Staff

Craig D. Burns, Director – joined UCS 2006

Education/Training:

B.A. Brown University; Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of America; APA-accredited Internship at Brockton/Worcester VA Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Postdoctoral Fellowship at University Counseling Services, Boston College; Licensed psychologist in MA

Professional Interests/Experience:

Individual and group psychotherapy; application of mindfulness and stress management in psychotherapy; psychotherapy with athletes; complex trauma; relational disorders; substance abuse treatment; psychotherapy supervision

Theoretical Orientation:

Integration of psychodynamic, relational, and CBT approaches.

Departmental Roles/Responsibilities:

Director of Counseling Services; Training Committee member and supervisor; Member of University Behavioral Evaluation Team; Outreach and liaison to student, staff, and faculty groups

Rachel Bruno, Ph.D.
Part-time Clinician

Education/Training:

B.A. in Psychobiology, Wellesley College; PhD in Clinical Psychology, Univ of Mass, Boston. APA-accredited Internship at Massachusetts Mental Health Center; Postdoctoral Fellowship at Children’s Charter Trauma Clinic. Licensed psychologist in MA

Professional Interests/Experience:

Interests include the impact of early relationships and social context on development of self. Experience providing short-term and long-term psychotherapy to children, college students, and adults for a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, post-trauma processing, disordered eating habits, individuation, and identity development; adjustment around life transitions.

Theoretical Orientation:

Integrative approach to understanding development and coping styles utilizing culturally competent, relational-dynamic, feminist, attachment, and family systems theories and methods of practice.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Education/Training:

B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Nursing at Boston College; Ph.D. in Nursing at University of Rhode Island; Licensed Registered Nurse in MA & RI; Licensed Nurse Practitioner in MA.

Professional Interests/Experience:

PNP, Square Psychiatry LLC; Community Counseling of Bristol County; Adjunct Clinical Instructor, Salve Regina University. Interests include health disparities, inclusive and gender affirming care among sexual and gender minority populations, college mental health, and college healthcare provider experiences. Professional interests also include psychopharmacology, identity development / cultural dimensions and intersectionality, and person-centered inclusive wellbeing practices.

Theoretical Orientation:

Integrative and holistic approach with a relational focus.

Angela Demehri, Staff Psychiatrist – joined in 2017

Education/Training:

B.A. University of Florida (Biological Anthropology);  M.D. University of Florida College of Medicine;  Adult Psychiatry Residency, University of Michigan Health Systems

Professional Experience:

Staff/Assertive Community Treatment Psychiatrist for Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (SE Michigan), Telepsychiatrist for Copper Country Community Mental Health in MI Upper Peninsula

Professional Interests:

Psychopharmacology, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies, cross-cultural psychiatry 

Selina Guerra,  Assistant Director for Training – joined UCS in 2018

Education/Training: 

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; M.A. in School Psychology at University of Texas-Pan American; PhD in Counseling Psychology, Texas A&M University; APA-accredited Internship at Texas State University Counseling Center; Post licensure experience at The Boston University Albert & Jessie Danielsen Institute; Licensed Psychologist in MA 

Professional Experience / Interests:

Short-term and long-term individual and group therapy with adult, adolescent and child populations. Experience with couple’s therapy; cognitive, personality and neuropsychological assessments. Interests include issues of social justice and racial equity, LGBTQIA development, intersectional, cultural, and emerging identity formation, first generation college student concerns; trauma; relational psychoanalytic theory, group psychotherapy, attachment theory, relational spirituality, clinical training and supervision  

Theoretical Orientation:

Relational psychodynamic, incorporating interpersonal, systemic, developmental, multicultural, and feminist perspectives.
Department Roles/Responsibilities:
Training Committee Member and Supervisor; Diversity Committee Member

Alyssa Hamilton, Psy.D. (they/she)
Staff Psychologist
Joined UCS 2025

Education/Training:

B.A. University of Maine at Farmington; M.A. and Psy.D. from Adler University in Chicago, IL; APA-accredited Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH. 

Professional Interests/Experience:

Experience providing individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Interests include working with students on identity development, exploration of gender and sexuality, relationship concerns, depression, anxiety, disordered eating/eating disorders, trauma/PTSD, and life transitions.

