Lauren and Therapy Dog Winston
About Us
Hi there! Welcome to the “about me” part of this site! I struggle to talk about myself and write these things mostly because it feels weird and awkward to talk about myself. I have lots of experience and credentials that can be intimidating to read, so please always feel free to ask me questions so that you understand and feel comfortable.
​
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, long term addiction recovery, relationships, confidence, trusting yourself, people or life in general give me a call. We can talk for a few minutes and figure out if working together would be a good fit. I have a huge network of colleagues, so fear not! If we can’t work together for any reason, I can point you in the direction of someone who likely can!
​
​
​
Lauren Pedersen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a nationally certified clinical supervisor in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy, a Reiki Master, local and international conference presenter, clinical professor, fallible human, trauma expert, doTERRA wellness advocate, patriarchy smasher and dog & cat mom. Lauren has a BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Hartford (1999) and a MS in Marriage & Family Therapy from Central CT State University (CCSU) (2009).
​
Lauren found her life's purpose after careers in Occupational Therapy and Floral Design. She practices as a therapist full time, is Clinical Adjunct Faculty at CCSU’s MFT Program and a web content contributor for the Ana Grace Project (AGP). Lauren founded The Wellness Collective in 2020 in response to the overwhelming need for a “can do”, professional, collaborative inclusive community for self employed clinical and healing professionals. She is currently developing 2 workbooks and training to aid in the successful reunification of formerly incarcerated caregivers with their families.
​
Pedersen Psychotherapy & Healing Arts opened in 2013 as a sole proprietorship located in West Hartford offering outpatient family and trauma therapy to a small clientele one day a week. The business moved and expanded in December 2017 to offer Therapy, Reiki, Clinical Supervision, Consultation and Therapy Dog visits to local elementary schools.
A Message from Lauren
Clinically, Lauren specializes in the treatment trauma and family therapy. Lauren utilizes several evidence based therapeutic approaches in addition to support from therapy dogs Winston and Luke in her work with her clients. Reiki, meditation, crystals, essential oils, art and music are also used to enhance the effectiveness of her treatment.
​
Formerly, Lauren rose through the ranks of service provision and leadership at Klingberg Family Centers where she was highly respected and loved. She directly trained 30 graduate Marriage & Family Therapy interns as the Coordinator of the Family Therapy Institute, a collaborative between CCSU and Klingberg. Lauren also developed and implemented the Love Wins School Based Clinical Services program at Klingberg in collaboration with the Consolidated School District of New Britain CT and The Ana Grace Project to serve 12 inner city elementary schools beginning in 2015.
​
Lauren can be reached by phone or email for more information about therapy services, MFT clinical supervision, consultation and other project ideas or collaborations. You can follow the practice on facebook and instagram @pedersenpsychotherapy
Luke
(aka Lucas, Sir, Ummm Excuse Me, Lukie)
A gentle and cautious boy. He was rescued and adopted in June 2019 at 6 months old from National great pyrenees rescue and resides happily with Lauren and Chris as well as his 5 additional fur siblings. Luke is Laurens trusty co-therapist and is always following closely behind her. He is a mix of Great Pyrenees and Border Collie (we think) and weighs somewhere close to 100 lbs.
​
Luke is incredibly gentle and also cautious. He can get nervous with loud noises and big abrupt movements and may turn away. He will warm up once he starts to get to know you and as long as you go slow and want to get to know him!
​
There is a great book in the waiting room about dog body language, Luke thinks you should take a look at it next time you are in the office!
Provider Directory
Today, life partners, Lauren and Christian Pedersen offer the following experience and services:
Christian Pedersen
-
Animal Reiki Master
-
Sustainable gardening enthusiast
-
Functional sculptures using upcycled components
-
Tau Kappa Epsilon Northeast Region Provence Advisor and mentor to CT chapters
-
24/7 Dad curriculum facilitator
-
Suicide support group co-facilitator
Jessica Leopizzo, M.S. MFTA
Dragonfly Therapy Center
I’d like to share a little about myself so you can decide if you’d like to schedule a free 15 minute consult call. In 2011, three of my cousins were murdered. Their funeral was so big that it was held in a school gym and cafeteria; I realized in that moment how many lives these three humans had impacted. That funeral was the first time I saw my family from a larger systems perspective and knew that in order to create opportunities for healing and change that working as a Marriage and Family Therapist was what I wanted to do.
