Meet the Team
Clinical Psychologists
Lowell, MA
Joanne Groetzinger, LMHC
Joanne joined the CHS family in 2019. She has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, having worked in a variety of settings including forensic psychology, private practice, and with NH Healthy Families. Joanne earned her first Master’s degree in Human Services Administration from Springfield College, and obtained her second Master’s degree, in psychology, from Notre Dame College in Manchester.
Her clinical specialties include CBT, DBT, family therapy, and working with clients with schizophrenia and other chronic mental illnesses.
Languages spoken: English
Chelmsford, MA
Michelle Troyer, MSW, LICSW
Michelle is a licensed clinical social worker who fosters a trauma-informed and culturally-responsive environment. She uses a range of expressive, cognitive, somatic, and narrative modalities with clients to develop coping skills and regulation techniques. Michelle’s passion lies in working with children (ages 4 and up) and adolescents though has experience across the lifespan. Her clinical specialties include anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, perinatal mental health, eating disorders, child development, autism, and substance use. She employs therapeutic techniques including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Rainbowdance®, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. She leads individual, family, and group sessions.
When not at work, Michelle enjoys knitting/crocheting, spending time with her two cats, traveling the world, and learning languages. She is fluent in English, proficient in French, and conversational in American Sign Language, Greek, and Spanish.
Languages spoken: English, French, Greek, Spanish
Therapists
Needham, MA
Margaret van Bael, LICSW
Margaret van Bael (Meg) has worked in the mental health field for over thirty years with adults of all ages. Her areas of specialization include unipolar and bipolar depression, PTSD and other anxiety disorders, adult children of alcoholics, dual diagnosis (substance use disorder and mental illness), chronic illness and stress, life role transitions and issues of grief and loss. Since she believes that there is no such thing as “One size fits all” when it comes to mental health treatment, her style is eclectic, incorporating supportive interpersonal work, CBT, mindfulness, hypnotherapy and other modalities. During her academic training, she worked at the EN Rogers Memorial Veterans’ Hospital before graduating Summa cum Laude from the Salem State Graduate School of Social Work. Prior to joining Waltham Behavioral Health, she worked for McLean Hospital, Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and Jewish Family and Children’s Service. She is a member of the Private Practice Shared Interest Group of the Massachusetts National Association of Social Workers and the New England Society for Clinical Hypnosis.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Kayla Corsetti, LMHC
Kayla joined CFD as an intern in 2018 and became an employee in 2019. She obtained her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling through Rivier University. She has years of experience working with adolescents at St. Ann’s Home. Kayla sees children, adolescent and adult clients. She belongs to Project Semicolon and strives to bring awareness to suicide and mental health issues.
Kayla’s clinical specialties include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Dialectal Behavior Therapy, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm, trauma, abuse, and bullying.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Debra Gilbert, MA
Debra has been with CHS since 2020 and has over 22 years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, and families. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Suffolk University and her Master's in counseling psychology from Salem State University. She has worked in numerous outpatient, inpatient and residential settings, as well having years of experience being a volunteer grief counselor for T.I.P. (Trauma Intervention Program of the Merrimack Valley).
Debra uses a person-centered and individualized approach encouraging clients to consider how they're wired in order to better understand themselves in relation to others and the world. She believes that with attention to therapeutic models such as systems thinking, and attachment style one can better understand themselves and their authentic needs and develop instruments for more qualitative self-care.
Debra has an eclectic approach using evidence-based treatment modalities. Areas of clinical practice include developing and improving personal dynamics with a focus on communication skills, cognitive restructuring, motivational interviewing, relational therapy, CBT, and learning distress tolerance skills. She has decades of experience working with symptoms of anxiety/stress, panic attacks, depression, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, Executive functioning issues, learning disabilities, sensory processing disorder, ASD, Behavioral issues, LGBTQ community, adapting and acclimating to Life transitions, Relationship/Family issues. She works with and sees clients age 5 and up.
