Salem Clinicians
Warmth and Professionalism
While we may use somewhat different approaches, each therapist at Kendall Psychological Associates is committed to the principle of respect for our clients, and each therapy proceeds with non-judgmental careful listening, warmth, and professionalism.
Michael Collins, Psy.D.
Clinical Director, Salem
Dr. Collins works with adults, providing evidence-based treatments for a variety of challenges and concerns. His areas of interest include: Trauma, anxiety, OCD, depression, insomnia, and stress reduction. Dr. Collins' primary treatment approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which incorporates mindfulness and a focus on finding meaning by exploring clients’ values through the lens of self-compassion and acceptance. He also provides CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention, and empirically validated treatments for trauma. He graduated from Boston College and received his doctorate from La Salle University. Dr. Collins has worked in various multidisciplinary outpatient and hospital settings prior to joining Kendall Psychological Associates.
“People often come to therapy in times of crisis, but individuals certainly don’t need to be experiencing crisis to seek out and benefit from therapy. In fact, everyone struggles at one point or another and often we need just a little bit of help to move a more positive direction. Therapy should be a collaboration between clients and their therapists with the goal of exploring what is most important to them and what they want their lives to be about. Together, we can work to establish new ways of viewing and approaching struggles so that they are more able to build and live a rich, full and meaningful life.”
Ashley Ausikaitis, Ph.D.
Director of Pediatric Services and Assessment
Ashley Ausikaitis, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist. She works with people across the lifespan, from ages 3 through adulthood. Her interests include helping people dealing with trauma, bereavement, anxiety, depression, family issues, OCD, ADHD, physical disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders. Additionally, Dr. Ausikaitis conducts neuropsychological evaluations for ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Dr. Ausikaitis obtained her BA in Psychology from Vassar College and her Ph.D. from Loyola University of Chicago. She completed her training in the New York City Metro area with children and youth in family foster care and residential treatment centers. She served as the Director of Behavior Services and Cerebral Palsy of Westchester and was working in private practice in Buffalo before moving to the Boston area.
“My approach to therapy integrates research-based lifestyle modifications in conjunction with empirically-validated therapeutic interventions. I take into account the strengths of each client to develop an individualized approach toward better health, improved self-esteem, and increased functioning. My orientation includes cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and play therapy. My education background allows me to provide school consultation services to families seeking advocacy.”
Alexandra Bacigalupo, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Bacigalupo works with adults providing treatment and support for those suffering from depression, trauma, anxiety, relationship and family issues, major life transitions, and substance use. Her approach to therapy is humanistic and relational, with a focus on building a trusting and collaborative relationship with her clients. She is trained primarily in cognitive behavioral therapy, but uses an integrative approach tailored to each individual client. Dr. Bacigalupo often utilizes psychodynamic, family systems, and existential perspectives in her work, as well as mindfulness and skills building for self-awareness and self-compassion.
Dr. Bacigalupo graduated from Northeastern University and received her doctorate from William James College. Her clinical experiences range from inpatient psychiatric hospitals and correctional institutions to high school, college counseling centers, and private practice.
“The most rewarding feeling is having a meaningful relationship with a client and watching them improve before your eyes. To me, the relationship with my clients is beautifully unique and the most important factor for success. With a genuine alliance between therapist and client, therapy can be so powerful. Beyond alleviating mental health symptoms, therapy is about improving the client’s life satisfaction and well-being, and finding meaning and purpose.”
Kat Dion, Ph.D.,PMHNP-BC
Staff Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Kat Dion is the Staff Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at KPA and is available for medication consultations
Kat works with adults of all ages and backgrounds. Her areas of interest include: Depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, college student health and working with LGBTQ patients. She also has a particular interest in working with geriatric patients living with chronic medical illnesses, as well as their caregivers. Kat incorporates acceptance and mindfulness in her approach with patients in combination with psychopharmacology.
Kat graduated from Endicott College with her Ph.D. in Nursing. Prior to that she completed her Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Endicott and completed her nurse practitioner clinical rotation at Cambridge Health Alliance in their Victims of Violence Program. She graduated with her Masters of Science degree from Boston College with a specialization as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Prior to beginning to work independently as a nurse practitioner, Kat completed a yearlong interdisciplinary fellowship at the Bedford Massachusetts VA Medical Center. She also served as a staff Nurse Practitioner in the University Health and Counseling Center at Northeastern University.
Alessandra Frissora-Poston, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Frissora-Poston provides individual psychotherapy for adults. Her areas of interest include: Depression, anxiety, grief, and life transitions as well as maternal mental health and reproductive loss/trauma. Dr. Frissora-Poston prioritizes building a strong therapeutic relationship to serve as the foundation of treatment and then integrates different therapeutic approaches including, cognitive behavioral, relational, and psychodynamic perspectives tailored to meet the needs of each patient. Dr. Frissora-Poston also uses behavioral medicine strategies that support mind-body health. Dr. Frissora-Poston aims to support her patients in cultivating increased insight, self-compassion, and self-efficacy.