My experiences with trauma and the journey of healing from trauma make me a compassionate healer for others who have experienced traumas of any type. While working with children and their families for 20 years in dance studios and schools I developed my ability to connect and communicate with children and act as a bridge to caregivers and educators.
I create a safe space by welcoming all people and all of the parts of each person. The only agenda I have when meeting you is to get to know you, your child/children and your family’s story. We will work together to co-create the goals you want to accomplish individually and/or as a family. I am currently accepting new clients in office or via Telehealth.
Amanda Marrotte, MS LMFT
Healing Connections Wellness LLC
Healing Connections Wellness LLC strives to create a safe, nurturing, compassionate, and judgment-free environment for you and your loved ones to learn, grow, heal, and thrive.
​
A behavioral and mental health professional for over 19 years, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist whose areas of concentration primarily focus on the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), LGBTQ+, and child & adolescent psychotherapy, although I enjoy working with all ages and a vast array of presenting issues. De-stigmatizing mental health and focusing on individual and whole-family wellness is my ultimate objective. Everyone deserves to thrive and create a life worth living!
​
My approach is as eclectic and unique as the clients I serve. I utilize evidenced-based practices combined with a systemic and relational approach to help achieve identified goals, foster lasting change, and create a life worth living. I strive to go above and beyond to guide you to information, tools, and resources that will help you meet your needs, achieve your goals and thrive.
​
Healing Connections Wellness LLC offers a wide array of high-quality mental/behavioral health services including Individual, Family, and Group Therapy. Holistic offerings include meditation/mindfulness, breathwork, Reiki, and DoTerra Essential Oils. Services are offered both in-home and in-office depending on the unique needs of each client and family. Accepting Husky & self-pay.
Andrea Milewski, M.S. LMFT
I believe that each of us have the resources inside ourselves to overcome the obstacles that we are presented and reach our goals. With everything that life can throw our way, it is sometimes hard to access those resources. This can leave us feeling stuck, uneasy, and defeated. I strive to create a safe, supportive space and collaborative partnership to help with the tools needed to uncover those resources and create the life you want and deserve.
I believe in the power of connection, meeting someone where they are and moving forward together on a journey of healing and growth. Over the past 10 years, I have supported families and individuals in a variety of capacities and settings including residential, school, clinic, and now private practice. I specialize in addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship and parenting challenges. I utilize an integrative, trauma-informed approach combining elements of IFS, solution-focused therapy, systems theory, and the awareness of the mind-body connection.
I have a personal understanding of anxiety, grief and loss, and navigating difficult family dynamics. This motivated me to enter the helping field and the experiences I have had, and the people I have met, along the way is what motivated me to continue my education and training as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I work to empower people to allow their strength and resilience to prevail in times of great challenge. You have already shown your strength by taking the first step toward change.
I hope to join you on your journey of healing.
Jason Natale
Reiki Master
I have been practicing Reiki every day for 21 years and have applied Reiki healing to physical symptoms such as COPD airway restriction, or imbalances in the bodies natural rhythms such as slow metabolisms or pain relief. Spiritual reconfiguration to heal the aura and realign the energy centers of the body so it operates in the most efficient manner possible, and emotional healing to lessen the impact of underlying stressors or cathartically purge pent-up negative emotions to allow clearer thought rest and functionality.
Jewel Robinson - Nelson LMFT
The Jewel of Thriving
Jewel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has treated children, adolescents, adults, and families. Jewel is currently in the process of finishing her Yoga Certification training. Jewel is a systems trained therapist who uses a faith based approach and works off creating relationships to meet you exactly where you are. She then utilizes the relationship to help peel back the layers to discover and address the underlying issues rather than just the symptoms. She incorporates elements of multiple theoretical approaches throughout. She teaches and educates on how every behavior has a function. Her philosophy is that we all have a self and what we need to succeed in life, but through life experiences, difficulties, and transitions we sometimes forget our strengths. All we see are the difficulties in front of us and we can become clouded. Jewel believes in the process and we each have our own work and process to journey through.
​
Husky and Self Pay Only
Telehealth sessions and In office sessions
Emalie Reinert LMFT
Child, Family, Individual, Couples Therapy
I believe in working collaboratively with clients, families, groups, etc. I believe in the power of connections and relationships. I believe in the beauty of finding hope and working towards healing. I believe in making mental health a priority. I am open to exploring a variety of techniques and experiences to help facilitate growth and change! I graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology from WCSU. My upbringing led me to want to help others and work towards making the mental health system a better place. I earned my masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from CCSU. working with individuals and viewing each person as part of a greater whole is the best way to work towards healing.
