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Meet our Team
All of our counselors at the Center for Emotional Healing are licensed professionals with advanced degrees in mental health. Each staff member offers a unique set of skills and services with extensive expertise in each of their specialties. Our mixture of traditional counseling techniques and holistic healing methods make us unlike any other practice around. Our goal is to create unique service plans for each and every one of our clients that help individuals on a physical, spiritual and emotional level. Individuals of all ages are welcome.
Kelly Fortin, LPC/Owner
Kelly Fortin, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in anxiety, depression, life transitions/adjustments, relationship challenges, self esteem issues, trauma and parenting. Kelly has a particular interest in working with teen and adult clients who are navigating through life stressors, such as challenges academically, career wise and in your personal life. Kelly strives to create a safe and nurturing environment where individuals feel supported in their efforts to change, grow and connect to their strength.
Kelly’s treatment approach is behavior and goal-oriented, utilizing modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness practices. Kelly teaches clients effective coping mechanisms that they can use on a daily basis and gives them the tools they need to overcome both the current challenges they are facing in addition to the ones they will face in the future.
Kelly will work with each client to help them find their unique and individual needs in order to provide the best possible care.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Alexandria Silva, LPC, LADC
Alex Silva is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor who values providing all clients with a safe and supportive space while respecting their autonomy, individuality, and unique needs.
Alex’s general focus includes a client-centered approach where she provides solution-focused strategies to help individuals achieve success as defined by their personalized goals. She is understanding of the ways stress, anxiety, and conflict can negatively impact one’s life and she supports others by working together to create resolutions that not only resolve presenting problems but offer long-term change.
Alex also specializes in substance abuse and addiction services. Her extensive training has provided her a well-rounded understanding of the concerns related to addiction and the challenges it can create both physically and mentally. Alex works to support adults and their loved ones as they navigate the journey of recovery, and she helps to reduce any fears that may come with change. Her approach includes utilizing evidenced-based practices and offering education on relapse prevention techniques to help improve one’s situation without feeling that relying on negative habits is the only answer.
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Megan Kiely, LMFT
Megan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who utilizes a strength based approach, Solution-Focused Therapy, when working with most presenting problems due to the belief that we all have strengths and skills that can be employed to attend to the things in our life that we are struggling with. She also uses other forms of therapy or interventions when necessary to be able to meet the client where they are.
She has spent many years working with teens, families, and couples through various difficulties including; anxiety, depression, self esteem issues, family conflict, and marital distress. She works hard to incorporate your interests and aspirations into your therapeutic work in order to tailor the therapy experience to each client.
Megan believes in working in collaboration with her clients to achieve their goals that would lead them to their personal view of a more positive and happy life. It is her intention to build a therapeutic relationship that is based in acceptance, comfort, understanding, and connection. She is eager and excited to work with you to achieve your goals to an overall happier life. It’s time to prioritize your mental health!
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Elizabeth Fudge, LMFT
Liz is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who is passionate about supporting her clients through their journey towards living in more free and authentic relationships with themselves and others. Liz values and honors the uniqueness of each individual, couple, and family that she has the privilege of co-creating a therapeutic relationship with. She is invested in helping her clients learn how to repair relationships with themselves and others, create new awarenesses, enhance resilience, and hold space for the courageous process of healing. Her systemic approaches to treating anxiety, depression, attachment disorders, adjustment disorders, parenting stress, and shame warmly invites her clients to explore and process their human experience, discover their truth, and thrive. She has an extra special passion for working with couples at any stage and condition of their relationship. Liz holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, both from Southern Connecticut State University, and was the proud recipient of a national award for her parenting education work. She is excited for the opportunity to meet you and be a part of your journey of healing!
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Kimaira Bernardini, LPC
Kimaira is a Licensed Professional Counselor who believes that brave spaces can support clients to achieve personal growth and healing. She is passionate about meeting the client where they are and building this brave space together. She has worked with people struggling at many different stages, including those challenged by addiction, anxiety, depression, and life transitions.
Kimaira has experience with verbal and behavioral therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She also has utilized non-verbal and internal processes such as Brainspotting, Mindfulness, and Auricular Acupressure. Integrating these different modalities, Kimaira collaborates with the client to recover and progress in life. She is dedicated to helping clients access resources and recognize their capabilities.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Elizabeth Czarnecki, LPC
Elizabeth “Liz” Czarnecki, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who studied at Springfield College with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health and Marriage and Family Therapy. Liz has been counseling since 2011 in a variety of settings including in home counseling with young adults, outpatient office, in schools, community based settings, and in methadone maintenance programs. In addition Liz has taught psychology undergraduate and graduate level courses since 2015. Liz has a passion incorporating a person’s complete well being into counseling and understanding the mind body connection. Outside of sessions Liz actively participates in playing tennis, exercising, reading and she loves cats!