Languages spoken: English
Chelmsford, MA
Cloe Hallinan, LICSW
Cloe graduated in May 2017 from Simmons College with her Masters in Clinical Social Work and holds an LCSW. Prior to obtaining her degree, she had worked as a preschool teacher, worked with children with emotional and behavioral issues, and women struggling with eating disorders. Post graduate school, Cloe gained more experience working closely with children and families and eventually clinically supporting adults with psychotic disorders in the community. Cloe likes to incorporate CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Strength-Based Therapy and/or Narrative Therapy into her sessions. Her clinical specialties include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma, ADHD, and self esteem building. She sees clients of all ages.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Ian Hibbert, MA
Ian joined the CHS family as an intern in the fall of 2019. Ian obtained a bachelor’s from the University of Massachusetts: Dartmouth before starting his post-secondary training. He received a Master’s of Art in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College. Ian works within a trauma-informed, Cognitive-Behavioral framework and sees clients aged 12 and up.
Areas of Clinical Interest: Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma-Informed Therapy.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Marilyn Kanu, MS
Languages spoken: English
Chelmsford, MA
Laurel Kuipers, LCSW
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Joseph Sheldon LeBlanc, MSW
Coming Soon...
Languages spoken: English
Needham, MA
Karen Levine, LICSW
Karen Levine joined Charles River Counseling in 2018. She holds an MSW from Simmons University and an MCP (Master’s in City Planning) from MIT. Karen serves clients ages 12 and older.
Karen’s clinical interests include depression, anxiety, life transition, medical illness, grief and loss, marital and family issues. Karen takes an eclectic strength’s based approach to client support and problem solving. She utilizes cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and solutions-focused techniques among others, and is currently studying mindfulness and meditation. Karen enjoys spending time with family, friends and pets, growing flowers and vegetables, cooking, and being in nature.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Linda Littlefield, LICSW
Linda has been with CFD since 1999 and has been employed as a social worker since 1974. Linda graduated from Boston University’s School of Social Work and went on to receive her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Boston University. She belongs to the National Association of Social Workers. She sees clients ages 16 and older.
Linda’s clinical specialties include working with people struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. In addition, she has experience working with abuse/trauma, anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar disorder, depression, divorce, grief, homelessness, incarceration, learning disorders, relationships, schizophrenia, and self-harm.
Languages spoken: English
Needham, MA
Donna McCoy-Algeré, MSW, LICSW
Donna is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years experience in the social work field. She provides counseling to adults and older adolescents. Donna’s clinical interests include treating anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, ASD, grief/loss, self-esteem, couples counseling, and substance use disorders. Donna is a culturally competent clinician in providing care to diverse populations. Donna utilizes various therapeutic modalities including CBT, DBT, Strength Based, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative and Solution-Focused. Donna received her MSW from Simmons College and B.S. from Boston University. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Donna enjoys gardening, arts & crafts and activities with her family and friends outside of work.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Nicole Nickerson, LICSW
Nicole is a clinical social worker with over 11 years of experience. She graduated from Boston University’s School of Medicine in 2007 with her MSW. She sees clients ages 21 and older.
Nicole specializes in working with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, homelessness, relationships, schizophrenia, self-esteem, social anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Radharani Nunez, MA
Coming soon
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Jackie Parker, LMHC
Jackie Parker joined out team in 2019, and has been working in the clinical field since 2012. Jackie attended University of Toledo, Ohio for her Bachelors degree and Bowling Green State University, Ohio for her Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Jackie sees clients ages 5 and older. Her clinical specialties are in CBT and solution-focused work, in addition to working with children/youth, family therapy, parenting skills, trauma, and adoption/foster care. When not at work, Jackie enjoys traveling, bicycling, going to concerts, cooking/watching cooking shows, going to the gym, gardening, and spending time with her cat.
Languages spoken: English
Chelmsford, MA
Lucy Paynter, MS
Lucy received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and her Masters in Mental Health Counseling at University of Massachusetts-Boston.
Lucy has had training in CBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, Psychoanalytic Therapy, and career counseling among others.Lucy’s clinical interests are in the areas of family counseling, trauma, teens and pre-teens mental health issues, and more.
She also speaks the Kikuyu language.
