Ana Barend MA, LMHC, NCC
Ana is a warm, inviting, and compassionate therapist who cares deeply for her clients’ wellbeing and healing. She has a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master’s in Human Services Counseling, Marriage and Family cognate. Currently, Ana is working on her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision to improve as a clinician and further her career goals. Her vision as the Well’s clinical director is to foster connection and belonging to clinicians and staff and be a support person to whom others can approach to ensure best practices. She deeply believes the best leaders are servants, and that attitude informs her life, personally and professionally.
Further, Ana is a former professional surfer, and she served as the Women’s Chaplain for the World Surf League (WSL), which gave her experience in offering support in goal setting, self-worth, and holistic care. She implements the theoretical framework deriving from cognitive behavioral and somatic therapies while drawing a strength-based approach to her counseling. Additionally, Ana is trained, and will soon be certified, in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Her areas of interest are spirituality integration, anxiety, depression, identity, trauma, and developmental attachment issues. Ana has presented at numerous counseling conferences on embodiment practices, trauma, multiculturalism, and leadership.
Ana is a Christian and possesses a Christian worldview, which means she values the dignity and worth of every human being. As such, she aims to practice with the awareness of grace, love, understanding, respect, and compassion. Ana endeavors to display genuine empathy, listening ears, authentic connection, and validation while fostering hope and empowerment toward her clients’ goals. She deeply values every soul in front of her, for she believes everyone bears God’s image. She seeks to promote wellness and a life lived to the fullest with gratitude, meaning, and acceptance.
Ana is fluent in Portuguese.
Ana accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum Plans (United Healthcare, Harvard Pilgrim, AllWays), and Tufts (Commercial) insurance.
abarend@visitthewell.org
Susan Ramondetta, MSW, LICSW
Susan holds a BA degree in Human Services from Simmons College and a Masters in Social Work degree from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. She worked for over twenty-five years for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Mental Health (DMH) initially as a case manager providing comprehensive management services to a caseload of children, adolescents and adults. Later on in her career at DMH she became an eligibility specialist, completing clinical needs assessments to applicants of all ages. Presently she splits her time working as a behavioral therapist at a private clinic in Plymouth and as a therapist at The Well.
Clients: Susan’s areas of clinical focus are adults, teenagers, adjustment issues, chronic mental illness, depression, anxiety and addiction. She's available Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Susan accepts a variety of insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, Tufts, Tufts Navigator, Beacon, BMC HealthNet, Fallon, GIC Unicare, and Neighborhood Health. Her services also may be covered as an Out of Network Provider and by Flexible Spending Accounts.
Rose Darbyshire, MS, LMHC
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor that is Certified in Brainspotting.
I have practiced for over 10 years as well as had many additional years of lived experience navigating life challenges and transitions.
I understand the difficulty of finding a space to be vulnerable and unpack life's challenges. I recognize this process of change can sometimes feel uncomfortable or overwhelming. I have found when challenges are explored with nonjudgmental support, compassion, and curiosity a shift can take place where what was previously viewed as problems can become possibilities for change.
I work with individuals facing challenging life situations, difficult relationships, and deep emotional pain.
I am passionate about cultivating a space where people can explore the barriers to wellness in their lives in an environment that encourages change, growth, and healing using a client centered holistic and somatic approach tailored to the individual.
Marci Danielle Bonner, M.Ed., LMHC, CAGS
Marci is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Trauma Informed Care. Marci graduated with a dual degree from Cambridge College in Mental Health Counseling & Marriage and Family Therapy. Marci later returned to Cambridge College to obtain an Advanced Certificate in Trauma Informed Care. Additionally, Marci has a specialty in Addiction Counseling and has earned several certificates including, MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment), SUD (Substance Use Disorder) and the Brain, Effective SUD Treatments, and many more. Moreover, Marci has experience working in a variety of mental health settings including, residential care, outpatient therapy, primary care behavioral health, and community health center.
