About Us - Counseling, Health & Wellness

Counseling, Health & Wellness believes that health is multi-faceted and requires a holistic, culturally informed approach that attends to the unique needs of each student.  Our mission is to provide integrated services that support the academic success and personal development of our students.  Through counseling and medical services, wellness education, consultation, education, and community referrals, we support student and community well-being in a responsive, professional, and caring setting.

CHW takes an active stance against oppression in all forms, seeking to provide an identity-affirming space where all students feel comfortable seeking care and support. CHW staff strive to recognize the impact of oppression and privilege based on identities including sex, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, nation of origin/immigration status, sexual/affectional orientation, age, physical and mental abilities, neurodiversity, body size, religious beliefs, socioeconomic class, health status, and many other forms of personal identity or background. As a department, we aspire to understand and promote equality, empowerment, and healing for students impacted by systemic oppression, such as racism and sexism, human-rights violations, violence, or other social justice concerns in the United States or within countries of origin for international students. CHW staff have a responsibility to identify and respond to prejudicial attitudes and practices within themselves and others, working to recognize bias when it appears and seeking its elimination. We invite students seeking a confidential and safe space to openly discuss concerns related to diversity, identity, or prejudice, including how these concerns impact their experience at Suffolk or within CHW.

CHW counseling and medical services attend to and support the range of intersecting sociocultural identities represented among Suffolk students. We work collaboratively with students to provide culturally-informed services designed to recognize the impact of privilege and/or oppression, provide identity-affirming treatment options, and support and empower students with a holistic approach to health. CHW also provides consultation and education to the entire Suffolk community to increase access to identity-affirming wellness resources and practices, develop community understanding of the connections between wellness, oppression, and privilege, and advocate for the resources needed for healing at individual and institutional levels. CHW staff participate in in-service seminars, supervision, and/or continuing education opportunities related to culturally informed clinical practice skills, personal reflection and awareness regarding the impact of their own identities and unconscious bias, and understanding the impact of current events within the US and around the world.

Director/Training Director

I joined the Suffolk community in 2016 and continue to love my job and the community it serves. As a psychologist and college health professional for over 20 years, I remain passionate about student wellness and increasing access to mental health and medical services for all students. Creating identity-affirming spaces for healing and growth is central to why I became a healthcare provider. Getting to live out those values with Suffolk’s diverse student population and CHW staff is one of the most meaningful aspects of my work. Areas of professional interest include enhancing college health service delivery systems, the integration of trauma-informed practices in healthcare, and the role of the body in psychological healing. I welcome connecting with students and all community members to hear feedback about CHW, collaborate in sustaining a campus culture of support and resilience, and identify ways we can continue to reduce systemic barriers to accessing healthcare. In my spare time, I can be found spending time outside (running, biking, or just being), cooking, volunteering for my spiritual community, and spending time with my wife and kids.

Associate Director/Training Director
Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor

I joined CHW in 2022 after over a decade of experience in college counseling. Being a Training Director allows me to contribute to something bigger than myself through teaching, mentoring, and supervision. Another aspect of college health that I really enjoy is the richness that comes from connecting to a diverse population of students and staff. I work to create an environment which breaks down barriers associated with oppression and look for ways to use my own privileges to create access to equitable care and advocacy for students. I seek to create informal and safe spaces for students in counseling and supervision, utilizing feminist and interpersonal approaches which value exploring the contribution that both of us are making to the experience. One of my areas of clinical interest is working with students around issues of gender identity. I am currently seeking certification through the World Association of Transgender Health. Outside of work, I seek to travel as much as possible, sometimes camping out of my van, but always squeezing in as much adventure as my time allows. I also like to watch Star Trek & the X-Files while I crochet, sew, and knit.

