Meet Our Team
Chelsea Walsh, LICSW(she/her)
Chelsea is the founder and owner of Ampersand Counseling & Consultation. Chelsea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and has experience working with diverse populations in residential treatment, community-based settings, juvenile justice, as well as in schools. Above all specific therapeutic modalities, Chelsea takes pride in building a compassionate client-therapist relationship through humor, transparency, and collaboration. She believes that all people are the navigators of their own lives and hopes to help her clients achieve their individual goals. Chelsea uses elements of Dialectical-Behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and solution-focused therapy in her individual practice. Chelsea sees individuals via telehealth in both Massachusetts and South Carolina.
Education: MSW, Health & Mental Health Specialty, Boston College; B.A, Psychology, North Carolina State University
Licensure: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (116644)
Practice Interests: Adolescent identity development, parent coaching and support, supervision of newer-to-the-field social workers, intersections of special education and mental health
Personal interests: Being a dog mom to the best dogs ever, cooking, traveling, horseback riding, weightlifting, documentaries
Services provided at Ampersand: Individual therapy, group therapy, supervision, parent/family coaching, consultation, diagnostic evaluation, special education consultation, SPACE treatment for folks in MA and SC.
Accpets Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Gabrielle Arias, LMHC, RDT (she/they)
Gabrielle is a drama therapist working with individuals and groups at Ampersand Counseling. Gabrielle’s specialties include gender and sexuality confusion, coming out, living with intersecting identities, coping through crises, and expressive therapies. After working with adolescents in school settings, Gabrielle worked in a Partial Hospitalization Program working with LGBTQ+ individuals where she increased their knowledge of skills-based therapeutic approaches. As a drama therapist, Gabrielle utilizes music, movement, art, object, and writing in sessions. Gabrielle implements a wide range of interventions based on presenting needs and is experienced in DBT, CBT, mindfulness, and breathwork.
Education: MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialty in Drama Therapy, Lesley University; BS, Psychology, Florida State University
Licensure: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (12696)
Practice interests: LGBTQ+ adolescents and adults
Personal interests: Trying new restaurants, exploring in nature, listening to podcasts, and fanatically consuming pop culture
Services provided at Ampersand: Individual therapy, group therapy, consultation
Accpets Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Lauren Sava, LCSW, MPH (she/her)
Lauren is passionate about working with youth and adolescents utilizing a strengths-based, resiliency approach. She prioritizes building strong, collaborative, and trusting relationships with all her clients and their families. Lauren has experience working with youth and adolescents in schools, non-profits, and healthcare. In her social work practice, she frequently utilizes narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy, as well as incorporates her public health background to consider how macro-level factors may be influencing individual experiences. She also aims to find opportunities for creative expression, art, movement, and joy in her work with youth. Above all, Lauren aims to support all her clients in feeling affirmed in who they are.
Education: MSW, School Social Work, Simmons University; MPH, Public Health, Boston University; BA, Health, Behavior, and Society, University of Rochester
Licensure: Licensed Certified Social Worker (229464)
Practice Interests: Self-esteem and empowerment, LGBTQ youth and adolescents, youth and adolescent identity development, trauma-informed care, anxiety
Personal interests: Arts & crafts, reading novels, dancing, snuggling with my cat, being outside
Services provided at Ampersand: individual therapy, group therapy, SPACE Treatment
Not currently accepting new clients
Bridgete Kiejna, Skills Coach (she/her)
Bridget has a passion for working with adolescents and young adults to help them achieve their academic and personal wellness goals with confidence. Bridget uses her experience as a tutor and educational coach to implement executive functioning strategies and practical applications of DBT and CBT skills. Bridget focuses on developing strong, authentic relationships with both clients and their families by combining clinical input and goals with the client's strengths and interests. In addition to skills coaching practices, Bridget uses her own lived experience to build meaningful connections and foster hope. To complement her mindfulness-based approach to coaching, Bridget is certified in Reiki I and II and is currently pursuing her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training license.
Education: B.A, Interdisciplinary Studies, concentration in Human Services, University of Massachusetts Amherst (anticipated May 2025)
Certifications: Reiki Level I & II, QBS Safety Care Verbal De-Escalation Training, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Think College Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program Educational Coach Training
Practice Interests: Executive Functioning Coaching, DBT and CBT Skills Coaching, Travel Training and Community Access, Holistic Therapies, Anxiety, Depression, Self-care, Self-compassion, Mindfulness, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Disability Self-Advocacy, College Access for People with Disabilities
Personal Interests: Yoga, Reiki, Ayurveda, Chakras, Astrology, Crystals, Vegetarian Cooking and Eating, World Traveling, Camping and Hiking, Bullet and Junk Journaling, Crafting, and Watching the show Survivor or whatever else I am hyper-fixated on at the time!
Services Provided at Ampersand: Skills Coaching