Month: October 2020

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LeAnn Egeto, LICSW, PhD (She/Her)

Clinical Consultant & Clinical Supervisor

I have been a clinical supervisor and consultant with Clinical Alliance Services, LLC since 2018. I maintain a private practice and have worked for over a decade with adults who were chronically and acutely traumatized as children. Before working in private practice, I designed community service programs and training programs for students in medical, law and counseling disciplines in approaches to working with marginalized and traumatized populations. I also have extensive experience working in a rural community in rape crisis, domestic violence and hospital settings, including emergency departments, labor and delivery, and oncology. I believe in the transformative power of psychodynamic work and in harnessing the healing power of relationships, both of which I utilize as a therapist, supervisor and consultant. I have training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family System (IFS), Accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP) , somatic and psychedelic therapies.

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Lissa Dutra, PhD, JD (She/Her)

Executive Director & Training Director

I am the founder and Executive Director of Clinical Alliance Services, LLC, where I work closely with an amazing team of clinicians from whom I learn every day. I hold a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Boston University, a J.D. with a concentration in Health Law from Seton Hall University, and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. After training for several years at Cambridge Health Alliance in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Victims of Violence Program and Outpatient Psychiatry Department, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Pacific Islands Division of the National Center for PTSD and later worked as a Health Science Specialist at the Women's Health Sciences Division of the National Center for PTSD. Later, I transitioned to the role of Administrative Director of a community mental health center, which sparked my strong interest in the intersection of clinical work, administration, and health insurance. I am currently Secretary of the Massachusetts Psychological Association and am dedicated to making mental health care accessible, particularly to underserved communities.

I have worked extensively with marginalized populations, particularly first and second-generation immigrants and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. My clinical areas of specialty include trauma and complex posttraumatic stress disorder, dissociation, personality disorders and attachment. My clinical orientation is attached-based, relational and psychodynamic. I also have training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), as I believe it is important to be flexible and integrative when providing clinical care to best meet clients' individual needs.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
  • Couples Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Deborah Cohen, LICSW (She/Her)

Clinical Director & Training Director

I believe that healing takes place within the context of relationships. My approach to therapy is grounded in a social justice framework and is integrative in nature, incorporating relational, psychodynamic and strengths-based perspectives as well as cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions. I am committed to understanding clients within their cultural contexts, and pay close attention to the impact of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion and social class on development and identity.

There are many ways to bring about change, and I work collaboratively with clients to identify the ways that will work best for them. I offer individual therapy to adults across the age span and work with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, struggles with identity and self-esteem, and challenges related to college adjustment and other life transitions.

My particular areas of clinical interest include surviving the trauma of interpersonal, sexual, and/or political violence; negotiating a lesbian/ gay/ bisexual/transgender/queer identity; and the impact of stigma on mental and physical well-being. I also have an extensive background in university mental health and in the training and supervision of psychologists, social workers and mental health counselors.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Chanelle Dow, LMHC (She/Her)

Program Manager & Staff Psychotherapist

My integrative treatment approach is designed to fit my clients’ unique and varying needs. The treatment I provide is culturally-informed and identity-affirming with the intent of building a trusting and open therapeutic relationship. My work is heavily influenced by relational, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral treatment modalities.

I work with adults of all ages and backgrounds to address their presenting symptoms, as well as explore the underlying roots of these symptoms, to provide long-term benefits. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, life and college transitions, identity concerns, and stress related to work and relationships.

I am also experienced in working with culturally diverse and LGBTQ populations. Prior to earning my degree in counseling, I worked with LGBTQ youth and young adults in the Boston community at a nonprofit organization dedicated to health education.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Jennifer Calechman, MA (She/Her)

Intake Coordinator & Administrative Assistant

Jennifer ("Jenny") Calechman holds an M.A. in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University. After working as a clinician in a variety of clinical settings, she transitioned to teaching yoga on a full-time basis. Jenny later became a full-time mother for her two sons, eventually returning to work at Clinical Alliance Services, LLC as our Intake Coordinator in 2019. Jenny is usually a client's first point-of-contact in our practice. She provides clients with warmth and knowledge, as she assists them in navigating insurance benefits and scheduling clinical intakes. She also provides ongoing administrative support to our entire clinical team and is an integral part of ensuring that our day-to-day operations run smoothly.

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Gretchen Davidson, LICSW (She/Her)

Staff Psychotherapist & Curriculum Development Coordinator

My therapy approach is rooted in psychodynamic and relational theories. I also incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and other therapeutic approaches to meet my clients’ unique needs. I believe in each person’s potential for healing and empowerment, informing my approach to building a supportive and open therapeutic relationship. Self-understanding and healing can be facilitated by exploring the varied forces that shape us, including familial, cultural, societal, and historical experiences.

