
Morgan Ajello
I believe that therapy is a collaborative process. I work with my clients to set personalized goals and develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs. I am a Masters level clinician licensed in both Connecticut and Florida, as well as Board Certified National Counselor. Owning and operating in the private practice setting for the last 6 years. I have years of experience working with individuals on a wide range of issues such as Trauma, Anxiety, Sexual Dysfunctions, Family Conflict, and more. I use a psychodynamic approach that utilizes evidence based techniques such as CBT, DBT, ACT, Solution Focused, Family Systems, and Trauma focused to name a few. I am committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where individuals can feel comfortable exploring their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. And here to help you achieve your personal growth goals. I look forward to working with you.

Christina Chykirda
Hello there! My name is Christina and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in CT. I have been in the mental health field for 9 years and in the customer service field for over 15 years. I have a vast range of experience in different settings with all different types of clients. My experience includes working in: inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient. I have worked with many different types of issues/and disorders such as: depression; anxiety (obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety, phobias, and panic disorder); posttraumiatic stress disorder; trauma; veterans; grief and loss; bipolar; schizophrenia; attentive deficit hyperactive disorder; personality disorders; anger challenges; impulse control challenges; gambling; substance abuse; kleptomania; eating disorders; sex offenders; domestic violence; life transition challenges; and interpersonal relationship challenges. Life can be very challenging and don't we all just wanna feel understood, validated, and supported? My therapy style is empathic, non-judgmental, supportive, and interactive. I like to work collaboratively with my clients to identify goals and work together to achieve them by assigning homework. I provide education on topics/disorders when the client does not have knowledge of it in attempts for them to gain more awareness into themselves to live a better quality of life. If we don’t understand something then how can we work on improving it?! I use a combination of approaches such as: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, strength-based therapy, and reality-based therapy. I believe therapy is a journey and if you are to really benefit from it, it should not be comfortable. With that said, another approach of mine is to challenge and encourage clients to face their fears and work through their difficult emotions/challenges without turning to unhealthy coping skills. This is not an easy task but I will do whatever I can to help support you and help in your journey to attain a better quality of life! I look forward to chatting and working with you. Godspeed!

Marva Beckford
Hi, If you are on here you are seeking some help and support and struggling with something significant in your life. Finding the right person to help you through these challenges is very important. I would like to provide you with some information about me to see if we are a good fit. I'm a hard-working, highly motivated therapist with over 15 years of experience in social work as a clinician/therapist. Much of my experience has been working with people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, substance abuse, and self-esteem issues. You can expect me to walk with you through whatever difficulties you are facing and help you learn more about yourself and the way you interact with the world. The feedback I receive from clients is that they find me to be caring and non-judgmental, and they appreciate that I am honest and direct with them. I have excellent communication, organizational, problem solving, interpersonal and adaptive skills. I am able to work with a diverse and challenging client population. During the Covid epidemic, all sessions are conducted via video sessions so that we can get to know each other better. But I am also available to you via phone and text if that is more comfortable for you. A majority of my availability is during the day but I can be available during the evening hours depending on your needs. I know how hard it can be to find a counselor who you feel a connection with and I would be honored to work with you through this stage of your life.

Janet Morcaldi
I am a clinical social worker licensed in Connecticut with over 7 years of experience working with foster parents, adoptive parents, and birth parents. I have over 3 years of experience working as a clinician in an outpatient therapy setting. I enjoy working with individuals and providing support to promote positive change. I believe that therapy is a partnering process; we are equals on this journey together, learning from each other along the way. My approach is integrative and draws from attachment theory, systems theory, and cognitive behavioral theory. I am passionate about self-care, positive self-talk, and building self-esteem; I look forward to partnering with you!

Sarah (she/her) Smith
I am licensed in Connecticut with about 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & career difficulties. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to begin or continue therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! Thank you for inviting me on your journey to feeling better and pursuing life one day at a time. My primary approach to therapy is placing emphasis on the therapeutic relationship. Building rapport through time and trust will determine how effective treatment will be. I like to explore treatment with humor, play, and a thorough family history to assist clients on their journey to reaching their goals. Treatment strategies include grief therapy, role play, cognitive behavioral therapy, stress and crisis management, communication and social skills building, and trauma informed care. I also encourage and welcome clients to incorporate their faith, religion or spirituality into treatment as you see fit.

