Dr. Lauren Avery completed her undergraduate degree at Wesleyan University, graduate school at Columbia University Teachers College, and medical school at The George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Avery’s residency training in adult psychiatry was completed at the Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Program and her fellowship training was completed at the Massachusetts General Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program.  Dr. Avery also serves a provider and Medical Director at Woburn and North Andover Pediatric Associates and Psychological Services.

Sarah Berson (she/her/hers), LICSW, graduated from The Jane Addams School of Social Work with her MSW and a concentration in Mental Health in 2005. She has amassed four decades of working with youth in a variety of settings including homes, schools, camps, residential care and clinics with an unrelenting focus on nurturing connection, healthy relationships, skills, authenticity and self-awareness. Sarah came to AYCC in the fall of 2010. Over the course of her employment she has had the privilege of counseling clients in Arlington High School’s Work Place Program, in the Dallin Elementary School’s Project Success Program and also at AYCC. Since the summer of 2018 Sarah has also become more knowledgeable around how to guide non-senior residents of Arlington towards resources and supports for Basic Needs. In her work Sarah incorporates a blend of relational, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral and psycho-educational approaches. In her spare time, Sarah has a voracious appetite for reading, exploring new music and podcasts, playing with her kids and dog, hitting the beach and staying connected to family who are spread across the country.

Kaci Blailock is a  Clinical Social Worker with a Masters of Social Work degree, specializing in Mental Health, from Boston College. She spent the past year as a clinical intern at AYCC and enjoyed the experience so much she decided to stay on part time! She has experience providing in-school services, 1:1 therapy, joint sibling sessions, and running therapy groups. In her spare time she enjoys working out, reading, traveling, and being outside.

Joslyn Capone (she/her/hers), began working at AYCC as a graduate intern in 2005. Joslyn has experience working with children, teens, adults, and families in outpatient, school, and residential settings. After several years working at a residential treatment center receiving advanced clinical training in trauma informed care, juvenile firesetting treatment and sensory integration therapy, Joslyn returned to AYCC in 2010. Joslyn’s work at AYCC has primarily taken place in collaboration with Arlington Public Schools doing both individual and group counseling at the elementary and secondary levels. Joslyn’s areas specialty include PTSD, Attachment Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Sensory Integration therapy. Joslyn earned her Bachelors Degree from Northeastern University in Psychology and also holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors, traveling, cooking, and gardening with her husband and two children.

Johanny Maria Castillo (She/Her) is a Dominican Clinician with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in Dance and Movement Therapy, from Lesley University. Her therapeutic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University. With over a decade of experience in human services, she has held various roles in community care, including Intensive Care Coordinator and Senior Family Partner. Johanny has worked with diverse populations but is particularly passionate about supporting youth. She integrates her cultural roots, especially Dominican Palo Dance, into her therapeutic practice. In her free time, Johanny enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring new dance forms and engaging in community outreach.

Mattia Cianfrone (he/his) was born in Lanciano, Italy in the region of Abruzzo. Mattia graduated from the Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo’” with a laurea (Italian undergraduate degree) in Clinical Psychology. Mattia moved to the United States in 2007 to pursue his graduate studies. Mattia obtained a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology at Framingham State University in 2013 and became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2016. Mattia has had clinical experience in the fields of substance abuse, parenting skills development, refugee, unaccompanied, and special-needs children, trauma, foster care and adoption as well as individual and family counseling. Mattia has been a clinician at AYCC since 2016 and he loves to work with teenagers and young adults. Mattia is also a EEC certified family childcare assistant and runs Piccola Italia Preschool with his wife Rebecca to teach Italiano to preschoolers since 2012. In his spare time, Mattia enjoys spending time with his family, working out and racing karts.

Steven Coletti, LCSW (he/him/his) finished his clinical social work training at AYCC before starting as a staff clinician working with children, teens, adults and families. In addition to working as a counselor at AYCC, Steven is a medical social worker in the Optimal Wellness for Life Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. He also received clinical training working with children and teens in the Cambridge Public Schools. Steven received his Master of Social Work degree from Boston University. He was drawn to the social work profession, mainly because of its unique focus on the impact of policy and larger systems on the lives of the clients and families he works with in clinical settings. In his spare time, Steven enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, trying new restaurants, and taking walks with his dog, Penny!

Taryn Cordani (she/her) is a Licensed Certified Social Worker with a Masters of Social Work degree from Boston University. Her experience at Arlington Youth Counseling Center has affirmed her passion for working with children, adolescents, and parents. She aims to form authentic, healing, and trusting relationships through the therapy process, and tailors her approach to best meet the needs, preferences, and strengths of her clients. Taryn is also a certified yoga instructor and enjoys incorporating body and mind practices into her work when appropriate. In her free time she enjoys running, appreciating musical theatre, training her cats to do tricks, and traveling the world.

