerns, among many others. During my internship and my
postdoctoral fellowships, I obtained experience and training in couples therapy
(EFT and IBCT) and group therapy, including a process group, an ACT group, two
sleep groups, and coping and social skills groups.

After completing my postdoctoral
fellowship, I lived for several months in Argentina, where I focused on
learning Spanish and deepening my understanding of cross-cultural psychology
and the local mental health system by observing and engaging with psychiatry
staff and patients at a hospital in Buenos Aires.

Staff Psychologist

Martha Bestebreurtje, Ph.D.

Dr. Martha Bestebreurtje has worked as a teacher, clinician, and school consultant for many years. She is a strong believer in a person’s capacity to grow and change when given time, empathy, and the opportunity to learn new skills and ways of thinking. Martha was an English major at Williams College. She earned her Ed. M. in Counseling Psychology from Harvard University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at B.U. She trained in child, group, and adult psychotherapy at the Brookline Center and Massachusetts Mental Health Center and was a staff psychologist at Brighton Allston Mental Health, where she taught the child therapy and psychological testing seminars. She has taught elementary students as well as graduate level psychology students. She was the Consulting Psychologist at the Pike School in Andover for many years and continues to consult to area schools regarding students’ learning profiles. Her professional interests include insight-oriented therapy, CBT, parenting, and a person’s cognitive profile and how it affects their experience of school and view of themselves. 

Staff Clinician

Mary Balkon, LICSW

Mary Balkon LICSW received her Masters of Social Work degree
from Western Michigan University with an emphasis in the study of couples and
family therapies. She also studied sex therapy through the University of
Michigan’s Sexual Health Certificate Program, and is trained in Cognitive
Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

She has worked in both private practice and public mental
health with trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and a variety of relationship
issues. She is sensitive to the unique dynamics and challenges of LGBTQ
individuals, and also those of unconventional relationships such as polyamory
and BDSM. She has worked with both victims and offenders in sex-related trauma.

Additionally, she recently graduated with a Masters Degree
from Harvard Divinity School which has deepened her understanding of the
religious and spiritual concerns of many different belief systems and how they
relate to social and psychological experiences.

Post-Doctoral Clinician

Nicole Cappiello, Psy.D.

Dr. Nicole Cappiello obtained her doctorate from Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology at the University of Hartford. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Maine’s counseling center and her post-doctoral training at Colby College’s counseling services. Nicole has experience working with young adults experiencing a wide spectrum of presenting concerns, including anxiety, depression, and interpersonal/relationship concerns. She has received training in cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive related disorders. Nicole’s approach to therapy is rooted in a person-centered framework.  In addition, she draws from her CBT training and incorporates interpersonal, psychodynamic techniques to best tailor her approach to the individual with whom she is working. She is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients to help them grow and make meaningful change.

Staff Therapist

Nobska Goodhue

Nobska [she/her/hers] is a current full-time graduate student earning her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) at Boston College. She is in her final year and completing practicum with Life Changes Group in order to become a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) while supervised by team member Danielle Metzger, LICSW. Her field of practice is in health and mental health with an emphasis on holistic well-being, body and mind. She has experience with childhood and adult trauma, specifically interpersonal violence and sexual assault, including treatment through trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and group therapy. Nobska is passionate about working with children, young adults, womxn identified and LGBTQ+ populations. She also focuses on treatment for anxiety and post-traumatic stress.

Her coursework this academic year is established in Family Systems theory and therapies, grief and bereavement work, CBT and the neuroscience of human relationships and development. She is working toward a Neuroscience and Social Work Certification through Boston College to build her expertise in the connections between biology and mental health, alongside a Trauma Certification. Her practice operates according to a strengths-based perspective and an understanding that clients are the experts in their own experiences. Her Bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University is firmly grounded in both intersectional feminist and queer theories.

In her free time Nobska enjoys backpacking the White Mountains with her beloved dog, mountain biking and reading her extensive fiction collection, always accompanied by her two cats.

Staff Psychologist

Peter Harakas, Ph.D.

I believe in establishing a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust and respect and I adopt a collaborative approach with clients. I work with adults and adolescents with issues related to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, skin picking, trichotillomania, body dysmorphic disorder, ADHD, Asperger’s or high cognitive abilities autism, trauma and PTSD, coping with chronic illness, such as chronic pain and fatigue, tinnitus, etc., career issues, work-related anxiety and stress, and couples or marital difficulties.

