Find a therapist, counselor or psychologist in Salem, MA

Christine Burgess is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who has 15 years of experience working with adolescents, young adults, middle-aged, and older who are suffering from depression, anxiety, and codependence, as well as the consequences of trauma, divorce, life transitions, and relationship troubles. 

Christine completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology at Westfield State University and her Master of Social Work (MSW) at Boston College. 

She utilizes mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), boundary development, and others to help the client reach a deeper understanding of themselves; gain an increased awareness around behavioral/emotional/thinking patterns; and discover connections between one’s psychosocial history and current functioning within an atmosphere of nonjudgmental acceptance. Christine embraces the uniqueness of each individual and tailors treatment with that in mind.

As a skilled therapist, Christine’s warm and empathetic demeanor, combined with humor and directness, invites her clients into a collaborative therapeutic relationship, where the client is valued and respected at all times, so as to facilitate a process of openness and transformation into improved mental health and overall wellbeing. 

"As an individual who has worked with a wide variety of individuals from all backgrounds, I have come to understand the importance of striving to understand each individual’s unique life story and how best to support him/her to achieve his/her goals."

Catherine Patten is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 12 years of professional experience helping teens, adults, and seniors to work through their anxiety, depression, anger, borderline personality disorder (BPD), poor coping skills, anxiety, dysfunctional relationships, low self-esteem, and more. 

Her past experience includes working in a mental health outreach program with individuals who struggle with chronic mental health issues. Catherine has also provided short-term therapy to individuals while working in this capacity. Catherine understands the importance of striving to understand each individual’s unique life story and how best to support him/her to achieve his/her goals. She's found schema therapy to be effective in working with many individuals across many walks of life.

Catherine enjoys using a strengths-based view with many clients, in which they can separate who they are from the challenges they have been through in their lives. She also uses motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT) at times to elicit goals and self-discovery.

Catherine is here to help you work through the past trauma and any associated negative self-dialogue that is often the result and part of what can cause clients to feel stuck. She's am here to listen, learn, and truly understand where you have been, where you are, and where you would like to be. Catherine believes it is an honor to be able to share in someone’s story and be able to offer support.

Stephen Medina is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMCH) who has 4 years of experience providing care to children, adolescents, and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, and mood disorders. 

Stephen completed his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and his Master of Science (MS) in Counseling at Bridgewater State University. He utilizes a variety of approaches to best provide a tailored approach to therapy for his clients. Whether providing and utilizing strength based, cognitive behavioral, or mindfulness techniques, Stephen will provide his clients with a positive and personalized therapy experience.

Stephen would like to work with you, in order to provide assistance in developing your strengths so you can confidently achieve your goals and live the life you deserve.

Alfonso Perillo is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) whose clinical focus is helping individuals cope with depression, anxiety, career/job transitions, and chronic illness. In addition, Alfonso specializes in group work for individuals dealing with these issues. He has 10 years of experience in the mental health field.

Alfonso completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology at Boston College and his Master of Social Work (MSW) at Boston University. He has also completed a Certificate in Executive Coaching at William James College. Lastly, as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Alfonso can help clients cope with issues related to financial health and wellness. 

Alfonso utilizes a collaborative, strength-based, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based,  solution-focused approach to therapy. He believes that helping clients gain insight into their beliefs and patterns of thinking leads to lasting change. As a result, Alfonso integrates active listening and a nonjudgmental approach in his interactions with clients.

"As a long-term career therapist, I have a passion for my work and feel privileged to work with those who share their heartfelt challenges with me."

Lisa Umanita is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience in this field. She is a passionate and compassionate practitioner. She has had the privilege to work with a diverse population struggling with mental health issues, working with individuals from 20-90 years old and assisting them to overcome their unique challenges and obtain their realistic goals towards wellness. Lisa specializes in anxiety, depression, transitional stressors and adjustments, loss, LGBT, relational issues, and stress management.

