Deborah Jai Levy is a highly experienced Clinical Social Worker and Therapist, holding credentials as an LICSW and SEP. She passionately dedicates her expertise to helping adults and elders navigate the complexities of life, particularly in areas such as grief, trauma and PTSD, and relationship issues. With a profound understanding of the diverse challenges that individuals face, including coping skills, infidelity, life transitions, and anxiety, Deborah utilizes an integrative approach tailored to each client's unique journey.<br /> <br /> Her therapeutic modalities encompass a rich variety of methods, including Imago therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing, among others. Her practice is rooted in compassion, focusing on creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their feelings and experiences, allowing for transformative healing. Whether working with individuals or couples, Deborah’s commitment to her clients shines through her dedication to their well-being and emotional growth.

Steve Kanji Ruhl, a skilled Pastoral Counselor with a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University, is dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges through the lens of their own faith traditions. He provides a unique blend of spiritual guidance influenced by Zen Buddhism, drawing upon his extensive background as an ordained minister and a former teacher of interfaith spiritual guidance. Steve's counseling approach emphasizes the innate wisdom and compassion already present within each person, guiding them toward greater clarity and self-discovery. He is known for his deep listening skills and offers insightful suggestions tailored to the individual’s needs. With a commitment to creating a welcoming and trusting space, Steve supports his clients through the sacred work of personal exploration, balancing solemnity with joy, always with a focus on spiritual and psychological growth. His practice addresses a range of issues, including life coaching, life transitions, and spirituality for teens, adults, and elders, making a profound impact in the lives of those he serves.

Alan Kanner, PhD, is a compassionate psychologist who recognizes the courage it takes to step into a therapist's office. He understands that psychotherapy is challenging and requires a collaborative effort between therapist and client. In his practice, Alan firmly believes that forming a strong therapeutic alliance is paramount, as it allows clients to feel truly heard and understood. He meticulously crafts individualized treatment plans that are effective and nurturing. With over 40 years of experience, Alan draws from an evolving array of therapeutic foundations, with family systems theory at the core, complemented by cognitive behavioral methods and mindfulness principles inspired by Buddhist thought. His client-centered approach prioritizes the interests, goals, and needs of each individual, fostering an active feedback loop that bolsters clients' strengths and capabilities. Alan's unwavering commitment to supporting clients continues until they determine that they have reached a satisfying closure, confident in the work they have accomplished together.

Sally Kealy is a dedicated Clinical Social Worker and Therapist, recognized for her compassionate approach to mental health care. With expertise in addressing grief, stress, and depression, she provides a safe and nurturing environment for individuals of all ages, including teens, adults, and elders. Sally’s practice is enriched by her training in various therapy modalities, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Compassion Focused Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She embraces a client-centered and eclectic therapeutic style, tailoring her methods to meet the unique needs of each individual. Beyond her focus on emotional challenges such as trauma, chronic pain, and anxiety, Sally is passionate about empowering her clients through life transitions, spirituality, and self-esteem building. Her work fosters a supportive atmosphere where growth and healing are not just attainable but celebrated.

LaVerne Kelly, LICSW, understands that many individuals feel tired of feeling stuck and uncertain about their next steps. While one may not be in crisis, they often seek to manage stress, anxiety, or depression, especially during times of transition. Change can be challenging and even a bit intimidating, but LaVerne provides the support necessary for those ready to embark on a different path, whether they have a clear idea of the change they seek or are simply open to exploring new possibilities. With over 20 years of therapeutic experience, she offers a warm, non-judgmental space to talk and be heard. LaVerne adapts her treatment approaches to meet the unique needs of her clients, utilizing techniques such as culturally sensitive practices, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and motivational interviewing. Together, they will identify specific needs, set achievable goals, and navigate any barriers to success, all while creating a realistic plan to overcome challenges. LaVerne's mission is to guide her clients toward greater clarity and insight, empowering them to navigate the complexities of life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.

At times, clients find themselves confronted by stressful situations such as an impasse with a boss, conflict at home, financial or school-related pressures, major life transitions, losses, and health issues. Anna Kogan, an experienced Clinical Social Worker and Therapist, understands how to help individuals find the strength and courage needed to navigate complex problems without succumbing to pain and suffering. She offers compassionate guidance and professional knowledge to empower clients in overcoming their challenges. By tapping into their personal resources—such as wisdom, resilience, spirituality, and creativity—Anna integrates mindfulness, relaxation, and visualization techniques into the therapy process. Her practice incorporates psychodynamic, EMDR, CBT, and narrative approaches, emphasizing a client-centered experience tailored to personal needs and goals. Fluent in Russian, Anna possesses extensive experience working with immigrants and individuals from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds. She specializes in women's issues, trauma, and identity development, recognizing that each client's voice and story hold significant importance.

Sev Kolysko, a skilled Clinical Social Worker and therapist with 15 years of experience, understands the challenges individuals face when they feel stuck or overwhelmed in their lives. His commitment to creating a safe and supportive therapeutic environment allows clients to pursue personal growth and achieve a sense of well-being. Sev utilizes an integrative approach, combining psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies with mindfulness and solution-focused components, tailored for adults and older adolescents. His primary areas of focus include managing anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and other complex coping patterns. In addition to his therapeutic practice, Sev serves as an educator, training aspiring social workers. He believes that success in therapy begins with finding the right therapist—a trusted connection that inspires personal growth. Sev is dedicated to exploring the potential benefits of therapy and ensuring that clients feel understood and gently challenged in their journey toward positive change.

