Our Therapists
Ashley Cleary, LMFT, is the owner and supervisor of Silver Linings Counseling, LLC. She earned her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Rhode Island, and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Connecticut who has been working in the counseling field since 2008. Her specialized training as an MFT gives her the knowledge and expertise for working with children, adolescents, individuals, and families experiencing various mental health, developmental, and transitional issues. Ashley also works with couples who are experiencing difficulties navigating the challenge of maintaining positive and healthy relationships. Her professional experiences include crisis counseling, home-based therapy, public school counseling, private special education school counseling, and private practice. Trained from a systems perspective, she believes in the importance of seeing and understanding her clients within the bigger picture in which they operate, and as such has collaborated with school districts, attended IEP/PPT meetings, coordinated with psychiatrists, DCF, and other related professionals as appropriate to her clients' lives and their identified concerns. She believes in working with her clients from a strength based approach to help shift perspectives and feel their best about the lives they are living.
Ashley has worked in Connecticut for the last seven (7) years, and has seen the need grow for a trusted resource that Quiet Corner families can turn to when they need help. Silver Linings Counseling was established with the understanding that every client is different and brings different strengths to the therapeutic relationship. No matter what you are struggling with or looking to work on, Silver Linings is here for you.
Ashley has worked in Connecticut for the last seven (7) years, and has seen the need grow for a trusted resource that Quiet Corner families can turn to when they need help. Silver Linings Counseling was established with the understanding that every client is different and brings different strengths to the therapeutic relationship. No matter what you are struggling with or looking to work on, Silver Linings is here for you.
Elaine Agard, LMFT graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2015 with her Master’s Degree, after having obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2009. Over the past five years, she has worked in-home with at-risk youth/families, providing clinical support; crisis stabilization, and case management services. Elaine has found that she is most effective in working with the adolescent, teen, and young adult populations, however, she is open to working with any and all!
Elaine's clinical approach is very client-centered, family systems-oriented, and relies heavily on foundational principals associated with Structural Family Therapy. The various modalities she tends to draw from include, but are not limited to the following - Strategic Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, etc.
In considering her take on Theory of Change, Elaine is a firm believer in everyone’s capacity to make positive changes when ready, regardless of circumstance, past or present. However, she does acknowledge the struggles of daily life, and how at times, it feels like change is impossible to accomplish without support. Elaine finds that her responsibility as the therapist is to help facilitate change, while maintaining a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for her clients to grow in.
Elaine's clinical approach is very client-centered, family systems-oriented, and relies heavily on foundational principals associated with Structural Family Therapy. The various modalities she tends to draw from include, but are not limited to the following - Strategic Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, etc.
In considering her take on Theory of Change, Elaine is a firm believer in everyone’s capacity to make positive changes when ready, regardless of circumstance, past or present. However, she does acknowledge the struggles of daily life, and how at times, it feels like change is impossible to accomplish without support. Elaine finds that her responsibility as the therapist is to help facilitate change, while maintaining a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for her clients to grow in.
Linda Comeau, LMFT, earned a B.S. in Education from the University of Connecticut, an M.S. in Education from Central CT, and more recently, an M.S. in Counseling also from Central CT State University, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has worked in the mental health field in CT for over twenty (20) years at all levels of care, for both private and public organizations.Training as a family therapist with a systems perspective provides a solid foundation for working with people of all ages in a wide range of situations. Professional experience on behalf of her clients includes collaborative efforts with school systems, state agencies, the judicial system and a host of additional medical/clinical professionals.Collaboration is critical to her solution focused, cognitive-behavioral approach.
Her professional interests include: relationship issues in just about any setting from personal to professional, women's issues, effective parenting within both bio and blended families, addiction/medical issues and their profound impact on families, to name a few. Both professionally and personally, she believes that effective communication and healthy boundary setting, along with realistic expectations are all essential to life satisfaction. In her professional approach with clients, she strives to be positive and strength based. Everyone has some strengths. Enhancing a client's support system is also crucial to clinical success as, everyone needs supports.
Linda feels privileged working with clients to explore their struggles in a caring setting. Also, she is quite proud when clients are willing and able to make positive changes in both attitudes and behaviors restoring balance to stressful lives. She is forever grateful to her clients as she has learned something from each and everyone along the way.
Her professional interests include: relationship issues in just about any setting from personal to professional, women's issues, effective parenting within both bio and blended families, addiction/medical issues and their profound impact on families, to name a few. Both professionally and personally, she believes that effective communication and healthy boundary setting, along with realistic expectations are all essential to life satisfaction. In her professional approach with clients, she strives to be positive and strength based. Everyone has some strengths. Enhancing a client's support system is also crucial to clinical success as, everyone needs supports.
Linda feels privileged working with clients to explore their struggles in a caring setting. Also, she is quite proud when clients are willing and able to make positive changes in both attitudes and behaviors restoring balance to stressful lives. She is forever grateful to her clients as she has learned something from each and everyone along the way.