Languages spoken: English, Swahili
Needham, MA
Johanna Schneid, LICSW
Johanna is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Bridgewater State University. She has extensive experience working in the mental health field in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, residential programs, foster care, and medical clinics.
Johanna serves clients ages 18 and older. Her clinical interests include depression, anxiety, mood disorders, self-esteem, stress management, interpersonal/relationship challenges, life transitions, and emotional regulation.
Johanna integrates strength-based, trauma informed, cognitive behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavioral (DBT), and solution focused approaches in therapy, maintaining the flexibility to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual.
Languages spoken: English
Chelmsford, MA
Khristan Shields, LMHC
Khristan has been with SBCC since 2017 and has over 20 years of clinical experience. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Rivier University. Khristan belongs to the APA (American Psychological Association), ACA (American Counseling Association), and is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health. She serves clients between the ages of 8-85.
Her clinical specialties include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client Centered Therapy and Mindfulness. Khristan works with the treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Substance Abuse, PTSD, Harm Reduction, Body Image Issues, Behavioral Disorders and ADHD. When not at work, Khristan enjoys reading, photography, hiking, and animal rescue.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Althea Terrell, LICSW
Althea has been with the Center for Family Development since 2017. She obtained her MSW from Simmons University. Althea sees clients ages 8 and older.
Althea’s clinical specialties include trauma, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. When not at work, Althea enjoys journaling and going on walks.
Languages spoken: English
Chelmsford, MA
Marlena Thompson, MSW
Before becoming a social worker, she spent 14 years working in emergency care settings, where she learned many trauma-informed techniques that she now applies to her mental health practice. Working in high-intensity situations provided her with a firsthand understanding of how to navigate expectations of self and others. In recent years, she worked with teenagers in school settings and supported families by providing intensive in home therapy. She received her MSW from Springfield College and is currently pursuing her LCSW.
Marlena sees clients of all ages. Her areas of expertise include anxiety disorder, identity issues, depression, interpersonal issues, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and developing social skills. She has a background in substance abuse and addiction disorders, life coaching, grief, trauma, and treating low self-esteem. Marlena’s goal in therapy is to help clients develop and improve coping skills they can use in managing everything from daily stressors to major life crises. The modalities she uses are CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing and supportive therapy. Her approach is both Solution-Focused and evidence-based, as well as encouraging clients to explore mindfulness and meditation to be incorporated on their pathway to provide effective and efficient results. Her therapeutic style is client-centered, and she individualizes support based on feedback from clients. She believes the client is the expert in their own life and aims to provide support and skills to assist them on their journey to healing.
She is fluent in English and Polish and is a member of NASW.
Languages spoken: English, Polish
Chelmsford, MA
Sheila Tucke, LICSW
Sheila has been working as a therapist for over 25 years. She graduated from Fitchburg University with her MSW. She sees clients ages 21 and older.
Sheila’s clinical specialties include relationships, parenting, identity, work and careers, depression, anxiety, trauma, school and education, gender, and cultural issues.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Kylee Vogt, M.Ed
Before joining the CHS clinical team, Kylee worked for over 10 years in residential substance use treatment. She recently graduated from Cambridge College with a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and is working toward her license. Her approach is person-centered and she utilizes various treatment modalities like motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness in her practice.
Kylee sees clients ages 12 and older. She specializes in substance use and addiction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and relationships.
Languages spoken: English
Lowell, MA
Alison Yates, MA
Alison has been in the health and human services field since the age of 17 when she enlisted in the United States Army as a medic. She has attended Rivier University and holds a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a CAGS in Multicultural Studies. Alison has over 17 years of service in working with clients with major mental health concerns in a community mental health setting and her clientele includes children, families, teens, adults, couples, veterans, and crisis management. Alison is currently pursuing her PsyD in Counseling and School Psychology.
Alison is an advocate for others, not just to find, but to use their voice. Alison supports the This is My Brave Project, an organization that strives to use the arts as an expression to advocate to end the stigma associated with mental health. She also supports veterans and their families for their service country and continues to educate herself in their needs as well as volunteering for the USO.
Languages spoken: English