Alexandra Chesner is a dedicated Marriage & Family Therapist with a rich experience of 30 years in providing individual, couple, and family therapy. Her practice welcomes a diverse range of clients, including children, adolescents, college students, parents, and elders. Known for her strength-based and collaborative approach, Alexandra focuses on what clients find most helpful. She takes the time to create a nurturing environment where individuals can gain insights, develop skills, and improve their overall well-being. Alexandra's expertise spans family systems therapy, trauma-informed care, and a variety of therapeutic modalities including EMDR, DBT, and mindfulness-based techniques. Through play, art, and writing exercises, she encourages clients to explore their feelings and thoughts in a safe space. Alexandra is also well-versed in family dynamics and offers consultations to schools and social service providers, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of each client’s social context. With her wealth of knowledge regarding public and private resources and special educational needs, she is committed to supporting each individual’s unique journey towards healing and growth.

Elizabeth LaRaia, LICSW, is passionate about supporting adults in their journey toward living their best lives. She specializes in working with individuals aged 17 and above, offering guidance for those looking to improve their ability to manage challenging life aspects. Whether dealing with trauma and PTSD, relationship issues, or mood disorders, Elizabeth provides a compassionate, validating, and safe space for change. Understanding that confronting personal challenges can be daunting, she offers supportive and reassuring opportunities to move forward. Through the use of mindfulness-based practices and behavioral intervention strategies, Elizabeth collaborates with her clients to create tailored plans to help them achieve their goals. She focuses on identifying barriers to change and constructing effective strategies for overcoming them. With a commitment to increasing engagement in meaningful activities and relationships, Elizabeth believes in nurturing a supportive, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship, making therapy a process of generating hope and enjoying personal growth.

David Levit, PhD, ABPP, is a distinguished clinical psychologist with over three decades of experience practicing in Amherst since 1989. He serves a diverse array of clients, spanning from college-aged individuals to older adults, addressing various challenges such as negative self-image, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, losses, and life transitions. David is dedicated to fostering a warm, safe, and collaborative atmosphere that allows individuals to find relief from suffering and cultivate a more engaged and fulfilling life. He believes that the journey toward growth and healing often requires a deeper awareness of self-defeating patterns that may affect how individuals experience and navigate their lives. His work is grounded in a psychodynamic approach, complemented by a contemporary relational perspective. In addition to offering psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, David integrates insights from Somatic Experiencing into his practice. He boasts advanced Board Certification in Clinical Psychology and Psychoanalysis from the American Board of Professional Psychology. David also contributes to the field through consultations with colleagues and holds multiple faculty roles, including Faculty and Supervising Analyst at the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis and Instructor in Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Thomas Levy is a seasoned counselor with over 28 years of experience helping both individuals and couples navigate through feelings of being stuck, unclear, or overwhelmed by various life challenges. His practice integrates mind-body approaches to facilitate clearer emotional access, deeper expression, healing, and personal growth. Thomas has effectively guided clients dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues. He views his role as a supportive partner in helping clients understand their current situations, find tailored solutions, and encourage their next steps towards healing. Committed to the belief that every individual possesses the seeds of their own healing, Thomas works collaboratively with clients to forge a meaningful path forward. He draws on a diverse range of therapeutic modalities including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Compassion-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and EMDR, customizing his approach to meet the unique needs of those he serves.

Ruth Levy, an experienced Clinical Social Worker and Therapist, understands that change is a natural and often complex part of life. She specializes in working with adults and elders, particularly addressing women’s issues, family conflict, and emotional disturbances. Ruth is dedicated to helping individuals and families develop the necessary resources to navigate life transitions, anxiety, and depression. Her warm presence transforms therapy into a collaborative conversation where clients can explore new ways of responding to longstanding patterns. With a background in Expressive Arts Therapy, Ruth encourages creative expression through writing, visual art, role-play, guided imagery, and mindfulness, tailoring her approach to meet each individual's needs. As a student of Buddhist psychology and meditation, Ruth harmoniously integrates the psychological with the spiritual and natural worlds, guiding clients towards spontaneity and resilience. She believes in the power of practice beyond the therapy session, empowering her clients to bring their strengths and creativity into their daily lives, fostering a fulfilling and responsive way of living.

Erica Lorentz is a compassionate therapist who creates a nurturing space where clients can explore and understand their inner world. With a focus on guiding individuals through their dreams, emotions, and physical symptoms, she helps them realize that anxiety, depression, anger, and trauma are signals pointing toward personal growth. Many of her clients seek to discover and heal their inner truth, and Erica's expertise as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Jungian analyst, combined with her forty years of clinical experience, supports this journey. She utilizes a blend of expressive arts, somatic awareness, and mindfulness practices to enhance psychological and spiritual growth within her sessions. Recognizing the individuality of each client, Erica believes that she does not hold the answers; rather, she facilitates a dialogue between clients and their true nature, addressing what may stand in the way of their self-discovery. Together, they navigate the intricacies of the outside world, explore projections onto others, uncover gifts, engage with the inner child, analyze dreams, and delve into somatic awareness. Through this meaningful work, clients learn to respect themselves and find healing in their truth.