I work with couples, families, and individuals ranging from adolescence through late adulthood. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity issues, and relationship challenges. I have extensive experience supporting young adults, parents, pregnant people and individuals traversing various life transitions.

As a queer clinician, I enjoy working with the LGBTQ community. I strive to be an ally for communities of color and have joined efforts in my community to promote racial justice. I completed the Psychodynamic Couple and Family Institute of New England postgraduate training program and am currently a clinical supervisor at Clinical Alliance Services, LLC.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attached-Based Treatment Approach
  • Couples Therapy
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Somatic-Based Treatment Approach
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Leah Driscoll García, LICSW (She/Her)

Staff Psychotherapist & Training Coordinator

My approach to psychotherapy is integrative, combining elements of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as mindfulness-based techniques and motivational interviewing. My therapeutic style is non-judgmental, respectful, and adaptable. I always strive to create a therapeutic experience that feels relevant and custom-tailored to my clients. I also hold certifications as a Financial Wellness Facilitator and am a Certified Wellness Practitioner with the National Wellness Institute.

I offer psychotherapy services to adults of all ages with a wide range of concerns related to anxiety, depression, trauma, cultural adjustment, social oppression, identity, relationship issues, disordered substance use, body image, life transitions, career / work-related stress, and college transitions.

I have training in the impact of bias and discrimination on mental health and specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ populations and college students, particularly students of color and international students. Additionally, I was a professional musician prior to becoming a social worker and enjoy working with performing artists.

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Lucía Flores, LICSW (They/Them)

Staff Psychotherapist & Supervisor

When you’re struggling, it can be difficult to feel comfortable around others, show compassion for yourself, or let your guard down. Healing can feel impossible and it can be hard to see your own gifts. My goal as a therapist is to collaborate with you to recover those gifts. I use a relational psychodynamic lens to help explore the connection between how you currently move through the world and how you learned how to make sense of the world. I also use somatic therapies like EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to help bring attention to the way the body stores emotions and experiences and release patterns that no longer serve you.

I help clients navigate issues related to mood and anxiety disorders, complex trauma and PTSD, and other major life stressors. I use an anti-oppressive lens and pay close attention to the way cultural and institutional factors impact your health. I believe that therapy is one part of a process toward connection and a sense of belonging with others.

I am first-generation Afro-Dominican, queer and nonbinary. I have worked with clients across the lifespan in both English and Spanish. My style as a therapist is strengths-based and trauma-informed. I welcome all clients, including BIPOC, queer, trans and gender-expansive adults, and look forward to collaborating with you in this part of your journey

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
  • Somatic-Based Treatment Approaches
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Maddie Freeman, LICSW (She/Her)

Staff Psychotherapist

My approach to psychotherapy is integrative and individualized, rooted in psychodynamic and relational approaches, while drawing on other modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness techniques. I identify as an ally to the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities and value working across the spectrums of gender, race, sexuality, and class. I work with adults of all ages and provide individual, couples, and group therapy. My style has been described as warm, empathic, and attuned.

I have experience working with clients across a wide range of life phases, from identity development and college transitions in young adulthood to arriving in older adulthood. I offer treatment for anxiety, depression, relationships, trauma and PTSD, grief and loss, stress, major life transitions, self-esteem, and substance use concerns.

In addition to individual therapy, I specialize in group therapy. I run an interpersonal process group for young adults, and I am working towards my CGP (Certified Group Psychotherapist). Lastly, I am passionate about the arts and can incorporate expressive therapies into our work, when helpful.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Group Therapy
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Leslie Piken, LICSW (She/Her)

Staff Psychotherapist

My treatment approach is integrative and personalized to my clients’ needs, focused on building a foundation of trust. I work with clients to identify underlying roots of problems and elicit existing and new strengths and resources. I prefer a holistic approach to treatment which, while based in a psychodynamic framework, draws from my specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, attachment based, trauma-informed and mindfulness modalities. I work with adults ranging from young adulthood through end of life, using a culturally-sensitive approach.

I treat mood disorders, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, substance use, ADHD and concerns related to identity, sexuality and gender. I specialize in addressing major life changes rooted in trauma, relational loss/distress, grief, career/school transitions, coping with loved ones’ illnesses and surgery/injury recovery. I value working with LGBT and diverse populations.