I grew up in a divorced family with mental illness, addiction, and domestic violence. As a child, I did not receive the appropriate mental health services and from then on I knew I wanted to make a difference and help others. I have battled anxiety and depression but have done my own healing through therapy. I hope to help you on your journey to healing.
I take anthem and husky.
Nurjhan Strachan-Spence, LMFT
I believe that we all are doing the best we can with the resources and knowledge we have. In today’s world, relationships, work, and societal pressures can create challenges that make us feel like our best is never enough. I believe that we all have it in us to overcome life’s challenges. It is my mission to work with you to learn and develop the resources you need to thrive. I believe therapy to be a collaborative effort and I strive to facilitate an environment in which you feel safe and can realize your fullest potential.
​
I have worked with individuals and families in school, residential, and clinical settings over the past 7 years. I am trauma-informed and have experience supporting individuals and families with anxiety, depression, and family conflict. I am also certified as a school-based clinician. This allows me to treat children and adolescents with special educational needs.
​
As a person of color I was drawn to this work by the lack of mental health support available in my community. Through my own therapeutic journey, I learned the importance of resiliency in regards to healing. My hope is to empower others with this knowledge and understanding. I would be honored to partner with you on your journey.
Healing Hearts
Ashley Quinones, LMFT
Restorative Hearts, LLC
Ashley has provided mental health services for 13 years in various settings such as residential facilities, group homes, substance use treatment centers, intensive in home, outpatient, and schools working mostly with adolescents, young adults, and their families affirming all of their transitions through life.
​
Ashley has special training in school-based therapy and is passionate about supporting families navigate 504 and individual educational plans. Ashley is a trauma informed therapist that works from a systemic, collaborative, strength based and client centered approach. Ashley honors personal choice and believes that therapy supports the process of moving people towards their best selves. Ashley integrates movement and energy practices in treatment to support the mind body connection. She has a strong therapeutic foundation in experiential, solution focused, narrative, Gottman’s couples, Rehearsals for Growth and intergeneration therapy modalities creating an integrative approach allowing her to create experiences that are specific to clients’ needs.
​
She strongly believes that everything a person needs is already within them, and that, in treatment her role is to help guide and facilitate opportunities for individuals to tap into their own strengths to make the changes they want for their life.
Quinn McDermott, LMFT (he/they)
Only Human Therapy, LLC
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and I have been working in the field of mental health since 2018. I have experience working with individuals and families with a variety of demographics and clinical concerns at the outpatient level of care. It is important to me to understand how people have become who they are and learn about how their background may be influencing the present. I hope to provide nonjudgmental support for people on their healing journeys. I believe we are all only human and I don't expect perfection. Growth and healing are not linear processes and we can take things a step at a time. I have completed EMDR Basic Training with EMDR of the Rockies and Level 1 Internal Family Systems Training through Central CT State University. At this time I am most experienced working with adults as individuals and couples across all ages. I am currently accepting clients with Husky or Anthem insurance, as well as self-pay.
​
I also offer coaching services which are not therapeutic in nature and cannot be billed for under insurance. Clients who begin a coaching relationship with me cannot also be in therapy with me. My rate for both coaching and therapy is $150 per hour and a sliding scale fee is available for those that need it due to income limitations.
​
I am able to offer video and phone sessions throughout the week, however my in-person office hours are currently limited to Friday afternoons.
Marisa Lindsey, she/they, LMSW
Accompany Insight, LLC
I am a Level-II trained Internal Family Systems therapist and coach offering goal-oriented insight support services. Ordinary and non-ordinary experiences are welcome.
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy?
The IFS model acknowledges each human individual as a unique and personal collective of “parts.” IFS therapy is a simple and effective protocol of illuminating and easing internal conflict between different parts of ourselves. The power of IFS therapy lies in the profound experience of internal validation that comes with utilizing the IFS protocol over time. IFS therapy can help us feel more at ease in our lived experience, whatever we may face in pursuit of our goals.
IFS therapy with me may be for you if your goals are:
To address and heal past or current traumatic experiences impacting your mental, emotional, energetic, and physical wellbeing;
To bring clarity to and treat the symptoms of a mental health diagnosis;
To address and overcome fear in some aspect of your life;
To navigate uncertainty and transition in your professional career;
To overcome personal limitations and strengthen your artistic, creative, spiritual, divinatory, or magical practice or craft;
To improve your relationships with other people, whether human or other-than-human, living or ancestral;
To strengthen your connection with the land you live on.
