Our Staff
Interested in our Massachusetts therapy practice? Explore our team, which includes therapists specializing in OCD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma and more. Our team also includes a psychiatric nurse practitioner offering psychopharmacology support and medication management.
Karen Chinca
LICSW, CEDS-S
(SHE/HER)
As a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Supervisor (CEDS-S), I have had nearly two decades of experience treating clients with a wide range of diagnoses. At Nourished Minds: Counseling + Wellness, I specialize in working with adults who are dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and trauma, and am particularly passionate about serving college and graduate students, who face a unique set of challenges and pressure in today’s world.
Prior to opening my Massachusetts therapy practice, I earned a Master of Social Work from Boston College and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University in Health Care Management. I also worked in an outpatient clinic treating children, adults, and families with a history of trauma and later received a certificate in The Assessment and Treatment of Psychological Trauma from Boston University. I am currently licensed in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Florida.
As a therapist, I remain committed to lifelong learning. I am a Certified Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and hold a certificate in CBT from Boston University. Further, I am a graduate of the International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute and a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Supervisor (CEDS-S) through The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP), endorsing and promoting a Health at Every Size (HAES) approach.
Professionally, I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, the International OCD Foundation, the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA).
I enjoy tailoring treatment plans to meet my clients’ unique needs and bring an interactive, warm, and compassionate style to every therapy session. As a strong believer in the mind-body connection, my eclectic approach incorporates both mindfulness practices and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as other evidence-based treatment modalities.
Perhaps my favorite part of being a therapist is getting to know people of all walks of life, backgrounds, cultures, and races. Each one of my clients enriches my life and makes me a more effective therapist and person. I am personally committed to social justice and anti-racism and seek to build a truly welcoming, supportive, and inclusive community within my practice and beyond.
Venetia Breene
LICSW
(SHE/HER)
As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Staff Psychotherapist at Nourished Minds: Counseling + Wellness, I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders and trauma. I particularly enjoy supporting young people as they grapple through the transition to adulthood and the related issues that arise including identity, relationship and conflict navigation.
I believe that my clients are experts in their own experiences, and I feel privileged to be allowed into their lives. I strive to create a warm, safe and non-judgmental space for my clients, in which I bring curiosity and compassion to every session. I empower my clients to identify their own goals and collaborate with them to help develop individualized action-oriented treatment plans to improve the quality of their lives. I identify as an ally to the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities and value working across the spectrums of gender, race, sexuality, and class.
Prior to joining Nourished Minds, I earned a Master of Social Work from Boston College and have spent the last several years working on inpatient psychiatric units at McLean Hospital, where I worked with clients in acute crises, across a wide range of life stages, diagnoses and identities. I am currently a Fellow at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I am certified in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and integrate elements of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) into my work. I am also a member of the National Association of Social Workers, where I engage in ongoing professional development.
My clinical experiences have been enriched by living and working in several different countries. Prior to focusing on psychotherapy, I helped develop social impact small businesses in Kigali, Rwanda, and was involved in starting a non-profit organization in Nairobi, Kenya, funding female education.
Winnie LeE
PMHNP-BC
(SHE/HER)
I am a board-certified Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who is dedicated to educating and empowering clients with mental health concerns to regain control of their lives.
My practice ideology is centered on building a collaborative relationship with the client, where my role is to guide and support clients in making informed decisions about their health by performing comprehensive evaluations, providing medication management, and offering guidance regarding adjunct therapies to support optimal health and wellness.
I am passionate about my work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Massachusetts. I am also licensed in psychopharmacology in Washington, D.C. I have experience working in various treatment settings across a continuum of care with an expertise in eating disorders. I also have a diverse background in researching the role of biochemical, nutritional, and metabolic abnormalities in the role of mental health treatment and recovery.
In addition to supporting clients at Nourished Minds, I currently work as a Nurse Practitioner at Walden Behavioral Care’s Residential program where I treat clients with eating disorders and complex psychiatric comorbidities. I am humbled to be a part of my clients’ journey to improving their quality of life, free from barriers imposed by their mental health symptoms.
Alex Bauermeister
LCSW
(SHE/HER)
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at Nourished Minds Counseling + Wellness, I specialize in treating adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and OCD. I am a certified yoga teacher and yoga therapist, and often infuse this background into my clinical work to help clients befriend their body and regulate their nervous system. My approach incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Most importantly, however, we focus on building trust and connection, and then personalize the therapy based on what will best serve the client’s goals. I strive to be a collaborative and interactive therapist, co-creating an engaging and dynamic atmosphere in sessions.
