Meet The Team

Centered Minds: Virtual Therapy in CT, MA and NC

Owner/Therapist

Katie Adams, MBA, MSW, LCSW(CT/NC), LICSW (MA)

Licensed in Connecticut, North Carolina and Massachusetts

Hi, I'm Katie.

I’m a mom, a wife, a business owner, a lifelong student and a passionate clinical social worker. I know first hand what it’s like to juggle marriage, children, family, work and everything in between!

Background

I earned my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at Eastern Connecticut State University, my Master of Social Work (MSW) at Rhode Island College, and my Master in Business Administration (MBA) at Fitchburg State University. I am independently licensed to practice clinical work in Connecticut, Massachusetts and North Carolina.

My past social work experience is diverse, including extensive hospital work in the areas of maternal fetal medicine (MFM), neonatal intensive care (NICU), psychiatric inpatient, outpatient services, and as an administrator of a hospital mental health program. I have also done domestic violence work, family and parenting groups and past work with women around weight loss and health in a weight loss clinic. I especially love working with new moms, moms of young families, parents and teens.

Professional interests

I incorporate multiple modalities including talk therapy, mindfulness practices, mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (MB-CBT), “walk and talk” therapy, meditation, yoga and teletherapy to work with:

Pregnancy and Postpartum Women
Moms
Parenting & Family Stresses
Couples Counseling
Divorce & Separation
Anxiety Disorders
Depression
Grief & Loss
Mood Disorders

Treatment areas and modalities

I particularly specialize in work with moms and women experiencing life transitions such as pregnancy, postpartum recovery and parenting, as well as work with adolescent girls.

I am skilled in:

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MB-CBT)

Strengths-Based Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy

Empowerment Therapy

Brief Term Solution-Focused Therapy

Therapist: Jessica

Hello, I’m Jess!

Jessica Cullan, LCSW (Connecticut)

My approach

Life presents itself with a variety of challenges, and sometimes how we respond can surprise us. Your mental health is so important for your overall wellness, and you deserve to feel joy in your life. My goal is to provide a safe environment in which we can work together through those times of challenge where you are not feeling like your best self. My genuine approach will highlight your strengths and empower you to overcome these life challenges. I will use evidence-based practice to teach you skills to use for more healthy ways of coping with your life stressors.

Background

I graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with my Bachelors’ degree in social work. I then completed the graduate program at Rhode Island College where I earned my Masters’ degree in clinical social work. I have previously worked in a range of settings, including work in schools, communities and traditional outpatient. My most recent work has been overseeing an intensive evidence-based practice working with families affected by substance misuse.

Professional interests

I especially love working with children, adolescents, and families.

treatment areas and modalities

My passion is working with individuals who are facing life transitions, increased stress, challenges in relationships, family conflict, grief and loss, low self-esteem, or experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression.

I am skilled in:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Solution Focused Approach

Strengths Based Approach

Empowerment Model

Family Systems

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Anger Management

Therapist: Christina

Hi, I'm Christina!

Christina Cozza, LICSW (Massachusetts)

I am a dog lover, adventure seeker, and strong believer in vitamin sea. Some days can't be fixed by petting your dog, listening to beach waves, or eating your favorite donut. That's why I'd love to be the one to share that space with you and do some work alongside you.

Background

I am a therapist independently licensed to practice clinical social work in Massachusetts. I earned my Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Social Work degrees from Simmons College in Boston, MA and have spent the majority of my career working with currently and previously incarcerated individuals, law enforcement, first responders, and mandated clients.

Professional interests

I have extensive knowledge and experience working with individuals with histories of trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, and other mental illnesses. I have worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings and specialize in working with veterans, addictions, mental illness and trauma. I especially love working with first responders, law enforcement, and veterans.

Treatment areas and modalities

My style could be described as eclectic, as I focus on a person-centered model and enjoy using different treatment modalities, tailored to the individual I am working with.

I am skilled in:

Trauma Treatment

Anger Management

Empowerment Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Solution-Focused Therapy

Work with Veterans

Therapist: Lauren

Hi, I’M LAUREN!