Gina Payne
I am licensed in Connecticut with over 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients struggling with addictions, relationship issues, grief and loss, & parenting issues. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Debra Struzinski
I am a Connecticut and Florida licensed therapist with over 35 years of professional work experience. I’m qualified in helping clients with stress & anxiety, depression, family & personal conflicts, parenting issues, life transitions as well as distinctly Christian counseling. As a marriage & family therapist, I am experienced in working with individuals, couples and families. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, & compassion. I will tailor our dialog & your therapy goals to meet your unique & specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling & happier lifestyle takes courage. I’m here to listen & support you in that process.

Maria Frassinelli Sierra
Hi! I am a licensed clinical social worker in Connecticut with over 20 years of professional social work experience, specializing in medical social work. I have a particular specialty in assisting individuals and families cope with a cancer diagnosis and other health challenges. I also have a unique interest in and experience helping folks manage end of life issues and cope with grief and loss. Other areas include coping with life changes and transitions, assisting with executive and professional coaching and LGBTQ+ related work. No one is immune to life’s challenges and sometimes we just need some help navigating those things that we get thrust into. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have unique strengths that will guide you through whatever life throws at you. Taking the first step to seek help along the way takes courage and you are doing that now! I am here to partner with you in that process, to help you find ways to lighten your burden, and support you as you navigate this journey. You've got this.

Colin Christman
My name is Colin Christman, and I am licensed in Connecticut as an LCSW. I completed my undergraduate education at Yale University in Political Science and Applied Mathematics. I completed my graduate education at the University of Connecticut. The bulk of my prior work experience is in intensive care settings (largely inpatient or residential) for severe issues in behavioral health (substance use disorders, self-harm, suicidality, complex trauma, eating disorders, and other behavioral health problems such as gambling disorder, sex addiction, compulsive dishonesty, and kleptomania). I have significant experience working with co-occurring trauma, behavioral health disorders, personality disorders, and mood or anxiety disorders. Given the complex, florid, and grave nature of many of these disorders, I have experience working within a family context with partners, parents, children, and siblings. For whom it may be interesting, I have training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and trauma-specific interventions. I would describe my overall therapeutic approach as psychodynamic, and most consistent with the ideas of Alfred Adler and Eric Berne. At times we may be joined by Emma, a certified emotional support dog. I believe that most mental illnesses are diseases of absence, not diseases of presence. If you imagine influenza, it's a disease of presence. There's a bad thing present (the viral infection) that produces disease. By contrast, scurvy is a disease of absence. Lacking vitamin C for a prolonged period, the body cannot maintain healthy function. I believe the role of therapy is to identify what's missing in terms of emotional nutrition (safety, interpersonal connection, a sense of identity, a sense of community, a sense of purpose, a sense of capability, and structure are core examples, though there are others and biomedical possibilities as well). From there, our goal is to determine why those psychological needs are persistently unmet, and how those unmet needs motivate self-destructive or maladaptive patterns in your life. Often in psychology we discuss cognition and emotion (thoughts and feelings). In truth, thoughts and feelings are only the mechanism by which the brain turns its understanding of what's happening into a behavioral response. Our goal is to use those thoughts and feelings, in the context of your life, to discover underlying beliefs that produce too much negative emotion, too little positive emotion, or behavior that isn't consistent with your values, your goals, or your wellbeing. But where we start is a lot simpler: Who are you? What matters to you? What's wrong in your life, and what would it mean for things to be right? We're all in the process of trying to become a better version of ourselves. Therapy is the process of challenging and changing beliefs to progress toward a better relationship with others and, most importantly, ourselves.

Kathleen Hauburger
I am licensed in Connecticut with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, coping with addictions, family conflicts, trauma, & abuse. I also have experience working with parenting issues. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.
Find a therapist serving clients in Connecticut
What types of therapists are available to clients in Bantam?
Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in Bantam that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), therapeutic talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.
Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform
Mental health therapists in Bantam available through BetterHelp are accredited as psychologists to help individuals and couples. Bantam therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, Bantam therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the Bantam region and in the state of Connecticut.
How can a therapist help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want?
Therapists in Bantam can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in Bantam may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment.
Is it better to find a mental health counselor or therapist in Bantam offering online therapy or in person?
Studies show online therapy can be just as effective as in-person counseling. Online therapy with licensed counselors is often more affordable, with BetterHelp pricing ranging from $65-$100 weekly, while in person therapy can cost up to $200 per session.