Lisa completed her master's degree at Boston University. Throughout her career, she has had an insatiable desire to continue learning to find what she feels is the most efficient and highly effective modalities of therapy. Lisa utilizes CBT, REBT, schema therapy, positive therapy, and strengths perspective therapy.

Everyone deserves to be happy; everyone experiences challenges. Lisa is highly capable of assisting you through your journey. Allow her the privilege of guiding you in creating effective coping strategies and gaining new insight into old inefficient patterns.

"I use a person-centered, solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral approach for all clients, offering a non-judgmental, caring, and empathic space for you to share your experiences."

Timothy Gau is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Massachusetts who has 10 years of experience working with teens, adults, and seniors who are seeking support in coping with depression, anxiety, stress, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), OCD, low self-esteem, chronic stress, and more. 

He completed his Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology from the University of Rochester and received his Master of Science in Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology from Northeastern University. Timothy uses a person-centered, solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral approach for all clients, offering a non-judgmental, caring, and empathic space for you to share your experiences.  

He uses humor, warmth, transparency, and compassion to build relationships and is eager to help you on your journey to achieve your therapeutic goals. Timothy is able to create a unique therapeutic relationship with each client with whom he has worked and is ready to collaborate with you on creating strategies for managing life’s challenges.

"As someone who has worked with children for over 17 years in a variety of settings and now have become a mother more recently I have a well rounded perspective of the struggles that face our children and caregivers in today's world."

Heather Alexandre is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with children, adolescents, and adults to resolve challenges related to anxiety, depression, relationships, grief and loss, and school/work adjustment. For the last 15 years, she worked with chronically ill children on an inpatient unit. In addition, she has worked in a preschool setting, tutored children, and led small community-based child development classes. Heather has also run parenting support groups and supported new mothers during postpartum. She likes to work with children and families to help them overcome and appreciate their daily and life-changing struggles while providing them with the tools to handle future challenges successfully.

Heather offers a fun, playful, collaborative, empathic environment and an integrative and holistic approach that combines aspects of play, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, strength-based, and psychodynamic theories to help you and/or your child understand and change nonproductive thoughts and behaviors, expand emotional awareness, improve relationships, build self-confidence, and face the obstacles that are getting in the way of living a happy and healthy life.

"I believe it is imperative to involve the parents and/or caregiver when working with children and adolescents," says Heather. "I will use a collaborative approach looking at the bio-psychosocial and spiritual model to better understand the child and family. I will involve the caregivers in treatment to support the child's strengths and hope to help caregivers better understand challenges the child is facing, and work on strategies together to overcome their struggles."

"As a mother, a former hospital employee, a former educator, and a clinical social worker, I empathize with you and truly recognize the hardships we are all working through and celebrate the resilience we all have shown," says Heather. "It is vital that we all check in with ourselves and provide ourselves with love, grace, and gratitude. The best way to better care for you and your family is to work on straggling your mental health. The work you put in will reward you, I want to help you remember that your mental health is a priority, your inner peace is essential and your self-care is a necessity. You and your child are stronger than you know."

"As an experienced individual and family therapist, I respect and recognize the vulnerability and the strength of taking that first step toward positive change. "

Celine De Santis is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who has been practicing in the field of mental health for over 30 years. Her clientele includes both children, teens, and adults who are suffering from the negative effects of chronic stress, anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, PTSD, phobias, grief, bereavement, and more.

Celine earned her Master's degree in Social Work from Simmons University. Her treatment focuses on individual, family, group, and play therapy approaches. She began her work as a mental health professional in addiction treatment, which she discovered was an excellent segue way into other behavioral health disorders. Post-traumatic stress, major depression, and mood dis-regulation are often present with both the identified client as well as their family members and are issues Celine is particularly adept at helping to manage or resolve.

Celine is available to listen and help work through any barriers that are keeping her clients from experiencing the quality of life they're seeking. As an experienced individual and family therapist, she also respects and recognizes the vulnerability and the strength of taking that first step toward positive change.