Our Therapists
Meet the Team
We’re actively building a team of mental wellness professionals that care to see you get therapy with results. Our approach here at East Coast Mental Wellness differs in that we let you choose your therapist, giving you the say in who you want to work with. In your initial 15-minute consultation, you will have the opportunity to meet one of our therapists and decide if they are a good fit for you to move forward with. If not, our team will work to reconnect you with a different therapist until you feel comfortable to schedule a consultation and get your therapy journey started. Meet our therapists in Providence, RI, and Ashaway, RI, below!

MELISSA DASILVA, LICSW SHE/HER/HERS
FOUNDER / HYPNOTHERAPIST, LIFE COACH AND PODCASTER
Location: Providence
Owner of East Coast Mental Wellness, therapist, coach, author, and podcast host. She specializes in working with LGBTQ+ individuals and school systems.

TRACY YOUNG, LICSW SHE/HER/HERS
C.O.O. / HEAD OF SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM
Location: Ashaway and Providence Office
Tracy Young is a licensed clinical social worker with 27 years of experience in the mental health field, including school social work. Tracy’s work with clients is rooted in the belief that the therapeutic relationship is the basis for change. Trust, honesty, humor, compassion, and mutual respect are all integral to her work with clients. Tracy’s forte is working with children, adolescents, and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, loss, trauma, domestic violence, and life transitions. Tracy is also certified as a Pet Assisted Therapist and often works alongside her 1 ½-year-old Shih Tzu, Finbarr. Tracy has a passion for horses and soon hopes to include Equine therapy as a part of her therapeutic practice.

ADAM VOSE-O’NEAL, LICSW HE/HIM/HIS
Location: Providence Office
I work with adolescents, young adults, and adults to help them address problems that are interfering with their lives and to reconnect them with their values, hopes, and dreams. I have particular expertise in substance abuse, addictions, depression, anxiety, life transitions, and
relationship challenges.
I primarily use Narrative Therapy to help clients separate from the problems dominating their lives and to support them in moving towards what they care most about in life. I believe that the best therapy is a collaborative process where the therapist and the client share in the investigation of the client’s concerns and the potential solutions. I ask exploratory questions that lead clients toward insights and discoveries. Together we develop simple, achievable action plans. I integrate other approaches when appropriate including Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psycho-education, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills, and Mindfulness. I received my Master’s in Social Work from Boston University. In addition to seeing clients at East Coast Mental Wellness, I work as a therapist at Butler Hospital. I completed clinical
internships at Rhode Island Hospital and in the counseling center at Providence College.

ELESE MORRONE, M.S. SHE/HER/THEY/THEM
Location: Providence Office
Elese uses an eclectic approach to therapy that combines the compassion, knowledge, and skills necessary for her clients to achieve mental health. Her theatre background has provided her with a perspective that allows her to “walk in someone else’s shoes” and she describes herself as her clients “biggest fan” and supporter. She recognizes the client as the expert in their own life and teams up with them to find the best solution to their problems. Elese specializes in working with adolescents and adults experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress management, life transitions, trauma, grief, and loss, as well as self-esteem and relationship issues. She utilizes elements of various evidence-based treatments and approaches including CBT, Motivational Enhancement, Strength-Based, Feminist Theory, LGBTQ Affirmative Counseling, and Person-Centered Theory.
Elese received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and BA in Theatre Performance, from Rhode Island College. She has worked in in-home therapy services and provided outpatient counseling in private practice. She enjoys working with many different individuals and is pursuing further training to work with couples and our LGBTQ+ community.

MARY FITZGERALD, LMHC SHE/HER/HERS
Location: Providence Office
Mary uses reality therapy, which focuses on the current moment to create a better future. She has been in practice for 17 years. She began her journey of counseling in 1993 with a certificate in Thanatology, (grief, death, and dying) working at a funeral home as the family service coordinator, and then went on for a BS in counseling and then for an MHC, masters level. She believes that a person can accomplish anything that they truly want to with help and confidence.
She loves helping people find joy in life no matter where they are starting from. The life coach aspect of counseling allows people to move forward fulfilling their dreams, which is very rewarding. Mary has experience in marriage counseling and addiction.