In my work, I incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and emotion-focused perspectives. I have worked in outpatient psychotherapy, university student health, family medicine and primary care, spinal cord injury, and various departments in Veterans Affairs hospitals. I have specific experience working with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients and with veterans.

As a psychologist with an academic background in marketing, an MBA in leadership and transformational change, interests in consulting psychology, and work experience in leadership development, I believe I am uniquely positioned to understand the perspective, challenges, and the pressures faced by business professionals and executives.

Staff Psychologist

Raha Yavari, Ph.D.

Dr. Raha Yavari is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in providing counseling for adults with various mental health issues. She has over 10 years of experience working in both correctional and military settings; providing therapy and crisis intervention services for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and most recently, with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

Her specialty ranges from personality and risk assessment, psycho-eduction and encouraging her clients to foster healthy lifestyle patterns. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness and Solution Focused treatment into her work.

Dr. Yavari received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Florida State University and a Master’s Degree in General Psychology from Boston University before earning her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University-San Diego (formerly California School of Professional Psychology).

She currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Staff Psychologist

Robert Sardy, Ph.D.

I have helped children and adults as they have learned to
manage very difficult times in their lives such as identifying and developing
additional skills for managing stress and sadness; shaping a more satisfying,
meaningful life; and learning how to cope with difficult life events such as
loss of a loved one or job and incarceration. I have worked with couples and
families as they managed conflict and repaired damaged relationships. I have
coached parents and children on how to more effectively communicate with each
other while reducing conflict between them. I have worked with people as they
forged their identity based on awareness of their gender identity and sexual
orientation.  Finally, I have worked with
people who have needed to better manage their anger As a solution-focused
therapist, my goal is to help you uncover your true potential and identify your
best approach to address the problems that you have identified. While we can’t
change difficult events or situations of our past,
we can work together to help you better understand and resolve challenges in your life.

I am eclectic in my approach to therapy-although I am
grounded in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Family Systems. Starting with
evidence based practices, we will work together to identify long-standing
behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be impacting your
relationships or holding you back from a satisfying life. To help you, I draw
upon my training as a psychologist, health educator, and organizational
development and change/leadership development consultant. Many of my patients
have told me that they enjoyed working with me as I use everyday language, am
approachable and direct, and have a sense of humor.

I earned my Doctorate in Organizational
Psychology in 2000 from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP)
and a Doctoral Respecialization Certificate in Clinical Psychology from CSPP in
2006. I hold a Masters in Education from University of Massachusetts Boston and
a Bachelors of Science in Health Education from University of Lowell. I
completed additional training as a psychologist with the San Mateo County
Department of Mental Health-North County Mental Health Program in Daly City, CA
and the Psychological Services Center in Oakland, CA. In addition to the private
practice that I had in San Francisco for several years, I worked in the
California Prison system at San Quentin State Prison and Salinas Valley State
Prison. In addition, I have worked in corporations, non profit organizations,
and in government agencies such as NASA.

Finally,
I am a member of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.

Staff Psychologist

Robyn Miles, Psy.D.

Dr. Robyn Miles received her Psy.D. in Clinical and Forensic psychology from Alliant International University in Irvine, CA. For the past 7 years, she has been conducting forensic evaluations and providing supervision within the Piedmont Correctional Institution in North Carolina as well as providing individual counseling for a diverse populations of clients through Carolina Counseling and Consultation, an outpatient group private practice. Dr. Miles specializes in general mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities using an eclectic mix of behavioral psychotherapy, including CBT, ACT, and motivational interviewing.

Staff Psychologist

Ryan Gazzola, Psy.D.

Dr. Ryan Gazzola was born and raised in the Boston area. He received his BA in Psychology from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. His advanced clinical training consists of an MA in Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England University in Keene, New Hampshire and his Psy.D. at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology in Boston, MA.

Dr. Gazzola completed a master’s level internship at the New England College counseling center in Henniker, New Hampshire working with an adolescent and young adulthood population with a variety of mental health concerns, including eating disorders, anxiety, depression and relational issues. He also completed an internship at the Capital Region Family Health Center, working with the Dartmouth-Hitchcock family residents around patient care. This internship included intensive practice around family therapy systems. Dr. Gazzola’s predoctoral training included work at a private practice doing psychological and neuropsychological testing with children and adolescents. Additionally, Dr. Gazzola completed pre- and postdoctoral internship training at Lynn Community Health Center, servicing a wide range of multicultural clientele. He received training with anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse/dependence and addiction disorders, adjustment disorders, as well as general life issues. Dr. Gazzola also has experience working in schools, residential treatment facilities, and group practice settings.