Theoretical Orientation:

Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (Cognitive Restructuring, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety) with an intentional integration of relational-cultural work. Strengths based approaches rooted in social justice and personal values.

Emily Kates, Senior Staff Psychologist – joined UCS in 2013

Education/Training:

B.A. in Religion, Barnard College; Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology; APA-accredited Internship at the University of Houston Counseling and Psychological Services; Postdoctoral Fellowship at University Counseling Services, Boston College; Licensed Psychologist in MA, Certified Group Psychotherapist

Professional Experience/Interests:

Experiences include individual, group, and couples therapy, with adult, adolescent and child populations, in addition to cognitive, personality and neuropsychological assessment.
Professional interests include emerging adult identity development; relational concerns; the intersecting impact of race, class and gender; religion and spirituality in therapy; and community-based interventions

Theoretical Orientation:

Relational psychodynamic, integrating developmental and multicultural perspectives

Department Roles/Responsibilities:

Training Committee Member and Supervisor; Professional Development Committee Member; Groups Committee Chair, Member of Student Affairs DIversity and Inclusion Committee

Rob Kitts, Staff Psychiatrist – joined UCS in 2020

Education/Training:

B.S. Cornell University (Biology); M.D. Upstate Medical University, NY; General Psychiatry Residency, Oregon Health and Science University; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Professional Interests/Experience:

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Attending Psychiatrist and Training Director, Boston Children’s Hospital; Attending Psychiatrist, MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center; Consulting Psychiatrist, Bentley University

Professional interests include Psychotherapy; psychopharmacology and integration of holistic approaches; cross-cultural psychiatry; LGBTQ mental health; college mental health; mentorship and community development

Arilene Hernandez Lackey
Staff Clinician

Education/Training:

B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of Texas at El Paso; MSW from the Boston College School of Social Work. Clinical internship at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.

Professional Interests/Experience:

Short- and long-term individual therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families. Areas of focus include anxiety and mood disorders, trauma recovery, grief and bereavement, relational and attachment challenges, and identity development. Committed to supporting all students, including students of color, international and first-generation college students, and individuals navigating emerging adulthood and women’s issues. Strong dedication to racial and social justice.

Theoretical Orientation:

Integrative, culturally competent approach rooted in relational-psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies, enhanced by developmental and mindfulness-based practices. Emphasizes radical acceptance and works to address a range of concerns including life transitions, anxiety and mood disorders, grief and loss, psychosis, and advocacy.

Patrick Latham, Senior Staff Psychologist – joined UCS in 2015

Education/Training:

B.A. in Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder; Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston; APA-accredited Internship at the Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology at Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine

Professional Interests/Experience:

Interests include the impact of race and socioeconomic status on therapy; psychotherapy integration of relational-psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches; psychotherapy supervision/consultation. Experience includes providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults in individual, couple’s, and family treatment; clinical and administrative supervision in community- and teaching-hospital setting; consultation and training on the impact of race and racial identity on psychotherapy

Theoretical Orientation:

Integrative relational-psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral; developmental; solution-focused; family systems

Department Roles/Responsibilities:

Training Committee member and supervisor; Member of Diversity Committee

Sarah Piontkowski, Staff Psychologist - joined UCS in 2014

Education/Training:

B.A. in Psychology, Mount Holyoke College; Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park; APA-accredited Internship at Suffolk University Counseling Center; Postdoctoral Fellowship at University Counseling Services, Boston College

Professional Interests/Experience:

Relational and attachment concerns, mood and anxiety concerns, identity development and intersectionality, cultural competence in practice and training, racial justice, first-generation students, process group therapy, disordered eating, spirituality, trauma and recovery

Theoretical Orientation:

Integrative of relational psychodynamic, emotion-focused/experiential (including AEDP & IFS), developmental, and multicultural

Department Roles/Responsibilities:

Professional Development Committee Chair, Training Committee Member and Supervisor; Director of Professional Development for University Counseling Services;

Nikki Pollard, Clinician/Case Manager

Education/Training:

B.S. in Counseling Psychology, Lesley University. MSW in Clinical Social Work, Boston University.

Professional Interests/Experience:

Individual psychotherapy, treatment of anxiety and depression, college mental health, first generation college students, AHANA experiences, social justice, self-care/wellness and complex case management

Theoretical Orientation:

Integration of client-centered, narrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral and self-compassion approaches.