GIANNA RICCIARDI SHE/HER/HERS
Accepting New Clients: No
Gianna, she/her pronouns, is a recent graduate of Salve Regina University and holds her Master of Arts in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is currently working toward her licensure as a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). She received her undergraduate degree from Providence College while double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. She has several years of experience working at Butler Hospital as an inpatient Activities Therapist and Mental Health Worker. Gianna has experience working with a wide variety of individuals, issues, and diagnoses. Her specialty is with adult populations who have experienced or are experiencing a wide array of issues including trauma, depression, anxiety, and more.
She believes in working from a “systems perspective” which means all aspects of an individual’s world, both internally and externally, are important when working on healing. She works with all “parts” of a person opposed to just the presenting issue. Creating a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment to establish a strong positive therapeutic relationship and help the client heal is a key aspect of her therapeutic approach.
Working with the mind, body, soul, spirit, and environment are important components of her counseling style. Gianna uses a wide variety of therapeutic modalities to meet each individual client needs including Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Person-Centered therapy.

VALERIE SCHOMBURG, M.A. SHE/HER/THEY/THEM
Location: Providence Office
My use of reality-based therapy helps clients find better ways to fulfill their needs with the goal of self-evaluation and confident decision making. I am a Masters level therapist and recent graduate of Southwestern College where I specialized in Art Therapy. While Art Therapy can be utilized in many different ways, it is never my goal to interpret your art for you. Art is a healing practice and only the creator can truly understand the creation.
I primarily work with adults and those in the LGBTQ+ community.

MAE NARON, M.A., MFT SHE/HER/HERS
Location: Ashaway and Providence OfficeI am here to help you and your family work together to build a stronger and more functional family system. Does your child have a hard time following the rules? Is your child reacting negatively to a change in the family? Are you anticipating any big family changes? Do you have an LGBTQ+ child needing guidance in self-exploration and navigation of the coming out process? Do you have siblings who struggle to get along? Is your family welcoming a new family member or dealing with the loss of one? Are you looking to learn new parenting skills? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, I may be able to help.
I specialize in working with children and families in all stages of life. I have several years of experience as a preschool teacher and have been working with children and families for over 10 years. I feel it is important to involve caregivers and schools in work with young children and teach them how to reinforce the skills learned in therapy.
If you feel like I may be a good fit for your family’s needs, please reach out to schedule an appointment. I look forward to meeting you and your loved ones!

