Meet the Team

Courtney Baczko is a licensed independent clinical social worker who brings extensive experience in clinical and administrative supervision and operational management across diverse settings to her role as counseling director. She embraces a collaborative and inclusive approach in both her staff supervision and management.

Sandra Capecelatro is a licensed independent clinical social worker with extensive experience using various therapeutic approaches such as dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, narrative, and expressive arts. She takes a holistic, creative, and thoughtful approach to care with a dedication to empowering each individual in their personal steps towards growth and success. 

Esther Chi (she/her) is a licensed independent clinical social worker with eight years of clinical experience, including extensive experience in community-based mental health treatment. She is dedicated to increasing culturally sensitive, equitable mental health access and counseling services for marginalized populations. Her clinical areas of experience include addressing racial trauma, complex trauma, identity development, anxiety, and depression. 

Kathleen Irving, a licensed independent clinical social worker, specializes in suicide and complex trauma interventions; family therapy; working with individuals developing their own sexual, gender, racial, ethnic, and wellness identities; and helping people to reconnect to their unique strengths and resources when adjusting to life changes.

Allison Lara is a Latinx, first-generation American and bilingual in Spanish. She works from a social justice framework, focusing on increasing access to and understanding of mental health services among Black, indigenous, and people of color. Her clinical areas of expertise include identity development, complex trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.

Casey Pons (they/them) is a social worker who has been living and working in mental health and wellness services in Boston for more than 20 years. 

Sumana Shankar is a mental health counselor with an M.Ed. in counseling. Her therapeutic philosophy focuses on approaching people with curiosity and empathy while helping them strengthen their self-efficacy, resiliency, and self-inquiry practices.

Shirblina Thelismond is a licensed clinical social worker who views counseling as a collaborative endeavor that requires an honest and nonjudgmental space to work through life’s challenges. She draws from a variety of methods tailored to each student's needs to promote their maximum success.