Dr. Gazzola has been an instructor of Social Psychology for several years at Boston Architectural College.

Dr Gazzola uses a person-centered approach that is humanistic in nature. He also utilizes psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) to assist clients in promoting a fuller sense of self and overall life satisfaction. Dr. Gazzola does therapy with adolescents and adults and psychological/neuropsychological testing with children.

Staff Psychologist

Sara Sullivan, Ph.D.

Dr. Sara K. Sullivan completed her undergraduate studies at Kenyon
College in Gambier, OH. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from
Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY, and completed her predoctoral
internship in neuropsychology at the Central Arkansas VA Healthcare System in
Little Rock, AR. She completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in
neuropsychology at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial (ENRM) Veterans Hospital in
Bedford, MA. Dr. Sullivan is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts and
Colorado. Her primary position is at the ENRM VA, where she is a staff
neuropsychologist and manages the TBI clinic within the Neuropsychology
Service.

Dr. Sullivan’s
clinical interests lie broadly in neuropsychology, with an additional interest
in cognitive rehabilitation. She has experience working with adolescents and
adults presenting with a wide variety of neurological, neurodevelopmental, and neuropsychiatric
conditions. She utilizes a whole-health approach with a focus on recovery and
maximizing functioning across academic, vocational, social, and physical health
domains.

Dr. Sullivan is a member of the International Neuropsychological
Society, the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society, APA’s Division 40
(Society for Clinical Neuropsychology), the American Academy of Clinical
Neuropsychology, and the National Academy of Neuropsychology.

Staff Psychologist

Shayna Perry, Psy.D.

Shayna Perry is a licensed psychologist with
experience working with diverse populations of all ages in individual and group
therapy. She is passionate about creating a shared space of honesty and
meaningful change. Therapy with Shayna involves the process of learning to
befriend and trust one’s own knowledge and moment-to-moment experience. She
believes therapy is a collaborative process tailored to each client’s hopes and
values. Her work is informed by basic biology of the mind-body connection, the
biopsychosocial model, attachment theory, and behavioral techniques. She takes
a socio-cultural approach to treatment by giving attention to the ways in which
the ideas, actions and policies in our communities, cultures and families can
be sources of both pain and resilience. She believes in the collaborative
exploration of all intersections of identity that feel important to the
individual.

Shayna holds a B.S. in Biology and Spanish and a
doctorate in Clinical Psychology from California Lutheran University. Shayna
has worked in a variety of clinical contexts including integrated
medical-behavioral care, intimate partner violence clinics, the Greater Los
Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, the UCLA Medical Psychology
Assessment Center, and psychiatric hospitals. Her pre- through post-doctoral
training and background include the integration of various acceptance and
mindfulness-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT),
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR),
as well as brief psychodynamic therapy and meditative movements.

Her clinical and research interests include trauma,
trauma-sensitive mindfulness, work with uniformed service members and first
responders, women’s health (peripartum concerns, fertility treatment and
concerns), grief and loss, bottom-up processes such as Qigong, body-based
resources and other forms of mind-body interventions.

Shayna enjoys hiking and camping, a good sci-fi read,
yoga, traveling, and stumbling upon live music. Her own meditation practice
anchors her work.

Post-Doctoral Clinician

Sinéad McCarthy, Psy.D.

Dr. Sinéad McCarthy earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University, and received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from William James College (formerly known as the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology). Dr. McCarthy works primarily from a psychodynamic and client-centered approach where she adapts her style based on the needs of each client. She has been trained in evidence based practices and utilizes an integrated theoretical orientation that consists of a blend of cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, and psychodynamic approaches. Throughout her clinical experience she has had the opportunity to work with adolescents, adults, and families throughout the Greater Boston area on such issues as addictions, eating disorders, relational conflicts, sexuality, and personal identity.