Assistant Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor

I first joined the Suffolk community in 2015 as a doctoral intern and returned as a staff member in Fall 2017. I became a psychologist specifically to support students of color because I still remember how important it was to have support from members of my own community. As a clinician, I work from an empowerment-oriented, social justice perspective, prioritize collaboration and transparency, and aim to care for, accept and uplift students, while challenging them to make the changes they need to in their lives. I love working at Suffolk because the students are amazing! I am committed to supporting students from all different backgrounds in achieving their dreams and minimizing barriers. I aim to call out bias and oppression, help students understand the impact of societal prejudice and marginalization, and to respect, value, and work to understand each person’s intersectional identities. I specialize in trauma, relational concerns, and working with BIPOC and other students with minoritized identities, with particular focus on aiding students in understanding the impact of culture and oppression on mental health, and navigating racial trauma and the racial identity development process. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my children, reading fantasy novels, and baking.

Practicum Student

I am currently a 2nd year clinical psychology PhD practicum student in training at CHW. My role at CHW allows me to provide counseling services to students from all backgrounds – it is important to me to support students in their college journey in the face of adjustment and adversity. As a graduate student, I am also interested in digital mental health (mHealth, eHealth), reduction of barriers to mental health services (cultural, stigma, financial), and health psychology (e.g., populations with chronic health conditions). In my free time, or outside of work and school, you can find me enjoying coffee, going for a walk, or going for a swim!

Staff Clinician
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

I joined the Suffolk community in 2022 and remain passionate about working with young adults. I am continuously inspired by the diverse student population and Suffolk’s commitment to making students feel welcome and heard. As a social worker and fellow human being, my main goal is to create an affirming space where anyone who steps into my office feels respected and valued. I understand what a big step it is to speak with a mental health professional. My areas of clinical interest include evidence-based practices surrounding anxiety, depression, and ADD/ADHD management. It is common for me to include neurobiology and psychology in my sessions as it can feel really validating to know there are scientific reasons behind behavior and actions. I also have a background in improvisational comedy and find that humor (where appropriate!) can be a healing intervention in itself. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, forging and mycology, art (especially Modernist) and pampering my 11 year old Boston Terrier, Foxy.

Doctoral Intern

I am a member of Suffolk’s 2022-23 Clinical Psychology doctoral internship program. I was particularly drawn to Suffolk’s diverse student body and am passionate about serving BIPOC students. I specialize in helping clients navigate racial trauma, systemic oppression, identity exploration, and self-empowerment. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling with my partner, watching a good tv series, trying new restaurants, and having meaningful conversations with friends and family.

Practicum Student

I started as a Ph.D. student at Suffolk during the fall of 2021, worked as a graduate fellow in the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion at Suffolk during the summer of 2022 before joining CHW as Practicum Student. My research and clinical interests revolve around providing culturally responsive mental healthcare for adults carrying minoritized identities (e.g. people of racial and ethnic minoritized groups and people who carry minoritized sexual orientations and gender identities) who also experience anxiety and depression. As I am particularly interested in working with young adults, I enjoy working with Suffolk students as their mental health care provider. In my free time, I enjoy long distance runs, watching anime, and listening to music.

Doctoral Intern

I joined CHW this year as a Doctoral Intern on the way to completing my Ph.D. at the University of Toronto’s Clinical and Counselling Psychology program. I’ve always enjoyed working with emerging adults in college counseling because of the opportunity to support a diverse student body during a time of significant growth and exploration. My theoretical approach is integrative in nature and heavily influenced by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and process-experiential approaches such as Emotion-Focused Therapy. I enjoy working on multidisciplinary teams and at the intersection of psychology and medicine, based on my previous experiences in behavioral medicine and partial hospital programs. My passions outside of psychology include spending time with my family, immersing in nature, speaking Mandarin, and experimenting with flavors and colors in the kitchen.

Practicum Student

I joined Suffolk in 2021 as a Clinical Psychology doctoral student and am enjoying my work in CHW this year. Suffolk has been an incredibly open and welcoming place for me, and I hope to mirror these characteristics in my own work within the community by leading with compassion and empathy. I aim for a collaborative relationship with my clients, and for their own personal values and goals to be heard and appreciated. In my free time I spend as much time as I can with my adorable dog Poppy, follow all things pop culture (podcasts, tv shows, and movies), and I spend time with friends trying out new restaurants or exploring the globe.

