Owner:
Nathan Gay, Psy.D., is a Licensed Psychologist with his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from Indiana State University. He completed his APA Pre-Doctoral Internship at UMASS Memorial Community Healthlink – Youth and Family Services in Worcester, MA. Prior to starting Attention, Behavior and Cognition, Dr. Gay was the Director of Clinical Services at a non-profit behavioral health organization providing special education and treatment services to children, adolescents and young adults with emotional, behavioral, intellectual and developmental disorders. Before founding ABC, he worked in a group practice providing treatment and diagnostic evaluation services to children, adolescents and families.
Dr. Gay has over 15 years of experience in working with children, adolescents, families, and adults, specializing in the assessment and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dr. Gay also has experience and training in the assessment and/or treatment of social, emotional or behavioral concerns such as anxiety, depression, oppositional or defiant behavior, school refusal, as well as adult ADHD evaluation and treatment. He utilizes a cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment, relying on effective, practical treatment approaches that help children, adolescents and families to reach their unique treatment goals.
Clinical Director:
Jennifer-Nappila-Nutter, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who graduated from Fitchburg State University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. Jennifer completed an Intensive DBT Training Program and an Intensive two year study Program at Wellesley College through the Jean Baker Training Institute with a specific focus on Trauma Informed Care. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience in working with children, adolescents, adults and families in various treatment settings. Jennifer has worked in both private and collaborative school settings in addition to working directly with state agencies.
Jennifer understands the importance of working collaboratively with families to ensure comprehensive treatment. She focuses on the individual needs of the client and family when developing a therapeutic plan of approach. Jennifer’s experience includes, but is not limited to, working with children, adolescents, transition age youth and families with emotional and behavioral concerns, trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mood Disorders, and school related issues and concerns. Jennifer takes a collaborative based approach to treatment and encourages open dialogue between all involved in the treatment process.
Assessment Director:
Susan Sczerzenie, Ph.D., BCBA, is a Licensed Psychologist specializing in psychological assessment and diagnostic evaluations of children, adolescents, and adults. She completed her undergraduate work at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Suffolk University in Boston, MA. She fulfilled her APA Pre-Doctoral Internship at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY where she specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders including OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder, and developmental and disruptive behavior disorders in children and adolescents. Dr. Sczerzenie attained a certificate in Data Analytics through Cornell University. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, and Licensed Behavior Analyst (MA).
Providers (in alphabetical order):
Deirdre Amaral, LICSW, CADC-II, is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who began her undergraduate degree at University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Worcester State University. She completed her graduate training at Simmons College, where she received her master’s degree in social work. Deirdre is also a Certified Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor with extensive experience in the field of addictions. Deirdre’s clinical experience includes working with older children, adolescents and adults in various settings such as community mental health, residential treatment, school-based counseling, partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment settings. Deirdre relies on a strength-based approach, utilizing Solution Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy strategies, that help to increase a sense of hope, healing and support, as well as to improve overall social and emotional well-being.
Erin Capite, LMHC, graduated from Assumption College and received her Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She has experience working with children, adolescents and families in the home and community settings. Erin also has experience and training in the specific areas of anxiety, ADHD, Autism and depression, as well as impulse c and disruptive behaviors. Erin enjoys working with toddlers, children and adolescents while using Behavioral, Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused techniques and interventions.
Sarah Cardullo, Psy.D., LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the State University of New York College at Oneonta Counseling Center and her post-doctoral residency at a therapeutic day school in Northern Virginia. Dr. Cardullo is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) and Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) substance use treatment. She has extensive experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults and families. Her areas of interest include trauma, depression, anxiety, transitional life events, and family work. Dr. Cardullo’s goal is to provide an individualized approach in therapy with her clients. She works from a strength-based and collaborative approach to help you be your best self.
Kathryn Dale, Psy.D. is a Child and Adolescent Psychology Fellow with a specialty in Neuropsychology. Dr. Dale is currently completing the requirements to become a Licensed Psychologist in MA and is working under the supervision of Dr. Nathan Gay. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and School Psychology from New York University. Dr. Dale completed her pre-doctoral internship at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York and her post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at Lenox Hill Hospital’s Center for Attention and Learning Disorders in Manhattan. She has experience working with children and their families, in both hospital and school settings. Her areas of interest include learning disabilities, ADHD, school and life stress, anxiety, depression, life transitions and trauma. Dr. Dale is an empathetic clinician who uses a collaborative approach to create a comfortable and safe therapeutic environment. She utilizes both play and talk therapy, and she routinely integrates techniques from other models of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Jacqueline Foley, LMHC, LADC1 completed her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) from Cambridge College. She has worked over the years with children, adolescents and adults. Jacqueline has experience in the areas of anxiety and depression, as well as addiction work in a variety of treatment settings. She tailors her treatment approach to each person, employing Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused techniques and interventions among others with her clients.
Erin Keeney, LMHC is a licensed mental health counselor and has experience working with a wide spectrum of ages, including older children, adolescents and their families. She has worked extensively to promote mental health initiatives within school systems, working collaboratively with children, families and their educational teams. Erin earned her Bachelor’s at Emmanuel College in Boston and went on to earn her Master’s from Lesley in Expressive Art Therapy: Art Therapy and clinical mental health counseling. She is currently in the process of becoming a registered art therapist. She provides opportunities to incorporate art work, music, movement and other modes of expression into their therapeutic journey. Erin’s areas of clinical interest and speciality include substance use, anxiety, depression and trauma. Erin’s approach to treatment utilizes a wide variety of methods to help guide clients become the best version of themselves.