Much of my work is rooted in addressing the trauma in all of our lives and how it manifests in our bodies, relationships, language and perspectives. Untangling these conflicts enables my clients to live freer, happier lives by identifying untapped sources of joy and releasing unresolved trauma, guilt and shame that may keep them from living their best lives.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Jessie Quintero Johnson, LICSW, PhD (She/Her)

Staff Psychotherapist & Curriculum Development Coordinator

I use a collaborative, relational approach in my work and incorporate trauma-informed cognitive, emotion-focused, behavioral, and mindfulness techniques, as clinically appropriate, to address a variety of mental health concerns. I am committed to understanding and improving mental health for all people, particularly those from marginalized and disenfranchised communities, including racially and ethnically minoritized groups, first-generation college students, immigrants, and people who have experienced serious mental illness. I am also engaged in postgraduate training at the Psychodynamic Couple and Family Institute of New England.

I offer individual and couples therapy to adults and specialize in working with college students to address depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, identity, and life transitions. I work to understand how a person’s culture, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and class influence development, identity, and relationships.

My work as a health communication scholar and university professor during the past two decades has focused on strategies for communicating mental health information to ameliorate stigma. One of my areas of interest is exploring how to help people develop psychological and behavioral resistance to the negative effects of media use on wellbeing.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Couples Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Carolee Rada, PsyD (She/Her)

Staff Psychotherapist

I am committed to helping my clients explore, process, and resolve painful experiences, thoughts, emotions, and patterns that interfere in their quality of life. I have advanced training in various psychotherapy approaches, including psychoanalytic treatment, interpersonal therapy (ITP), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and relational treatment. I also have specialized experience in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). Therapy should be authentic and personalized to meet the person wherever they may be.

I provide psychotherapy to adults and assist them in working through difficult experiences by making positive changes to achieve their goals. I treat a variety of conditions, including PTSD, intergenerational trauma, dissociation, depression, mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, stress, relational concerns, and identity-related issues, including cultural identity.

Having worked in Hawaii, Samoa, Guam, and Philippines, I have experience with a range of diverse cultures and first-hand knowledge of the unique challenges experienced by these populations. I attend to the therapeutic alliance by endeavoring to develop safety and trust in the relationship and by offering an empathetic space to create a healing journey.

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Mica Agate-Mays, LCSW (They/Them)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My therapeutic approach is informed by psychodynamic and relational theories, as well as somatic (body focused) perspectives, narrative techniques, and anti-oppression principles. I seek to draw connections between clients’ histories and their experience as it unfolds in the here-and-now of the therapeutic exchange, all in service of coming into deeper relationship with oneself. My therapeutic style is collaborative, curious, and compassionate with attention to the relationship between us, as individuals, and the systems that impact us.

I offer psychotherapy services to adults of all ages and work with individuals navigating mood and anxiety disorders, trauma (individual, collective, intergenerational, historical), complex PTSD, relationship concerns, grief and loss, spirituality, identity development, neurodivergence, sexuality, and gender.

I enjoy working with people who are exploring their relationship to their bodies, gender, and/or sexuality. I have a particular interest in working with people who have experienced childhood trauma, using the therapeutic relationship as a tool to help clients move towards greater intimacy and connection with their loved ones and communities.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Samira Bell, LCSW (She/Her)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My clinical work is psychodynamically oriented, client-centered, and culturally aware. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Narrative Therapy to inform my work, incorporating psychoeducation, mindfulness, and narrative/storytelling techniques when helpful to my clients. I have trained in community mental health and as a Victim Witness Advocate, and I am currently a postgraduate Fellow at Clinical Alliance Services, LLC.

I offer individual psychotherapy to adults of all ages with a wide range of concerns related to racial identity, anxiety, depression, systemic oppression, trauma, grief, attachment ruptures, and displacement due to war and other atrocities. I particularly enjoy working with adults facing life and/or career changes, as well as with college students.

As a Black woman, third culture individual (TCI/TCK), my work is grounded in the interconnected nature of race, class, gender, and national origin. Guided by a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and liberation health framework, I work alongside and empower my clients. My goal is to hold space for them at the nexus of struggle and growth.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Aishwarya Chitoor, LCSW (She/Her)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My approach to psychotherapy is rooted in psychodynamic and relational theory, cultural awareness, cognitive behavioral techniques, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and neurobehavioral therapeutic approaches. I am dedicated to meeting my clients where they are at and adapting treatment to meet their needs. My therapeutic style is compassionate, relaxed, and empowering. I am currently a postgraduate Social Work Fellow and have worked in a variety of clinical settings, ranging from hospital settings supporting individuals' socio-emotional needs to educational settings supporting individuals' learning needs.

I offer psychotherapy services to adults of all ages, including college-aged adults, and specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, life transitions, relationships, self-esteem and identity issues. I have experience working with refugee populations, as well as survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.

