Noel Federle, M.A., NCC, LPC is a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 30 years of clinical experience.  She is the co-founder and owner of the Behavioral Health Center for Counseling & Learning, LLC.  Ms. Federle is also the co-founder for S.M.A.R.T., Inc. (Southbury & Middlebury Acting Responsibly Together), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening individuals, families, and communities by making the towns healthier and safer for young people by preventing youth substance abuse and promoting positive decision making.

Throughout her career Ms. Federle has had extensive experience working with children traumatized by abuse and neglect, attachment and relational difficulties, and issues that present during adolescence.  Ms. Federle specializes in the assessment and treatment of Anxiety Disorders, Trauma, Mood Disorders, Substance Abuse Disorders, Personality Disorders, Attention Deficit Disorders, Sensory Integration Disorder, and Attachment and Relationship disorders.  Ms. Federle provides individual, couples, family and group counseling services.   Ms. Federle is certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy for the treatment of adults suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Additionally, Ms. Federle is a trained divorce mediator and works either therapeutically with the children of separation/divorce or with the parents to develop healthy, appropriate, parenting plans.

Ms. Federle’s background includes the development, implementation, and oversight of several different community-based living programs that serviced children and adults.  She has held several top management positions, including being the Clinical Director of a non-profit community-based agency.  Ms. Federle is well-respected for her clinical expertise and collaborative work within the community and with various other community providers such as medical providers, school systems, Department of Children and Families, family and criminal attorneys, and the family relations offices through the court system.  Ms. Federle provides trainings and workshops to foster and adoptive parents, as well as local non-profit agencies on a variety of child and family-based topics.

Ms. Federle has held professional memberships with National Board of Certified Counselors, Connecticut Counseling Association and National Association of Professional Women.

 Middlebury and Shelton Locations

Dr. David Suscovich, LMFT, Psy.D has a doctorate in clinical psychology with a specialty in child psychology and neuropsychological assessment and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and has practiced in Connecticut for over the past 37 years.

For the past 15 years, he has been a Clinical Consultant to Connecticut Educational Services (CES), a private clinic that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of attention, behavior, and learning disorders. Dr. Suscovich has been trained in Neuro-Feedback Training (NFT) and works with parents and teachers to understand the relationship between brain functioning and behaviors.

Along with his interest in the assessment of brain-behavior relationships, Dr. Suscovich has conducted research in the effects of long-tern stress on brain development, learning, and executive functions of the brain in children. His research has suggested that long-term family stress may result in delays in brain development in the areas of organization and planning abilities, short-term working memory, attention-concentration, and controlling impulsive behaviors in children diagnosed as conduct disordered and oppositional defiant disorder. These delays are often present with impaired language abilities and a history of poor learning performance.

Dr. Suscovich has been a Clinical Instructor at the Yale University School of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry and an Adjunct Professor in the Marriage and Family Training Program of Central Connecticut State University. 

Throughout his career he has been contracted as the mental health consultant to The Children’s Therapy Center and Kangaroo Korner’s pre-school program for children with sensory-integration problems. He was the research Coordinator for the Case Specific Team grant funded by the CT Health Foundation for the Family Focused Partnership (the Waterbury area Systems of Care for children’s mental health). He is the author of a variety of research publications and previous co-host of “Grasp the Facts”, a television program for educating parents about children’s mental health issues for three years. He provides parenting workshops, training for educational personnel and organizational consultation for a variety of not-for-profit and government organizations.

Middlebury Location

Cynthia Lipeika, M.Ed., LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 27 years of experience working with clients that span children through geriatric populations.  Ms. Lipeika specializes in working with individuals, couples and families dealing with relational issues such as, marital, family conflict, parenting, divorce, life stage transitions, peer relationships and bereavement and grief. Additional areas of specialty include: Self-Esteem, Trauma, Anxiety and Mood dysregulation.

Ms. Lipeika’s approach to therapy is eclectic as she utilizes family/marital, cognitive behavioral therapy, internal family systems and humanistic strategies. As a retired educator, experience has taught Ms. Lipeika that for many problems there are multiple ways to find solutions. Therefore, Ms. Lipeika works collaboratively with each client (family) believing that each possess strengths and skills needed to overcome their challenges. Ms. Lipeika holds professional memberships with AAMFT and CMFT.

Middlebury Location

T. Lynn Krawczyk, M.S., LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 22 years of clinical experience. Ms. Krawczyk’s areas of specialty include: Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Mood Disorders, ADHD, Couples/Marital, Family, Anger Management, Phobias, and Personality Disorders.

