Mindfulness-Based (MBCT) Therapists in Newton, MA

Accepting new clients - I provide individual therapy to adults. I strive to establish a collaborative relationship with my clients to promote healing and help them move towards a more meaningful and fulfilling life. I provide a nonjudgmental setting where my clients can express and explore their thoughts and feelings. I focus on helping my clients achieve a sense of freedom from distress, become more accepting of themselves, feel more connected to others, and build a life that is gratifying.

My specialty is working with young to older adults experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions, Divorce, Grief & Loss, Chronic/Terminal illness, and/or Addiction. Each client has their own story and unique needs. I take a person-centered authentic therapeutic approach to help clients step towards their preferred life at their own pace, always focusing on what is most important to them. I've gained valuable experience working in mental health at leading hospitals including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and at Mass General Brigham where I currently work in outpatient psychiatry. Your needs & goals will steer our work together!

I work in a very collaborative way to help you to achieve your personal goals. The fit is essential and so I invite you to meet with me to see if the match feels right. In our initial meetings I will want to get an understanding of what is working well in your life as well as what is not working well. I will also obtain a history and after a couple of sesions I will share with you my assessment of you and your problems and will recommend a treatment approach that I think will be helpful.

Life is not easy and sometimes people go it alone. The opportunity to heard, to be understood, and to be accepted is a very powerful one. My aim as a therapist is to provide that opportunity. In over 40 years of practice, I have helped people to understand that survival strategies of the past may now be the source of struggle in their lives. With that understanding in mind it is possible to make changes, alleviate suffering and move through life with greater ease and appreciation. To that end, I incorporate Focusing, Mindfulness , and Cognitive approaches where they may be useful.

***Accepting New Clients*** Are you a person experiencing depression or anxiety due to infertility, pregnancy or postpartum related issues? Are you a person who struggles to stay motivated with goals and feels stuck in life? Do you suffer from negative thoughts and feelings? I treat adults with issues ranging from depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, OCD, life transitions, or low self-esteem. I also help to support and teach coping skills to individuals, or couples, experiencing any difficulties that can arise during pre-pregnancy, while pregnant, and after childbirth.

Often life becomes challenging and stressful. You may react in anger, anxiety or depression, all of which, affect your work and relationships. Dr. Melissa Lowe assists in discovering the underlying reasons, helps to reveal conflicting patterns, and helps to transform conflicts into more positive results. This process is life-altering. Dr. Lowe uses insight and meditative or centering techniques to resolve conflict. Clarity, focus and inner peace occurs. Your relationships become more intimate and creativity increases in your work . Call to schedule an appointment and change your life.

I recognize that finding appropriate behavioral healthcare can be a daunting task. Many of you have already spent hours or days searching online, calling insurance companies, or asking friends if they “know of anyone” who can help you make the changes you desire. Seeking behavioral healthcare is challenging enough without these additional hurdles. My goal is to simplify the process of looking for appropriate treatment and accelerate the process of getting appropriate treatment. My philosophy is that change is possible, and through education, collaboration, and thoughtful treatment goals everyone is capable of finding that change.

I am trained in a variety of evidence based treatment modalities including mindfulness , motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma informed treatment. We will work together to identify how to make the changes that you are looking to make to have lasting effects in your life.

As a former teacher turned therapist, I have developed a strong counseling tool box. I specialize in supporting adolescents/teens and adults find ways to cope with trauma and loss, manage anxiety and depression, develop problem solving strategies and social skills, overcome substance abuse and low self-esteem, and manage family conflict. I am also able to help the individuals I work with to develop executive functioning and advocacy skills at school, home, and in the community. I utilize humor, unconditional positive regard, and curiosity to create a safe and productive space for you to grow.

As a psychotherapist, I listen carefully and work collaboratively with each client in forming a safe and accepting relationship. This relationship provides the basis for exploration, problem solving, healing and growth. I have an interactive style which incorporates warmth, humor, authenticity and direct feedback as I help my clients work through areas in which they feel stuck, unhappy or overwhelmed. These areas may include marital and other relationship difficulties, anxiety around life transitions, concerns about parenting or caring for aging parents, coping with illness, and dealing with breakups along with many others.

Would you like things to work better in your life, to feel happier and more in control? Some difficulties stem from situational and environmental factors, others are rooted in developmental issues, personality traits, mood disorders or psychosis. Life can be challenging for children and adults of all ages. Learn to identify your personal life values, thoughts and feelings. Focus on current functioning and develop improved mind-body relaxation, error-free thinking and emotion management, reflection and communication. Explore early attachments and present family and relationship dynamics. Address developmental and learning related concerns. I support medication when appropriate and welcomed by you.

(New clients welcome...) Things happen, and they happen all the times, whether or not we are aware. We act out when we don't get what we want and when we get what we don't want. Sometimes we act out in ways that are self-sabotaging. We get overwhelmed at work and in relationships. All this is normal and yet limits one's potential to be successful and happy.

We all lose our way sometimes and I believe that seeking help when we are facing life's many challenges, is an act of courage. It is very important to feel a connection with the therapist that you choose. My approach is warm, caring and interactive. I create a non-judgmental and supportive environment for you to explore and heal while also challenging and engaging you to help you achieve your goals.

From the very first session, I collaborate with clients and families to address their current challenges so that they can bring greater joy, peace, and acceptance into their lives. So often, our difficulties stem from unhealthy, long-standing patterns that weave through development and influence how we see ourselves, relationships, & the world around us. I help clients to deepen their understanding of their challenges and strengths in order to more effectively reach their goals.

As a thirty year veteran in Clinical Social Work, I worked for many years at the premier Harvard teaching hospital for Psychiatry in Boston.. I am an eclectic therapist. My clinical work is based upon a psychodynamic foundation to which I have integrated Cognitive and/or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness and Relaxation Training, Family Systems Models and Coaching. In my initial assessment and subsequent work with each individual, I strive to listen as closely as possible to the feeling experience of the client and help each person develop an understanding and perspective of their life experience.