As an Indian-American and immigrant woman, my work is grounded in the intersectionality of gender, racial identity, country of origin, migration, systemic oppression, and sexuality. I enjoy working with individuals across all identities and specialize in working with individuals who hold multiple cultural and/or racial identities.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Molly Cordis, LCSW (She/Her)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My approach to therapy is psychodynamic and relational, focusing on developing insight and connection to understand and change patterns. I also utilize tools and perspectives from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to meet clients where they are and help them progress toward their goals. I have deep respect for the lived experiences and wisdom of each person, understanding that everyone inhabits a world with joys, pain, and sorrows that can be difficult to navigate alone. I believe that relational work can be crucial to both inner and systemic change.

As a postgraduate Social Work Fellow at Clinical Alliance Services, LLC, I work with adults of all ages and from all backgrounds. The clients I work with face issues such as depression and other mood symptoms, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, and grief, as well as concerns related to self-esteem, identity, and relationships.

In addition to my M.S.W. from Smith College, I have an M.Ed. in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am interested in continuing to explore how mental health and relationships are intertwined with issues such as racism, classism, and ableism.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Susannah Jones, LCSW (She/Her)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

Therapy is an opportunity to make meaning of our experiences and achieve agency in the here and now. My goal is to partner and collaborate with my clients in that process. I am deeply interested in how we tell the stories of our lives and use those stories to cope, make sense of reality, and understand ourselves. Grounded in trauma-informed psychodynamic and relational practice, I draw from cognitive behavioral, narrative, and mindfulness therapies, with a particular belief in the importance of the therapeutic relationship.

I provide individual therapy to adults of all ages and backgrounds and specialize in depression, anxiety, grief and bereavement, life transitions and adjustment to new circumstances, gender and sexuality, complex trauma, identity, relationships and substance use.

I have worked in palliative care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where I served on the racial justice committee, the values of which I strive to bring to all of my work. I also have a background as a theater professional and love working with people navigating the nuances, joys, and complexities of creative life.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Kate Powers, LCSW (She/They)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

I believe that the most profound healing happens in connection with others. I utilize a psychodynamic, client-centered approach which prioritizes connecting meaningfully with my clients on their own terms, and allowing my client's needs to drive the direction of therapy. I draw on my training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and family / couples therapy to enrich my work with individuals. I am a postgraduate Fellow at Clinical Alliance Services, LLC and the Psychodynamic Couple & Family Institute of New England.

I offer individual and couples therapy to adults of all ages and identities who have a range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, relationship disruptions, trauma, grief, life transitions, identity and self-esteem. As a former sexual violence advocate and consent educator, I create safe containers for folks to grapple with experiences of sexual trauma.

I have a passion for working with queer clients and clients exploring alternative relationship structures like ethical non-monogamy and polyamory. I am committed to upholding an anti-oppressive and liberation framework in every encounter and feel that it is crucial to understand the role that systemic oppression plays in our lives.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Couples Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Uma Venkatraman, LCSW (She/Her)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My therapeutic orientation is guided by a psychodynamic, relational approach that emphasizes trust-building and collaboration. I draw on a range of modalities to meet my clients’ needs, including narrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral, and motivational interviewing techniques. I believe treatment should be rooted in a client’s strengths and network of relationships. My approach is anchored in Liberation Health with an explicit anti-oppressive, intersectional, feminist lens, including identifying the emotional and somatic impact of systems like capitalism, racism, heterosexism, and classism.

I work with adult clients to navigate relationships, identity, anxiety / mood disorders, interpersonal / systemic trauma, college / life transitions and immigration. I specialize in working with QTBIPOC clients, addressing the intersections of identity (e.g., race, gender, sexuality) and relationship dynamics, including polyamory/consensual non-monogamy.

I have experience in survivor support, peer support, and political education, which inform my approach. My style is warm, transparent, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I also encourage clients to provide me with feedback about our work together.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Alex Watson, LCSW (He/Him)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My therapeutic approach is grounded in psychodynamic and relational theories with a focus on facilitating insight and healing. I seek to understand the heart of one’s challenges and how present struggles are tied to one’s past and current environment, relationships, and identity development. My clinical work is informed by cognitive-behavioral approaches, mindfulness, trauma, Buddhism, social identity, and oppression. My therapeutic style is warm, compassionate, and curious, and I deeply value co-creating a therapeutic space with clients that invites authenticity and vulnerability.

I offer individual psychotherapy to adults of all ages navigating mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, relationship challenges, low self-esteem, grief, spirituality, identity development and life transitions. I also work with clients who would like to improve their general quality of life or explore themes related to meaning, purpose, and transformation.