Ashleigh Keller (Clinical Intern) is a second-year graduate student at Assumption University who is scheduled to complete her degree in December 2025. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Assumption University in May 2023, with a concentration in Mental Health and minor in Applied Behavioral Analysis. Ashleigh has been working directly with Dr. Nathan Gay since January 2023 assisting with ADHD evaluations. She will continue to work under his supervision while obtaining her clinical hours and completing coursework. Through her graduate program, Ashleigh has developed a focus in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and is working with children and adolescents.
Rachel Kelly, LMHC, completed her graduate training at Assumption College in Worcester, MA where she earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Rachel has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families in both the home and office settings. She has worked in state and private agencies, and is familiar with the importance of working closely within the identified team to ensure comprehensive treatment. She focuses on the individual needs of the client and family when developing treatment plans and goals. Rachel’s experience includes, but is not limited to, working with individuals and families with emotional and behavioral concerns, trauma, family conflict, substance abuse, mood disorders, and stress. Rachel takes a strength-based approach to treatment, and encourages open and honest communication to motivate growth and change.
Lindsay Kurahara, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist who obtained her graduate school education in Philadelphia, where she worked within a variety of settings (e.g., community mental health, residential treatment center, college preparatory private school) and with diverse populations. During her graduate training, Linda specialized in working with children, adolescents, and families, and particularly with LGBTQ+ individuals. During the past five years, Lindsay worked in Massachusetts with youth in a residential treatment and outpatient settings, providing individual, group, and family therapy and conducting psychoeducational evaluations. Lindsay relies on holistic, person-centered, trauma-informed approaches that are grounded in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She also has extensive experience in the areas of race and race relations, as well as supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community. While she has primarily worked with children and adolescents, Lindsay also has experience working with adults. Lindsay enters every therapy session with the curiosity to learn about her clients and create a nonjudgmental space for healing and growth.
Courtney Allain Paul, NCSP, M.Ed/CAGS School Psychology, is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and licensed with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a School Psychologist (grades PK-12). Courtney earned her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) degree from Worcester State University before starting her career within the public school system for eight years. Courtney has worked with children, adolescents and families to provide psychological evaluations, psychoeducation, consultation, and social-emotional & behavioral functioning support. Courtney’s experience and areas of interest include, but are not limited to anxiety, depression, ADHD and mood dysregulation. While working with children and adolescents she utilizes a variety of techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy and mindfulness to meet the needs of her clients. While working towards licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Courtney receives clinical supervision provided by Jennifer Nappila, LMHC, Clinical Director at ABC.
Anna Sawyer, LICSW, is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and went on to receive a Masters in Social Work from Simmons College. During her graduate studies, Anna worked in an acute psychiatric hospital and at an outpatient clinic serving adolescents diagnosed with major mental illness. She then worked at a women’s prison before taking a position as a clinician at a long-term psychiatric hospital for 4.5 years. Her work in a variety of settings has instilled the importance of meeting clients where they are in order to make change. She has worked with individuals of all genders and identities, families and groups. She has experience supporting clients through life transitions, relationship challenges, major mental illness, complex trauma, anxiety and depression. She happily works with members of the LGBTQ+ community. Anna has had training in CBT and CBT for Psychosis, DBT and motivational interviewing. Her therapeutic style is warm and empathetic with an approach grounded in an attachment-focused and psychodynamic perspective. Anna believes each of her clients are the experts of their own experience and that the therapeutic relationship is a critical tool for healing and growth. Anna approaches her sessions from a place of compassion in an effort to increase clients’ abilities to create this for themselves.
Beth Stanley, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who graduated from Assumption College with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. Beth has over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings such as residential treatment, community outpatient, adult congregate care, private practice, adult day treatment, and employee assistance. Beth utilizes a strength-based approach to help clients achieve therapeutic goals. Beth uses a variety of modalities to help clients achieve treatment goals such as Collaborative Problem Solving, Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma Informed Care. Beth’s specialties include working with individuals who have anxiety and depression, mood disorders, and trauma. Beth works with clients to help them see their true potential for healing and emotional growth.
Ellen Wells, LICSW is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who received her undergraduate degree in Family & Community Services from Syracuse University, her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University, and a Certificate in Clinical Supervision from Smith College. She has experience as in multiple treatment settings that include being a Clinician in a hospital-based drug & alcohol recovery center, a Director of an Interfaith Housing Agency serving the homeless, a Clinician and Supervisor at a residential treatment center, a Clinician in a hospital-community based outpatient counseling center and as a Clinical Social Worker at an organ transplant center in a local medical center. Ellen’s career has focused on working with children and families that present to treatment with concerns related to ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, and ODD. She develops treatment plans and goals from a strength-based perspective, helping clients to develop skills through Cognitive-Behavioral, Collaborative Problem-Solving and Solution-Focused approaches to treatment. Ellen also believes that family therapy is an integral component of treatment to strengthen and build relationships, as well as to utilize supports that help to generalize learned skills across settings.