About Me

I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), neurodivergent group/ family therapist, gender therapist, IFS Level 3 trained, clinical consultant and educator licensed to practice in Massachusetts since 1995.  I received my Master of Social Work degree from Boston College and have worked in community mental health, followed by a 20+ year career as a mental health treatment specialist in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.

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My training includes:

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Families

• Therapy Training Boston, Intensive Year Long Certificate in Family Systems Therapy

Gender Identity/LGBTQIA+

• World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) GEI Standards of Care (SOC) 8 certification​

• Gender ASSET 2.0 12.5-hour training on assessment/evaluation and letter writing

• Supporting Families of Transgender Youth, Luca Valentine, LMSW, CMFT

• Helping Families on Gender Journeys: A Developmental Lens, Dr. Shawn Giammattei

• Working with LGBTQ and Neurodivergent Young People, Julia Rutkovsky, LCSW

• Practice with LGBTQ+ Clients Certificate Course, Chris McLaughlin,  LCSW, NASW Maine

• Neurodiversity & the Gender Diverse Experience, Fenway Institute

• LGBTQ+ Trauma and Abuse Masterclass: Affirming Interventions for Identity, Healing and Recovery, Kaytlyn Gillis, LCSW

Autism and ADHD Assessment Training

• Adult Autism and ADHD Assessment for Master's Level Therapists, Chicago School of Professional Psychology

• Neurodiversity Affirming ADHD Evaluation, Neuroabundant

• Autism Assessment, The Zur Institute

• ADHD & Autism Diagnostic Assessment Training, Neuropebble

• Adult MIGDAS-2 Training & Certification, Marilyn Monteiro, Ph.D

• Autism Clinical Interview Adults Training (ACIA) Newcastle University, UK

• Neuro-affirmative Adult Autism Assessments: A Comprehensive Training, Thriving Autistic and The Adult Autism Practice​

• Autism Assessment: The Seven Diagnostic Criteria Brought to Life, Zur Institute

• Interpreting Autism Assessment Data in High-Masking and Under-Identified Presentations, Neurodiversity University

• Misdiagnosed ADHD & Autism Masterclass, Kelly Pickens, APNP, FNP-BC

• Autism or Something Else? Avoiding Misdiagnosis in Neurodiversity-Affirming Assessment Across the Lifespan, The Chicago School, Dr. Sara Woods

• DSM-5-TR Masterclass: Updated Diagnoses, Emerging Frameworks, and What Every Clinician Needs to Know Now, Dr. Gregory Neimeyer​

• What the DSM Misses: An Autistic Clinician's Perspective, Dr. Matt Lowry

ADHD & Autism

• PDA North America, Level 1 & 2 Training

• PDA: Not What You Think It Is!, Dr. Donna Henderson

• ADHD & Autism: Medication Considerations for Therapists, Neuroabundant

• Neurodiversity-Affirming Approaches to ADHD in Relationships, Neurodiversity University

• Unmasking the Lives of Autistic Females: Developmental, Clinical and Diagnostic Considerations, WPS

• Clinical Implications of Late-Identified Neurodivergence: Strategies for Identity Integration and Therapeutic Support, Dr. Amy Marschall

• The Cost of Camouflage: Exploring Masking and Burnout in Neurodivergent Clients, Neurodiversity University

• Using Interoception Science and Lived Experience to Navigate Alexithymia, Kelly Mahler and David Gray Hammond

• The Relationship Between Interoception and Masking, Kelly Mahler and Kieran Rose

• Missed in Childhood, Identified in Adulthood: Supporting Late-Diagnosed Neurodivergent Clients, Neurodiversity University

• Changing the Narrative: Affirmation for Newly Identified Autistics, Sara Rodrigues LICSW/NASW

• Demystifying the Autism Spectrum & Autistic People (3 part). Dr. Matt Lowry and Maisie Soetantyo, M.Ed

• Trying to Carry Water in a Colander: Supporting Executive Functioning Skills in Neurodivergent Clients, Dr. Matthew Zakreski

• A Neuroaffirming Approach to Treating OCD for Autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder using I-CBT, Brittany Goff​​

• Inherited Neurodivergence: Supporting Parents' Identity Journeys, Dr. Amy Marschall

IFS

•  Internal Family Systems, Level 1, 2, 3, and Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO

• Creating Healing Circles: Using the IFS Model in Group Therapy (5 day training)​

• Program Assistant (Level 1) and Program Assistant (Level 1 Neurodivergent Affinity Group)

• Internal Family Systems & Neurodivergence, Neurodiversity University, Madeline  Warnick, LPC

• Healing in the Sand: The Intersection of IFS and Sandtray Therapy

Trauma

• ACEs & Complex Trauma: Assessment & Treatment for Developmental Adversity

• Autism & Trauma Masterclass: Differential Diagnosis & Adapted Treatment Strategies

• From Trauma Exposure to Diagnosis: Clinical Guidelines for the Assessment of PTSD in Adults. Dr. Megan Keyes

• Supporting Survivors of Family Trauma: Long-Term Impacts and Interventions, Kaytlyn Gillis, LCSW​

Other Modalities:

• Brainspotting Phase I,  (Trainers Sue Pinko & Deb Antinori)

• Do It Scared: How ACT Helps Clients Stop Chasing Painlessness and Start Living, Leslie Cuyler Worley, LCSW

Other:

• Hidden Bipolar Masterclass: Diagnosis & Treatment for Complex Mood Presentations. Dr. Jim Phelps MD

• The New R's: Mindfulness Based Resilience, Regulation and Relationships, Neurodiversity University

• ​Therapeutic Assessment: Using Psychological Testing as a Brief Therapy, Dr. Stephen Finn

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Ongoing Clinical Supervision

• Finn V. Gratton, LMFT (author of Supporting Transgender Autistic Youth and Adults (monthly consultation group)

• Neurodivergent Insights (Dr. Megan Anna Neff) Clinical Nook Group

• The Divergent Clinician, twice monthly consultation group

• Neurodiversity University, Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC

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I work with individuals, and their families who struggle with a variety of issues, including gender identity, anxiety, parenting, and neurodivergence.  My goal is to help individuals, parents and families feel stronger, more confident, and competent in their daily lives.  ​

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In 2018, I established a private practice focused on the unique therapeutic needs of transgender and gender-expansive individuals, and their families, especially at the intersection of gender and neurodivergence. In addition, I have completed the requirements to be a certified gender specialist (Standards of Care 8) with the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH).

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In 2023, I began a journey to obtain additional training in providing therapeutic assessments for autism and ADHD in adults, from a neuro-affirming lens and began offering these services for adults, with a focus on gender minorities and women.

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Since opening my Massachusetts practice, I have become licensed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut.

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I have extensive training in working with the neurodivergent community and am myself, neurodivergent.  I have a particular interest in autism and individuals with ADH (attention-deficit hyperactivity traits)--and often provide guidance to families that are navigating these identities.  I embrace the neuro-affirming model which recognizes and celebrates natural human biodiversity; there is not a "normal" or "right" way of thinking, feeling or behaving--differences are not deficits.​

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During the COVID pandemic, I began to offer virtual groups for transgender and neurodivergent individuals, as well as parent groups for parents navigating their children's gender journeys, and for parents supporting their neurodivergent children.

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I also provide clinical consultation and group supervision to clinicians seeking to become more skilled in working at the intersectionality of gender identity and neurodivergence.

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As a life-long learner, with a strong commitment to using the most current and non-harming practices, I continue to build on skills and obtain training in the areas of gender identity,  and neurodivergence at every opportunity.