About Marisa
I am a nonbinary, neurodivergent person of Filipino and British/European colonial American descent. I am a practicing animist with an ever-evolving devotional, spiritual, divinatory and magical practice. I am a Level II-attuned Reiki student, a student of both traditional and animistic herbalism, a graduate of West Hartford Yoga’s 200 Hour teacher training, a one-time community and union organizer/activist, a wayward creative, a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a partner, and a decent housemate to two cats, or so they’ve let me know.
As a social worker with a clinical focus, I specialize in trauma and dissociation. Since 2018, I have worked with young to older adults with an extensive range of traumatic and psychiatric histories, and diverse cultural, religious/spiritual, gender and ethnic identities. I affirm the lived-experiences and gender identities of my clients, and strive to uphold a standard of anti-racism, anti-ableism, and anti-oppression in my practice.
​
I accept Husky/Medicaid insurance for therapy clients only.
For coaching and therapy, my self pay rate is $150 per session, and offer a need-based sliding scale option.
Danielle Urciullo
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW (she, her)
Embrace your lived experiences is definitely my motto! I am also a strong advocate that there is enormous strength that emerges from having empowering relationships in your life. Us analyzing, navigating, and finding these relationships will allow you to live a life with increased connection and vibrance. Hopefully, your relationship with your therapist will be one of these empowering relationships. I approach sessions from holistic, psychodynamic, and harm-reduction perspectives. I aim to be anti-racist, feminist, trans-accepting, sober questioning, and understanding of those who are voice hearers. In sum, all are welcome here!
I have worked with clients across the lifespan and a variety of diagnoses. I feel comfortable with folks who struggle with psychosis and other non-ordinary experiences. I have received training in couples therapy, DBT, CBT, and mindfulness. I have led groups on body positivity, outdoor therapy, and women's issues.
If the above resonates with you please reach out so we can chat further. I can offer a free 15 minute consultation! I am able to provide teletherapy as well as in office sessions.
Marissa McInerney, LMFT
Human Evolvement, LLC.
Marriage and Family Therapist, Expressive Arts Therapist, School Clinician (MFT268), Reiki Master, Energy Alchemist, Creatress.
My studies allow me to utilize my soulful artistic background with a practical clinical avenue. I set out to bridge the gap in therapies by blending clinical treatment with soulful treatment.
For many years, I have poured myself into the arts, social services, spirituality and wellness. I utilize my life wisdom (and educational background) to guide, facilitate and coach those seeking mental clarity, emotional/energetic stability and transformation support.
​
A majority of my career experience has been focused on human development. I have devoted 15+ years to working with children of all ages and their families in different types of settings. I’ve worked in child development centers, in-home agencies, public school systems and private practice. I also work with young adults and those seeking to grow and evolve themselves.
The biggest piece of my work involves creating safe atmospheres, and relating to people in such a way that they feel themselves Seen, Heard and Valuable. This calls forth true expression and creates a vortex of healing life force energy.
​
My passion has always been clear; I want to reach people, to inspire conscious being-ness, true awakenings and healings. My focus is to get myself and others "playing," I want to take life's happenings and explore them with sincerity, humor, creativity (color, art, song, dance, writing, play) and the body. I also value utilizing practical, clinical methodologies to assist the mental and behavioral gymnastics required to under-go well-rounded therapy treatment.
My greatest passion is connecting with people in a helpful way- to soulfully serve humanity and promote Self-Healing.
​
My work includes: Private Clients, Marriage & Family Therapy, Expressive Arts Facilitation, Individualized Treatment Plans, Utilizing Multiple Therapy Modalities, Reiki: Cleansing & Balancing, Energy Alchemizing, Transformation Guidance, Connectivity: connecting dots, wisdom & tools for the journey, Restorative Circles/Workshops, Nature/Eco Aesthetics
​
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES:
LITERATURE, DRAMA, IMPROV & PERFORMANCE THEATRE, 2009
GRADUATE STUDIES:
MASTERS IN EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY, 2014
MASTERS IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY, 2020
ADVANCED GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, 2021
OTHER FORMAL TRAINING:
REIKI MASTERY 2017
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, 2O18
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS, 2020
Keila Aldea, LCSW
Heal Thy Journey Clinical Services
​
* Se Habla Espanol*