Staff Psychologist/Multicultural Training
Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor

I have been with CHW since 2018 and continue to enjoy the variety of ways I am able to utilize my skills as a psychologist. I consider it an honor and a privilege to meet with Suffolk students and hear their stories. Throughout my life it has been important to me to be an advocate for social justice, and being able to enact that by cultivating a healing, therapeutic space for all identities is deeply meaningful. I have experience with a wide breadth of concerns but some of my areas of specialty include relational concerns, life transitions, identity development, chronic pain, mind-body interventions, Latinx mental health, and existential concerns. In my free time I enjoy cooking, being in nature, scary movies, and spending time with loved ones.

Case Manager
Licensed Mental Health Counselor

I joined CHW in 2020. To me, being a case manager is more than just connecting a student to resources; it’s also giving students the tools to navigate the process of finding resources on their own. College is a time of transition, growth and independence, and it feels very rewarding to be part of that process for our students. I was drawn to Suffolk for its diverse student population and its programs for First-Generation Students. As a mental health counselor, my areas of interest include adjustment and life transition issues, anxiety, depression, interpersonal issues, and working with LGBTQ+ students. In my spare time, I love to sing, explore new cities, try new foods and restaurants, and spend quality time with my husband.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

I joined CHW in 2019 after 35 years in private practice and community mental health. For many of those years I pursued opportunities to work with diverse populations and to provide care for people with limited access to health care. I love the Suffolk community, both the students and the staff, and I look forward to coming to work every day. I appreciate the opportunity to support such a diverse community, and I strive to meet each student where they are. Although my job primarily entails diagnosis and medication, I bring a strong background in holistic health care, which I share as part of my approach to mental health and wellness. Feel free to ask me about exercise, yoga, meditation, nutrition, supplements, herbs, or any other holistic approach! When I’m not at CHW I enjoy being a mom, working as the head nurse at a summer camp, spending time in nature, dog training, cooking, reading, and any opportunity to learn something new.

Associate Director, Medical Operations Director
Nurse Practitioner

I joined the CHW team in 2016 still love coming to Suffolk every day. The University’s commitment to access, to restorative justice, and to promoting health and wellness makes me proud to be part of this community. I am pleased to be able to serve on the CHW leadership team, the DEI team, the COVID integrated response team, and also to provide direct care to patients one day each week in the clinic. I want Suffolk students to know that meeting people where they are is a defining aspect of my practice. For over ten years, I have pursued opportunities to work with diverse patient populations as a clinician and also to identify and eliminate barriers to receiving quality healthcare as an administrator and manager. In my role, I aim to properly equip the CHW Health clinicians to maintain identity-affirming spaces that honor personal health beliefs while providing supportive and evidence-based medical interventions to meet patients’ needs. When I am not at CHW, I love playing with my two puppy rescues (Penny Lane and Sgt. Pepper), making music (mostly singing Broadway show tunes), and playing board games with my family.

Nurse Practitioner

I joined the Suffolk community in 2022. I love my job because it allows me to provide accessible medical care to a diverse patient population with various medical conditions while also having the opportunity to positively impact someone’s life. In my practice, I am committed to providing ample time to listen to each patient’s needs, knowing this leads to the best clinical outcomes. I also work to maintain awareness of my own biases in order to provide the best medical care for each one of my patients. Specific areas of clinical expertise include complex chronic illness, disease prevention/screening, and women’s health. When I am not at Suffolk, I enjoy exercising, spending time with friends/family, and traveling.

Medical Assistant

I started offering medical assistance at CHW in 2017 and value the opportunity to provide high quality care to our students. I love that I work with a diverse group of students and staff and that we can all learn from one another. I work hard to create a welcoming environment for every student where I can provide assistance by doing blood pressure checks and collecting vital signs, administering vaccines, performing phlebotomy, and offering health education. When I’m not in CHW, I can be found spending time with my family or friends, looking up places to visit, or shopping.

Nurse Practitioner

I started working with the CHW team in the spring of 2023. I thoroughly enjoy Suffolk’s energetic, dynamic, and diverse student population. It is particularly rewarding to have the opportunity to provide impactful healthcare and education during students’ time at Suffolk University. I am genuinely interested in the lives of my patients and actively try to practice medicine with holistic goals in mind. I am particularly interested in global health, social determinants of health care, and infertility medicine. I enjoy traveling, trying to reproduce impossible recipes, drinking coffee, and chasing my children around town.