I have studied Buddhism and psychology over the past decade at UMass Amherst, Harvard University, and Smith College. I have also engaged in intensive Buddhist practice, including a significant number of silent meditation retreats. As a Bi-racial/Black man, I have an interest in exploring and embodying liberating forms of masculinity for Men of Color.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Liberation Health Model
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Barbara Kellman, LICSW, JD (She/Her)

Staff Psychotherapist

As an Advanced Fellow at Clinical Alliance Services, I use psychodynamic, developmental, systems, and relational approaches in my work, incorporating cognitive, behavioral, and mindfulness techniques, as clinically appropriate. By being open to learning about the past and how we evolved, I believe we can find different ways of being in the present that alleviate suffering and support creativity and openness. I try to help clients see and appreciate their own emotions and strengths and to be curious about how they might be stuck or blocked. I strive to help each person seek and support their unique place in the world.

I offer individuals and couples therapy to adults of all ages for depression, anxiety, conflict avoidance, relational difficulties, self-esteem, and life transitions and adjustments. I am curious about what motivates us and how/why we are driven to move in specific directions in our lives. I appreciate the amazing variety in how individuals grow and develop.

I trained at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute and the Psychodynamic Couple & Family Institute of New England. I worked for decades as a lawyer and divorce mediator in my earlier career, counseling individuals, couples and institutions on their rights and responsibilities and helping them identify arrays of possible solutions for their problems.

I incorporate the following treatment approaches in my work:

  • Attachment-Based Treatment Approach
  • Couples Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Feminist Treatment Approaches
  • Mindfulness-Based Treatment
  • Multicultural Treatment Approaches
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Cultural Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches

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Chloe Cohen, MA (She/Her)

Staff Psychotherapist & Testing Program Coordinator

We all, at times, encounter periods of pain or discomfort related to our relationships, work, responsibilities, or sense of self. It takes courage, trust, and a certain amount of hope to reach out for help. My approach to therapy is rooted in psychodynamic theory. I take seriously the task of understanding the unique narrative of your life, carefully listening to and reflecting on your experiences to unravel how they've sculpted you into the person you are today. Together, we will work to understand your mind, enabling us to confront the challenges and conflicts you face with newfound clarity and strength.

I work with individuals across all life stages, providing support for depression, anxiety, trauma, identity exploration, life transitions, psychosis, and relationship dynamics. I also offer psychological assessments to clarify diagnostic questions and help guide existing therapeutic treatments toward self-understanding, connection, and growth.

I have advanced expertise in psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychological evaluation, honed through my training at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School. I also have experience working as a therapy and testing consultant and have worked extensively with LGBTQIA+ populations in individual, group, and community-based contexts.

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Dylan Fox, LMHC (He/Him)

Staff Psychotherapist

I practice from a relational psychodynamic orientation and integrate aspects of cognitive behavioral and narrative psychotherapy in my approach. This means that our work together will consist of identifying the patterns in how you relate to other people and to yourself and working to change those patterns, allowing for more fulfilling interpersonal relationships and a discarding of unhelpful ways of being. I am committed to understanding the dynamics of power and oppression and the ways I can help to undermine and process them in the context of our work.
I work with a wide range of adults across the lifespan experiencing varied psychological needs, including anxiety, mood disorders/depression, life transition, college adjustment, trauma, Complex PTSD, and issues related to gender, sexuality, and spirituality. I enjoy and have specialized experience working with LGBTQ+ clients.
I have worked with clients of myriad identities across various settings, including community mental health, college counseling, and residential treatment settings. While our work is individual in nature, I explicitly address issues of marginalization, oppression, and discrimination, as these are significant determinants of psychological and physical health.

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Vanshika Jain, MA (She/Her)

Advanced Postgraduate Mental Health Counseling Fellow

Life’s challenges can often trigger complex emotions. Despite our best coping mechanisms, it can be overwhelming to understand what we are feeling and why. In therapy, I have a collaborative approach where I believe that you are the expert of your own experiences. Acting as a mirror, I provide a safe space where you can reflect upon your thoughts, emotions, and behavior patterns. Through this process, my goal is to increase your self-compassion, resilience, and self-awareness so you can tap into your innate strengths and wisdom.

I have extensive experience working with diverse populations across Eastern & Western cultures, specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, relationships, and trauma to life transitions, adjustment, attachment and body image concerns. I thrive in supporting youth/college students, and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and nationalities.

Rooted in the idea of social justice and advocacy, I recognize the cultural limitations inherent in every therapeutic approach and use a comprehensive range of treatment modalities. In my sessions, I will ensure that your therapy is tailored to honor your individuality which respects and celebrates your diverse backgrounds and experiences.

