Meet our Providers

Edwin Japheth Agbonavbare, CNP, ARNP, PMHNP-BC

Philosophy of Care

Edwin Japheth Agbonavbare is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the state of  Massachusetts who has about 18 years' experience in the field of mental health as both a  mental health counselor, a registered nurse, and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner  who has worked relentlessly with children, adults, and families seeking help with depression,  anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, schizophrenia spectrum, conduct disorder, oppositional  dysregulation disorder, life transitions, life issues and relationship issues. He completed his  Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Salem State University and received his Master of Science  in Nursing from Walden University as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.  

Edwin utilizes evidence-based, collaborative, mindfulness based, solution focused and  emotionally focused approaches to therapy always maintaining the creativity, flexibility and  awareness necessary to best meet the needs of every unique individual and couple. He also  bases his medication prescription technique from experience, and the utilization of evidence based practice to effectively manage the disease process of every individual. 

Edwin seeks to establish a warm and caring relationship with you in order to assist in building  on your strengths and better collaborate with every individual towards meeting their goals and  living their meaningful lives.

Education

Walden University
Master's in Nursing

Specialties

• Depression 
• Anxiety 
• Stress management 
• Self esteem 
• Life transitions 
• Anger management 
• Men’s issues 
• Bipolar disorder 
• Mood disorder 
• Schizophrenia spectrum 
• ADHD 
• PTSD

Elizabeth Thompson, LICSW

Philosophy of Care

Liz Thompson is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She received her Masters in Social Work from Boston College and her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Quinnipiac University. Liz has worked with individuals in various settings including the hospital, partial hospitalization programs, and inpatient psychiatric facilities. She has extensive experience in working with eating disorders, grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, crisis, adjustment to life threatening illnesses, and life transitions. While she has worked with all age groups, her specialty is adolescents and young adults. 

Liz believes in bringing transparency, authenticity, and a little humor into the therapeutic space. She believes that therapy should be a space for clients to express their truest self and feels that creating a safe and supportive environment is the best way to ensure this. Liz places a strong emphasis on her therapeutic relationships so that her clients feel respected, appreciated, and understood. 

Liz utilizes various treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Grief Counseling, Client Centered Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She incorporates mindfulness and relaxation techniques to best support clients. Liz is flexible in order to meet the unique needs of each of her clients and utilizes a holistic approach to set clients up for success.

Education

Boston College
Master's in Social Work

Specialties

• Eating Disorders
• Grief and Loss 
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress Management
• Life Transitions

Erin Rauscher, APRN

Philosophy of Care

Being an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with over 30 years of practice as both a Board Certified Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Family Nurse Practitioner, I believe I will be able to help you navigate through complex psychiatric issues.

I perform psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, therapy and counseling.

My philosophy of care is a client-centered approach involving the client’s present set of thoughts, beliefs, relationships, communication skills and behaviors. \

According to Dr. Patricia Allen, one of my mentors:
“The way out of a negative feeling is a positive action”   

Education

Boston University
MSN

Specialties

• Medication Management
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood Disorders
• Relationship Issues
• Communication Problems
• Spiritual/End of Life Issues

Kimberly Wabik, MSW, LICSW

Philosophy of Care

Kimberly Wabik is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She has 10 years of experience partnering with youth, young adults, retired persons and all ages in between. Kimberly completed her Bachelor of Science in Human Serves at Lesley University, and her Master’s Degree in Social Work at Simmons College.

Kimberly’s primary focus when providing therapy is meeting someone “where they are at” in life, and helping them become their best selves. Kimberly provides therapy from a strength based approach, utilizing techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectal behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.

The most important first steps of therapy is building a trusting relationship, and discussing and creating collaborative goals.

Education

Simmons College
Master’s Degree in Social Work

Specialties

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Borderline Personal Disorder
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Life Transitions
• Veterans
• Bi-polar Disorder

Marina Geller, LCSW

Philosophy of Care

**Marina offers therapy services in English and Russian

We all want to be happy.  Yet, when we experience negative thoughts, pain, and trauma, our bodies hold on to unhealed emotional wounds that create anxiety, depression and other illnesses. In her therapeutic practice, Marina provides care to individuals who seek help with depression, anxiety, career, academic, life transitions, and relationship issues. As a lifelong meditation instructor, she applies visualization, meditation, and cognitive reframing techniques to help clients release emotional turbulence, gain new perspectives, and bring the “whole person” – body, mind and spirit into alignment.  

Marina completed her Bachelors Degree at Boston University and received  her Masters Degree in Social Work from Salem State University. Marina seeks to build with you an authentic and collaborative relationship that centers on your strengths, personal vision, and your happiness. Her therapeutic approach is uniquely tailored to your needs and rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Strength Based Solution Focused Therapy. 

