Megan Ross Lybarger

Meg joins Healing Trauma Center as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Bridgewater State University and a wealth of experience in community-based mental health and substance use outpatient facilities. 

As a practicing therapist, Meg is passionate about helping anyone committed to navigating life's challenges. She works with individuals across the lifespan, using a person-centered approach, believing in each person's innate ability to heal, resolve issues, and achieve their life goals. Her extensive background equips her with a deep understanding of trauma and is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) therapy. 

Meg's style is both direct and supportive, aimed at challenging and inspiring her clients to embrace transformative change. She takes a personalized and mindful approach, meeting each client where they are on their healing journey, ensuring that each individual feels heard, understood, and supported.

Her clinical interests and expertise encompass a range of areas, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, substance use disorders, and relational stressors. Meg believes in collaboratively creating treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of each client.

Outside of work, Meg enjoys spending time in nature—whether being active, running, cycling, and hiking, or unwinding with yoga, gardening, baking, and reading. 

Jennifer

Jennifer (she/her) believes that everyone is capable of change once you shed your self-limiting beliefs.  Her classes encourage strength, flexibility, and grounding, while empowering students to believe in their abilities, no matter what challenges they face on the mat or in life.   

With almost 30 years of professional social work experience, Jen’s classes are trauma-sensitive, utilizing both mental health knowledge and yoga philosophy to guide students through a deliberate series of movements and breathwork.  Expect a friendly, fun, and safe environment where you can explore your own opportunities for growth by slowing down your mind, increasing your presence, and moving your body.  Your sense of agency is strongly encouraged, and modifications are always offered.   

Jen completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in Solar Flow Yoga under the guidance of Abbe Ciulla at Troy City Yoga in Fall River, MA.  She began her yoga practice over 25 years ago after a running injury and has never looked back.  A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Jen also weaves nature themes into her classes and dharma talks, believing in the healing and grounding powers of the natural world.

Shawn Morin LMHC

Shawn joins Healing Trauma Center with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Bridgewater State University and experience providing individual and group therapy in community-based mental health settings.

He takes a person-centered approach grounded in empathy, compassion, and authenticity, creating a safe space for clients to explore their experiences without judgment. While rooted in this foundation, Shawn incorporates tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness to support insight, resilience, and emotional balance.

Shawn enjoys working with individuals navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, self-esteem challenges, and emotional overwhelm. He believes deeply in each person’s capacity to grow, and works collaboratively to support meaningful, lasting change.

NEIKEISHA MCCONE

Nikeisha McCone is joining Healing Trauma Center with a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her passion for psychology began with her first introduction to the subject in high school and has only deepened through her years of professional and academic experience.

For the past six years, Nikeisha worked within the New Bedford Public School system, supporting children with social-emotional challenges. She brings a warm, nurturing approach that allows children to feel safe and supported. She incorporates play and theater therapy techniques to help children express themselves in creative and developmentally appropriate ways. She believes play is the natural language of children and a child's ability for self-expression is the opposite of dysregulation.

Nikeisha completed her clinical internship at Plymouth County Correctional Facility, where she provided therapeutic support to male inmates and ICE detainees. This experience further shaped her trauma-informed lens and strengthened her commitment to underserved communities.

Her clinical focus includes trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, identity and relational work. She takes a client-centered approach, incorporating motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, and logotherapy to help clients access and identify their inner strengths and move toward creating a purposeful life. Nikeisha is motivated to consistently improve her skills through certification courses and staying up to date on research. While her primary focus is working with children, she also holds space for adult clients seeking support.

Outside of work, she is a creative spirit who enjoys crafting, gardening, hiking, swimming, and rollerblading. Her love of plants, foraging, and plant identification inspires her long-term goal of incorporating horticultural therapy into her clinical practice.

Nikeisha has recently completed the training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and she is working with children, adolescents and adults with this modality. Call the office intake specialist to get on the brief waiting list for this treatment with her. 

Quinn

Quinn is joining the team with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge,

MA. She brings experience working in the college counseling setting and has a deep passion for supporting individuals exploring identity, belonging, and self-worth.

Quinn’s practice is rooted in decolonizing, nature-based, body-oriented, and trauma informed approaches. As a person-centered, humanistic therapist, she believes in the

innate power and ability within each individual, maintaining agency and sovereignty of the self within the therapeutic space at all times.

Her work supports clients navigating a range of experiences, including trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, ambiguous grief, loss, life transitions, relationship to food and the

body, multicultural identity, neurodivergence, substance use, chronic pain/illness, disability, and interpersonal relationships.