Nurse Practitioner

I have been a member of the CHW Health team since September 2014. I chose a career in nursing to make an impactful difference and to promote the health of patients and the community. Prior to CHW, I worked in a community health care setting in Boston for 8 years. My primary clinical interests include sexual health, preventative GYN care, and health promotion. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, exercise, cooking, photography, and visiting museums/galleries.

Medical Assistant

I joined CHW in 2019 as a medical assistant and I value the opportunity to provide strong customer service and to share my medical knowledge and training. I enjoy working with people from various cultures and appreciate that everyone is welcomed with joy, love, and enthusiasm here. I provide assistance by collecting vital signs, administering vaccines, performing phlebotomy, and maintaining the order and cleanliness of our exam rooms. In my days off, I spend time with my kids, my husband, and my puppy. I also love trying new recipes.

Physician Consultant to CHW Health
MGH Affiliated MD

I serve as the medical consultant for Counseling Health and Wellness at Suffolk. I am an Assistant Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a practicing physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. I am also the founder and executive director of Health Story Collaborative (HSC), a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals navigating health challenges find meaning, and ultimately heal, through storytelling.

I live in Cambridge, Massachusetts with my husband, teenagers, and two dogs. I prefer to be awake rather than asleep, and love to hike, run in the woods, ski, and play ice hockey.

Assistant Director for Wellness

I joined CHW in 2021 and love bringing wellness education to Suffolk’s student body. In particular, I enjoy mentoring the SUPERs (SU Peer Health Educators) and Wellness Graduate Fellows, as well as teaching wellness programs on nutrition, movement, stress management, mindfulness, and healthy relationships. Prior to entering higher education, I worked in the Boston Public Schools for six years as a Wellness and Physical Education teacher. I enjoy being an active member of the CHW DEI Team and look forward to bringing diverse wellness programing to CHW. As a former student athlete, I also enjoy working with student athletes and connecting them to CHW services. My favorite hobbies include, running, yoga, and playing with my Australian Shepherds, Maverick and Mae.

COVID Logistics Manager

I joined CHW in 2022 and love the high energy levels around campus when the students are here. I most enjoy attending events that allow me to interact with our students because it helps me understand both the challenges students face and what is exciting about being at Suffolk. When I am not working, I am often teaching yoga or taking a beach walk (all year round-Winter is actually my favorite time for this) somewhere on the North Shore.

Healthcare Data and Systems Specialist

I started at Suffolk in 2018 in Orientation, New Student & Family Programs before transitioning to CHW in 2022. In this role I have the opportunity to draw from my experience working with students and combine it with my interest in telling stories through data. I’m constantly in awe of the students at Suffolk; they have heart, determination, and define success for themselves. If you’re a student coming into CHW I encourage you to advocate for yourself and your health because you’ll be met with people who will support you in that endeavor. When I’m not here you’ll probably find me in a hot yoga class, tending to my houseplants, or drinking hot coffee all year round.

Administrative Coordinator

I joined Suffolk in November of 2021. What I love most about Suffolk is the never-ending learning opportunities and consistent commitment to putting students first. As a member of the CHW DEI Team, I work with other staff members to bring DEI awareness and education to our center. The best part of my job is getting to interact with our students either in CHW or through our events and outreach programs. When I’m not working, you can find me at a soccer field with my son or studying.

Administrative Coordinator

I have worked at Suffolk for over 17 years and enjoy working with students whose enthusiasm for life, learning, and the future is inspiring to be around. I also enjoy the opportunity to meet so many students from different parts of the world; it’s a great place to learn and appreciate different cultures. In my spare time, I enjoy being with my family and friends, taking Barr, Spin, and Zumba classes, and sitting on the beach listening to the ocean and life happening around me.

Administrative Coordinator

I’ve been in my role at Suffolk since 2009. I enjoy working here because I get to meet and interact with students from all over the world and get to learn a little about different cultures. I also like working in Boston for its history and beauty. In my spare time, I enjoy going for walks and listening to music.