Marina honors and values your courage to seek help and appreciates the opportunity to assist you on your journey.

Education

Salem State University
Master's in Social Work

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress management
• Self esteem
• Family Conflict
• Life transitions
• Career Counseling
• School Issues
• Academic Achievement
• Relationship issues

Rachel Cavallaro, Licensed Psychologist

Philosophy of Care

Dr. Cavallaro received her Doctor of Clinical Psychology from University of Hartford in 2018.  She completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship in Addiction Medicine at CeDAR before accepting a full-time position as a psychologist there and receiving her Master’s Addiction Counselor certification.   Dr. Cavallaro specializes in treating addiction, trauma/complicated grief, depression, anxiety, and military veterans.  Dr. Cavallaro also provides psychological assessment for diagnostic clarification of mood or personality disorders, ADHD, of cognitive concerns and fitness for duty evaluations for licensed professionals. 

Although Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is her primary treatment of choice, Dr. Cavallaro regularly integrates techniques from various modalities to meet the needs of the individual and increase effectiveness including positive psychology, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness to increase wellbeing and enhance resiliency in individual therapy. 

Dr. Cavallaro aims to create a trusting and collaborative relationship to help you achieve your goals and help you create the life you desire.  Dr. Cavallaro will help you to identify your various strengths and assist in the creation of new ones to enhance individual resilience.  

Education

University of Hartford
Doctorate of Clinical Psychology

Specialties

• Psychological Assessment
  • Fitness for duty/Independent medical evaluation (IME)
  • Diagnostic clarification for mood or personality disorder
  • ADHD evaluation
  • Intelligence testing
  • Cognitive evaluation
• Addiction Treatment
• Trauma and PTSD
  • Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD
  • Concurrent treatment of PTSD and substance use disorders using prolonged exposure (COPE)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Complicated Grief 
• Military personnel
• Licensed professionals (doctors, nurses, lawyers etc.)

Samantha Rynderman, LMHC

Philosophy of Care

Samantha Rynderman is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Massachusetts with experience providing therapeutic support and intervention for adults seeking help with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, life transitions, and relationship issues. She received her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University.

Samantha utilizes a tailored approach to therapy that draws on the combined strengths of cognitive behavioral, holistic, existential, person-centered, and mindfulness based techniques to meet the ever evolving needs of every unique individual.

Samantha seeks to establish a genuine and nurturing space for you to explore your personal journey and will be dedicated to working with you through life’s most challenging experiences.

Education

Northeastern University
Master of Science in Counseling Psychology

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress management
• Mindfulness
• Addictions and Relapse Prevention
• Trauma
• Mood disorders
• Self esteem
• LGBTQIA
• Life transitions
• Anger management
• Women’s issues
• Relationship issues
• Parenting issues
• Millennial issues

Tyler Schlicht, LICSW

Philosophy of Care

Tyler Schlicht is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the state of Massachusetts who has experience partnering with adults, young adults, and senior citizens seeking help with depression, anxiety, grief & loss, trauma, LGBTQ+ issues and life transitions. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychology at St. Thomas Aquinas College and his Master of Social Work at New York University.

Tyler utilizes an integrative approach that is collaborative, strengths-based, and person-centered. Tyler incorporates psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and motivational interviewing techniques into his treatment which is tailored to the unique needs of his clients in collaboration with them.

Tyler seeks to establish a rapport with his clients that is built on mutual respect and trust. Tyler believes that therapy is most effective when it is directed in accordance with the clients goals and values.

Specialties

• Grief & loss
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Life transitions
• Stress management 
• LGBTQ+ issues

Gina Gambardella, LICSW

Gina Gambardella is a Clinical Social Worker who is Licensed in the state of Massachusetts.

She brings almost 30 years experience working collaboratively with individuals seeking an improvement in life.   This includes  helping with troublesome worries, grief anxiety, depression, stress management and life transitions. Gina completed her MSW  at Boston College Graduate School of Social Work in 1992.

Gina utilizes many therapeutic, evidence based approaches in her practice.  This includes  self-compassion, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, psycho-dyanamic therapy.  She takes strength- based, trauma informed and culturally curious stance when working with clients.

She understands that an individual's environment, home, school, community, plays a huge role in their lives. She believes therapy at it’s best is working with clients collaboratively to meet their goals. She approaches her work in the  spirit of curiosity and flexibility. 

Gina is an experienced therapist who will help to  illuminate your strengths, and  listen to your story with compassion and warmth.

Gina’s specialties:

• Women’s issues
• Relationship issues
• Life Transitions
• Work/Career issues
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief and loss