Rachel M. Reisman, LICSW

Education/ Training  

BA /Sociology, Brandeis University ; Diploma Degree /Women’s Studies , University College Dublin, Ireland ; MSW , Simmons University School of Social Work. Clinical internships: Tufts University & Carney Hospital.  

Professional Interests/ Experiences 

Clinical practice involving community and acute care settings, college counseling and immigration centers ;private practice. MSW intern supervision and training coordinator. Individual and  family systems ; community outreach , training and education. 

Experience with stage of life goals/ challenges, anxiety and mood disorders, grief/loss, substance use disorder, psychosis, case management and advocacy.  

Theoretical Orientation

Strengths-based, supportive, family systems, psychodynamic, narrative, solution-focused, CBT informed. Focus on muti-cultural , racial, LGBTQ+ informed lens, social justice, immigration and first gen experiences.  

Eileen T. Suhrhoff, Associate Director – joined UCS in 2010

Education/Training:

B.S. and M.S. in Education, SUNY Buffalo; Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University. Practicum placement at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School; APA-accredited Internship at Boston Regional Medical Center, Doctoral Fellowships at Dana Farber and Children’s Hospital Boston; Post-doctoral Fellowship at Harvard Community Health Plan; Externships at Psychoanalytic Institute of New England and the Psychoanalytic Couple and Family Institute of New England. Licensed Psychologist in MA

Professional Experience:

Private Practice with individuals, couples and children. Program development within schools and hospitals, teaching and supervision.

Professional Interests:

Individual and couples psychotherapy, supervision and training. Specific interest in identity development, women’s issues, psychoanalysis, attachment studies, bereavement, treatment of complex trauma, substance abuse, anxiety and depression and adoption issues.

Theoretical Orientation:

Psychodynamic, developmental and integrative

Department Roles/Responsibilities:

Training Committee Member and Supervisor; Department Liaison to the Lynch School of Education

Lynn Walsh-Blair, Staff Psychologist – joined UCS in 2016

Education/Training:

B.A. in Psychology, Mount Holyoke College; M.A. in Mental Health Counseling, Boston College; Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Boston College. APA-accredited Internship at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Center for Counseling and Psychological Health. Licensed Psychologist in MA

Professional Interests/Experience:

Experiences include individual and group therapy with children, adolescents, and adults; treatment to support and manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief; issues related to intersectionality and identity, and multicultural issues; students if Color and First-Generation college students; women’s issues; questions regarding gender and sexuality; and emerging adulthood. Research interests are related to resilience and resistance factors for students of Color in college.

Theoretical Orientation:

Integrative culturally competent, relational-psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral; developmental; family systems; and mindfulness

Department Roles/Responsibilities:

Training Committee Member and Supervisor; Biofeedback Program Member; Member of Student Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Education/Training:

B.A. Psychology at Westfield State University; MSW at University of Connecticut; Psy.D. at Springfield College; APA - accredited predoctoral internship at Stanford University; APA - accredited postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Veteran Affairs (Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans’ Hospital – Bedford)

Professional Interests/Experience:

Experience providing individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy as well as interprofessional mental health education and program development. Interests include working with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/loss, racial, ethnic, and cultural concerns. Also interested in identity development, adjustment/life transitions, and self-esteem/confidence issues.

Theoretical Orientation:

Integration of client-centered, emotion-focused and relational-cultural approaches. Also includes cognitive-behavioral and acceptance and commitment therapy.

Edward Yates-Navarro LISCW
Staff Social Worker 
Joined UCS 2025

Education/Training:

B.A. Lesley University; MSW in Clinical Practice with Children Youth and Families, Boston College School of Social Work. Clinical internships at Boston Public Schools and the Justice Resource Institute. Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in MA.

Professional Interests/Experience:

Experience providing individual, family, group therapy, and facilitating workshops with children, adolescents, and adults. Clinical interest includes but not limited to, identity and cultural development; acculturation stress and trauma; PTSD; depression; anxiety; ADHD; grief and loss; and transitions. 

Theoretical Orientation:

Relational, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed with a student-centered and strength-based approach.

Coming soon.