Dr. McCarthy completed her APA internship through the William James Consortium program through the Providence College Personal Center where she provided individual counseling and emergency risk assessments to undergraduate students on issues such as anxiety, depression, homesickness, relationships, self-esteem, and medical issues. Dr. McCarthy also designed and facilitated a weekly therapeutic group for students that discussed how to cope with a loved one who struggles with addiction. Dr. McCarthy received training on how to administer, score, and interpret psychological and neuropsychological evaluations of children, adolescents, and adults through the Dr. Leon O. Brenner Assessment and Consultation Center. Dr. McCarthy completed her postdoctoral training at Right Turn, an outpatient addictions clinic, where she continued to conduct individual and group therapy as well as neuropsychological assessments.

Staff Psychologist

Sujata Swaroop, Psy.D.

Dr. Sujata Regina Swaroop received her BA in Psychology and Health Sciences from Boston College and her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the APA-accredited Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She works with adult, adolescent, and child populations providing treatment for a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, identity development, relationship difficulty, chronic pain, chronic illness, substance abuse, and life transitions. Dr. Swaroop also has expertise working with university students, veterans, survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, and international populations.

Dr. Swaroop has received formal training in biofeedback/HRV, Seeking Safety, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), EMDR (Level 2), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Substance Abuse, Chronic Pain, Depression, Trauma, Complicated Grief, and Post Disaster Distress, Gottman Couples Therapy, Sensory Motor Affect Regulation Therapy (SMART), and Attachment, Regulation, and Competence (ARC) intervention. Extensive experience working from various treatment models allows her to flexibly conceptualize treatment plans from a variety of psychological approaches to successfully meet each client’s needs.

Dr. Swaroop’s predoctoral training spanned multiple settings, including school-based counseling services, college counseling services, immigrant and refugee clinics, and a Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center. In these settings she conducted psychological, neuropsychological, and school-readiness evaluations, provided psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups, and offered consultation, outreach, and crisis management. Dr. Swaroop also worked for one year at the Marjorie Kovler Center for Survivors of Torture where she provided psychotherapy and coordinated provision of care across psychiatric, medical, and legal providers.

Dr. Swaroop completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the internationally renowned Trauma Center in Brookline, MA. At the Trauma Center, Dr. Swaroop provided intensive outpatient trauma-focused psychotherapy and psychological evaluation to clients with histories of polyvictimization.  During her postdoctoral fellowship, she also served as Adjunct Staff to Boston Medical Center’s Resiliency Center, assisting on-site at the federal trial to provide crisis management and therapeutic support to survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings. Finally, Dr. Swaroop served as the Program Coordinator for Project REACH to offer mental health services to victims of human trafficking and consultation and training to providers working with trafficking victims throughout the United States. She has offered training to FBI agents and law enforcement officials, attorneys, medical professionals, mental health professionals, shelter workers, and community activists.  She has authored numerous publications and scholarly conference presentations on trauma recovery related to populations affected by war and displacement, gender-based violence, and intergenerational transmission of trauma. Dr. Swaroop continues to maintain supervisory and consultation affiliations with the Trauma Center.

Staff Psychologist

Tal Katz, Ph.D.

Dr. Tal Katz is a clinical psychologist licensed in Massachusetts. His clinical approach is rooted in Motivational Interviewing principles. Clients can expect to experience a supportive, respectful, and collaborative relationship that emphasizes respect for their autonomy in the process of developing measurable and achievable change goals. He primarily employs CBT and Acceptance-based strategies to address a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship struggles, adjustment concerns and coping with chronic illness. He enjoys working with young adults, adults, and older adults.

Dr. Katz is originally from Israel and has been in the Boston area since 2003. He earned a B.A. in psychology through a combined program at Hebrew College and Northeastern University, and his M.A. and Ph.D in clinical psychology at the University of South Carolina. He conducted research onchronic health conditions and their effect on social, emotional, and cognitive functioning. He completed his pre-doctoral internship at Tewksbury Hospital where he worked with adult and older adult populations with complex medical and mental health conditions.As a post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Katz worked as part of the academic and behavioral support team in a K-8 school administering brief psycho-educational assessments and assisting with development and implementation of behavioral plans for individual students. He also interned at a neuropsychology private practice where he conducted neuropsychological evaluations for children and adolescents with varied diagnoses.

Prior to joining Life Changes Group, Dr. Katz hasworked in skilled nursing facilities to provide behavioral health services, offering assessment, diagnosis and treatment for individuals and groups with a variety of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, adjustment concerns, trauma, substance use, complex medical conditions, chronic health issues, and cognitive problems.

Staff Psychologist

Uma Shanmugham, Psy.D.