Liz’s approach to counseling includes utilizing hope and strength based approaches to assist others through difficult times. Liz beliefs helping clients set personal goals and live up to their fullest potential includes a path to success. Liz specializes in treating anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, relationships challenges, stress, adjustments, grief, and life transitions. Liz has a passion working with adolescents, young adults and adults. Liz uses a variety of counseling techniques to from Person Centered counseling, Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to collaborate with the client and make positive, healthy changes. Liz believes that recovery is possible and excited to help you on your way!
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Nicole Michaud, LPC
Nicole is a Licensed Professional Counselor who believes in the importance of making her client’s feel valued, safe and understood. She feels this will allow clients to able to work towards self discovery, growth and healing.
She specializes in working with a diverse population of teens and adults to navigate through a variety of challenges. She has a strong background helping clients struggling with anxiety, depression, self discovery, life transitions and grief.
Nicole’s approach is very client centered, she uses a variety of modalities tailored to each client. She works to provide clients with tools to manage their struggles, using techniques such as relaxation, meditation and self discovery work.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Katlyn Prigionieri, LMFT
Katlyn is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in working with adults who struggle with life transitions, codependency, relationship conflicts between spouses and family members, communication, anxiety, depression, PTSD and trauma, perinatal mood disorders, miscarriage, grief and loss, and substance use disorders. Katlyn is passionate about using a person-centered focus, and having an approachable, compassionate, and welcoming presence for her clients to feel comfortable to open up about their daily struggles. Katlyn is invested in helping individuals gain confidence in themselves and their relationships. She works to do so by validating one’s experiences, both positive and negative, in order to help clients succeed in their personal goals to lead a happier more fulfilling life.
Other modalities she specializes in include Mindfulness Based Practices, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy including Radical Acceptance, Assertive Communication and establishing healthy boundaries, Schema Therapy, Attachment Theory, Marriage and Family Therapy, Gottman Method, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Trauma Informed Care.
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Cassidy O'Brien, LCSW
Cassidy O’Brien is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who has spent the majority of her career working with adolescents and adults using experiential, nature-based therapy approaches to assist clients with a vast array of mental health disorders. She takes a holistic approach to therapy while also combining traditional methods such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to achieve long lasting results. Cassidy believes that each client is the expert on their own life and that each individual has the unique ability within themselves to solve their own dilemmas with the support and guidance of a professional mental health provider. Cassidy empowers, motivates, and challenges her clients as they navigate their therapeutic journey to self-discovery and success.
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Jordan Montague, LMFT
Jordan (she/her) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has extensive experience with adults in the area of women's health such as pregnancy, post-partum, infertility, PCOS, endometriosis, and transition into parenthood. She also has special interest in LGBTQ+ issues, gender identity, and sexuality. Jordan also works frequently with those struggling with anxiety, panic, depression, issues related to ADHD, school stressors, family distress, communication issues, grief and loss, and life transitions. Jordan has experience coordinating treatment with outside resources such as schools, medication providers and DCF services. She is a certified MATCH-ADTC practitioner (Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems), and has been trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques. Jordan also uses modalities including solution focused therapy, narrative therapy, mindfulness and feminist theory to help clients achieve their goals. Through collaborative partnership, Jordan helps guide clients into a fuller and more joyful reality, helping to build new skills to face challenges, and increase connection and meaning. Jordan believes that building a trusting and genuine relationship with your therapist is an essential part of your success as a team. Jordan aims to help you to feel comfortable and supported in a non-judgmental environment.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Elizabeth Shea, LCSW
Elizabeth Shea, bilingual LCSW- fluent in English and Spanish. Liz specializes in children/adolecents and families and comes to us with over 15 years of experience in the field. Liz has worked in community based outpatient clinics, as a social worker for the state of Connecticut as well as a certified social worker in the Danbury public school system. Liz also has experience with the foster care system. Liz is trained in trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy, positive discipline, is certified in Reiki I and II and has had training in sound healing.
Liz uses a person-centered approach and draws on individual and family strengths as resources to aid the treatment process.Liz focuses on building connections with clients in order to facilitate a positive working relationship using empathy, active listening, and humor. Liz understands the challenges of connecting with a mental health provider that meets each clients individual needs and is here to make finding support as easy as possible.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Tricia Bailey, LPC
Tricia is a Licensed Professional Counselor who graduated from University of Saint Joseph. Tricia comes to us with many years of experience working primarily with adults specializing in depression, anxiety, grief, trauma and relationship issues.
Tricia's approach to therapy is collaborative and person centered and her role is to assist clients in their self discovery, self improvement and healing. Tricia recognizes that change can be hard and uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness and other interventions to assist clients in developing healthy coping skills and reach their personal goals.
