Therapist Directory
A note to parents:
The purpose of the Adoption Community Network (ACN) Therapist Directory is to identify local clinicians who indicate special training to work with adoptive families. Those listed below have completed the “Provider Application for Inclusion in the Adoption Community Network’s Directory of Therapy Providers.” The ACN does not endorse the resources listed nor any of the external links provided on this site. It is not responsible for accuracy or completeness of information.
Parents should carefully choose a therapist based on the individual needs of their family. For additional information, please refer to the following factsheet provided by the Child Welfare Information Gateway:
A note to therapists:
If you would like to be considered for inclusion in this directory, please download the application. If you are currently listed and your description needs to be updated, please email us at adoption@uchc.edu. If you are interested in learning more about clinical issues in adoption, visit the Clinical Issues in Adoption Post Master’s Certificate Program page for information on the certificate program offered by the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and Southern Connecticut State University.
Attachment Institute of New England, Inc.
Joe Lyons, Psy.D., Megan Kirby, Psy.D., Suzanne Allen, Ph.D., Kenneth Frohock, LMHC, LRC
21 Cedar Street, 2nd Floor
Worcester, MA 01609
508-799-2663
Website: www.attachmentnewengland.com
Insurance: Possible single case agreement, depending on insurance company
Sliding Scale: N
Specializes in treating children with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Reactive Attachment Disorder. Therapy sessions are two hours long typically with two clinicians. Course of treatment tends to be 14 sessions. Members of the Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children (ATTACh). Local and national trainers/presenters.
Constance Catrone, LCSW
1 Bradley Road
Woodbridge, CT 06525
203-795-1118
Insurance: Husky, Anthem, call for others
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Over 25 years experience working with adoptive and foster families, as well as birth families. A 3 to 4 session assessment is completed to determine goals, structured and frequency of treatment. Extensive experience working with childhood trauma, grief and loss. Completed several trainings with Beverly James, Dan Hughes, and Bessel Van der Kolk. Assisted in the development of a local agency's post adoption program. Available to advocate within the school system and to participate in treatment provider meetings on behalf of client families.
Jama R. Colegrove, MS, LMFT
High Ground Counseling
163 B Main Street
Wethersfield, CT 06109
860-881-5333
Insurance: Husky, Cigna, Anthem, Aetna, UBH, call for others
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Over 12 years experience working with foster and adoptive families. Extensive work with traumatized children in sub acute setting for 10 years. Available to advocate within the school system on behalf of client families and to attend treatment provider meetings.
Susan Engel, LCSW
30 Tower Lane, 4th Floor
Avon, CT 06001
860-269-3104
Insurance: All, including Husky
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Over 11 years experience working with foster and adoptive families. Completed the University of Connecticut's Clinical Issues in Adoption Post Master's Certificate program. Active practice the serves several foster/adoptive families. Available to advocate with the school system on behalf of client families and to attend treatment provider meetings. Collaborates with a number of psychiatrists and other professionals in the field to make appropriate referrals. Extensive training in Complex Trauma, PTSD, Grief and Loss, Attachment and other clinical adoption issues.
Greenleaf Therapeutic Practice, LLC
214 Amity Road
Woodbridge, CT 06525
203-980-0511
Insurance: Husky, Oxford
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Completed University of Connecticut’s Clinical Issues in Adoption Post Master’s Certificate program. Certificate in Gestalt Therapy, Certified in Levels 1 and 2 EMDR, and Level 1 in Internal Family Systems. Training in several modalities of play therapy and extensive training in art which is sometimes incorporated into therapy. Member of CT Council on Adoption and the CT Adoption Community Network.