Dr. Uma Shanmugham earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Mental Health and her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from William James College (formerly the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology). Dr. Shanmugham primarily utilizes existential and feminist frameworks; her clinical “toolbox” also includes cognitive behavioral interventions, mindfulness, a trauma-informed lens, and diversity practices. Dr. Shanmugham acknowledges the courage it takes to participate in psychotherapy and engages clients in the process of re-defining who they are that feels the most authentic to themselves.

With extensive training in community mental health and working with immigrants and refugees across the lifespan, Dr. Shanmugham has experience working with grief and loss, low self-esteem, trauma, worries about life transitions, relationships and family struggles, mood disorders and medical issues. Dr. Shanmugham completed her APA internship through the William James College’s Consortium program at Lynn Community Health Center where she provided treatment to at-risk and marginalized individuals and families. She was trained in how to administer, score, and interpret neuropsychological evaluations across the lifespan through the Dr. Leon O. Brenner Assessment and Consultation Center. Dr. Shanmugham completed her postdoctoral training in Academic Community Leadership at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology Community Internship, which included community mental health work and providing supervision and support to interns.

Dr. Shanmugham is curious about how the cultural systems we are part of trickle down to each individual and influence how we see ourselves and our relationships with others. She is passionate about working with individuals, couples and families of all races, ethnicities, immigrant statuses, gender identities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, and ability statuses.

Staff Psychologist

Whitney Kleinert, Ph.D.

Whitney Kleinert is a licensed Psychologist in Massachusetts, a certified health service provider, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Dr. Kleinert is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP).

Dr. Kleinert received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Georgia and worked in several research laboratories. She received her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston. As a graduate student, she was first- and co-author on several publications and national/international presentations. She completed her predoctoral internship through LSU’s Louisiana School Psychology Internship Consortium with a primary placement in an urban alternative school for students with severe emotional impairments and behavioral challenges. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at May Institute where she worked on a grant-funded randomized controlled trial involving the development and implementation of a modular intervention to address the individual needs of students with Autism. During her postdoctoral fellowship, she also provided behavioral consultation, assessment, and direct services to individuals with Autism and co-morbid developmental disabilities.

As a Program Director at May Institute, Dr. Kleinert oversees the implementation of ABA services for the Boston Public Schools contract within the Division of Home, School, and Center-Based Services. She has extensive assessment, intervention, and consultation experience working with clients with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Devon Carroll, APRN-BC

Ms. Devon Carroll is a board certified Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She received her master’s degree in nursing from Yale University and maintains an active position at Children’s Hospital Boston performing outpatient psychiatry and research within the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience. Devon has researched and published extensively on mental health topics, including childhood onset psychosis, self-injury in children with ASD, and the psychobiology of purging disorder. She brings tremendous clinical and practice knowledge to her work with children, adolescents, and adults at LCG.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Anthony J. DiBartolomeo, APRN-BC

Anthony J. DiBartolomeo, MSN, PMHNP-BC is a board certified psychiatric mental health-nurse practitioner. He received his Master’s of Science in Nursing from MGH Institute of Health Professions. While pursing his Master’s, Anthony worked as a psychiatric nurse on the eating disorder unit at McLean Hospital.  He has training and experience treating patients with psychiatric disorders across the lifespan in hospital and outpatient settings. Anthony is committed to providing individualized and comprehensive care for his clients.

Anthony’s clinical interests include anxiety and depressive disorders; eating disorders; mental health needs of the LGBTQ community; young adult mental health; men’s issues.

In his free time, Anthony enjoys painting, filmmaking, running, yoga, and cooking.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Matthew Ellam

Matthew Ellam, PMHNP-BC is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He received his Master of Science in Nursing from MGH Institute of Health Professions and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Matthew’s experience lies in community mental health, and he has provided diagnostic, consultative, and pharmacological services at multiple urban and rural health centers throughout the state.  In practice, he incorporates tenets of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and solutions-focused therapy as he engages in treatment planning with clients. 

Staff Psychiatrist

Marie Gipson, M.D.

Dr. Marie Gipson is a board-certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist who places her children and adolescent’s interests first. She believes that a child and adolescent psychiatrist’s role is, at its most basic, one of stewardship of a person’s unlimited potential. She is currently an Assistant in Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School (HMS). She is a graduate of Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in New Orleans where she was deeply involved in caring for the underserved including volunteering as a counselor for children with different abilities and a student doctor in the local homeless shelter.