Over the last 14 years, Marci has worked in many capacities such as a psychotherapist, family therapist, supervisor, and team leader. In addition, Marci has served the following populations, adolescents, adults, and families struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, substance use disorders, women issues, and various other life transitions. Marci is passionate about supporting individuals towards strengthening, moreover, cultivating healthier coping skills, so the life they want can be achieved. Marci seeks to cultivate a safe, supportive, and challenging therapeutic environment that promotes growth, healing plus forward life movement.
Marci is very excited to bring hope, encouragement and creativity to The Well through individual and group therapy. Marci believes change is definitely possible if individuals are willing to commit to self-exploration, healing and actively engaging in the therapeutic process. In her free time Marci enjoys reading, journaling, spending time with loved ones, painting, volunteering, and working out. Marci not only promotes self-care in others, it’s a belief she holds true to personal well development.
Ashley Wile, MSW, LCSW
Ashley earned her Bachelor's degree in Social Work at Adrian College in Michigan. She then went on to earn her Master's degree from Boston College where she specialized in Clinical Interventions for Children, Youth and Families. Throughout her time as a social worker, Ashley has experience as a clinician and In Home Therapist in a variety of mental health settings. She has worked with adolescents struggling with substance abuse, anxiety, and depression disorders. Ashley’s experience expands to working alongside families and adolescents in times of grief and trauma, as well as, domestic violence survivors and their families. Ashley has a great passion to serve individuals and find ways to help overcome negative life experiences, thought patterns and ways to live a healthier lifestyle. Ashley enjoys empowering individuals with tools to help bridge the gap between community resources and their needs.
Ashley is a person of faith, proud wife and a mother to a beautiful daughter and senior pup. She loves spending time with her family, being outdoors, enjoying a latte, and time with friends.
Clients: Ashley provides individual therapy to adolescents in an office setting or virtually through telehealth. At this time, her services are not covered by insurance.
Meghan Laybourn, LICSW
Meghan Laybourn is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She earned her Masters in Social Work in 2009 from Boston College where she specialized in working with individuals and families impacted by addiction in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Since then, Meghan has provided individual and group therapy in community mental health facilities, hospitals, and private practice with people who are seeking help with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship problems and emotion regulation. It has been a sincere privilege for her to walk alongside many truly inspiring people in their journeys towards growth and healing.
Meghan’s clinical work is informed by her faith and belief that all people have inherent value. She is convinced that humans are neurologically wired for healing through the power of therapy that integrates mind, body and spirit. Her theoretical perspective derives from attachment theory and depth-oriented psychotherapy, internal family systems and parts work, and psychodynamic theories. Meghan works individually with people to personalize their goals and experience in therapy based on their strengths and needs so that they feel empowered to make desired changes.
Meghan enjoys spending time anywhere, especially in the outdoors with her husband and two daughters. She is also a devoted runner.
Allisha Curtis MA, LADC, LMHC
Allisha Curtis has her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, which she earned from Bridgewater State University. As a counselor, Allisha's goal is to help individuals reach their therapeutic objectives in alignment with what works best for them. Allisha has experience working with young adults in a college setting, as well as court ordered adults in an inpatient detoxification program, and adults of various ages in a private practice setting. Allisha specializes in women’s issues as they relate to adolescents, adults and young adults. Additionally, she has experience working with teens and young adults dealing with parental separations or divorce, as well as working with issues related to relationship concerns. She also has experience working with those who are in recovery from an eating disorder. Using mental health and wellness techniques as they relate to the mind, body and spirit, Allisha provides a judgement free space to help clients develop their treatment plan and meet their goals and objectives.
Allisha is a private pay therapist at this time. She offers a sliding scale based on financial need and availability. Allisha also offers telehealth sessions.
Caitlyn Uzzell, MA
Caitlyn is in the process of completing her master's degree in Clinical Social Work at Boston College with a concentration in Mental Health. She holds a BS from Bridgewater State University in Psychology. For her undergraduate degree, she has had experience in settings such as a hospice agency, an elementary school, and a nonprofit organization focused on helping children with special needs and behavioral concerns. She also has experience facilitating groups for children and adolescents who needed to improve their social-emotional learning skills, provided psychoeducation to children and families on sensory-friendly approaches to help overcome hyperarousal or hypo-arousal states, and created inclusive events aimed at connecting community members to one another.