Through a strengths based perspective, compassion, validation and at times a bit of humor, Tricia's goal is to provide you with a nonjudgmental, safe and trusting environment. The therapeutic relationship is an important one and she aims to develop a genuine and honest connection with you.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Kristin Ferguson, LPC
Kristin is a licensed professional counselor who has spent most of her career working with children, adolescents, teens, and adults, who have experienced anxiety, sexual assault, previous trauma, and more. She uses a cognitive behavioral approach while putting the needs of her clients first. She believes that having a variety of viewpoints can help someone overcome erroneous thought patterns and start to break free from ingrained routines and habits.
Kristin focuses on the present by challenging people on how they experience and react to events, guiding them to make small changes in order to begin to free themselves and become more mindful and self-loving. She believes people need to be reminded of their inner strength and how their daily decisions can lead to a rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle. Even when we feel helpless against the outside world, we can always find a method to adjust that will make us happy.
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Kelly Clarke, LCSW
Kelly Clarke, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who utilizes a person-centered, strengths-based, holistic perspective when treating her clients. She is passionate about the brain-body connection, and knows the impact that significant stress and trauma has on the physical body, on brain function, and on overall wellbeing. Kelly specializes in depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, anger management, stress management, behavioral/substance addiction, family dynamics, OCD, ADHD, interpersonal relationships, and sleep difficulties.
Kelly’s expertise includes working with all ages across the lifespan, from children to elders. She has extensive training of over 10-years in the field, working with diverse populations in a variety of treatment settings. Kelly’s background in social work, enables her to draw from many different evidenced-based treatment modalities, such as CBT, DBT, Trauma-Informed, Grief Work, Crisis Management, Mindfulness, and Substance Abuse, and tailor strategies based on her client’s individual presenting problem and needs.
Together, Kelly will work collaboratively and supportively with her clients to help them navigate current stressors, improve symptoms and functioning, and to achieve their personal goals.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Amber Perez, LCSW
Amber Perez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked with adolescents professionally for the past 15 years. Amber received her Master’s Degree in clinical social work (specializing in children and families) from Fordham University in May of 2010.
Amber has been practicing as a LCSW since 2018 and specializes in Attachment Based Family Therapy, Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Trauma Focused-CBT, Psychoeducational Therapy, Client Centered Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy.
Amber specializes in supporting children (10yo and above), adolescents, young adults, and families in treating substance abuse/use, ADHD, family attachment ruptures, breakdown in communication within relationships, grief and loss, adjusting to life changes, transitioning to/out of college, parent/caregiver/child relational problems (biological, fostering, adoptive, blended), mood disorders, and anxiety disorders.
Amber worked in residential settings (medically complex, substance abuse/mental health), group homes, adoption services, in home services, and school settings. Amber has experience working with the LGBTQIA community. Her theoretic approach is based on the belief that everyone has the right to find their voice and feel heard and will allow the space to do so by building connections with clients and their families.
Amber believes in helping clients identify their strengths and build upon them to gain confidence, build skills, and heal while offering a genuine and safe space free of judgement.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Ashley O'Neill, LCSW
Ashley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from the University of Saint Joseph with a Master's degree in Social Work in 2020. Ashley has a passion for suicide prevention and has spent the last four years providing psychotherapy to adolescents, teens, and young adults in an outpatient setting.
Ashley provides a safe and judgment-free space in addition to evidence-based treatment models and a variety of different treatment modalities to help adolescents, teens, and young adults that may struggle with relationships, life transitions, stress management, low self-esteem, grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma.
She specializes in an evidence-based treatment approach called trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. She also looks closely at each individual's environment and examines the role it plays in everyday functioning and overall well-being. Ashley uses motivational interviewing to work collaboratively with each client and their family to reach their treatment goals at a pace comfortable for them.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Morgan Keegan, LCSW
Please help me welcome Morgan Keegan, LCSW! Morgan will be joining us full time and working a hybrid schedule between the Burlington office and telehealth. She will be starting Monday June 17th. She's plans on having many later day and evening appointments to accommodate those after school hours!
Morgan Keegan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes in empowering her clients through an eclectic therapeutic approach focused on supporting clients on their journey of self-advocacy and discovery. Morgan utilizes aspects from a variety of evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy and play therapy. She is passionate about understanding the impacts of trauma on the body, mind, and environment of her clients with the goal of promoting mindfulness and resilience.
Morgan has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and family units through a variety of challenges including trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, personality disorders, parent/child difficulties, stress management, anger management and other life challenges. She has a background in working with victims of violent crime, intensive in-home services, traditional outpatient services and extended day treatment. Morgan has a specific interest in working with children, adolescents, survivors of abuse, and the veteran population.