LILY VOSE-O’NEAL, LMHC SHE/HER/HERS
Location: Providence Office
Approach to Therapy
I love being a therapist. I consider it a great privilege and honor to be invited into people’s lives in times of struggle and vulnerability. When I work with clients my hope is that they will leave our sessions feeling respected, understood, validated, accepted, and with less distress and more hope. I use an integrated client-centered approach. I weave together Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing, Attachment Theory, Mindfulness, psychoeducation, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I am an artist and I use my creative training to tailor the therapy experience to each client’s unique needs, fluidly shifting focus between emotions, thoughts, and actions or behaviors. I see all feelings as purposeful, providing information about needs. I consider most problems to be attempts at solutions that are not yielding the intended results. I work from a strengths-based perspective looking to amplify and build on what clients are already doing that works and to uncover yet-to-be-accessed abilities and solutions. It is easy to become trapped in a story about ourselves and our lives that keeps us bound to our problems and our problem identity. I collaborate with clients to explore and develop narratives that can serve to move them towards the lives they desire.
I believe connection and belonging are fundamental, physiologically-based human needs. I like to help individuals, couples, and families build more connected lives. I work with young adults and adults. Clients in individual therapy are always invited to bring important people such as partners, parents, children, friends, roommates, or housemates into sessions either for support or to use the session to work on relationship repair.
I work with clients of all races, ethnicities, religions, socio-economic statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities, body sizes, and abilities. I work from a weight-neutral HAES® informed perspective. I take a stand against prejudice and the oppression of members of marginalized groups.
Education and Work Experience
I received a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. I also completed graduate coursework in Couples and Family Therapy and in Applied Behavior Analysis, as well as undergraduate coursework in child development. My clinical internship was at the eating disorder treatment center, Walden Behavioral Care, where I worked with adults and adolescents and their families. Clients struggled with eating disorders including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Prior to that, I worked at Bradley Hospital with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. I am also trained as an Embodyoga® yoga teacher and can integrate guided relaxation, body awareness, and meditation into sessions to reduce stress, increase the ability to self-soothe, and strengthen the inner witness to help clients be less carried away by negative thoughts and mood states.
I have completed advanced trainings and workshops in Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eating Disorders (An Evolutionary Approach) with Dr. Shan Guisinger, and The Neurosychotherapist Institute’s Core Principles of Neuroscience. I completed Embodyoga® 200 and 300 Hour Teacher Training programs at Yoga Center Amherst where I also taught yoga and was an assistant teacher trainer.
Issues and Concerns I work with:
- Existential – Wrestling with issues about mortality, freedom, responsibility, injustice, or searches for meaning
- Habit Change – Figuring out how to make small changes that lead to big improvements in quality of life
- Transitions – Beginning college, a new career, parenthood, marriage, divorce, loss, children leaving home, retirement
- Relationship Issues – Chronic conflict, living separate lives, loss of passion, persistent disagreements about money, in-laws, sex, work, parenting, exploring whether to stay together or separate, when divorcing how to have the best divorce possible
- Grief & Loss – Loss of loved ones, relationships, pets, roles, identities, abilities
- Complex Decisions – Examining the various ways a situation might unfold, the possible risks and rewards, forecasting what is most likely and what outcome you would be most comfortable with
- Ambivalence About Change – Exploring options when you want to change and you don’t want to change, or when someone else wants you to change and you don’t want to change
- Academic Issues – Study habits, procrastination, adjusting to the demands of college
- Disordered Eating – chronic dieting, chronic body dissatisfaction, compulsive exercise, weight suppression, building resilience to weight stigma and prejudice directed towards larger-bodied people, unlearning internalized fatphobia, non-dieting and anti-diet approaches to wellness, recovering from negative impacts of diet culture
- Eating Disorders – Addressed through a framework that synthesizes biological, social/cultural, and psychological factors: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, orthorexia
- Effects of Injustice & Oppression – Working with how we are influenced by larger systems, depersonalizing internalized cultural stigma, contextualizing problems within the larger web of family, society, and culture
- Shame & Self-criticism – Developing a more fair, kind, and supportive inner dialogue
- Artists & Creative Professional Concerns – Resolving creative blocks, balancing your art with other needs, strategizing how to “make it work” financially, designing combinations of day jobs & creative work if needed
- LBGTQ Concerns – Positive identity development, lack of acceptance of sexual orientation or gender identity from family and loved ones, building resilience to heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia
- Anxiety – Excessive worrying about events, activities, or situations that feels out of proportion and interferes with your everyday life, always picturing the worst occurring, muscle tension, feeling restless, on edge, or keyed up, feeling irritable, having difficulty concentrating or finding your mind going blank, fatiguing easily, restlessness, difficulty getting a good night of sleep
- Depression – Experiencing a persistent low mood where you feel sad, empty or hopeless, loss of pleasure in things you used to enjoy, sleeping too much or too little, intense guilt or feelings of worthlessness, difficulty with fatigue and concentration, thoughts of death
To Clients with Eating Disorders
In my work with clients with eating disorders, I emphasize developing your support system and endeavor to help clients tolerate the distress that can be a part of the recovery process. My preference is always to work as part of your team of providers. I can also help you build your team. I believe eating disorders are biopsychosocial conditions with physiological underpinnings in human adaptations to survive famine. Having an eating disorder can be frightening, isolating, and produce tremendous shame. For some, it can be bewildering and frustrating to have your loved ones express concerns you don’t share. Struggle with an eating disorder can leave people demoralized, confused, and afraid. I take a non-blaming non-shaming stance toward clients and families. I meet clients where they are and help them to make sense of the experience, to access support, to grieve what they have lost to the illness, and to chart a course back to wellness. Meal support and meal coaching can be incorporated into sessions.
I respect size diversity and support clients to nurture their health independent of weight or size, operating from a weight-neutral HAES® informed perspective. I help clients move toward listening to body cues to nourish their bodies with enjoyable foods and pleasurable movement when appropriate. For clients who are at a bodyweight lower than where their body would be most comfortable and safe, I support them in the renourishment process alongside their medical providers and dietician. I also work with clients to explore fears and obstacles to the recovery process.
Practicalities
- Office Hours: Daytime, afternoon, and evening hours available.
- Location: East Coast Mental Wellness’ offices are handicapped accessible and located on the Eastside of Providence. We are on the third floor of the historic 1 Richmond Square building with beautiful views of the Seekonk River, Witherby Park, and the wooded Waterman Street Dog Park. Our offices are within walking distance of Brown and RISD.
- Insurance & Fees: Fifty-minute sessions $120. Sliding scale available. Some insurances are taken. Receipts for out-of-network reimbursement through your insurance company provided upon request.
- Contact: Please email at lily@eastcoastmentalwellness.com to schedule a brief telephone consultation to discuss your needs, ask further questions, and see if we would be a good fit.