Quinn takes a creative, expressive, and somatic (body-based) approach to the healing journey, utilizing mindfulness, play, polyvagal approaches, acceptance and commitment therapy, encouraging resource-building and regulation. She welcomes creativity and expression into the space including art, music, movement, creative writing, literature, photography. Quinn also offers walking sessions through the beautiful downtown New Bedford area. Outside the therapy room, Quinn finds joy in the small moments. She is happiest spending time outdoors with her dogs. 

ANDREA TRAVIS

We welcome Andrea to our team! She brings with her 30 years of experience working in all types of medical offices and mental health facilities. She is our lead support person and will utilize her billing and credentialing experience to help our center grow.

Her friendly and sociable demeanor will make clients feel welcome and taken care of when there are questions. She enjoys spending time with her husband and adult children and adores her grandchildren!

Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth holds a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from

Cambridge College and is a Certified Peer Specialist and Reiki II Practitioner. Mary

incorporates an astropsychology and humanistic psychology approach to

psychotherapy that focuses on mind, body, spirit integration and wellbeing.

 Mary promotes self-preservation while providing tools that are necessary in building

skills needed to advance the individual in their path toward self-determination. She

offers a safe, trauma in formed, affirming, collaborative, client centered approach

geared towards helping individuals navigate a range of experiences, including but not

limited to LGBTQA+, trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, Bipolar, grief, loss, substance

use, multicultural identity, neurodivergence, and interpersonal and intrapersonal

relationships.

Mary is approaching certification in Acudetox training and looks to incorporate both

holistic healing and the 5 needle point acupuncture protocol with psychotherapy to

assist individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, insomnia, grief, stress reduction,

relaxation, trauma processing, anger management, substance use cessation and

detoxification.



 By incorporating evidence-based modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy,

motivational interviewing, narrative therapy and, solution focus among other holistic and

evidence base practices; Mary ensures the individual gains introspection, insight,

growth and healing at their own pace.

Julio Cruz, MA

My professional career initially began in emergency services as a paramedic, instructor and teacher in Puerto Rico for 12 years. It was there that I witnessed the lack of help and support for mental health, which lead me to want to be part of this field.

He currently holds a Masters degree in mental health counseling and psychology from Ana G. Mendez University. My first language is Spanish and my second in English, and as an psychotherapist I want to offer my services, support and assistance to clients of all ages.

Riley Mello

I offer a warm, nonjudgmental space where you can show up exactly as you are.Therapy with me is highly collaborative and paced depending on your individual needs. I’m here to help you reconnect with yourself, recover from trauma, and grow to accomplish the goals that help you realize your greatest potential.

Through my experience in counseling with children, families, couples, and individuals, I have worked with a variety of clients with unique needs. Currently, I specialize in working with parents navigating the emotional challenges that can arise through their parenting journeys.

Being a parent can bring joy and can also surface deep stress, fear, and unresolved trauma. If you're a parent feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or triggered by past experiences, you're not alone.

Using EMDR therapy and Clinical Hypnosis, I help clients process past trauma, so it no longer defines their present. Many of the clients I work with want to break generational cycles, manage anxiety, or find relief from emotional numbness or reactivity.

Together, we focus on healing, not just coping, creating

space for a more grounded connection to your truest Self.

Rachel Hall

Rachel is a masters-level therapist working toward licensure who brings warmth, presence, and deep listening to her work with clients. Rooted in a person-centered approach, she trusts in each person’s inherent wisdom and natural movement toward healing. Her style is gentle, collaborative, and attuned, creating a space where clients can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and feel truly seen.

In addition to her mental health counseling training, Rachel also has a specialization in Expressive Arts therapy, incorporating creative modalities such as movement, visual art, storytelling, metaphor, creative writing, and music to help clients access insight that lies beyond what words alone can express. She weaves in nature-based practices, mindfulness and meditation, and somatic approaches to support clients in cultivating grounded awareness and deepening their connection with body, intuition, and the world around them. Her work invites clients into a more embodied and soulful experience of their inner landscape.

Rachel is passionate about supporting adults experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD, as well as those navigating challenges related to stress, grief and loss, burnout, low self-esteem, and emotional dysregulation. She also works with clients moving through life transitions, interpersonal relationship challenges, patterns of people-pleasing or boundary challenges, and periods of identity exploration or self-discovery. Rachel utilizes evidence-based modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and will be training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidenced based method for processing trauma.