Ms. Krawczyk has worked in the clinical field in various capacities helping children, adolescents, adults, couples and families in distress. She engages with clients using various therapeutic modalities (CBT, ERP, Mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, Solution Focused) to help them reach a healthier state of mind no matter the diagnosis.

Ms. Krawczyk is a school counselor with 15 years’ experience and has also worked in private practice since 2000. She has managed supervised visitation programs, worked as a domestic violence counselor and was a Clinical Coordinator for a non-profit company specializing in therapeutic foster families. She has extensive experience providing case management, counseling, and child advocacy within various settings.

Middlebury Location

Susan Hayward, LMFT, M.A., M.S. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 27 years of clinical experience. Ms. Hayward specializes in the treatment of Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Stress Management, Marital challenges, Divorce, Substance Use Disorders, Phobias, OCD, Schizophrenia, Grief and Loss. Her therapeutic services include working with individuals, couples and family systems. Ms. Hayward utilizes the therapeutic interventions and strategies of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT, Mindfulness, and Gerontology.

Ms. Hayward’s past work experience was in a hospital setting for more than 20 years. Her career in this setting has given her extensive experience in the myriad of mental health issues and an excellent foundation to help guide anyone through all of life’s challenges. Ms. Hayward is a member of AAMFT.

Telehealth only

Liam Doyle, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a range of experience working with individuals, families, and groups, across a variety of settings. Mr. Doyle works with adolescents and adults, and has experience with trauma, mood disorders, personality disorders, and substance misuse issues, along with many other treatment issues.  He approaches clinical treatment from a strength-based perspective, working with clients on developing their areas of strength and identifying where changes can be made to help better their life. Mr. Doyle is intensively trained in DBT (Dialectical behavior therapy), integrating mindfulness and change & acceptance practices into his work. He also utilizes CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), psychoeducation and psychodrama tools to best support his clients. 

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Shelton Location

Amber has experience working with children of all ages, teens, young adults, adults, couples and families in clinical, home and school settings.  She offers support for symptoms related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, grief, poor communication, teen social issues, self-esteem, sibling conflict, parenting and co-parenting support, OCD, selective mutism, marriage difficulties and more.  Amber believes that good therapy happens via good relationships; ones that are based on respect, safety, acceptance and connection.  She also believes that therapy doesn’t have to be a slog!  We can have some fun as we work together to understand what’s not working for you and figure out other ways to manage the difficult parts of life.  The keys to finding happiness are information, balance, patience and bravery. 

Amber is a 2005 graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, with a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy and School Counseling.  In 2000 she earned a Bachelor of Individualized Studies from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, with a focus on Child Psychology, Spanish and Family and Community Education.  Amber is also a certified Bilingual Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) provider, a Registered Facilitator for Circle of Security Parenting and is a Tobacco Treatment Specialist.  

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Shelton Location

Nathalie Solius, NCC, LPC, is a Nationally Certified, Licensed Professional Counselor with 9 years of diverse, client-centered experience in the field of mental and behavioral health. She is fluent in English and Haitian Creole and has worked in a variety of mental health settings over the years including psychiatric hospitals, crisis shelters, in- home crisis programs and outpatient clinical settings. These experiences have afforded Ms. Solius the ability to gain a great deal of experience and knowledge to analyze issues from multiple perspectives. 

Ms. Solius specializes in working with adolescents, individuals and couples. She is experienced in a range of treatment areas such as relationship issues, life transitions, trauma, anxiety, depression, self-confidence and domestic violence counseling.

Her approach to therapy is strengths-based and person centered, using an integrated model to identify the best treatment path for each client. Ms. Solius believes that using a collaborative, empathetic style can help empower clients to take an active approach to achieving their goals.

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Shelton Location

Bruce Nyfield, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who earned his Ph.D. from St. John's University and has more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field. Dr. Nyfield has worked with age groups across the lifespan, in a variety of different treatment settings including outpatient clinics, adolescent residential treatment centers, and private practice. Dr. Nyfield has done extensive work with individuals, groups, couples, and family structures, but his most recent clinical focus has been in working with individuals from early adolescence through adulthood. The treatment areas he specializes in include depression, anxiety, social anxiety, interpersonal and relationship difficulties, self-esteem issues, current and/or past history of physical/emotional abuse, and behavioral/disruptive disorders of adolescence. He also has experience working with high school and college athletes for the purpose of improving sports performance. Dr. Nyfield's overall treatment philosophy emphasizes the importance of empathy, trust, and respect, and focuses on the need to recognize client strengths and not only areas of emotional distress. He also places great value on the importance of carving out space in therapy for appropriate moments of laughter and levity. Dr. Nyfield primarily works from a humanistic and psychodynamic orientation, but utilizes a variety of different treatment methods based on the clinical struggles and needs of the individual, group, or family.