Tony Costagliola, LICSW He/Him/His
Location: Providence Office
My treatment approach is a reflection of what I’d seek out in a therapist; someone whose methods are provocative and challenging, yet non-judgmental and practical. My therapeutic process promotes insightful thinking, problem-solving, and meaningful behavior change.
Therapy sessions focus on enhancing perceptive, self-regulation, and resiliency skills. My clinical approach involves the use of CBT, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and the wealth of wisdom I’ve accrued from clients themselves.
I specialize in work with adult and young adult struggles through anxiety, depression, family conflict, self-esteem issues, trauma, acceptance, and life-changing events.
In addition to seeing clients at ECMW, I work as a therapist at AIDS Care Ocean State with a focus on LGBTQ issues and chronic illness management. I completed my undergraduate work at Brown University and received a Master’s in Social Work from Rhode Island College.

KATHERINE MCPHILLIPS, M.S. SHE/HER/HERS
Location: Providence Office
Katherine earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesly University in Cambridge Massachusetts. She believes meeting a client where they are currently at is necessary to get them where they want to be. She focuses on treating the individual as a whole and utilizing a holistic approach when working with them. Katherine specializes in CBT, talk therapy, and creating a safe space environment that allows clients to explore different avenues of reflection. These reflections will be based upon their feelings, thoughts and any traumas faced that will allow the individual to grow into an evolved version of themselves. Katherine is bilingual and fluent in both English and Spanish and has worked with teenagers, young adults, and the LGBTQ community.

ALEXANDRA CARDI SHE/HER/HERS
I received my Masters degree from Salve Regina University for Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am currently working towards my LMHC licensure. I earned my B.S. in Developmental Psychology from Plymouth State University. I have 25 years of dance experience and have been teaching for 5 years. Over the years, I have had experience working as a behavior technician with children and adolescents and as an assistant teacher at a Montessori school. I firmly believe in meeting the client where they are and emphasize that the client is the expert of their life. I work to utilize a holistic, person centered approach with clients, while bringing awareness to body-mind connection and somatic experiences. I strive to create a safe, judgment free space for clients to share and heal from their experiences. My goal is to support clients on their journey to making decisions that best fit their needs at that time and seeks to help clients take back their power.

CATHY LINDBECK, APRN SHE/HER/HERS
Location: Providence Office
I believe each person is unique. My style is interactive and nonjudgmental. I am very comfortable with prescribing medications. While I do offer appointments for medication only I prefer prescribing medications and counseling at the same time. I feel this offers more continuity of care for the client. I have also studied herbal medicines and feel very comfortable discussing alternative therapies. I have a personal interest in yoga and have become a certified yoga instructor. Another interest of mine has been meditation. I like to integrate these techniques into my work when it seems appropriate.
I have been prescribing medications since 1990 in a variety of settings. While I believe medications should be used when necessary I like to balance this by offering other alternatives if they seem appropriate. This may include CBT, herbal suggestions, meditation techniques, or various yoga breathwork. Each person is unique with different needs.
Having just one approach to treating and working with clients does not take into account the unique needs of each person. Everyone has their own story. Their individual strengths and weaknesses, success and failures. I see my role as helping the client understand accept this and even take joy in themselves.

CATT SMILEY, M.A. SHE/HER/HERS
Office Location: Telehealth Only
Catt attended University of Rhode Island where she received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a second bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Catt continued her studies at Salve Regina University where she earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling.
Catt specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adult clients who are working through depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues and other life changes. Catt uses different therapeutic approaches for each unique individual, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, and more! Catt chooses to use a holistic approach, seeing an individual as a whole. Catt believes in building trust with her clients through open communication and a sense of humor and works to create a safe and comfortable place to be able to talk.

KHYM CARMICHAEL, M.A. SHE/HER/HERS
Location: Providence
Hello and thank you for considering me for your counseling journey. I base my practice in choice theory, helping people remember that they have choices and options in their life. By taking care of ourselves first, we can be available for anything that comes our way. Life can be challenging, and with a little shift, we can turn challenges into opportunities.