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Kathryn DeSimone, LCSW (She/Her)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My therapeutic practice is rooted in relational psychodynamic theory, trauma-informed approaches, and mindfulness-based interventions, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I foster a collaborative approach with clients anchored in anti-oppressive practice, using warmth and curiosity to co-construct a supportive environment to explore therapeutic goals and lived experiences. I have worked with clients in a variety of settings including college mental health, outpatient hospital clinics, and community-based organizations.

I provide psychotherapy to adults of all ages and specialize in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief and loss, identity exploration, somatic/body-mind symptoms, relationship issues, and college transitions. I also have experience working with first generation and international college students.

I completed a postgraduate fellowship in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Cambridge Health Alliance, and have engaged in graduate and postgraduate research on topics including attachment, decolonizing social work, and immigrant experiences within mental health systems. I am an artist and enjoy working with those interested in creative practices.

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Marianne Potvin, LCSW, PhD (She/They)

Advanced Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My approach to psychotherapy is integrative and collaborative. I draw on a range of modalities, including psychodynamic, relational, and attachment theories, as well as dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and narrative therapy, to meet my clients’ unique needs and experiences. My commitment to anti-oppressive, liberatory, and feminist principles means that I pay close attention to how systems and cultures shape us. I seek to foster a warm and transparent therapeutic environment that is welcoming of clients’ authentic voices.

I offer individual psychotherapy to adults navigating anxiety, depression, work stress, life transitions, grief, relational ruptures, and individual or collective trauma, as well as cross-cultural and belonging issues. As a Third Culture Individual (TCK) I enjoy working with first /second generation immigrants, expatriates, and international students.

I have worked in various settings including hospitals, universities, and international humanitarian NGOs in North America, West Africa, the Middle-East, and Central Asia, moving between resourced and under-resourced environments. I studied at Université de Montréal (MArch), Harvard University (MDes, PhD), Smith School for Social Work (MSW), and UPenn.

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Tanner Hammon, MSW, PhD (He/Him)

Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My approach to psychotherapy is person-centered, tailoring the therapy to the unique needs and lived experiences of each client. I draw primarily from psychodynamic therapies, with attention to the neurobiology of trauma and attachment. I also integrate narrative practices to help clients reauthor the stories they tell about their lives, and cognitive-behavioral practices to help transform insight into strategies for change. My style is authentic, non-judgmental, and warm, and I work with clients to enrich therapy with diverse sources of meaning-making, including art, music, film, literature, and world philosophies.

I offer individual therapy to adults of any age to address a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, self-esteem, relationship issues, life transitions, and existential and spiritual issues related to personal values and fulfillment. I also work with clients to address issues related to culture, race, sexuality, gender, and class.

In addition to my clinical training, I hold a PhD in philosophy and have a background as a college educator in ethics and social issues. I have a passion for helping clients as they navigate questions related to life meaning, personal identity, and social connectedness, and I aim to empower clients to explore new perspectives about themselves and the world.

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Sameea Kazmi, MSW, JD (She/Her)

Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My goal is to establish a collaborative and trusting relationship with clients that fosters a safe space for them to explore their emotions and experiences. I am committed to using a flexible client-centered and culturally aware treatment approach that is tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. My approach to psychotherapy is based in psychodynamics and relational theory and incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based interventions. My trauma-informed therapeutic style is nonjudgmental, empathic, empowering, and warm.

I offer psychotherapy to adults of all ages and specialize in treating mood disorders/depression, anxiety, trauma, grief/loss, relational issues, life transitions, work stress, college adjustment, and cultural adjustment. Using evidenced-based interventions, I help guide my clients towards achieving greater emotional well-being and improved quality of life.

As a first-generation daughter of immigrants, I have a passion for working with diverse clients who are navigating acculturation-related stress and systemic oppression. Prior to obtaining my MSW from Boston College School of Social Work, I practiced law for many years advocating for low-income individuals and families.

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Ashley Logan (She/Her)

Postgraduate Social Work Fellow

My therapeutic orientation is guided by psychodynamic, humanistic, and relational approaches, and founded on a strengths-based model, which emphasizes that each person is the expert of their own story. My style is compassionate, empowering, and accessible, and I focus on meeting people where they are. I draw on a range of modalities including narrative therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Liberation Health, and motivational interviewing. My clinical approach is trauma-informed and collaborative, with a queer, feminist, and anti-oppressive lens.

I have worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, crisis centers, schools and colleges. I provide psychotherapy to adults of all ages and backgrounds, specializing in anxiety, depression, PTSD, identity, life transitions, relationships, gender and sexuality, and the survival of domestic and or sexual violence.