Lindsay Hollis, LMFT, attended Mitchell College in New London, Connecticut and earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. She went on to attend Northcentral University and earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. Lindsay is currently licensed in Connecticut and North Carolina. She is working exclusively via telehealth at this time. Lindsay prefers to work using a collaborative and holistic approach with patients in order to improve their overall emotional and physical wellbeing. She uses several strategies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a modified Dialectical Behavioral Therapy approach, mindfulness based stress reduction strategies, the 5 Love Languages, and communication skills building when working with clients. She works primarily with military families and spouses, adults, couples, and adolescent females. Lindsay specializes in anxiety and mood disorders, the challenges that impact military families, and women’s health issues including infertility, pregnancy loss, body image and self-esteem difficulties.
Linda McMurray, LICSW, believes that every person has the capacity to achieve the best version of themselves and she enjoys supporting them in this process. Her approach is compassionate and supportive in a non-judgmental atmosphere. She is a licensed clinical social worker, who graduated from UConn School of Social Work masters program and has over ten years experience in the field across a variety of settings, including in home, outreach, schools, group homes and outpatient therapy. She works with adults, children and families and will customize the treatment to what works best with each individual person. She enjoys being able to relate to individuals from all walks of life and enjoys her connection to each and every person. She looks forward to working with you and working together to overcome life’s challenges.
Joy Mitchell, LCSW, has fifteen (15) years of experience working with children, families and individuals, helping them find the solutions to make their lives happier and more successful. She has worked directly with clients, both individually and in group settings, to help them overcome the pattern of negative behavior by designing and teaching individualized strategies and coping skills, as well as providing the listening ear that assists individuals in feeling comfortable and safe. Joy completed her MSW at Boston College and has worked in hospital settings, residential settings, out-patient and in-home programs all collaboratively with other providers, DCF and DMHAS. She has had direct care experience and twelve (12) years of supervisory experience. She enjoys working with children and families, as well as individuals, to help them find the pieces of their life’s puzzle so they feel whole and complete.
Lindsay Moser, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of CT. Lindsay received her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Central Connecticut State University in 2012, after graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Hartford. Lindsay has a wide range of clinical experience working with clients in individual, family and couples therapy from a variety of backgrounds and diagnostic concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, difficulties with communication, self-esteem/self confidence, interpersonal boundaries, social skills, and life stage transitions/adjustment disorders. Lindsay has particular interest, experience and training in working with children, teens and adults with Autism spectrum disorders, as well as working with and supporting their families. Lindsay has extensive experience in collaborating with school systems, prescribers, medical providers, DCF, and other relevant community professionals to provide whole person care unique to the individual. Lindsay uses a systemic, strength-based approach utilizing strategies such as CBT, Solution-focused therapies, Social learning theory, and mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques.
Mandy Phillips, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist who earned her masters degree from Central Connecticut State University in 2013. Mandy has worked with individuals with a wide range of concerns, challenges, issues, and, most importantly, strengths. She believes individuals interact with life‘s challenges the best they can given the strategies they have. Through a systemic and person centered approach, Mandy helps her clients acquire further tools, gain personal insights, and develop inner balance.
Mandy has strong experience working with issues such as adjustment/transitions, relationship struggles, loss and grief, trauma, divorce, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and school issues. Mandy has a strong working knowledge of special education law and has supported many families through the IEP process within both the private and public school system.
Mandy has strong experience working with issues such as adjustment/transitions, relationship struggles, loss and grief, trauma, divorce, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and school issues. Mandy has a strong working knowledge of special education law and has supported many families through the IEP process within both the private and public school system.
Lisa Marie Rivera is an LCSW in the State of CT and LICSW in RI and MA. She is also a Certified School Social Worker in all three states. She has clinical experience across a wide range of settings including regular and special education settings, alternative programming for gang-affiliated and adjudicated youth, and residential programming for children with complex developmental trauma. Lisa Marie has worked with children and families for over ten (10) years supporting diverse challenges ranging from mental health issues, substance abuse, family stabilization, in-school support, child protective services, and reunification services.
Lisa Marie has an extensive history in childhood trauma, complex PTSD, and its impact on adult functioning and parent management. She has experience with a wide range of social work theory including TF-CBT, CBT, DBT, family systems theory, solution focused, crisis theory and intervention, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy. Lisa Marie’s upmost priority as a clinician is to support client’s by offering the tools and guidance for them to understand their place in the world, how their challenges can be overcome and redefined as teachable moments through collaboration and at times, difficult clinical work. She believes this can be accomplished with the secondary natural consequence of identifying the valuable interconnectedness we all hold within the world around us.
Lisa Marie has an extensive history in childhood trauma, complex PTSD, and its impact on adult functioning and parent management. She has experience with a wide range of social work theory including TF-CBT, CBT, DBT, family systems theory, solution focused, crisis theory and intervention, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy. Lisa Marie’s upmost priority as a clinician is to support client’s by offering the tools and guidance for them to understand their place in the world, how their challenges can be overcome and redefined as teachable moments through collaboration and at times, difficult clinical work. She believes this can be accomplished with the secondary natural consequence of identifying the valuable interconnectedness we all hold within the world around us.