Morgan aims to create a safe and collaborative environment where clients can identify areas they wish to see change, create achievable goals, and develop a variety of coping strategies and personal skills to address these areas with the support and guidance of a clinician. Morgan has been described as calm, consistent, compassionate, and conscientious and prides herself on her motivation and willingness to learn.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Sarah Dittrich, LCSW
Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who uses a strength based approach to therapy and believes in meeting her clients where they are in their individual journey. She believes in leaning into the individual's own positive qualities and values a person-centered ideology. Sarah uses several different modalities unique to each client and their specific needs, such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques. She expresses empathy and even humor to engage clients in a comfortable environment where they can feel confident and heard during therapeutic work.
Sarah has extensive experience working with teens, families and adults through various life challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, bipolar disorder and difficult life transitions. She is dedicated to developing a unique bond with each client, valuing their individuality and tailoring the therapy experience to their distinct needs. Sarah aims to provide her clients with effective coping skills that they can use in the moment, and to give them the tools they need to overcome current and future obstacles.
Sarah is passionate about providing a genuine, non-judgmental environment where her clients can openly work toward their objectives. She believes that creating positive, lasting change is possible and she is eager to support her clients in achieving their goals.
Request an appointment below (Please note this is a request for services, not a confirmed appointment. Someone will be in contact with you shortly to schedule)
Aericka Khongdy, APN-BC
Aericka Khongdy, ANP-BC has been in practice for over 10 years. Her approach to treatment is a holistic one. She believes you cannot be truly healthy without acknowledging that all aspects of your life affect your health. This includes mental, physical and spiritual health.
Aericka has worked in primary care practices, hospitals and urgent cares, with all adults ages 18 and up. However, her passion has been working with women, especially mothers, to help make themselves priorities as they navigate managing both careers and busy households.
She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Kent State University and from Quinnipiac University with a Master’s in Nursing. She is certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Aericka’s primary responsibility at the Center for Emotional Healing is medication evaluation and treatment. Patients requesting psychotherapy will be referred to colleagues within the practice.
Please reach out to our coordinator to inquire about services with Aericka
Heather Spear, APRN-BC
Heather Spear APRN-BC has been in practice over 30 years. She recognizes that the therapeutic relationship is key to promoting a trusting partnership with her patients. Her expertise includes medication management, cognitive behavioral therapy, medical illness and coping, bereavement, chronic pain and older adult mental health.
Heather provided medication management/treatment and psychotherapy for patients at the Connecticut Anxiety and Depression Treatment Center in Farmington, CT from 1994 until May 2022. She worked at UCONN Health for over 25 years in positions including the Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service, the Outpatient Clinic and the Geriatric Service including implementing the NICHE Program (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders). She also worked at Hartford Hospital/Institute of Living in the Geriatric Intensive Outpatient Program and the Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic.
She graduated with an MSN with distinction from Yale University majoring in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with a specialty in Consultation Liaison. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and is a member of American Nurses Association and American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Her interests for balancing life include family, friendships, swimming, reading, gardening, prayer and her Golden Retriever Jackson.
Heather’s primary responsibility at the Center for Emotional Healing will be medication evaluation and treatment. Most patients requesting psychotherapy will be referred to colleagues within the practice although individual requests will be considered.
Please reach out to our coordinator to inquire about services with Heather.
Sarah Mackiewicz, LPC-A and Client Coordinator
Sarah Mackiewicz is a compassionate and dedicated Licensed Professional Counseling Associate (LPC-A) working with children and teens in the Ellington public school system. With a background in counseling and a passion for supporting youth. Sarah is committed to promoting the mental health and well-being of students.
As a therapist, Sarah creates a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where students can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. She utilizes evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), play therapy, and mindfulness techniques, to help her clients develop coping skills, build resilience, and navigate the ups and downs of adolescence.
In her work within the Ellington public schools Sarah collaborates with families, educators and other school personnel to support the emotional success of the students. She provides one on one individual sessions with students right in their own schools. Sarah is also available at several of the schools as well as via telehealth for school breaks including summer to ensure there are no gaps in care.
Sarah also doubles as C4EH's client coordinator. In this role, she works with individuals interested in pursuing therapy. Her goal as coordinator, is to ensure that getting the help you need is as smooth and as comfortable as possible.
Sarah can be reached confidentially via email or phone
Patti Mackiewicz, Billing specialist
Patti comes to us with many years of experience in the business world. Although Patti has held many different roles throughout her lifetime, she says her most influential role was as an administrative assistant for a Legal Law Library. Patti held that position for 26 year before deciding to retire to spend more time with her family.
Patti's main role at C4EH is to assist with all things insurance. For questions related to insurance claims or issues she can be reached via email