CHERLY MURRAY, LCSW SHE/HER/HERS
I received my Masters of Social Work from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania in August 2016. Through out my career in social work I have worked with people from age 3 to 98 years old, facing various stressors, obstacles, and illnesses in their life including: family issues, poverty, life transitions, substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, trauma, chronic illness, school issues, schizophrenia, and PTSD. No matter what a person is facing in their lives, I believe it is important to recognize each person I work with comes with their own individual life experience and strengths. I like to work together with my clients developing individualized care using different therapeutic models including CBT, DBT, ACT, Motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and solution focused therapy based on their strengths, needs, and evidence based practice.
Interns
East Coast Mental Wellness values the education of others and accepts master-level interns in our offices to further their knowledge and training. We provide the opportunity for students to gain clinical and administrative experience in the mental health field. Our interns are supervised by experienced clinicians in our agency.

CRYSTAL TEJADA SHE/HER/HERS
Accepting New Clients: Yes
Crystal (she/her), is an intern who is currently studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Johnson & Wales University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Sociology at Stony Brook University. She has previous experience working at Butler Hospital as an inpatient Activities Therapist and Mental Health Worker. Crystal has experience working with populations with a large range of diagnoses and issues including adults experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma and self-esteem issues. Her interests include working with the LGBT+ community. Crystal’s approach is non-judgemental and client-focused. She aims to create a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for each client. Her goal is to form a positive therapeutic relationship through good communication where clients can feel comfortable expressing what is on their mind.

HOLLY MORRIS SHE/HER/HERS
Accepting New Clients: Yes
Holly is currently working towards her master’s degree at Salve Regina University in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College where she majored in Health and Physical Education. Holly has spent the last twenty years teaching and coaching working with students to grow into the best versions of who they strive to be. In addition to teaching, Holly has decided to expand her passion of working with others, helping individuals and families to incorporate skills learned through therapy in their everyday lives in order to meet their goals. She believes creating a safe environment, based on earned trust and respect is the cornerstone towards building a healthy relationship. Holly’s goal is to meet clients exactly where they are as she works alongside them as they write their future one day at a time according to their most authentic self. She believes that therapeutic relationships are built based on trust, communication, respect and creating an environment where individuals feel safe in expressing thoughts and emotions.

KC SMALL SHE/HER/HERS
Accepting New Clients: Yes
I am an intern completing my final year of graduate studies at Salve Regina University for a Master’s degree in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh. I bring a broad background of experiences to my sessions, including being a parent of unschooled young adults and past careers as diverse as neuroscience research and pastry arts. Currently, I am a therapeutic massage therapist with over 15 years of experience. I also have certifications in yoga, Holistic Leadership, and Expressive and Creative Arts. As I evolved and changed as a person and responded to life events, I followed my intuition and passions along a path that makes sense to me. My years of working as a massage therapist have developed my therapeutic presence and ability to create a compassionate space for my clients. The foundations of my approach to counseling are holistic, focusing on mind/body/spirit integration, neurobiology, human development, systems awareness, advocacy, and social justice. I strive to be authentic, empathetic and compassionate, non-judgmental and accepting. My goal is to meet you where you are and accompany you on your journey as you work to achieve your goals, heal, change, and grow. I regard us as equals and recognize that you are the authority on your life. I feel confident that together we can create a space where you feel supported, brave, and curious. We are all influenced by our culture, systems, environment, genetics, and choices. Our perspectives are influenced by our identities, which include socioeconomic class, power status, cultural heritage, race, sexual orientation, gender, political views, values, spirituality/religion, trauma experiences, and personal history. I strive to remain mindful of these influences and their impact on me. I will respect and accept you as you are and try to understand how you perceive the world and your experiences. I am open to working with any population, especially young adults and people navigating life transitions. As an intern, I am still exploring techniques and theories. Currently, I am working with expressive and creative arts, mindfulness, and strengths-focused and somatic approaches.
Book Your First Appointment
Book a free 15-minute call with one of our therapists. During the call, you will have the opportunity to get a sense of your therapist’s personality and the techniques they use before deciding if you want to schedule your initial session with them.
Providence Location
1 Richmond Square, Suite 333W
Providence, RI 02906
(GPS: 331 Waterman St)
*with free parking
Hope Valley Location
1146 Main st
Richmond, RI 02898
Office photography by Drty Glitter
Get In Touch
Phone: 401-227-0372
Fax: 877-455-9466



Immediate Help
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, a free 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. You will be routed to the nearest city crisis center.