Family Affirmation Center for Treatment, LLC
Kathi Legare, LCSW
281 Hartford Turnpike, Suite 201
Vernon, CT 06066
860-896-5331
Website: www.factct.net
Insurance: Husky, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna Out of Network
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Over 20 years experience working with foster, adoptive and kinship families. Follows a team model and strengths-based approach, using multi sensory tools to help kids tell and understand their own stories. Offers a monthly support group for adoptive parents and on occasion groups for adopted children. Trained/certified in Risking Connections trauma informed treatment model, Member of CT Council on Adoption and the CT Adoption Community Network. Available to advocate within the school system on behalf of client families and to attend treatment provider meetings. Local and national Trainer/Presenter on adoption related topics.
Jill M. Hanson, Psy.D., LMFT
13 Mountain Briar
Burlington, CT 06013
860-673-8848
Insurance: Anthem
Sliding Scale: N
Twenty-five years experience working with adoptive families. Local and national Trainer/Presenter on adoption related topics. Author of “The Trauma and Attachment Guide for Adolescents,” which integrates attachment based and trauma informed treatment approaches into a manual for adolescents to use with a professional helper.
Carissa Lloyd MS, LMFT
Where Peace Grows LLC
380 South Center Street
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
860-692-2887
Insurance: Husky, Others Pending
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Six years of agency experience working with adoptive families in a variety of settings (i.e., in-home, outpatient, school). Works within a systems perspective which includes the entire family system. Utilizes an adoption and trauma-informed method of practice and subscribes to the teachings of Heather Forbes. Completed University of Connecticut’s Post Master’s Certificate Program in Clinical Issues in Adoption. Available to advocate within the school system and participate in provider meetings on behalf of client families. Member of the CT Adoption Community Network.
Anne F. Malave, Ph.D
24 Main Street, Suite A
Millerton, New York 12546
518-789-0016
Insurance: Medicare, Aetna and CDPHP
Sliding Scale: $50-$195, Call for further information
Over 15 years experience working with adoptive families. Experience working with birth families, open adoption issues, grief and loss issues, multiracial families formed through adoption and trauma. Dr. Malave also provides psychological evaluations for prospective adoptive families and third party reproduction participants. Dr. Malave speaks and writes about adoption, infertility, and third-party reproduction on a regular basis.
Lisa A. Mazzeo, LCSW, BCD
1088 Black Rock Turnpike
Fairfield, CT 06825
203-334-8822
Insurance: None
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Over 15 years of past employment experience working with agencies that supported foster and adoptive families. Completed several trainings with Dan Hughes.
William J. Metzger, LCSW
451 Stillson Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
203-330-9695
Insurance: None
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
20 years experience working with foster and adoptive families. Trained in using the Theraplay model and completed training in Family Centered Practice with Bryan Post and Eric Guy. Member of the National Association of Social Workers, CT Council on Adoption, and the CT Adoption Community Network. Available to advocate within the school system on behalf of client families and to attend treatment provider meetings.
David M Meyers, LCSW
1095 Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
203-260-0647
Insurance: None, Out of Network Provider
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Over 15 years experience working with foster and adoptive families. Extensive knowledge of early childhood development with former experience as a preschool teacher and therapeutic preschool clinical director. Advanced training certificate in family therapy and ongoing training in trauma. Specializes in evaluations and treatment for sexual and physical abuse. Available to advocate within the school system and participate in treatment meetings on behalf of client families.
Allison M. Moy, LCSW
88 South Main Street South, Suite A205
Southbury, CT 06488
203-262-8150
Insurance: Husky, Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, Medicare, Medicaid
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Five years experience working with foster and adoptive families in various settings (i.e., in-home through IICAPS, Extended Day Treatment, Therapeutic Group Home). Utilizes an adoption and trauma-informed method of practice. Completed University of Connecticut’s Post Master’s Certificate Program in Clinical Issues in Adoption. Available to advocate within the school system and participate in provider meetings on behalf of client families
James E. Pollowitz, LMFT
2514 Boston Post Road, Suite 8C
Guilford, CT 06437
860-539-4088
Website: www.pollowitztherapy.com
Insurance: Husky, All Major Insurances
Sliding Scale: No
Over 12 years experience working with foster and adoptive families. Works within a systems perspective which includes the entire family system. A focus of practice has been working with adolescent and adult adoptees who are contemplating a search or who have completed a search for their birth families. Experience also includes working with the LGBT Community regarding adoption issues. Scheduled to complete the University of Connecticut’s Clinical Issues in Adoption Post Masters Certificate Program in June 2012. Available to advocate within the school system and to participate in treatment provider meetings on behalf of client families.