Dr. Frissora-Poston graduated from Boston College and received her doctorate from William James College. She has experience treating a wide range of patients in different settings, including community mental health, group private practice, and integrated care. Dr. Frissora-Poston’s internship and postdoctoral fellowship in OB-GYN departments on the North Shore provided her specialized training in addressing the needs of women experiencing emotional difficulty before and after the birth of a child, as well as reproductive loss/trauma.
“I feel that it is a privilege to be invited into patients’ lives as their therapist. I offer my professional warmth, non-judgmental approach and clinical expertise while honoring that you are the expert on your own lived experience. While we are unable to change the past and do not always have control over things that happen in the present or future, I am here to help you explore different ways of recovering from and supporting yourself through hardship in a way that promotes insight, wellbeing, healing, and resilience.”
Shawntay Grasso, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Grasso works with children (8+), adolescents, and adults struggling with: Depression, anxiety, relationship issues, emerging adulthood, trauma, lgbtqia+, identity issues, marginalization stress, and body-image concerns.
Dr. Grasso utilizes both a person-centered and goal-directed approach to assist individuals in meeting their healing potential. She uses evidence-based treatment models and holistic approaches to support individuals in reducing symptoms and regaining a sense of control and mastery in their life.
Dr. Grasso received her doctorate from William James College and did her Postdoctoral Fellowship at LifeStance Health. She has worked with a wide range of mental health conditions in many settings including community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, partial hospitalization programs, and primary school settings.
“My therapy approach is largely collaborative and meant to place emphasis on honesty, respect, and empowerment between therapist and client. I attempt to develop a therapeutic relationship with clients based on a shared goal of finding solutions for their mental health concerns. Approaching treatment collaboratively with clients also increases their internal motivation to take action toward helpful change. Ultimately, I make great efforts to assist clients in fostering a sense of peace, balance, and positivity in their life.”
Nyssa Green, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Green works with older adolescents and adults of all ages, providing treatment for a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma and loss, grief, relationship difficulties, and life-stage transitions. She takes an integrative, individually tailored approach to therapy drawing on trauma-informed, relational, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and family systems perspectives. She is trained in EMDR and the Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) framework.
Dr. Green graduated from Bates College, obtained a master’s degree from Northwestern University, and received her doctorate from William James College. She completed her pre- and post-doctoral training at the Trauma Center in Brookline and worked as a therapist and supervisor in multidisciplinary outpatient settings prior to joining KPA.
“Most healing and growth occur in the context of connections—through enhanced connections to oneself, to others, and to the world. My priority is providing a safe, warm, open, and collaborative environment for my clients. Together we work to address the reasons that bring them to therapy, shift unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling, and responding, and cultivate greater self-understanding, connectedness, and agency. I feel deeply privileged to do this work and join my clients as their journey towards richer, more peaceful and fulfilling lives.”
Ashley Lussier, MSW
Intake Coordinator and Staff Social Worker
Ms. Lussier works with children and adolescents struggling with: Depression, anxiety, behavioral challenges, social/emotional and interpersonal challenges, life transitions and ADHD.
Ashley’s primary treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness-based approaches.
Ms. Lussier received her Master of Social Work with a certificate in Mental Health Practice from Simmons University, where she trained at Northeast Family. In addition, Ashley has been the intake coordinator at KPA for the past 2 years.
"My goal is to make the therapeutic process collaborative and patient centered. I want my client to feel comfortable and heard throughout the entire process. I believe the client's strengths should be at the center of each step and that the client is the expert of their own situation."
Tara Palmeri, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Palmeri works with college students and young adults seeking help for anxiety, panic attacks, depression, phase-of-life concerns, adjusting to life transitions, existential concerns, relationship problems and chronic pain.
Dr. Palmeri provides a holistic approach to therapy, tailoring her approach to integrate psychodynamic approaches with interpersonal-process, mindfulness-based, and cognitive-behavioral perspectives to provide both coping strategies and to help her clients better understand themselves.
Dr. Palmeri graduated with her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Western Michigan University, her MSEd. in mental health counseling from Fordham University, and her BS in psychology from Binghamton University, State University of NY. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at UMass-Amherst’s Center for Counseling and Psychological Services in therapy and psychological testing, primarily focused on ADHD testing / diagnostic evaluations.
“I am honored to be invited into a client’s world and have the chance to aid in the development of peace, balance, healing, and well-being. I aim to embody genuineness and style both inside and outside of therapy.”
Estefania Powers, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Powers provides individual psychotherapy for adolescents, young adults, and adults. Her areas of interest include: Anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, acculturation difficulties, ADHD, substance use, life transitions, and stress reduction. Utilizing her strengths of empathy and warmth, Dr. Powers strives to provide a non-judgmental space to explore and build an interpersonal foundation with clients to maximize healing and growth. Dr. Diaz is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and uses an integrative approach tailored to each individual client, including motivational interviewing, trauma-informed, relational, mindfulness-based, and client-centered perspectives in her work with clients.