Shelton Location

John Dixon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience providing, designing, and implementing mental health support services for individuals, groups, and communities. Mr. Dixon graduated from the University of Hartford with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and then obtained a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Connecticut. In addition to holding a Connecticut license, he is also independently licensed to practice in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

Mr. Dixon is skilled at, and very much enjoys, working with people across the lifespan through individual, couples, and group counseling. His areas of clinical expertise include treating anxiety, depression, trauma, men’s issues, anger management, interpersonal conflict, personality disorders, court-involved services, and work-life balance challenges. Mr. Dixon uses collaborative, person-centered, strength-based, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioral approaches – tailoring interventions to what works best for each client. He also possesses a unique knowledge of Connecticut-state specific resources, having worked for state and community-based agencies in direct care, consulting, administrative, and leadership roles. He has facilitated reform efforts in troubled mental health agencies and juvenile justice systems, leading to better outcomes for individuals and families served.  

Mr. Dixon recognizes that the client-therapist relationship is the most important aspect of successful treatment, and is thoughtful in creating a safe and trusting space where clients can engage openly and with relative ease. Principles of empathy, compassion and kindness are core components of his practice and integrated into all of his work. 

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Shelton Location

Christine Florio, LMSW, LPC, LADC is a social worker, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over 16 years post Master’s degree experience. Ms. Florio has experience treating clients of a wide range of ages, from pre-teen to geriatrics. Her specialty areas include anxiety and depression, post traumatic stress disorders, bipolar disorders, severe mental illness, co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders, and coping with chronic illness and grief.

Ms. Florio’s most recent endeavor was working as a Program Director of a Behavioral Health Clinic providing treatment to adult clients with a wide range of mental health and addiction disorders, including opioid dependence, alcohol dependence, overdose, and relapse prevention.

Previously, Ms. Florio was a private therapist for over 6 years serving multiple populations with various psychiatric, addiction, and chronic medical disorders. 

She has 5 years prior experience in the assessment of child abuse and neglect, working with children and families, treating geriatric populations, and children with developmental disabilities.

Ms. Florio is an advocate of stress management and self care. She has written and presented on this topic to large audiences of clinicians and caregivers.

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Middlebury Location

Christine Pond, LPC is Licensed Professional Counselor with a passion to empower people to create

positive change in their lives. She came to the counseling field after 31 years of corporate experience

where she led cross-organizational teams, mentored and coached employees, and created career

development programs. Christine has extensive experience in problem solving, goal setting, conflict

resolution, mindfulness, and career planning.

Ms. Pond has worked with various populations ranging from children as young as 7 years old through

adulthood. The focus of her clinical work has been primarily working with children and adolescents in

group and individual sessions focusing on behavioral issues and psychiatric issues to enable clients to

progress in their educational, social, and family environments and meet their individual goals.

Christine uses empathetic understanding and active listening to get a holistic picture of the client’s

journey and goals. With an accepting approach, she guides clients to discover their internal resources

and personal power to achieve their objectives. She is adept at analyzing a situation and helping clients

gain perspective about their behavior patterns and how those influence outcomes. She challenges

clients to examine and question their negative thought processes (cognitive distortions) that may be

holding them back. Christine works collaboratively with clients to create a roadmap that puts them in

the driver seat of their own life.

Christine earned her MS in Human Services Clinical Counseling as well as her Graduate Certificate in

Professional Counseling from Post University. 

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Middlebury Location

Stacey Martwinski-Nardozzi, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience in a variety of areas.

Mrs. Martwinski-Nardozzi’s variety sized background leads her to an eclectic approach to therapy. She has worked with children/families for her entire career and works intensely with anxiety, school based behaviors/challenges, family systems, ADHD, self-esteem, eating disorders, grief, crisis and trauma.

Mrs. Martwinski-Nardozzi has worked with a number of local agencies and has found her passion in the public school system where she has worked full time since 2013. She has also worked part-time in a private practice for over 7 years and was excited to become part of the BHC team in 2020.

The eclectic approach to therapy that she uses includes: CBT, DBT, solution focused, strength based perspective, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and Animal Assisted Therapy.

Mrs. Martwinski-Nardozzi has a love of all animals and her own service dogs that help her through life. She believes in the power of the human and animal connection and looks forward to learning about your pets (past, present, future) and how they can support you at home on our therapeutic journey together.