Tracy is a licensed clinical social worker. Tracy is also a thought leader within the behavioral health strategy team at Point32Health. Tracy has 10+ years’ management experience working in the healthcare industry leveraging strategic planning and leadership skills to reach consensus on medical cost savings initiatives and execution of value based arrangements. Her commitment to collaboration, issue resolution, and improved clinical and financial outcomes is the foundation that supports her proven ability as a skilled negotiator. A clinician by training, Tracy is actively practicing and dedicated to the provision of high quality, accessible and equitable behavioral health care for children, adolescents, and families in our communities. Tracy enjoys sailing!

Mary Downs, LCSW (she/her) began working for the Arlington Youth Counseling Center as a graduate intern while attending Boston University School of Social Work. Upon graduating with her Masters in Social Work in 2023, she was hired full-time at the Center. Mary enjoys working with kids of all ages and expanding the work to families as needed. She prioritizes meeting kids where they are at, and caters each session to the client’s interests and needs. She believes that teaching children social-emotional coping skills will set groundwork for their future. As a Massachusetts native, Mary is a big fan of Boston sports. Outside of work she enjoys being in the outdoors hiking or swimming, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.

Kym Goldsmith (they/them/theirs) started out at AYCC as a school-based clinical intern from back in 2008-2009, and returned in September 2019 just ahead of the pandemic times.  As a middle school based Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMHC), they specialize in working with adolescents and their parents with a relational, strengths-based focused clinical style that infuses humor, talk, art, writing, and meeting people where they are at on their journey of growth.  Kym earned their Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health with a Holistic Studies Specialization from Lesley University in 2009, and has continued developing their skill set through training in gender identity, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, depression, and trauma treatment using IFS, CBT, DBT, art, and mindfulness-based therapies. They are also a parent, a partner, an activist, and lover of cats and trees, the color black, dancing, board gaming, goth/industrial/EDM/cold wave music, reading, art, going on adventures, and spending time with family and friends.

Amy Hoff  has worked as a mental health clinician at AYCC since 2021. She holds a B.A. in Cognitive Science from Smith College and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. Before pursuing her counseling degree, Amy worked as a preschool teacher and a research assistant, and raised her two sons in Arlington. She is especially interested in working with parenting issues, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and expressive therapies. In her free time, Amy enjoys reading and word puzzling, spending time with friends, making arts and crafts, and working on her house and garden.

Leanne Labrecque is a licensed mental health counselor who earned her Masters in Education degree in Counseling from Cambridge College in 2012. Prior to obtaining her degree, Leanne worked at a preschool for several years helping to develop creative lesson plans, group play ideas, and supported children in developing social and emotional well being in the classroom and beyond. Leanne began her career in mental health providing In Home Therapy to children and families. Since earning her degree, she has provided outpatient care to children, adolescents, and adults through community agencies and in her private practice. By utilizing a variety of techniques (CBT, narrative, mindfulness, art based activities, play therapy, sand tray), and by ensuring a warm, non judgmental atmosphere, Leanne has helped support clients to recognize their strengths, build skills to reach personal goals, and achieve a better understanding of themselves. Leanne has nearly a decade of experience in providing trauma informed care to work through an array of issues including anxiety, depression, self identity development and expression, adjustment disorders, and stress management. Leanne has also been working as AYCC’s intake coordinator for over two years, and is often the first point of contact for incoming clients. In her free time, Leanne enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, exercising, singing, and cooking.

Paula Martin MD trained first in Family Medicine and then in Psychiatry at Georgetown University. She completed her Child and Adolescent Fellowship at Cambridge Hospital. Paula enjoys cooking, reading and walking her dog.

Cory McDinger (she/her/hers) is a licensed mental health counselor with over a decade of clinical experience in school and community settings. With her gentle and non-judgmental demeanor and strength-based, insight-oriented, relational approach to therapy, she supports personal growth, new understandings, and valuable change. Cory earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Harvard University and her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University.

Lia Meinstein is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters of Social Work degree from Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University and grew up in the DMV area, prior to moving up to Boston. She has experience providing intensive in-home family therapy through MENTOR and held an internship at The Collaborative program through Home for Little Wanderers, providing individual services. Lia enjoys building a safe and trusting space in the therapeutic setting and incorporates family work, relational therapies & expressive therapies such as movement, art and play therapy;  She is currently working towards her LICSW. She enjoys traveling, skiing, reading, spending time with family and friends and being by the ocean (or anywhere outside).

