Coastal Psychotherapy Associates

06/12/2026

Celebrating Loving Day: Protecting Civil Rights and Social Justice in 2026

Today marks the 59th anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision that struck down bans on in*******al marriage. As social workers, this day is not just a historical milestone—it is an urgent call to action.In today’s volatile political environment, we are witnessing a deeply concerning pushback against established human rights. Loving Day reminds us that progress is never permanent; civil liberties must be actively defended.This day directly reflects our core professional values:Social Justice: We must challenge systemic regressions that threaten to strip away the rights of marginalized communities.Dignity and Worth of the Person: Every individual possesses the inherent right to self-determination and legal protection.Importance of Human Relationships: Society thrives when we protect, rather than police, human connection and diverse families.As social workers, our code of ethics demands that we advocate for policy change and resist the erosion of civil rights. True equity requires continuous, vigilant action.Let's use today to celebrate how far we have come, while reaffirming our commitment to stand on the front lines of justice.

06/09/2026

05/30/2026

The system relies on your capacity to care, but it rarely offers a framework to sustain you.

In 35 years across New England’s hospitals, universities, and community health settings, I have watched the same costly pattern play out:

The people holding the highest stakes—physicians, executives, founders, and nonprofit directors—are running on the lowest fuel.

Standard leadership advice treats burnout like a personal flaw. It tells you to build individual resilience, ignoring the reality that you are operating within a structurally exhausting environment.

But you cannot scale external impact if your internal infrastructure is compromised. My practice provides a sharp, confidential environment designed for atypical achievers who need to examine their real limits and protect their personal vitality from the gravity of their professional roles:

For Organizations: Targeted consulting to diagnose what is actually driving your turnover and team depletion.

For Supervisors: Reflective spaces to process the unique psychological toll of high-stakes management.

For Individuals: Precise psychotherapy (MA) and executive coaching (global) to untangle systemic stress and sort what is yours to hold from what isn’t.

If you are ready to build a steadier, more sustainable way of operating, let's begin.

Whether you're looking for therapy, coaching, or support for your organization — it starts with a simple, confidential note. I respond to every message within 2 business days.

03/08/2026

This International Women's Day, we embrace the 2026 theme: . In social work, we understand that by giving our time, advocacy, and resources to support women, we enhance the resilience and strength of our entire community.

Today, we honor the remarkable women—colleagues, mentors, and clients—who lead with heart every day.

Who are you celebrating today? Tag them below and share why they inspire you!



Pictures of women working collecting firewood and produce in Mosteiros, Fogo in Cabo Verde. I believe I took these pics in 2010.

03/06/2026

Long before earning my MSW, I developed an awareness of disparities. Growing up just outside of Greater Boston, I didn't need a textbook to recognize the inequalities around me. I witnessed them in my multi-racial, multi-ethnic family and among friends who represented the true diversity of our community.

I understood that for the working class and the poor, access to medical and social services was often a hurdle rather than a right. The 'isms' I encountered were not abstract concepts; they were lived experiences that influenced who was seen and who was overlooked.

My education provided the necessary framework, while my career equipped me with the tools to make a difference. I have dedicated my professional life to this calling, and I would not change a single moment of this commitment.

Today, my work encompasses individual healing, systemic education, and regional change:

In my clinical practice, I work with individuals through insight-oriented care, assisting them in navigating the impact of trauma and external pressures.

At the Community College, I mentor the next generation of changemakers, ensuring they have the tools to address the complexities of the disparities I witnessed as a child. What an honor!

Advocating for human rights and transforming regional policy to dismantle systemic inequities at their root. Even when it’s uncomfortable and the risks are high.

Central to every role I hold is my unwavering commitment to the NASW Code of Ethics. This serves as my moral compass, ensuring that integrity, social justice, and the dignity of every person remain at the forefront of my practice—whether in the classroom, the clinic, or a policy meeting.

This , the theme is Uplift. Defend. Transform. It serves as a powerful reminder that we do not merely witness a broken system; we are the ones equipped to fix it.

02/28/2026

Building a bridge between the medical model and the person-in-environment approach is more than just good practice—it's a clinical necessity. Thank you Mark L. Ruffalo for writing this piece.

In the mental health space, psychiatrists and social workers often share the same mission but speak different professional languages. While psychiatrists are masterfully trained to address the biological and neurological components of mental illness, social workers bring an essential lens by identifying the environmental and systemic factors that impact a patient's daily functioning.

This intersection is where the real work happens, but it isn't without its hurdles:

- Competing Frameworks: Balancing diagnosis-led treatment with a holistic, social-context formulation.
- Role Clarity: Navigating the nuances of shared psychotherapy and decision-making.
- Power Dynamics: Moving past traditional hierarchies toward a truly collaborative partnership.

The bottom line? True interprofessional collaboration isn't about whose lens is "right." It’s about integrating medical expertise with an understanding of social determinants to create a treatment plan that actually fits the patient’s world.

When we sync our formulations, our clients don't just get managed—they get understood.

https://www-psychologytoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/from-freud-to-fluoxetine/202602/on-diagnosis-and-formulation/amp

02/20/2026

Today is the World Day of Social Justice, and for those of us in this field, it’s a moment to reflect on our Code of Ethics and my “why”.

Social justice isn't just a buzzword; it’s the active work of "bridging gaps," which is this year’s United Nations theme. Whether it’s advocating for a single client or pushing for systemic change, the goal is the same: ensuring dignity isn't a privilege for the few, but a right for everyone.

I’m reflecting today on the 2026 Global Social Work theme of pulling together. We can’t fix broken systems alone, but we can commit to ethical, inclusive action every single day.

While advocating for equity can feel isolating and overwhelming, our ethics remind us that being 'brave' means speaking up against the comfortable status quo to protect others.

To my fellow advocates: What’s one way you’re "bridging the gap" in your community today?

(Picture of my son and I at Cha das Caldeiras while visiting family in Fogo, Cabo Verde, 2010)

02/08/2026

Winter is not a deficiency in the annual cycle, but rather a valuable period. In today's rapid world, we frequently resist the inclination to decelerate. We perceive rest as a reward rather than a fundamental necessity. Similar to nature, human beings are inherently seasonal. Winter prompts us to adopt a slower pace, engage in profound reflection, and focus inwardly. It is essential to acknowledge and respect periods of lower energy rather than opposing them. This season, consider the following suggestions:
Sip tea without distraction, read literature for enjoyment, and retire to bed earlier without hesitation.
Slowing down does not imply falling behind; rather, it allows for rejuvenation in preparation for future growth.

01/18/2026

As the semester begins, I’m choosing integrity over categorization—and nuance over simplicity.

As we prepare for the start of a new semester, I’m reflecting on the importance of holding one’s values and identity without the obligation to be understood, defended, or neatly categorized by others.

Professionalism does not require conformity.

Diversity does not require explanation.

Complexity does not require approval.

My personal and professional values are informed by lived experience, scholarship, and sustained ethical reflection. They are neither static nor designed to fit comfortably within externally imposed frameworks.

In academic and professional spaces, we should be able to model nuance—engaging difference without spectacle, judgment, or reduction. Not everything meaningful is legible at a glance, and not all integrity is performative.

Complexity is not a weakness; it is a measure of intellectual and human rigor.

01/14/2026

In small rural communities, professionalism isn’t just about conduct—it’s about boundaries that allow us to remain human in places where visibility is constant.

What helps you hold that line without becoming hardened or depleted?

Picture from my Vermont road trip (2025)