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Telehealth only

Christine Gonzalez, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has three years of post-graduate experience that includes In Home Therapy, Outpatient Therapy, as well as Mobile Crisis Intervention. She has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She also worked collaboratively with schools to ensure her clients are receiving the best care possible. Her areas of specialty include depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, trauma, self-esteem, attention disorders, relationship issues, abuse, neglect, and oppositional/defiant behaviors. Christine believes that creating a foundation of respect and trust is the key to a successful therapeutic relationship and works to help clients utilize and/or develop the skills necessary to lead a healthy and successful life. Christine received her degree in Mental Health Counseling, as well as Marriage and Family Therapy from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in MA. She would be able to incorporate Christian counseling if requested. 

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Middlebury and Shelton Locations

Susan Ericson, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 18 years of experience working with clients in every age group and in different levels of care. 

 Ms. Ericson has most recently been working with adults and specializes in the treatment of Depression and Anxiety. Other areas of expertise include couples’ counseling,  Bipolar Disorder, Panic Attacks, negative thinking, low self-esteem, assertiveness skills, life transitions and relationship issues. 

Ms. Ericson is recognized for her open, honest and down-to-earth therapeutic style and she utilizes a variety of techniques to help her clients reach their goals,  

including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT Therapy including Mindfulness Skills and Positive Psychology. Ms. Ericson likes to tailor her therapy approach and techniques to each individual client’s needs and preferences and tries to involve her clients as much as possible in their own treatment. Ms. Ericson’s goal is to help her clients recognize their strengths and build their self-confidence and self-determination. 

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Middlebury Location

Danielle Estrella, LPC ATR is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist with professional experience across levels of care in the mental health field. Ms. Estrella specializes in working with children, adolescents, families, and young adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma histories, interpersonal relational difficulties, and life transitions. She also has experience conducting high risk assessments and group therapy. Ms. Estrella utilizes techniques from modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma-Focused CBT. Before joining the BHC team, Ms. Estrella has done work in group private practice and intensive in-home therapy, working with children and adolescents at risk of hospitalization in close collaboration with their school environments and communities. Ms. Estrella utilizes a strength-based approach, and brings a unique skill set with her training in using art therapy directives in session with clients.

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Shelton Location

Francisca Ervin-Campbell, M.A., M.S., NCC, LPC is a Nationally Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor with 20 years of clinical experience.  In the past, Ms. Ervin-Campbell has worked with individuals struggling with Opioid Use Disorder receiving Medication Assisted Treatments.  Throughout Ms. Ervin-Campbell’s career, she has worked with adolescents and adults across a variety of settings, focusing on adult behavioral health issues. She has experience working within the judicial system, with those struggling with significant mental health and co-occurring disorders, along with those seeking personal growth and change.  She specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, mood disorders, attachment and relationship disorders and in strengthening spirituality.  Ms. Ervin-Campbell’s therapeutic approach includes, but is not limited to, the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing and mindfulness, all with an existential twist- meaningfulness.  She currently provides virtual individual, group and couples counseling services.  Ms. Ervin-Campbell is an advocate for recognition/appreciation of social diversity/justice. 

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Telehealth only

Christina Giacobbe, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of

experience. Ms. Giacobbe has significant experience in the areas of domestic violence,

sexual assault, inter-relational violence, and dyadic developmental approaches to these

types of traumas. She is well versed in step and blended family issues inclusive of, but not

limited to, co-parent therapy, family/ inter-relational conflict, and divorce support. Ms.

Giacobbe has worked in homes, schools, intensive outpatient programs and various other

outpatient settings, as well as facilitated an array of different groups. She specializes in

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Stress and Crisis Management, Life Coaching, Motivational

Interviewing, Attachment Based Therapy, and Practical Problem Solving. Ms Giacobbe’s

approach to treatment is structurally, strategically, and systemically driven- strength based,

short term, and solution focused- and she works to help clients find and capitalize on their

internal strengths to reach their highest potential. In addition to her role at BHC, Ms.

Giacobbe is also an off-site Clinical Supervisor for Sacred Heart University’s School of

Social Work.

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Shelton Location

Sara Elkins, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who is

dedicated to supporting individuals, couples and families. Specializing in couples

counseling, Ms. Elkins is in the process of becoming a Gottman-Certified couples

therapist. She has experience supporting families with young children, individuals

struggling with mood disorders and anxiety, and those who are moving through

life transitions. She has provided therapy across in-home, inpatient, and

outpatient settings with clients of all ages. Ms. Elkins has extensive experience

working with clients with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and before

entering the clinical field of Marriage and Family Therapy, she was an Early

Childhood Special Educator working in a culturally diverse school setting. She

has now taken her individualized and strength-based approach from the

classroom into the therapy room.