Dr. Powers graduated from University of Puerto Rico and received her doctorate from William James College. She has experience treating clients across a variety of settings including outpatient mental health clinics, boarding school, school-based services, and private practice. Dr. Powers is fluent in Spanish and English.
"My approach to therapy is dedicated to help clients understand their narratives and empower them to experience a fulfilling and meaningful lifestyle. Therapy provides a safe and non-judgmental space in which clients are able to learn coping tools that are necessary to manage their emotions and feelings, respond to stressful situations, and relate to others. I highlight the importance of developing a strong client-clinician therapeutic relationship that cultivates deeper awareness and understanding of self, others, and the world around each individual to promote healing, growth, and resilience."
Briana Reid, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Reid provides individual psychotherapy for adults who are struggling with trauma and PTSD, post-traumatic growth, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, adjustment to life transitions, stress management, family caregiver support, issues related to physical health (i.e., smoking cessation, medication adherence, women's health, etc.), and issues related to culture and diversity (i.e., marginalization stress, identity issues, relationship strain, etc.).
Her approach to therapy is relational, person-centered, culturally affirming, trauma-informed, warm with a bit of humor, and she is intentional about developing a meaningful, collaborative relationship with her clients. She aims to help her clients cultivate empowerment with insight, compassion, and new skills.
Dr. Reid uses an integration of different therapeutic approaches, including interpersonal, mindfulness-based, and cognitive-behavioral (CBT, ACT, DBT, etc.). She is also trained in evidence-based treatments for PTSD (i.e., Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Written Exposure Therapy, and Narrative Therapy).
Dr. Reid graduated from Merrimack College and earned her doctorate from William James College with a concentration in Clinical Health Psychology. She has experience treating clients in a variety of settings, including outpatient group practice, outpatient hospital programs, partial hospitalization programs, structured outpatient addiction programs, college counseling centers, and intensive outpatient and residential substance use programs. Dr. Reid received specialized training in providing evidence-based treatments for PTSD through her postdoctoral fellowship at the Albany VA.
“Therapy is a space where we can be vulnerable and explore our experiences without fear of judgment. I’m always rooting for my clients – we develop a genuine, trusting therapeutic relationship throughout our collaborative work together. I believe people are the experts of their own lived experiences, and the addition of my clinical expertise as a therapist can help grow the knowledge, skills, abilities, strengths, and resources they need to thrive, not just survive.”
Marina Robinson, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Robinson (she/her) provides individual and family psychotherapy for children, teens, and young adults. Her clinical interests include: Depression, anxiety, complex trauma/PTSD, ADHD, academic struggles, interpersonal conflicts, social-emotional challenges, identity development and self-esteem, life transitions, parental divorce, intergenerational acculturational conflicts, grief/loss, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. She specializes in trauma-informed interventions (including, but not limited to: TF-CBT, DBT, and ARC), play therapy, family therapy, child/adolescent development, identity development, LGBTQ+-related stressors, mindfulness-based CBT, and conflicts related to acculturational/generational differences.
Dr. Robinson received her doctoral degree from Alliant International University – California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco, CA. She completed her APA-accredited internship at Hutchings Psychiatric Center in Syracuse, NY, where she served children and families in inpatient, outpatient, and day-treatment facilities. She continued her post-doctoral experience at Aspire Health Alliance in Quincy, MA, where she provided community-based outpatient therapy and assessment services.
“I consider the therapeutic relationship to be paramount in the treatment process, and strive to establish a warm, trusting, interpersonal foundation with my clients to maximize healing and growth. I am committed to providing an individualized, collaborative, client-centered, evidence-based treatment approach so as to best meet each client or family where they are, and help guide them to where they want to be.”
Katherine Russell, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Russell works with adults, providing treatment that respects mind, body, and spirit. Her areas of interest include: anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, health and wellness, and the spiritual/existential. Dr. Russell takes an integrative approach to psychotherapy and incorporates a variety of orientations including relational, existential, trauma-informed, cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and psychodynamic. She also has training in mindfulness and EMDR.
Dr. Russell graduated from Smith College and received her doctorate from Antioch University New England. She completed her post-doctoral training at Albany Medical Center, working in the outpatient center, psychiatric inpatient unit, and consult liaison service of the general hospital. In addition, she has experience in a wide range of other settings, including community mental health and international disaster relief service. Dr. Russell has taught at undergraduate and graduate levels, and was a faculty teaching fellow at her alma mater, AUNE.
“To be human comes with a range of experiences, emotions, and questions. Therapy can help support us through times of struggle and change. As a psychologist, I am continually honored to connect with individuals in all of their humanness, and to help them connect to and trust that within themselves during their processes of healing and transformation.”