She provides a calm, supportive environment that helps clients build insight, strengthen emotional resilience, and move forward in a way that feels authentic and aligned with their values. Outside of her work, Rachel enjoys spending time in nature, creating art, and engaging in her own mindfulness and movement practices, which help her stay grounded and inspired in her clinical work.

Sandra Orr

Sandra (E-CYT 800+) is a vibrant teacher and student who sees yoga as a practice of finding fluidity and ease through life.  She invites students to move their bodies in ways that cultivate a passion of inquiry and observation.  She creates a fusion of a curated class and spontaneous play with a deeper understanding of the breath, body and spirit. Sandra received her 200 hour certification from Kripalu School of Yoga, her 300 hour from Troy City Yoga and has completed multiple workshops and mini trainings over the years.  For the past decade, she has shared her passion of yoga to multiple communities both local and international, spanning students from

all walks of life.  Her classes offer modifications to inspire any curious yogini and have a concentrated focus on alignment for a safe and strong practice. With compassion and tenderness, she guides students to where they can connect to their inner world and tap into the authentic union that is Yoga.

Credentials:

14+ years teaching experience

20+ years practice experience

17+ years dance experience

200 hour Yoga Teacher Training

300 hour Yoga Teacher Training

50 Hour Bhagavad Gita Training

20 Hour Trauma Conscious Yoga Training

200 Hour Foundations of Ayurveda Training

Aerial Yoga Certification

Lotus Palm Thai Yoga Massage Essential Certification (Levels 1 + 2)

Pilates Mat 1 Certification

Pilates Reformer 1 Certification

MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) Course

Trauma Conscious Yoga Certification

10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist w/ extensive training in Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Pathology, Myofascial Release and more.

Currently working towards a Master’s Degree in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Salve Regina University

Jennifer Rezendes

Yoga Instructor

Jennifer Rezendes has been working with adolescents for over 25 years, whether it be in youth programs or teaching middle school math. She also teaches adult yoga, which she has been practicing yoga for 10 years and teaching it for over 6 years.

She teaches yoga for the physical, mental and spiritual benefits. Trauma informed vinyasa yoga connects body movements with breath. Its purpose is to help one become more aware of what is going on in one's body. Once one taps into that, they can work on releasing build up emotions, stress and tension.

Adolescent yoga will be offered for ages 10-17 as long as a parent or guardian signs the waiver.

Alexa Nowicki MSW

Hi, I’m Alexa. I am an outpatient clinician with a deep, lifelong commitment to helping individuals heal, grow, and reconnect with their most authentic selves. I earned my Master of Social Work from Louisiana State University in 2025 and have over five years of experience in the field of social work, supporting individuals and families through a wide range of life transitions and challenges.

While I enjoy working with clients of all ages, I have specialized experience working with adolescents and understand the unique emotional and developmental needs that come with this stage of life.

My therapeutic style is grounded in creating a safe, collaborative, and compassionate environment where you feel genuinely seen and heard. I take a client-centered approach, integrating evidence-based psychological practices while also exploring holistic strategies to support overall well-being.

My goal is to provide a space where you can be your authentic self while also working toward the version of yourself you hope to become. Together, we will explore your story, build resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Alysha Gebo, MS, RD, LDN

Alysha is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, & an IFS trained coach with a passion for helping her clients experience the liberation of food freedom. Having personally navigated the challenges of disordered eating, she brings a unique depth of empathy and insight to her work. Alysha creates a warm, supportive space where clients can safely explore their beliefs around food, movement, and body image without judgment.

As an IFS (Internal Family Systems) trained coach, Alysha helps clients understand the internal patterns that drive their relationship with food. Rather than viewing disordered eating as something to control, her work supports clients in identifying and working with the parts of themselves that developed around protection, coping, and survival. This approach allows clients to move beyond surface-level behavior change and toward deeper clarity, self-trust, and lasting change.

She specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and gastrointestinal issues across the spectrum, with a particular passion for helping clients heal from the binge/restrict cycle. Her approach weaves together intuitive eating, gentle nutrition, and trauma-informed counseling to support lasting, sustainable change. Alysha earned her BS in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2015 and completed her MS in Psychology with a focus on eating disorder recovery.

As the co-founder of Nurtured Nutrition, Alysha is devoted to helping individuals reconnect with their bodies, reclaim autonomy in their food choices, break free from the constraints of diet culture, and step into a more empowered, aligned relationship with eating and self-worth. Outside of her work with clients, Alysha can often be found tending her garden, drawing, singing, practicing Jiu Jitsu with friends, or enjoying nature.