Ms. Elkins believes in meeting clients where they are at and views her

clients as unique and capable beings. Her approach to therapy is integrative and

systemic. As a relational therapist, she believes that humans do not live in

isolated “vacuums” and instead views humans and their struggles as being part

of a larger system. Ms. Elkins believes that a holistic approach is the key to

lasting change. She utilizes Bowenian Family Therapy, Narrative Therapy,

Emotionally Focused Therapy and Structural Family Therapy in her work with

clients. Her highest priority is building a strong therapeutic alliance with each and

every client that walks into her office.

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Shelton Location

John Terry Dukes, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 35+ years of experience in clinical inpatient and outpatient settings. Mr. Dukes specializes in marital counseling, child focused family conflict, substance abuse, PTSD, and anxiety and depressive disorders.  Supplementing his master’s degree, he attended two additional educational institutes-  he studied additional marriage and family skills at The Center for Family Learning in New York, which is internationally recognized for postgraduate education of mental health professionals and clinical research in family systems psychiatry. At Coach University Mr. Dukes strengthened his knowledge of life and business strategies as he participated in a research-based program of professional learning, designed to develop strong instructional leaders.  Mr. Dukes uses an eclectic approach that includes DBT(Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and Family Systems, where all family members are responsible for their struggles/successes.

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Middlebury and Shelton Locations

Christine Zangrillo, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for helping people reach their full potential. Ms. Zangrillo values a holistic approach to treatment, recognizing how the mind and body influence each other. She is also a certified personal trainer and has worked with clients of all ages on the autism spectrum. Ms. Zangrillo has a great deal of experience working as a multi-systemic clinician which allows her to assess the full context of a situation to identify all possible areas for intervention, as well as opportunities for growth. She utilizes techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Multisystemic Therapy for Building Stronger Families, and mindfulness to treat anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation and stress management, low self-esteem, interpersonal relationship challenges, family conflict, parenting challenges, substance abuse, and trauma/PTSD. She provides individual, family, and couples counseling. Ms. Zangrillo values a strength focused approach and encourages clients to identify and utilize their strengths to sustain progress made during treatment. She is recognized for her active listening skills and empathetic approach, allowing clients to freely explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe, non-judgmental space.

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Shelton Location

Alison Glass, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 10 years of experience providing exceptional clinical care in a variety of settings. Ms. Glass has extensive experience working with adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Ms. Glass is a Connecticut certified school social worker and is extremely familiar with the school system including IEP and Section 504 plans. She specializes in Autism, Substance Misuse, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Behavioral Disorders, and Trauma. Ms. Glass has had formal, specialized DBT training provided by Behavioral Tech (Linehan Institute) and has provided trainings in these skill sets to various groups of professionals, parents, and students. Ms. Glass utilizes this framework, along with various other therapeutic modalities like CBT, Solution Focused, ABA and Mindfulness techniques, in her clinical practice.

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Middlebury office

Alanna Mouta, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor with significant experience working

with adolescents, young adults and adults in both individual and group settings. Ms. Mouta is a

National Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and is also specifically

certified in DBT. She specializes in anxiety and depression management, and is passionate about

working with clients going through life transitions and those who may be struggling with

self-compassion. She has a well-rounded background working with trauma and substance

misuse, and enjoys supporting clients with maladaptive behaviors such as self-harm, addictive

tendencies and anger management. Ms. Mouta utilizes a variety of clinical techniques and

modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT),

Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, and Strength-based approaches. She believes in

helping clients learn how to cope and live the life they want to live through learning and

building stronger skills and by building self-compassion.

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Middlebury Location

Shenel Marcellus, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 8 years of experience working across  multiple settings of care including residential facilities, schools, foster care, substance abuse clinics, and other outpatient clinics. Ms. Marcellus has experience working with individuals, families,  and groups across the lifespan. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University, and earned her Master’s of Social Work at New York University with the goal of helping  people obtain an improved quality of life. 

Ms. Marcellus specializes in addressing hardships that may occur in life such as family conflict,  parenting, life transitions, relationships, stress, and grief. Her areas of specialty include:  Trauma, Depression, Self-Esteem, Anger Management, LGBTQ+, and Anxiety. 

Ms. Marcellus utilizes approaches such as Trauma-Focused CBT, psychodynamic therapy, CBT,  mindfulness, and strengths-based therapy. Well-rounded experience in the field has allowed her to  emphasize there is no such thing as a one size fits all approach to treatment. Ms. Marcellus provides a  safe space, free of judgment, for all clients to share their feelings and experiences, and believes in a  collaborative approach in working with the client to tailor an appropriate method of treatment. Ms. Marcellus is dedicated to ensure all clients feel heard and respected, and aims to provide support to clients in overcoming strenuous life circumstances.