During each of these previous internships, it instilled in her the beliefs of the person-centered approach in Social Work and how to apply the therapeutic relationship to determine the best plan of care for each client's unique needs. Caitlyn also has experience employing the strengths-based approach to help the client focus on the positive attributes within their lives during their treatment. She is interested in continuing her work with children, adolescents, and families. However, she is also interested in expanding her clientele to focus on young adults to bring full circle her understanding of the spectrum of life stages and how she can apply the ethical principles of social work to provide proficient services. When she is not focused on improving her clinical skills, she enjoys her time making memories with her family and loved ones, creating art, baking, and listening to music.
Luke Smith, MS
Luke has his masters in Family and Marriage Therapy which he earned at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy MA. He received his undergraduate degree from Bryant University. For the past five years, Luke has worked with college students on campuses throughout Southeast Massachusetts.
In this role, Luke has gained experience working with students as they walk through life transitions and future decisions. He uses a strengths-based approach toward therapy. Luke believes that starting with leaning into our strengths allows us to grow holistically, in mind, body, and spirit.
Luke is interested in working with individuals of all ages, creating space to explore, heal, and grow in areas of spirituality, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. Luke is also a certified running coach and loves to use exercise as a pathway to healing.
In his free time Luke loves traveling (especially to Disney World), running, relaxing on the beach, and hiking mountains.
Marissa Savard, MS
Marissa holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern Nazarene College. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Lasell University.
In this role Marissa works with couples for premarital counseling and marital counseling. Marissa’s experience working as a therapeutic mentor with children and young adults has helped support and coach the youth in age-appropriate behaviors including interpersonal communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relating appropriately to other youth and adults.
Marissa’s work ethic and desire to help as many individuals on all different levels of intellect is what drives her to continue on this journey in the field that she loves. She is interested in working with all different backgrounds and diagnoses. Making a difference in people's lives in our community is very important to her. Marissa wants to make a difference in the lives of everyone around her, one person at a time.
In Marissa’s free time she enjoys spending time with her family and her friends. She loves serving at her church, the beach, hiking, long walks and a good adventure.
Aislyn Plath, MS
Aislyn comes to The Well with a B.A. in American Studies from Trinity College and an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern Nazarene College. After many years working in the hospitality field in Chicago, she returned East to pursue a degree and a career change. With previous experience in crisis work, she has worked to provide resources and care for those in need.
Aislyn has a passion for mental health advocacy and is committed to providing a space for people to quiet the outside world and focus on caring for themselves and their relationships. Wanting to tailor her practice to her clients’ specific needs, Aislyn is a practitioner of CBT, DBT, EMDR and IFS. While she operates from a strengths-based perspective to normalize and affirm her client’s experience, understanding and examining the systems at play in her clients’ lives is imperative.
When Aislyn is not working, she can be found swimming laps, exploring new restaurants, trying new recipes in the kitchen, and listening to podcasts.
Connor Graham
Connor has a strong passion for serving others, working with them holistically, and facilitating a therapeutic process that helps them reach their full potential in life. He upholds The Well’s vision by integrating mind, body, and spirit into his counseling practice. Connor is currently developing a therapeutic approach that uses various forms of exercise to uniquely access mental health benefits and foster successful treatment outcomes. He works with all types of individuals but has gained a large portion of his experience with adolescents and young adults.
Connor earned his undergraduate degree in Business Management from American Military University. He completed his CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree at Capella University. Clinically, Connor uses a range of different cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches, including traditional CBT, REBT, and Reality Therapy, and possesses an existential view of human nature.
Prior to joining The Well, Connor served in the United States Coast Guard and was an NCAA swimmer. Additionally, his background includes co-facilitating collegiate-level strength and conditioning training, individual and group coaching with all ages, national-level bodybuilding, and personal training. Over the years, he has gained knowledge from building effective working relationships with others in a variety of different environments.