Dr. Gipson completed her general psychiatry residency at the LSU-Ochsner Psychiatry Residency Training Program and her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital/HMS where she also served as Chief Fellow. Her clinical background is in treating mental health disorders with interdisciplinary teams through a comprehensive approach and served as the lead physician for both inpatient adolescent units at Boston Children’s Hospital and Stanford University School of Medicine. Her clinical interests including depression, anxiety, OCD, tics, insomnia, and trauma. When not seeing patients, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending performing arts events, and trying new foods.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Joseph Lavoie, APRN-BC

Joseph Lavoie is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He received his Master of Science in Nursing at Northeastern University and completed undergraduate study at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. His training stressed the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to providing individualized care to patients of all ages. He finds a great sense of privilege and satisfaction in helping clients overcome personal struggles and achieve their optimal potential for mental and physical health. His experience includes providing medical and psychiatric nursing care for patients in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, Director of Education for an acute care inpatient hospital, and as a Clinical Instructor for Northeastern University’s undergraduate nursing programs while working toward his own graduate degree. Through these experiences, he has found that therapy along with medication, when appropriate, provides the best outcome for patients.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Colleen Madden, APRN-BC

Ms. Colleen Madden is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. As an RN, Colleen worked in triage and the inpatient bipolar and schizophrenia unit at McLean Hospital. Prior to coming to Life Changes Group, Colleen worked as a psychiatric NP in community mental health and forensic settings. Colleen’s professional interests include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and adverse childhood experiences.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Carly Ramos, PMHNP

Carly Ramos RN PMHNP is a board certified Psychiatric Mental
Health Nurse Practitioner clinically educated in treating patients with mental
health diagnoses across the lifespan. Carly earned her Bachelor’s of Nursing
Degree at Hartwick College in Oneonta New York where she was inducted into the
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society, received the Emerson
International Internship Scholarship, and was named Faculty Scholar. Carly
continued her nursing education at Northeastern University earning a Master’s
Degree in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing.

Carly has extensive nursing experience in the field of psychiatry
beginning her nursing career in inpatient adult psychiatry. She later accepted
a position as the Director of Nursing at the Ivy Street School in Brookline, a
residential school focused on providing trauma informed psychiatric care to
children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, behavioral health
diagnoses, brain injury and other major mental illness.

Carly’s advanced psychiatric nursing career began as an intern for
South Shore Psychiatric Services in Hingham, Massachusetts where she
participated in psychotherapy and psychopharmacology training under the
supervision of MaryAnn McDonnell NP, PhD. Additionally, after graduation from
Northeastern Carly was hired at Boston Medical Center to do outpatient
prescribing for adults and children/adolescents. She was also awarded a
position at Boston Medical Center as the Autism Fellow where she received specialized
training, education, and clinical experience working specifically with
transition aged you with autism, intellectual disability and comorbid mental
health diagnoses.  

Carly is passionate about providing holistic and comprehensive
mental health care for patients and families and encourages her patients to
have autonomy in decision making about treatment. 

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Alanna Richardson, APRN-BC

Alanna Richardson is a board certified family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She obtained her master’s degree at Northeastern University, where she graduated with honors, and her bachelor’s degree at the University of Rhode Island. Alanna comes with an extensive mental health background working with patients across the life span in a variety of settings. This experience includes working with our nation’s veterans at the VA, Adolescent Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and acute, inpatient psychiatric care for children and adolescents in Boston, MA. Alanna is passionate about creating a nonjudgmental and welcoming atmosphere for her patients and feels strongly about the importance of the mind-body connection as it pertains to patient wellbeing and mental health. On her free time Alanna teaches yoga and works part-time at Boston Children’s Hospital where she is working to develop the first outpatient nursing position in outpatient psychiatry. 

Rachel Abarbanel, APRN-BC

Rachel Abarbanel is a board certified Psychiatric Mental
Health Nurse Practitioner with experience working with adults and adolescents.
Rachel earned her nursing degree from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts
where she was named valedictorian of her graduating class. She attended
Northeastern University in Boston where she obtained her graduate degree in
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.

Rachel has extensive experience working in the inpatient and
partial hospitalization programs at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and
in the community mental health setting. She values a holistic and collaborative
approach to medication management that is tailored to the individual needs of
each person. Rachel enjoys working with people from a variety of backgrounds
and works to provide socially and culturally competent care while integrating
each person’s unique goals into the treatment plan.