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Shelton Location

Jessica Halmeck, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Master’s in Social Work, and has worked in the clinical mental health field for seven years.  She is specially trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and EMDR, and is experienced working with adolescents and adults with trauma, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. 

Ms. Halmeck focuses on building resiliency and self-esteem, using warmth and authenticity to create a supportive environment for her clients. She has also completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training, and utilizes aspects of meditation and mindfulness in practice for a holistic approach.

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Shelton Location

Debbie Guidetti-Gerwien, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with thirty years of clinical experience.  Ms. Guidetti-Gerwien studied at Southern Connecticut State University and is a long time member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). The majority of her work has been with adults- she has specialized training working with geriatric clients struggling with psychiatric issues and dementia, and has also worked with patients and families in hospice care, dealing with end of life issues, grief, and loss after a loved one passes. 

Ms. Guidetti-Gerwien has extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and families in navigating marital conflict, divorce, mood disorders, and many other psychiatric challenges.   She utilizes an eclectic approach to treatment that includes CBT, DBT, Family Systems theory, Solution Focused Therapy, and Reality Therapy.  Ms. Guidetti-Gerwien encourages clients to be collaborative in devising a plan that will help to overcome challenges they have experienced, to live a more satisfying existence.  

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Shelton Location

Lisa Conley, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Professional School Counselor with over 24 years of experience in the counseling field. Ms. Conley is a graduate of Ithaca College (BS, Applied Psychology) and Southern Connecticut State University, where she received her Master of Science and Sixth Year degrees. She has worked in a variety of roles on school crisis teams and is also trained in PRePARE through the National Association of School Psychologists.

Ms. Conley specializes in working with adolescents and their families and focuses a lot of work on challenges with anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, anger management, grief and loss, attention deficit disorders, teen social issues and career transitions.  Ms. Conley believes that therapy can be an immensely rewarding practice when clients become active and informed to navigate the obstacles of life.  She recognizes that the client-therapist relationship is pivotal to effective treatment and works to establish a safe, welcoming place for clients to share their thoughts and feelings. Ms. Conley enjoys working with individuals and their families to promote overall wellness and a healthy mindset.

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Middlebury Location

Ray Nieves, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 8 years experience who is passionate about working with individuals and couples. Mr. Nieves has experience working with clients struggling with depression/mood disorders,anxiety, stress, co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders, trauma, grief, self-esteem,communication problems, and difficult life transitions. Mr. Nieves utilizes a strength-based perspectivein his work with clients and believes in meeting the client’s where they are at. He works to create an environment of safety and trust to help build the therapeutic relationship and uses a person-centered approach to help clients identify and begin working towards their personal goals to create the life they want. Mr. Nieves is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and psychoeducation to help clients achieve their therapy goals.

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Shelton Location

Rebecca Rotondo (she/her), LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, having obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Marist College and her Master’s degree from UCONN School of Social Work. She has over 7 years of experience providing individual, couples, family and group therapy in a warm, non-judgmental style. Using a strengths-based approach, she helps adolescents and adults navigate identity and self-esteem issues, difficult life changes, relational and environmental stressors, trauma, and co-occurring mental illness. Ms. Rotondo utilizes a variety of evidence-based interventions, tailored to the unique developmental and emotional needs of each client. She is particularly experienced in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for coping with Borderline Personality, chronic suicidal ideation and self-harm, mood disorders, trauma and substance use struggles. She incorporates a holistic approach to counseling, honoring the interconnectedness of the mind, body and soul, and utilizing interventions such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness meditation, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/tapping), and art and sound healing, to foster our connection with nature, one another and with Spirit. Ms. Rotondo also holds a certification from the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association as a certified Acudetox Specialist (ADS), and is able to provide 5-point auricular acupuncture for mental health and substance use treatment.

Ms. Rotondo appreciates open-minded conversations regarding diverse cultures, life experiences, and unique belief systems, looking for our commonalities and areas where we can all grow in empathy for one another. She has been actively involved in establishing and maintaining standards of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and has conducted research in areas of disproportionate minority representation (DMR) in foster care and juvenile justice systems, presenting these findings and their implications to DCF, the local family and criminal Court systems, key stakeholders, and other community providers. She also has experience coordinating and delivering workshops on racism, DMR, implicit bias, and how to reduce these discriminatory phenomena. Ms. Rotondo is a queer-identified provider with a passion for working with the LGBTQIA+ population and their families, and applies the same context of intersectionality,  interpersonal discrimination, structural inequality, systemic oppression, and therapeutic compassion, to counseling other marginalized populations.  She provides judgment-free sex-positive counseling for all orientations and relationship structures, and enjoys working with couples who practice ethical non-monogamy (ENM), helping partners strengthen their relationships by developing effective communication skills to foster elements of trust and safety.