I worked for five years at a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) clinic with individuals experiencing severe, medication-resistant depression, advocating for clients’ needs. My identities and experiences working in a variety of clinical settings have strengthened my passion for working with queer and BIPOC individuals to support healing, growth, and joy.

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Lydia Li, MA (She/Her)

Postgraduate Mental Health Counseling Fellow

Engaging in therapeutic modalities informed by psychodynamic, relational, and attachment-based frameworks, I believe profound changes occur in the context of relationships. I also incorporate strength-based approaches, person-centered therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, motivational interviewing (MI), and Relational Cultural Therapy (RCT) in my clinical practice. Deeply committed to providing culturally informed care, I am dedicated to recognizing the complexity and richness of each client’s cultural identity.

I offer psychotherapy to adults across the lifespan and work with clients experiencing mood disorders, depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship difficulties, trauma/PTSD, disordered eating, substance use, and college adjustment. I work with clients across all identities and particularly enjoy working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

I have experience working in college counseling and substance use settings as well as conducting psychopharmacological research. Prior to attaining my graduate degree in mental health counseling, my academic pursuits were in philosophy, which shaped my belief that psychotherapy is carried out in the service of living a flourishing life.

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Jack Burke, MA (He/Him)

Predoctoral Psychology Fellow

I utilize a psychodynamic (insight oriented) approach, integrating relational therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and trauma informed treatments. I also employ tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mentalization Based Therapy, when clinically appropriate. I strongly believe that our identities and backgrounds, including our culture, sexual orientation, and gender identity, play a large role in our development and identity formation. I value clinical relationships built on trust and aim to foster a safe and judgement-free space that helps my clients gain insight into their feelings, thoughts, and patterns of behavior.

I work with emerging adults, college students, and adults dealing with identity challenges, major life transitions, depression / mood disorders, anxiety, trauma / PTSD, grief, and college adjustment concerns. As a gay man, I am passionate about working with clients from historically marginalized communities, including the LGBTQIA+ population.

I conduct research in the Race and Gender Justice Lab of William James College and have co-published research on the experience of transgender youth seeking gender affirmations, as well as on gender and orientation diversity, in the court systems. I am currently the President Elect of the Graduate Student Board of Society for Personality Assessment.

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Alyssa Christopher (They/She)

Predoctoral Psychology Fellow

My therapeutic orientation is grounded in principles from Liberation psychology, Black/African-centered psychology, mad pride, and disability justice. I work with clients to explore their lived experiences and emotions in the context of intersecting systems of power, privilege, and oppression. I also collaborate with clients in exploring alternative models of understanding psychiatric disabilities outside of pathologization and the medical model of health and wellness. I aim to co-create a therapeutic space that prioritizes transparency, agency, authenticity, understanding, and connection.

I walk alongside clients in navigating trauma and complex PTSD, mood and anxiety-based concerns, identity development (racial, gender, sexuality, disability), grief and loss, interpersonal and relationship-based issues, major life transitions and stressors, and experiences of oppression (institutional, internalized, interpersonal, ideological).

I enjoy working with multiply marginalized clients, especially those at the intersection of the Black/African diaspora, queer/trans, and disabled/neurodivergent communities. I am a Black/biracial, disabled, queer, genderfluid person, and am committed to interrupting carceral, pathologizing, queer-/transphobic, and racist practices in psychological spaces.

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Kelsey Kehoe, MA (They/Them)

Predoctoral Psychology Fellow

My therapeutic approach is grounded in psychodynamic and relational theories while integrating principles from liberation and feminist psychologies and emotion-focused, mindfulness, and acceptance-based interventions. I seek to understand how clients view themselves in relation to their social and cultural contexts.  I strive to co-create an affirming and authentic space with clients by meeting them where they are at and seeking to understand what healing looks like for them at this point in their lives.

I offer individual therapy to adults of all ages who are navigating a variety of challenges, including mood and anxiety disorders, trauma and PTSD, grief, relationship concerns, sexual and gender identity development, life transitions, and college adjustment. I enjoy working with clients of all identities and backgrounds.

I have experience working in both community-based and university counseling centers. In addition to clinical work, I engage in research exploring various LGBTQ+ topics, including trans identity development. My research, clinical work, and lived experience as a queer, trans nonbinary person inform the authentic healing space I seek to create with clients.