Lauren Shea, MSW, LCSW (MA), LMSW (CT)

Massachusetts & Connecticut

I am a family-oriented wife, restaurant connoisseur and music lover. For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about helping others. I am here to offer guidance and supportive care while you journey through life. Whether you are overcoming anxiety, depression, experiencing grief and loss, or just need someone to actively listen, you have come to the right place

BACKGROUND:

I earned a dual Bachelors’ degree in (i) Psychology and (ii) Human Services and Rehabilitative Studies at Assumption University, followed by my Masters of Social Work with a concentration in Children, Youth, and Families at Boston College. I am provisionally licensed in Massachusetts and Connecticut. I have spent most of my career teaching social skills and applying counseling techniques to support the emotional well-being of students. My additional experience includes direct care services, in-home family therapy, and most recently inpatient and outpatient hospital care.

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

My particular interests involve working collaboratively with individuals who are dealing with increased stress, anxiety, depression, and grief and loss. I especially love empowering children and adolescents to improve their self-esteem and awareness as they navigate relationship challenges, address family conflict, and adjust to life transitions.

TREATMENT AREAS AND MODALITIES:

By integrating a variety of models into my practice, I have realized that there is no “one-size fits all” approach to therapy. My process of creating a calm and safe space serves to facilitate therapeutic growth and positive change. Together, our focus will be on increasing your inherent strengths and personal resilience. During the course of treatment, you will develop coping mechanisms and learn problem-solving strategies to effectively manage stress and anxiety.

I am skilled in:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Play Therapy

Social Skills Training

Solution Focused Therapy

Strengths-Based Therapy

Therapist: Ali

Hi, i'm ali!

Ali Melchionna, MSW, LCSW

Massachusetts

BACKGROUND

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Ithaca College. After teaching high school music for several years, I realized my interests and strengths lived more in helping my students to navigate social-emotional and intrapersonal obstacles they were encountering throughout adolescence, and decided to pursue my Master’s degree in Social Work at Salem State University. My experience is primarily working in different levels of care with clients struggling with eating disorders. I am provisionally licensed in Massachusetts, and working towards my independent licensure.

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

My professional interests and background involve working with individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorders, depression, anxiety, and trauma as well as those struggling in their relationships with food, body image, and exercise. I’m passionate about helping my clients utilize self-compassion and self-awareness to explore their belief systems, thoughts, and behaviors to make meaningful and lasting change in their lives. I especially enjoy working with adolescents, young adults, and athletes.

my approach

I believe that everything individuals need to become their most successful and authentic selves is already inside of them, and my job as a therapist is to help empower my clients to realize and access their own potential and resilience. I love incorporating my sense of humor into my clinical practice, and I strive to create a safe space for clients to process stressors and obstacles they encounter in their lives.

I am skilled in:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Mindfulness
Motivational Interviewing
Empowerment Therapy
Strengths-Based Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Internal Family Systems

Therapist: Kaiya

Hi, I’M kaiya!

Kaiya Davis, MSW, LCSW

Massachusetts

BACKGROUND

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Social Welfare from Bridgewater State University. I later obtained my Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from Boston College. In my early professional career, I worked with college students using a holistic approach to help them overcome personal and professional challenges related to anxiety and depression, trauma, sexual violence, and grief. I understand the unique obstacles that college students face during this time of significant transition and change. After working in higher education for many years, I decided to pursue my Master’s Degree in Social Work with a mental health concentration at Simmons University. I have experience treating a diverse array of client concerns, and have spent the majority of my time working with teens and young adults. I am provisionally licensed in Massachusetts, and am working towards my independent licensure.

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

My professional background and interests include working with teenagers, young adults, and those going through life transitions. I have experience working with individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and trauma. I utilize an eclectic and client-centered approach to meet the unique needs of each person.