Mr. James Palmer, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who spent many years working in sales & account management, before earning his Masters Degree in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University. Mr. Palmer works with children, adults, and families, and has extensive experience in navigating topics of stressed family systems, divorce, co-parenting, and blended family issues. Additional treatment areas he works with include: behavioral issues, Autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Mood disorders, OCD, PTSD, grief work,  and eating disorders. He utilizes a strengths based approach, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and motivational interviewing to help clients work through life’s struggles. Mr. Palmer has spent time working with adults struggling with substance misuse, and specializes in crisis management and Brief Strategic Family Therapy. He believes in working collaboratively with clients to help them achieve their goals and improve their lives.

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Shelton Location

Meredith Hettler, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 10 years of clinical & leadership experience. She has spent many years within a residential treatment center, and has also done extensive work with children and adolescents in outpatient settings. Ms. Hettler specializes in the treatment of OCD, anxiety, attachment issues, and parenting support, and works primarily with adolescents, young adults and their families. She utilizes modalities such as Attachment Based Family Therapy, Exposure Response Prevention Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Family Systems based approaches in her work with clients.  Ms. Hettler’s goal as a therapist is to help people identify and understand the root causes of distress along their mental health journey, while providing the tools necessary for them to grow, develop and live life to its full potential.

Middlebury Location

Ruth Theaman, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 40 years of clinical experience working with adults, couples, children, groups, and families. She has worked in various settings including residential treatment centers, group homes, emergency departments, and inpatient/outpatient mental health clinics.  Ms. Theaman has also performed as a Clinical Director for several non-profit community-based health and wellness centers. Throughout her career, Ms. Theaman has cultivated and developed new programs, served on multiple interdisciplinary teams, and has provided supervision to other therapists within the mental health field. She has extensive experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds that have experienced anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, trauma, self-harm/suicidal ideation, substance misuse struggles, and more. 

Ms. Theaman’s style of therapy has been shaped by her various experiences. She fosters an environment that is warm, collaborative, supportive, and nonjudgmental.  The approach taken is individualized, and she meets her clients where they are emotionally, allowing her to partner with them on their journey through therapy. This journey that Ms. Theaman embarks on with her clients helps them to identify their own individual needs, goals, and discover or rediscover connections to their loved ones along the way.  

Ms. Theaman’s practice is grounded in strength-based and person-centered approaches.  She uses an eclectic and integrative approach, drawing from, but not limited to, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness Techniques.  Ms. Theaman genuinely values the importance of building a rapport with her clients, believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship, and has the utmost confidence in the inherent resilience of the human spirit.

Middlebury Location

Kristen Wiltshire, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two decades of experience dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to clients across the lifespan. Ms. Wiltshire’s diverse experience includes working with children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric individuals, spanning a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges. Treatment areas of extensive focus include anxiety, depression, chronic illness/ medical issues, grief, behavioral dynamics, and family systems. She is well-versed in various therapeutic techniques and treatment modalities, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), person-centered therapy, humanistic therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and strength-based therapy, ensuring each treatment plan be tailored to meet the unique needs of each age group & individual. Ms. Wiltshire is committed to creating a safe and inviting environment where clients feel that they can openly address their thoughts, feelings, and challenges. It is her goal to help people of all ages and backgrounds discover their inner strengths and resilience while on their journey.

Middlebury Location

Brittany Kuhn, LPC, has been a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Connecticut since 2015. She possesses a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. Ms. Kuhn is experienced in providing individual, family, co-parenting, and couples counseling in a variety of clinical mental health & substance use settings. She specializes in working with behavioral issues, family conflict and addiction. Brittany enjoys working with ADHD concerns, anger management, anxiety, coping skills, depression, divorce, domestic violence, life transitions, peer relationships, pregnancy (as well as prenatal and postpartum), school issues, self-esteem, self-harm or suicidal ideation, sleep or insomnia concerns, and stress. 

“Wouldn’t it be beautiful if we could grow and evolve together?” Ms. Kuhn believes we all have the capacity to grow, evolve, self-reflect, and learn new skills. She believes that inside of everyone, there is greatness and goodness…inside of everyone, there is the ability to live the life we want to live but that sometimes, we just need a little help.