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Kurt Loiseau, M.A. (He/Him)

Predoctoral Psychology Fellow

My therapeutic approach is grounded in psychodynamic, relational cultural, and cognitive-behavioral theories. My therapeutic style is collaborative and transparent in nature, as I aim to be aligned with my clients’ treatment goals and clear in the direction of our sessions. Additionally, I aim to meet my clients where they are and utilize the relevant skills to meet my clients’ needs. My therapeutic style is rooted in curiosity and viewing the client holistically.  I have had extensive training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches and am able to apply practical, short-term skills when clinically appropriate.

I offer therapeutic services to adults of all ages, including clients navigating mood disorders/ depression, anxiety, relational difficulties, trauma, grief, life transition, identity concerns, and college adjustment.  Additionally, I have experience working with clients in exploring racial/gender identity development and spirituality.

A large part of my work is in research on the gendered and racial experiences of men of color.  As a Haitian-Romanian man, I have appreciated learning about liberation-minded theories and enjoy applying these theories and processes into the therapeutic space, when relevant.

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Dhruv Raman, EdM, CMPC (He/Him)

Predoctoral Psychology Fellow

I adapt my treatment approach to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. I centre interpersonal relationships and my clients’ individual strengths, using their agency to guide the therapeutic process. I focus on identifying individual patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, including how these develop through interactions with others and the environment. I also support clients in exploring their identity and the ways in which the systems around them impact their experience. I support clients in identifying how they want to interact with these systems and working towards these changes.

I provide individual therapy to individuals across adulthood and work with clients to address challenges in interpersonal relationships, mood disorders / depression, anxiety disorders, identity issues, trauma / PTSD, life transitions and college transitions.

I have worked extensively with college students treating a wide variety of issues and concerns. In addition, as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), I specialized experience working student-athletes interested in optimizing their well-being and performance.

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Ana Fernandez, PhD (She/Her)

Clinical Consultant & Supervisor

I am a licensed psychologist, with a private practice in Cambridge. I obtained my PhD at Long Island University, in Brooklyn NY, and have worked in various types of settings, including hospitals, community mental health centers, a university counseling center, and eating disorder treatment center. I currently provide individual therapy to adults struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, complex trauma, and acculturation/identity issues. Being bilingual (English-Spanish) and bicultural myself, I have a special interest in the experiences and needs of multicultural clients. My orientation as a therapist/clinical supervisor is primarily psychodynamic and trauma-informed, which I integrate with Feminist, family systems, and Health at Every Size (HAES) perspectives, as well as approaches from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

I believe in the power of relationships. We show ourselves, and become ourselves, through our relationships with others. I tailor my therapeutic approach to meet the needs and goals of each client, seeking to provide a safe space for collaborative exploration of thoughts and feelings, including those that may have been pushed aside. By working together to give voice to desires and fears, and to develop non-judgmental awareness of inner conflicts, clients can learn how to give themselves what they need and build resilience.

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Xiaolu Hsi, PhD

Clinical Consultant & Supervisor

I am a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. I have been on staff at the MIT Student Mental Health and Counseling Service since 2003 and am also in private practice. I have been supervising Harvard Medical School APA interns and post-docs since 1997, previously at Cambridge Health Alliance, where I co-founded the Asian Clinic, and currently at the Mass Mental Health Center (MMHC)/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). I integrate psychodynamic theories of objection relations, self-psychology, attachment and acculturation in globalization era in my dual specialty practice in psychodynamic psychotherapy and clinical neuropsychology (specializing in ADHD) with adolescents and adult populations individually and in groups. I am originally from China and am a faculty and board member of the China American Psychoanalytic Alliance (CAPA).

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Sejal Patel, PsyD, ABPP, CGP (She/Her)

Clinical Consultant & Supervisor

I am a former staff psychologist and group coordinator at Mental Health & Counseling at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where I worked for seven years. I am a faculty member at the Psychodynamic Couples and Family Institute of New England, former faculty at the Couples Conference, supervisor for doctoral students at Clinical Alliance Services, and an adjunct professor at Harvard School of Graduate Education and Boston University’s PhD. program in Counseling Psychology. I am also a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant with VISIONS, Inc.

I received my bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in cultural anthropology (with a focus on South Asian Diaspora studies) and psychology. I received my masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Denver, where the bulk of my training focused on the treatment of couples. I wrote my dissertation on applying self-psychology to masculine gender role stress and implications for couples therapy—or in plain terms, how to work effectively with male partners who struggle to be vulnerable, name internal experiences, and participate in couples therapy due to gender role stress and socialization.

I have a developed a specialty integrating my DEI and cultural anthropology knowledge into my work with couples, specifically interracial and intercultural couples, and I frequently present and teach on this topic. I also enjoyed reviewing books and have published pieces in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, and GROUP: Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society.

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