Therapists in Beverly, MA

In my 30+ years of experience as a therapist, clinical supervisor, researcher, educator and writer on complex trauma, I have come to believe that we are shaped as much by the good things that went missing from our lives as the bad things that happened to us. My clients have often endured severe abuse, neglect, oppression, and other forms of life adversity. They have learned to cope and survive in ways that get misunderstood and misdiagnosed, and that can cause profound stigma, shame and social rejection. Their courage and resilience inspires awe. Finding a therapist who can see and accept all parts of them is one key to recovery.

I am a licensed therapist who works with individuals and couples of all ages and various presenting concerns. I work with individuals with mental health challenges, addictive behavior, or life-transitional issues (e.g. beginning high school/college, launching into adulthood, managing relationships, grief/loss, etc.). I help couples get to a place of connection where each partner feels heard, understood, and loved by the other. No matter what circumstances led us to where we are today, I believe that we all have the potential to be happy and content.

I am an experienced psychotherapist and Certified Group Psychotherapist working with individuals, couples and groups. I hold a PhD in biochemistry, which informs my work in psychotherapy by integrating current research in neuroscience into my treatment approach. I am trained in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), an emotionally focused therapy heavily informed by neuroscience that focuses on how we can heal in relationship what was harmed in relationship. My broader training consists of proactive cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness techniques, stress reduction strategies, and communication tools.

We work well with people throughout the age range, whether it is a child struggling in school, an adult overwhelmed by life's demands, or a senior citizen in need of support, we are prepared and eager to help. While your relationship with your therapist is central, we focus on RESULTS: With a dynamic mix of positive psychology and evidence-based treatment, it's our mission to help you to feel better & do better in your life.

Openings available for Individuals. Welcome. With warmth, clarity and compassion, I offer help to people suffering from "Wounds of the Heart and Mind": Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, neglect and relationship issues, in both groups and individual. With many years experience in both traditional and mind/body approaches, I integrate Relational Attachment work, Buddhist psychology, Childhood Trauma healing groups and energy medicine practices . I believe that along with real pain and suffering, everyone has a potential healthy Self; often obscured or undeveloped. We can build, hold and nurture that together.

I am fully certified in two evidence based therapies1) EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and 2) IFS or Internal Family Systems Therapy. In a very SAFE manner, they can be VERY effective. I emphasize the word SAFE because NOTHING is ever discussed unless YOU are comfortable discussing it. You're "the boss" as to what we cover/discuss in therapy.

I’m a white, cis, queer, fat femme clinical social worker from a working class background licensed in Massachusetts (LICSW) and Pennsylvania (LCSW). I recently relocated to western MA from Philly, where I began my practice. My areas of clinical interest include: queer and trans identities; issues surrounding sex and sexuality; fat liberation/body positivity; gender-based violence; ambiguous loss and complex grief; anxiety and depression; trauma; attachment and alternative family structures. I work from a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive framework with attention to how identities and larger systems intersect.

Dr. Stevens completed his internship in Clinical Psychology at the University of Rochester Counseling Center in 2010, where he worked with college students using relational based models of therapy, and rotated at the Psychiatric Emergency Department. Dr. Stevens then completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 2011 at the W.G. Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Medical Informatics. Dr. Stevens' clinical work consisted of neuropsychological evaluations, along with individual and group psychotherapy with veterans. At the Salisbury VAMC Dr. Stevens completed research involving the anterior cingulate cortex, a unique region of the brain located between the prefrontal cortex and limbic system brain areas.

It takes courage to contact a psychotherapist. One's deepest thoughts and feelings are often uncomfortable, and making room for them can be difficult. If you’re here, though, you’re ready for a change, and I'm happy to help with that! At my group practice, Zest Counseling, we believe people are wired for growth and healing and that within the security of a trusting relationship, you can learn to honor your most authentic self. We explore whatever you are grappling with, whether it be anxiety, relationship issues, depression, grief, insomnia, or existential questions about the life you want to lead. Nothing is off the table!