MY APPROACH:

In treatment, I focus on learning the unique stories that each client brings into the therapy space. I believe that effective treatment is facilitated by working alongside each client, and I utilize a holistic style that focuses on the whole person and their relationships with those around them. It is important for me to cater my approach to each individual client while honoring their strengths. The therapy environment that I strive to create is one that is validating, safe, and built on trust. I recognize the vulnerability that it takes to engage in therapy, and building a strong therapeutic relationship is an essential part of the process. I strongly believe that each client has the capability to make positive changes to their thoughts and behaviors that will improve their quality of life while accepting the things that are outside of their control.

I AM SKILLED IN:

Attachment Based therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Family Systems Approach
Motivational Interviewing
Solution Focused Therapy
Strengths Based Approach
Trauma-Informed Therapy

Therapist: Kahla

Hi, i'm kahla!

Kahla Jusell, MSW, LCSW

Massachusetts

Hello, I’m Kahla!

I am a dog and ferret mom, 16th generation Cape Codder, lover of the salt water and surf, and yoga teacher (including trauma-informed yoga). You can normally catch me enjoying the sun all throughout the year, practicing meditation, and walking my rescue dog from Mississippi, Indigo, around the Boston area where we are currently located!

BACKGROUND

I earned my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at the University of Southern Maine Honors College where I worked in services for people experiencing homelessness, including day shelter and 24-hour shelter work, clinic-based medication for addiction treatment, medical case management, and intensive one-on-one support for high acuity clients living with opiate use disorder. I completed my Master of Social Work (MSW) in the Advanced Standing Clinical cohort of Boston University with a specialization in Trauma and Violence work. My current experience is working as a street-based outreach clinician serving trauma survivors and our unhoused community with a specialization in harm reduction for substance use disorder cases. I am provisionally licensed in Massachusetts, and working towards my independent licensure.

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

I am passionate about working with people who have experienced trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental illness. I also love working with young people navigating identity and life transitions, people in recovery or working toward recovery, and assisting clients in moving through grief and loss.

my approach

My treatment modalities are based on empowerment and person-centered approaches to meet you where you’re at. What has happened to you does not define you and I am here to help my

clients uncover themselves beneath the challenges they’ve been dealt. I strongly believe that we have the capability to thrive with the right support and I would be honored to be a part of your community holding you up. I strive to create a safe space where clients feel like they can authentically be themselves without judgment or shame and feel safe in our space together.

I am skilled in:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Trauma-informed Care

Motivational Interviewing

Strengths-based approach

Mindfulness and Trauma-informed Yoga

Parts Therapy and processing somatic experiences

Empowerment based approach

Narrative Therapy

Therapist: Becca

Hi, I’M becca!

Rebecca Cohen, LICSW

Massachusetts

I am a mom, wife, sister, and daughter, among other identities; most importantly I am human on a journey through life. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, gardening, and trying out different hobbies and visual arts and crafts. I am an artist at heart and attended a performing arts high school which gives me a unique experience and view on the world. I see natural and human-made beauty in the world and try to incorporate it into my life and practices whenever possible.

BACKGROUND

I am a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) in the state of Massachusetts. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in Early Childhood Education. I worked for several years doing mental health crisis work, as a case manager through MassHealth contracts with children and families and as a program manager for a private adoption agency before pursuing my Masters degree in Social Work at Simmons University in Boston.

I have worked in a variety of settings with different populations. In addition to the work noted above, I have experience working in medical social work, with older adults in senior housing and retirement communities, and in basic needs programs with families experiencing financial insecurity and hardship. In addition to my work at Centered Minds, I currently work in a leadership and client-facing role at a social service organization.

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

I particularly enjoy working with older adults, parents, and individuals in the "sandwich generation" who are navigating the caretaker role for their children and parents.

MY APPROACH:

It is a privilege to be a therapist and get to know people on a deep level. My role is to not only be there for support but also partner with my clients to help them process, shift perspectives, and work towards specific goals. I have an eclectic style and utilize different modalities depending on the individual and situation. I believe that if given the opportunity and tools, individuals find they have a lot of inner wisdom and strength to overcome the biggest challenges and experience all of life's joys.

I AM SKILLED IN:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Internal Family Systems Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Mindfulness Practices

Solution-Focused Therapy