I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) from Simmons University. Prior to joining Nourished Minds, I worked at the Simmons College Counseling Center, where I provided individual therapy to undergraduate students. I deeply appreciate the experience I gained working with students to build their toolbox of coping skills to navigate through anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, relationship challenges, trauma, chronic pain, and identity development.
My decade of experience as a yoga teacher and yoga therapist helps me appreciate the complicated relationship we can have with our bodies. I have taught therapeutic yoga at several Boston-area eating disorder treatment programs. I often work with clients who have not necessarily had a positive relationship with yoga, mindfulness, or movement, and love the challenge of taking creative approaches to help improve the mind-body relationship. I am a member of the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA), the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
I work with clients across the spectrum of gender identity and sexual orientation. I love supporting clients who are navigating polyamory and nonmonogamy. An understanding of the role that structural oppression plays in our mental health is infused in my clinical work, along with anti-racist education and practice. Prior to working directly with clients, I worked in the nonprofit sector, focused on social justice and policy change. This dedication to shifting systems and organizations continues to drive how I show up in the world, working towards long-term cultural change where everyone has access to greater health and wellbeing.
Bridget McAdams
LCSW
(SHE/HER)
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at Nourished Minds Counseling + Wellness, I specialize in treating adolescents and adults struggling with eating disorders, complex trauma, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, OCD and personality disorders.
My clinical approach flexibly incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I enjoy working with clients to meet their goals with curiosity, compassion and humor.
I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) from Boston College. Prior to joining Nourished Minds, I worked at Monte Nido Laurel Hill, a residential eating disorder facility, where I provided individual, group and family therapy to clients recovering from eating disorders. During my time as a therapist, I gained experience working with clients as they developed insight and coping skills to navigate eating disorders, self-harm, dissociation, suicidality, substance abuse, complex trauma, intimate partner violence, OCD, as well as identity development.
Prior to this work, I spent a year as a primary and group therapist for Right Turn, a program for individuals struggling with substance abuse. During graduate school, I worked as a recovery coach, providing behavioral interventions and nutrition exposures for individuals with eating disorders. I am dedicated to continued professional development and am a member of The National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I particularly enjoy working with young adults as they navigate their experience and expression of gender and sexuality. I am a sex-positive and kink-allied therapist. I am dedicated to continued anti-racist education and the use of knowledge of systems of oppression and their impact on individual and community health in my clinical practice and life. I feel grateful for the opportunity to build relationships and work alongside my clients as they identify values-based behaviors and strategies to create the life they want for themselves.
Our Partners
We collaborate with a number of professionals in the community to complement the work we do with our clients.
Kate SweeneY
REGISTERED DIETITIAN & EXPOSURE COACH
MS, RDN, LDN
(SHE/HER)
I am partnering with the Nourished Minds team to provide exposure coaching to clients who struggle with eating disorders and OCD. As a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Kate Sweeney Nutrition, I specialize in treating adults and adolescents who struggle with disordered eating, eating disorders (EDs), digestive issues and OCD. I am particularly interested in working with clients who have co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders (EDs). I offer exposure coaching services in addition to nutrition counseling and group therapy.
I received a Master of Science in Nutrition Communication from The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tufts University.
Over the 10 years of being a dietitian, I found that traditional meal support and even nutrition therapy techniques did not meet the needs of many clients with OCD and EDs. Thus, I engaged in specialized training to increase my skill set in order to better help individuals struggling with both disorders. I have received advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), all of which are evidence-based treatments.
My decade of experience as a dietitian has included working for 6 years at Boston College as the Administrative Dietitian in Dining Services and the Office of Health Promotion. In this role, I provided nutritional counseling and had the privilege of working with students to overcome their challenges with food, body, and movement. Prior to working at Boston College, I was the Manager of the Nutrition & Wellness Service at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
I meet individuals where they are at and provide services in a comprehensive, collaborative, and compassionate way. I enjoy balancing nutrition education and science with therapeutic strategies, including meal and exposure coaching. In addition to CBT and ERP, I integrate motivational interviewing, internal family systems, and acceptance and commitment therapy into my work with clients. I am always honored to walk alongside my clients in their journeys, and value learning from them. They make me a better person and practitioner.
After moving to Europe in 2022, I currently reside in Germany where I see clients in Massachusetts and Europe. I enjoy traveling, food, nature, and spending time with my daughter, husband, and friends whenever possible.
Get Started with our Massachusetts Team
Whether you’re looking for an eating disorder therapist, need therapy for OCD and anxiety or simply want a safe space to discuss life’s everyday challenges, the experienced team at Nourished Minds: Counseling and Wellness can help. Contact us to get started today.