Therapists in West Newton, MA

Dr. Santagati's areas of special training and expertise include several clinical issues: working with individuals, couples and families who have depression, anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, interpersonal difficulties and conflict. Her approach to therapy is influenced by several theoretical backgrounds such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Adlerian Psychodynamic Therapy, Family Systems, Humanistic Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. You will decide in collaboration with Dr. Santagati which therapeutic approach is the right one for you!

It can be challenging and scary to seek counseling and to take the first steps toward desired change. Being aware of that, Latrese is grateful and eager about the opportunity to meet people where they are and to help them get to where they want to be.

I am an independently licensed social worker deeply committed to helping individuals and couples navigate issues that they feel are impeding their ability to live as the best, most authentic version of themselves. Over the past five years, I have worked with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, gender/identity issues, OCD, relationship difficulties, self esteem and many others. I strongly believe that therapy can only be effective if it is rooted in the philosophy of unconditional positive regard, and I believe that this is reflected in my open, candid and profoundly non-judgmental style.

Making the first call is sometimes the hardest part of the therapeutic process. I commend you for your strength and courage in seeking help. One of the most important steps of pursuing counseling is finding a passionate, knowledgeable, and trusting therapist that you feel comfortable with. One that will sit with you through your difficult moments and help you to recognize or remind you of your strength. If a mood disorder is taking control of your life, I can help you to learn how to manage it. If you are experiencing challenges with your significant other(s) I can help you to improve the connection, understanding, and intimacy.

As a clinical social worker, I provide counseling to adolescents and adults seeking therapy for a number of reasons such as depression, anxiety, past history of abuse/trauma, and relationship issues. I have worked in a variety of settings including schools, community and college counseling centers, in residential facilities, and in private practice.

As a thirty year veteran in Clinical Social Work, I worked for many years at the premier Harvard teaching hospital for Psychiatry in Boston.. I am an eclectic therapist. My clinical work is based upon a psychodynamic foundation to which I have integrated Cognitive and/or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness and Relaxation Training, Family Systems Models and Coaching. In my initial assessment and subsequent work with each individual, I strive to listen as closely as possible to the feeling experience of the client and help each person develop an understanding and perspective of their life experience.

I love working with people who have come to therapy because they really want to change something about their lives that isn't working. Being in therapy takes a certain amount of courage, and those who show up openly to the experience and bravely start working are satisfying to work with. I'm also interested in those who can commit to having a real relationship in therapy. Based on my own personal and clinical experience, the development of a warm, empathic, safe relationship is key to therapeutic success.

I am an independent Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts. I received my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy from Lesley University. I have worked with adolescents and adults in a multitude of settings including school, crisis stabilization, residential, and inpatient settings. I have extensive experience working with individuals experiencing difficulties around anxiety, depression, substance use, life transitions, and trauma. I bring authenticity and transparency, creativity, unconditional acceptance, and humor to the therapy space.

My practice has primarily lended itself to the treatment of Eating disorders, and other co-occurring struggles such as OCD, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders that are commonly associated with this illness. Currently, I also work in a University setting with both undergrad and grad students, but in the past was the Clinical Director of both an Inpatient Eating Disorder Unit and a Psychiatric Unit. These experiences have provided me with the background of treating adolescents, young adults/adults, and families from all different backgrounds.

I have experience working with Individuals, Couples, and Families of First responders and marginalized communities struggling with the challenges of complex trauma impacting mental health, including Anxiety, Depressive disorders, PTSD, and substance use disorders.

I work with teens and adults using a variety of theoretical models and evidence-based interventions. My therapeutic approach is collaborative, active and non-judgmental, and my style is warm, direct and authentic. My clients experience a range of distressing mental health issues including anxiety, depression, PTSD/trauma, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, issues related to GLBTQIA identity, and substance abuse/addiction. My goal is to reduce distress and assist people in the development of an enriching life.

I am interested in working with clients who want to show up to make gradual improvements in their personal and interpersonal relationships and lives. Ideally, my clients come from a variety of backgrounds and carry vastly different experiences; however, all possess a desire for exploring and healing wounds.

My ideal client would be new to therapy, though motivated to change. I am aware of the challenges that come with seeking therapy and want to be a support to those who are hesitant with the process. Ideally, I would like a client who is self-aware, receptive to feedback, and willing to hold themselves accountable.

My Ideal client: 36 yo male, divorced, with two children. The patient was incarcerated 16 years, due to drug addiction/trafficking. He spent his early childhood living with his mother and father, who sexually abused him. They were also addicted to drugs due to their childhood experiences of being abused. The patient's parents also prostituted him in exchange for drugs for others. The patient turned to drugs to escape the pain, embarrassment, and overall trauma from his childhood. He now wants sobriety and to overcome his trauma, which includes flashbacks and negative self-image, self-hatred, and hatred of his parents.

In therapy, the client and I enter into a collaboration to find new ways to problem-solve, reduce suffering, discover patterns and build new life paths. As part of this process, I help the client: to learn about patterns of thought and behavior, to learn to be with unpleasant experiences instead of avoiding them or grasping for something else, and to practice awareness, self-compassion and curiosity, habits of mind that help bring about positive change. I have a gentle, direct, and engaging approach that encourages and supports the client.

My ideal client is someone who is willing to work with me in order to achieve their goal. This includes being able to have back and forth conversation around ways to achieve that goal, as well as have the more difficult conversations when it comes to road blocks and the occasional self sabotaging behavior. I will always be honest in my assessments, and thoughts, and my hope would be that my client is as well.

I believe psychotherapy is about self-discovery, change and empowerment. If you feel stressed or unhappy, psychotherapy can help. My goal is to create an emotionally safe place, so that together, we can find the right answers. I appreciate that life can be complicated and that solutions are unique to the person. I am warm and nonjudgmental and my approach is client-centered and collaborative. My clients see me as knowledgeable and supportive. I listen carefully with an open mind. I would feel privileged to be part of your journey of growth and healing.

I work with people struggling with stress or loss. I offer understanding and compassion. I help my clients recognize and understand their feelings, improve their coping and communication skills, increase their emotional intelligence, clarify their goals, implement their plans, raise their self-esteem, and heal. I work with adults of all ages and cultural backgrounds- single, married, widowed, divorced/separated, caregivers, single parents, parents struggling with their children's difficulties, and adult children of elderly parents who are declining.