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, true crime podcasts
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.
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
Heather Percy, LICSW
(she/her)
Heather’s passion is working with parents of youth struggling with mental health; helping to provide strategies to support their child while also dealing with their own emotional reactions and stress. She has provided care to a variety of different audiences including children, adolescents, families, and professionals to provide support and tools for those struggling with their mental health and burnout. Over the past 14 years, Heather has provided services in a variety of settings including in the home, residential treatment, day treatment, and schools. She is currently expanding her skill set further by completing an Intensive Family Therapy Certification course. Heather believes that each person is the driver of their own treatment and that she is there to help and support, working collaboratively with each client to identify their treatment goals. Heather’s work is centered in transparency and a calm, easy-going approach, blending different therapeutic modalities, including CBT, DBT, and mindfulness.
Education: MSW, Generalist Studies, Wheelock College; B.A. Psychology with a Sociology minor, Framingham State University.
Licensure: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Practice Interests: Parent support and coaching; supervision; social worker burnout and self-care; family therapy.
Personal Interests: traveling with friends and eating great food. Making sourdough bread. Reading, listening to bad pop music. Everything true crime. Hanging out with her 3 year old cat, Arya.
Services Provided at Ampersand: individual therapy, family therapy, supervision, in-person therapy in Acton, MA.
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
Bridget 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
Lance Merrell, Master's Intern
(he/him)
Lance works with individuals across the lifespan, with a particular passion for working with LGBTQ+ individuals. He is currently a Master’s-level intern at Lesley University, completing his degree in mental health counseling and music therapy. Lance uses a person-centered, holistic approach that incorporates music therapy techniques to help you find the answers and resources within you to meet life’s challenges. He also infuses his work with elements of creativity and play when appropriate. His goal is to have each of his clients leaving their time with him feeling listened to, supported, and empowered. And there is no music background required!
Education: Master's in mental health counseling in progress at Lesley University
Practice Interests: music therapy, LGBTQ+ populations, and individuals across the lifespan
Services provided at Ampersand: Telehealth individual therapy and music therapy, low-cost therapy options