Other unique experiences that have shaped his approach toward establishing healthy connections with others include attending high school in Manila, Philippines, and traveling to various parts of the world. In his free time, Connor enjoys going on walks with his wife and pups, going to the beach, traveling, spending time with friends and family, watching sports, and going to the gym.
Nikki Kemezis
Nikki graduated from Saint Joseph's University with a degree in Sociology and then went on to Marywood University to earn a Master's degree in School Counseling. To date, she has earned forty-eight post-Master’s graduate credits and countless professional development hours to further develop her counseling skills and increase her knowledge of new research, techniques and special populations. She has fifteen years of experience in counseling and social work with people of all ages in various settings, including home-based, juvenile detention, elementary and middle schools, inpatient and outpatient mental health and addiction treatment centers, immigrant and refugee centers, family court, and also remote, for both school counseling and care coordination for COVID-19 positive patients during the pandemic.
Nikki is passionate about working with children and families. She strives to provide developmentally appropriate play-based support and skills training to kids dealing with stress, anxiety, depression and adjustment disorders. She firmly believes that the resilience of children and adolescents and the elasticity of their brains allows for a special window of time where the right therapeutic supports can positively alter the course of someone's entire life by fostering essential abilities, such as mindfulness, grit, empathy, and distress tolerance As a long time youth clinician and a parent herself, Nikki empathizes with the challenges caregivers face and aims to support families, as well as children, in the management of emotional symptoms and resulting behaviors. She is also very knowledgeable about DCF, juvenile justice, children with special needs, and the processes of special education eligibility and IEP and 504 development.
Another area of passion and expertise for Nikki is working with adolescents and adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression and/or substance use disorders. She believes in empowering her clients to access their own innate strengths in order to help them cope and thrive. She is also extremely invested in supporting women postpartum, as well as through motherhood and pregnancy loss.
In her free time, Nikki enjoys adventuring or relaxing with her husband, son, and pets. She loves reading, yoga, traveling, baking, and spending time with family and friends.
Kiersten Pistoor
Kiersten earned her Master's of Education in Mental Health Counseling from Cambridge College in Cambridge, MA. She received her undergraduate degree from Southern New Hampshire University, in Psychology.
Kiersten has gained a lot of her experience working with children and their families through the roles that she has carried with the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative. She has implemented In-Home Therapy, Outpatient Therapy, Intensive Care Coordination and Crisis evaluation. Kiersten also loves to work with and has experience serving the intellectual and developmental disabilities population. Currently, on a full-time basis, serving the population of Brockton, MA, as an Integrated Behavioral Health clinician.
Kiersten utilizes a strength-based and a client-focused approach in her sessions. Kiersten believes that when you are provided a safe space to be yourself and feel heard, that this is the making of a healthy and effective therapeutic relationship.
In her free time, Kiersten loves to play with her puppy, enjoy the outdoors and spend time with her niece and nephew.
Jessica Philemond
Jessica is an experienced counselor who is deeply dedicated to assisting individuals, couples, and families in discovering the solutions necessary for them to thrive in their everyday lives. Jessica has experience working with populations dealing with a number of clinical concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, and various other issues. Additionally, she has clinical expertise in African & Caribbean mental health and faith-based counseling. With a diverse clientele, Jessica’s clinical approach is adaptable and reflective of the unique needs of everyone she has the privilege to work with.
In her practice, Jessica employs a range of therapeutic modalities including psychodynamic therapy, internal family systems, emotion-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Bowenian family therapy, and more. Utilizing this wide range of clinical expertise she is able to tailor her approach to suit the specific requirements of her clients, ensuring that they receive the most effective support possible. Clients have consistently reported success in utilizing the strategies and techniques provided by Jessica, leading to improvements in both their personal and professional lives. Regardless of where someone finds themselves on their journey, Jessica is committed to offering unwavering support and guidance as they work towards their goals.
Overall, Jessica’s passion for helping others combined with her extensive experience and diverse skill set make her a trusted and invaluable resource for anyone seeking counseling and consultation services.