Stephanie Raia, LCSW
76 Elm Street, Suite 201
New Canaan, CT 06840
203-921-5305
Website: www.stephanieraialcsw.com
Insurance: Husky, Aetna and Anthem
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Experienced clinician who works with foster and
adoptive families using a trauma-focused lens. Completed Post Masters
Certificate in Clinical Issues in Adoption. Extensive experience working with
children and teens with challenging behaviors. Additional training with Heather
Forbes: Beyond Consequences, Classroom, Collaborative Problem Solving with Ross
Greene and Parent Management Training at Yale Conduct Clinic. Prior experience
as School Social Worker enhances her ability to advocate for children in schools
and the community. Member Adoption Community Network CT., and NASW.
Laura Renfro, LMFT, LLC
1100 New Britain Avenue, Suite 207
West Hartford, CT
860-493-1467
Website: www.laurarenfro.com
Insurance: None
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Experience working with foster and adoptive families since 1989. Participated in the direct work with a family undergoing intensive attachment therapy. Has assisted families who have open adoption agreements with the maintenance and negotiation of relationships for all involved. Available to advocate within the school system on behalf client families. Member of the CT Adoption Community Network.
Lutheran Social Services Post Adoption Resource Center
Moses Farrow, LMFT
2139 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 201
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
860-257-9899
Website: www.adoptlss.org
Insurance: Husky, Cigna
Sliding Scale: N
Over 10 years experience working with foster and adoptive families. Available to advocate within the school system on behalf of client families. Member of ATTACh, NACAC, JCICS, Lutheran Adoption Network and Connecticut Council on Adoption.
Virginia Shiller, Ph.D.
147 Bishop Street
New Haven, CT 06511
203-776-3681
Insurance: Husky, Anthem, United Healthcare, Value Options, Magellan, Cigna
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
In practice for 25 years with more than 15 years experience working with foster and adoptive families. Participated in therapist discussion group through Casey Family Services for several years. Received training from Daniel Hughes and has since modified approach based on theory, research, and consultation. Received training in family therapy. Extensive reading on trauma and author of a case study of an adopted child with a history of trauma, published in Psychoanalytic Study of the Child. Available to advocate within the school system and participate in treatment meetings on behalf of client families. Clinical Instructor, Yale Child Study Center, Fellow, Connecticut Psychological Association.
Touched by Adoption, LLC
Susan Baron, LCSW
12 Peaceful Lane
Westport, CT 06880
203-502-1629
Website: www.touchedbyadoption.net
Insurance: None
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Works exclusively with adoptive families and birth families. Experience supporting adoptees who have found or been found by birth families through social media. Offers several groups throughout the year for parents, children and teens. Work is usually short-term and cognitively and behaviorally based. Extensive psychoeducation is provided around normative adoption development and challenges that families face. Available to advocate within the school system on behalf of client families. Trainer/Presenter on adoption related topics. Member of CT Council on Adoption and the CT Adoption Community Network.
Michael Westfall, LCSW
243 E Center Street
Manchester, CT 06040
860-212-8923
Website: www.michaelwestfall.com
Insurance: Husky, Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, MHH
Sliding Scale: Call for further information
Works from relationship based models; participated in intensive attachment therapy training. Experience working with children with out of control behaviors, through Mobile Crisis work and as a clinician on an inpatient psychiatric unit for children. Available to advocate within the school system on behalf of client families. Work has also included six years as a tutor in a self contained classroom for children receiving special education.