Heidye Mendez

Sandra Gilbert

Im Sandra Gilbert , A certified yoga instructor and Reiki I practitioner, deeply passionate about supporting others on their healing journey.  I teach authentically from the heart, guiding students to slow down and listed to their body's needs.  I create a safe, compassionate space where students can reconnect and feel truly supported in their bodies.  My approach is gentle and intuitive, focusing on breath, mindful movement and nervous system regulation.  I believe healing happens when we feel safe, seen and empowered to move at our own pace, and I bring that intention to each class.

Helena Vaz

Hi, my name is Helena. I hold a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in social worker from Fisher college. I am a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern completing my master's degree at Merrimack College. As a Cape Verdean immigrant, woman of color, and multilingual clinician who speaks English, Cape Verdean Creole, and Portuguese, I understand the importance of culture, identity, and belonging in the healing process.



My experience with DCF and Hospice care at seven Hills has shaped my understanding of trauma, grief, relationships, family dynamics, and resilience. As a certified clinical hypnotist and Certified Reiki Master, I bring warm, holistic approach that considers the whole person and each clients unique experiences.

I welcome clients from all backgrounds and have a special passion for supporting women, couples, and neurodivergent individuals.

Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy dancing, cooking, baking, being near the sea, nature, creating holistic products, coaching women and spending time with my family.

Amanda Ormseth

Amanda is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student intern. She currently holds a master's degree and license in School Counseling with five years of experience working in special education, supporting children with social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Her clinical experience includes working with children, adolescents, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional regulation.

Amanda’s approach is holistic, trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based. She believes meaningful change begins with a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust and collaboration. She strives to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel empowered to explore their experiences and move toward their goals at their own pace.



Amanda draws from mindfulness, behavioral, and acceptance-based approaches while incorporating somatic awareness and embodied practices. As a certified yoga teacher with over eight years of experience, she values the mind-body connection and enjoys helping clients develop practical tools that foster self-awareness, resilience, and overall well-being.

Anthony “Tony” Arvelo

Anthony “Tony” Arvelo was born in Chicago and raised in Puerto Rico. He is bilingual in English and Spanish and brings a diverse background in public service, mental health, recovery, and martial arts to his work at the Healing Trauma Center.

Tony began studying martial arts at the age of 13 and has nearly four decades of experience. His background is primarily in traditional Chinese Kung Fu, including Eagle Claw, a system known for controlling techniques, joint locks, striking, and practical self-defense. His training also includes traditional forms, stance work, conditioning, and methods designed to improve balance, coordination, confidence, and body awareness. Rather than focusing heavily on martial arts terminology, Tony emphasizes how these traditional practices can be used in ways that are understandable and useful in everyday life.

Before entering the mental health and recovery field, Tony served as a police officer in Puerto Rico. After relocating to Massachusetts, he worked in a Department of Mental Health group-home setting, supporting individuals living with significant mental health challenges. His professional experience expanded into residential care, psychiatric support, crisis intervention, community outreach, and peer-based recovery services.

Tony has spent years working directly with individuals experiencing mental health crises, trauma, homelessness, substance use challenges, emotional dysregulation, and other difficult life circumstances. His experience includes supporting people in psychiatric and residential settings as well as working in the community, where he has helped individuals connect with treatment, housing, recovery services, medical care, and other resources.

As a bilingual Peer Specialist, Tony approaches people from a place of lived experience, respect, and practical support. He believes that recovery is not simply about addressing symptoms it is also about helping people rebuild confidence, structure, purpose, and a sense of control over their lives.

At the Healing Trauma Center, Tony brings together his background in mental health and recovery with his lifelong martial arts practice. His classes use structured movement, breathing, mindfulness, traditional Kung Fu exercises, and practical self-defense concepts to help participants work on emotional regulation, resilience, confidence, discipline, and physical wellness.

The purpose of the program is not to create fighters. It is to help people learn how to remain grounded under pressure, become more aware of their bodies and emotions, develop healthy routines, and discover strengths they may not realize they possess.

Tony believes martial arts can be taught without intimidation, ego, or unnecessary hierarchy. His approach emphasizes respect, humility, consistency, discipline, and community, while recognizing that every person entering the program may be at a different point in their recovery or personal journey.

His guiding principle is simple:

“Consistency Creates Change.”

For Tony, that principle applies equally to martial arts, mental health, recovery, and life. Meaningful change is built gradually through practice, support, patience, and continuing to show up.