Sarah Miller is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters of Social Work degree from Tulane University in New Orleans. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology from William James College. She spent the past year as a clinical intern at AYCC and enjoyed the experience so much she decided to stay on! She has experience providing educational programming in refugee communities in Jordan, developing mental health programs for resettled refugees in the U.S., and working in hospital and community case management. In her spare time she enjoys running, reading, traveling, and being by the ocean.

Sydni Parnell is a Masters-level clinician pursuing a doctorate degree in clinical psychology at William James College. She is currently interning at the Middlesex Juvenile Court Clinic, where she provides court-involved children and families from underserved communities with quality, culturally-responsive mental health services. Her professional goals include becoming an eminent advocate for racial equity in the criminal justice system through her role as a forensic psychologist and interviewer. She is particularly interested in working with males of color between the ages of 16 and 25, with a special interest in working with young Black men. In her personal time, Sydni enjoys traveling, shopping, watching football, and spending time with family and friends.

Natasha  has an M.Ed in Counseling Psychology. She has worked as a mental health clinician at Wayside Youth and Family Services and in private practice. Prior to working at Wayside Youth and Family Services, she was an advocate at Transition House and worked with people in the transitional living program. She is a certified trainer for Mental Health First Aid, and Youth Mental Health First Aid, is a lead trainer for the Street Smart Curriculum, and is Certified in the Child and Adolescent Needs Strengths Program.

Dana Rochman (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a clinical interest in adolescent identity development, substance use disorders, those affected by intimate partner violence, and the LGBTQ+ community. She has experience with children, teens, and adults in inpatient, outpatient, and college settings. Dana earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Berklee College of Music, then took a sharp left, earning Masters of Social Work with a Certificate in Urban Leadership at Simmons University. Dana received advanced clinical training in Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT) through the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at Wellesley College. RCT colors her work as a clinician: a focus on growth-fostering relationships as a central human necessity, relational disconnections as a fundamental source of psychological issues, and the importance of cultural context in clinical work. Dana is drawn to clinical work from her first hand knowledge of just how hard is it to be a person sometimes. She comes to this work with her own vulnerabilities, insecurities, and histories, and believes that through mutual vulnerability and authenticity, real change and growth can occur. To be in a growth-fostering relationship is to be moved by someone who has been moved by you. When Dana is not at AYCC, she enjoys playing and teaching music, spending time in nature, and chasing after her son, Aaron, her husband, Nick, and their goofy dog, Oscar. Her cat Mustard is much easier to catch. She can often be found eating peanut butter out of the jar.

Marisa M. Silveri, PhD, MHC, is a Mental Health Counselor with a Master’s counseling degree from UMass Boston. Prior to becoming an intern and now as a part-time counselor at the AYCC, Marisa received Master’s and PhD degrees in neuroscience from Binghamton University. She is a neuroscientist and is the director of the Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health at McLean Hospital and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She has been conducting research for over 25 years on adolescent brain development, substance use, and mental health, and more recently is integrating research with clinical practice; she continues to follow her passion as a community presenter. Marisa is a proud resident of Arlington, where she lives with her two beloved children. She is also an active member of the Arlington Soccer Club as a parent fan, a coach, and a player.

Jaran Stallbaum (she/they) is a licensed mental health counselor with a Master of Arts degree from Lesley University. Jaran has been with AYCC since 2021. Their prior experience includes roles as an intensive in-home therapist, family therapist, and therapeutic support staff in residential settings for adults, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth. In her spare time she enjoys live music, writing, cooking, and gardening.

Lauren Vershon, LICSW, earned her Masters Degree at Boston University. Prior to joining AYCC Lauren worked with youth and adults in a variety of settings including: therapeutic residential program, art therapy center, outpatient clinic, and school-based settings. Lauren is a Project Success clinician at the Gibbs and Ottoson schools where she is able to apply her skills working with adolescents. Lauren brings her energy and fun to the work when she’s not biking, skiing, and making art.

Kristen Weiner (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) with a Masters of Social Work degree from Simmons University School of Social Work. Prior to her Social Work career, Kristen earned her Masters of Biomedical Science from Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine in Philadelphia and is able to draw on her medical training to provide comprehensive clinical care. Kristen has experience working with adolescents in a residential setting as well as adults and adolescents here at AYCC in an outpatient capacity. She has a passion for working with her hands and can be found crocheting in the winter, woodworking in the summer, and fixing things all year round!

Kimberly Wong, LCSW (she/her/hers) graduated with a Masters of Social Work degree from Boston University. She spent her first year at AYCC as a clinical intern during her advanced field placement in 2021/2022. After completing her internship, she continued to work at AYCC as a part-time therapist. She has experience in working with clients who have concerns regarding depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and eating disorders and has worked in community outpatient, residential treatment, and medical inpatient settings. In her free time, she enjoys baking, cooking, crafting, and caring for her pet turtles.