Tess believes that therapy is a collaborative and supportive space where individuals can better understand themselves, navigate life's challenges, and develop the tools needed to create meaningful change. She strives to build a trusting, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to work toward their personal goals.
Tess works with children, adolescents, and adults, supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, emotional regulation difficulties, life transitions, relationship challenges, and self-esteem concerns. She recognizes that each person's experiences and needs are unique and tailors her approach to help clients develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and confidence.
Her therapeutic approach integrates client-centered therapy, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). When working with younger clients, Tess also incorporates developmentally appropriate interventions, including play-based techniques, to support emotional expression, coping skills, and personal growth.
Tess earned her master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston and her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her clinical experience includes providing individual therapy to adults in an outpatient private practice setting, supporting clients as they navigate mental health concerns and everyday life challenges. Her professional background also includes providing behavioral support to young children with learning and developmental differences, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and OCD. Additionally, she gained experience in the pediatric unit at Boston Medical Center, collaborating with child life specialists to support children and adolescents from diverse backgrounds experiencing challenging circumstances.
In addition to individual therapy, Tess values collaborating with parents and caregivers, helping them better understand their children's needs while also supporting their own emotional well-being and confidence in navigating parenting challenges.