Middlebury Location

Eric Anderson, LPC, LADC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor who has dedicated his career to supporting individuals struggling with various behavioral health challenges. With over ten years of experience working with adolescents through the older adult population, Mr. Anderson’s passions lie in assisting those impacted by substance misuse, anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, relationship struggles, and overall life adjustments. Through compassionate counseling, evidence-based interventions, and a client-centered approach, Mr. Anderson strives to empower individuals and couples to overcome obstacles, regain control of their lives, and foster long-lasting positive change. With a deep commitment to ongoing education and professional development, he remains dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for those trying to better navigate mental health stressors & improve their quality of life.

Shelton & Middlebury Location

Mike Gentil, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 5 years of experience in the mental health field. Influenced by his own experiences, he began his journey in mental health to create fun, cooperative therapeutic approaches. Working in various settings throughout his career including schools, hospitals, and agencies, Mr. Gentil has experience with diverse populations, and with many treatment issues. Hel is passionate about collaborating with adolescent & adult clients to help navigate personal circumstances through an easygoing, undemanding approach. Mr. Gentil specializes in anxiety, panic disorder, depression, and major life transitions, and utilizes multiple treatment approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), mindfulness, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). He recognizes how the mind and body influence each other, instills confidence, and provides guidance by offering energy, efficiency, and structure to each client's unique journey.

Middlebury Location

Lou Salerno, LPC-A, is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate experienced in working with individuals, groups, and families, as well as within higher levels of care such as Intensive Outpatient Programs & residential mental health settings. Mr. Salerno has a passion for working with the adolescent & adult populations, and has an extensive history working with the LGBTQIA+ community. He strives to create a therapeutic space and relationship that is warm, accepting, open, comfortable, and safe. Mr. Salerno has worked with clients to treat substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, attachment systems, trauma, and ADHD. He has advanced training in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), incorporating these approaches into the therapeutic dynamic.  Additional approaches Mr. Salerno utilizes include motivational interviewing and strengths-based, client-focused models. He develops a strong therapeutic alliance and tailors the treatment goals to the unique individual needs of each client.

Shelton Location

Nanci is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse Board Certified, and a health and wellness coach with training in Clinical Meditation and Imagery (CMI).  She graduated from Fairfield University’s Masters in Nursing Program and has over fifteen years of experience as a Clinical Instructor for undergraduate nursing students and has taught Advanced Health Assessment and Advanced Pharmacology to graduate students at Fairfield University.

Being CMI-trained, Ms. Kaczegowicz utilizes a gentle but powerful set of safe, effective, time-tested meditation, imagery and energy skills to help her clients reduce suffering and increase peace and purpose in their daily lives.  She is also a 500-hour certified yoga instructor and has a wealth of experience working with clients to help them tap into their inner wisdom to promote spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being.  Ms. Kaczegowicz is passionate about educating and empowering clients to understand the link between stress and mental health, and after 13 years of working with clients in gastrointestinal health, Ms. Kaczegowicz has decided to solely focus her work in the mental health field. 

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Middlebury and Shelton Locations

Lynne Severance is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).

She graduated from Yale University with her Masters in Nursing in 2018. Lynne has been

practicing as an APRN doing Medication Management, and some psychotherapy, in outpatient

clinics for the past four years. As an RN, she previously worked on psychiatric units in general

hospitals, at Connecticut Valley Hospital with the chronically severely mentally ill, in a

supervised apartment setting, and in a home healthcare agency as the Director of the

psychiatric home care department. Lynne has a great deal of experience working with those

struggling with a variety of mental health needs, and works with children, adolescents, adults

and older adults. She works well with diverse populations of various cultures, ethnic groups,

and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Additionally, Lynne has training in Gestalt Pastoral Care and is comfortable exploring people’s

spirituality with them. She is a retired United Methodist Minister, having served congregations

in NY and CT for 28 years, and obtained a Masters of Divinity degree from Yale University in

1986. She believes that while spirituality can be an important aspect of peoples’ psyche, it

doesn’t necessarily need to be a part of the therapeutic relationship. Lynne believes that

getting one’s life to a point where it’s satisfying, productive and fulfilling is a lifelong process,

and that sometimes we need some help along the way. Her philosophy is that the most

effective healing process in helping people reach their goals involves both medication support,

in conjunction with counseling. She wishes to provide a safe, caring relationship where she can

work collaboratively with clients to support them in meeting those goals.

In her free time, Lynne is very active in her church and enjoys spending time with her adult

daughter and playing with her 3 dogs.

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Middlebury and Shelton Locations