Meet our Counselors

Annette Nazziwa, LICSW

I love working with adults on how to improve family functioning with their children and other family members. I am experienced and certified in family centered treatment. I have worked in the field, gone into people's homes to address the challenges first hand and have been their during times of difficult conversations. During these times, we have addressed enmeshment, boundaries, support, scape-goating among many things. I believe that therapy is a relationship and one has to "join" with the client so as for one to reflect within themselves and make the much needed changes.

I have worked with children, families and the legal system. Through this, I have been exposed to a wide variety to different stressors that clients experience. While working with the clients, I use a humanistic, person-centered, and collaborative approach to therapy that guided clients to discover the power within themselves leading to desired changes.

I have lived experience of what a dysfunctional family looks like and how to conquer growing up in one or living in it every day. I also specialize in acculturation issues with first/second generation immigrants as well as other cross-cultural issues.

Kristen Gonzalez, LMHC

Kristen Gonzalez is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Massachusetts. She received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. Kristen understands that everyone’s life experiences are unique therefore, she utilizes a warm, non-judgmental, and supportive approach to meet her clients where they are and to deeply understand her clients’ life experiences and backgrounds.

Kristen’s therapeutic approach is integrative which incorporates psychodynamic therapy to explore clients’ past experiences and its influence on present behaviors, and cognitive-behavioral therapy to change maladaptive patterns of thinking that may impact every day functioning.

Kristen has experience working with individuals from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment, life issues and more. She collaboratively works together with her clients to explore the root of their presenting concerns; to enhance their self-awareness and personal growth; and to develop skills and techniques to alleviate their symptoms.

Nicole M. Breen, LMHC

 Nicole Breen is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts and has her master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Springfield College. Nicole has worked with a diverse range of clients in individual and group therapy, focusing on both brief and long-term treatment models. She has worked in the correctional environment with adult women and in higher education with the college aged adult. She also has related experience in school settings, communicating with parents and families, and working with children with special needs. 

Nicole’s therapeutic approach is to provide counseling, support, and skills-coaching to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. She combines traditional approaches, such as psychodynamic, person-centered, and both cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy (CBT and DBT), to offer a personalized, flexible, and collaborative approach to each client. 

She has worked with individuals struggling with symptoms related to depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, mood disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. Nicole also has experience with crisis stabilization and safety planning, helping individuals that struggle with self-destructive thoughts and behaviors. In addition, she has experience supporting and empowering clients dealing with a wide range of social and emotional challenges including but not limited to; relationship conflicts, major life changes and adjustment, addictive behaviors, academic and/or occupational stressors, chronic illness and pain, grief and loss, and anger management. 

Nicole is here to listen, empower, guide, and support her clients and looks forward to working with you!

Janan Braley, LMHC

Janan Braley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who graduated with her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Framingham State University. Prior to receiving her masters degree Janan worked with individuals with chronic mental illness, who also had a history of fire setting. Janan has experience working with early childhood, at risk youth, individuals with substance abuse disorders, and individuals with chronic mental illnesses. It is important to Janan to meet clients where they are at and provide person centered therapy, as well as combine CBT and positive psychology in her daily work. Janan has experience working with individuals with anxiety, ADHD, depression, mood disorders, relationship struggles, substance abuse, and trauma. Janan has experience providing individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. Janan is certified in Trauma Focused CBT.

Pinelopi Dovinos, LICSW

Pinelopi Dovinos is a psychotherapist with a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Certification in Gender and sexuality (queer studies) & women’s studies from Florida Atlantic University. She is licensed as an Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Massachusetts. Pinelopi views the therapeutic environment as a place where the utmost care should be taken to create a culturally sensitive and non-judgmental safe space.

She has extensive experience working with adults struggling with addiction disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma-related issues, PTSD, gender identity, HIV+, LGBTQ+ , low-self esteem, self image, stress management, anger management, couples, bi-polar disorder, coping with life/age transitions, and more. Pinelopi prides herself in using only evidenced based practices; working collaboratively with clients to set measurable and achievable goals.