OUR CLINICIANS
Michelle Bendowski, LICSW
Michelle Bendowski is a licensed clinical social worker. A graduate of Smith College School for Social Work, she also holds a certificate from The Boston Psychoanalytic Institute and Society, Inc. in intensive psychotherapy. She has worked in a wide variety of settings with both children and adults, including early intervention programs, psychotherapy clinics, and emergency rooms. Areas of clinical interest include women’s issues, life transitions, and the process of opening to one’s creativity.
Kent Boynton, LICSW
Kent Boynton is a social worker with over 25 years experience providing and managing mental health, chemical dependency, and protective services. A former director of psychiatric services at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, he holds a Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Brandeis University. He directed outpatient mental health services for Riverside Community Care and other organizations and managed employee assistance programs. He offers mental health and substance abuse services to individuals, families, adolescents, and couples.
Mary E. Coakley, APRN, BC
Mary E. Coakley is a board certified advanced practice registered nurse. A graduate of Boston University School of Nursing, she has extensive experience in treating patients with major mental illness. Formerly the Director of the Group Treatment Program at Brockton MultiService Center, she practices both psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. She is a member of the American Nursing Association, the Massachusetts Nursing Association and Nurses United for Responsible Service.
Margarita Eydelman, MD
Margarita Eydelman, MD is a graduate of Orenburg State Medical University, Russia. She is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed her internship and residency at Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, Boston, MA. Dr. Eydelman worked for almost 12 years as a psychiatrist at Beth Israel Lahey Health Mount Auburn Hospital. She holds an academic appointment through Harvard Medical School and has been an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
Leonard E. Freedberg, MD
Leonard E. Freedberg, a founding partner of Newton-Wellesley Psychiatry, is a board-certified psychiatrist who graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. He is a member of the active staff of Newton-Wellesley Hospital and is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, and the American Psychiatric Association.
William Barry Gault, MD
William Barry Gault, MD, a founding partner of Newton-Wellesley Psychiatry, is a graduate of Holy Cross College and Yale Medical School. A board-certified psychiatrist, he is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, and the American Psychiatric Association.
Doreen Gabelli, LICSW
Dorene Gabelli is a board-certified diplomate in clinical social work with years of experience in working with individuals, families and groups. Her experience includes work at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in the outpatient mental health department and the eating disorder program. She has also worked at the Worcester Youth Guidance Center. Her areas of clinical interest include women’s issues, major mental illness and group work. Ms. Gabelli’s faculty appointments have included Boston College and Boston University Schools of Social Work.
David T. Golden, MD
David T. Golden is a board-certified psychiatrist who graduated from Yale University and Northwestern University Medical School. He trained at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, a Harvard training program, where he served as Chief Resident of Inpatient Services. He did a fellowship in outpatient psychiatry at the MIT Medical Department. He is on the staffs of Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Bournewood Hospital. He is the psychiatric consultant for the Lasell College Counseling Center and Lasell Village Senior Housing community. He holds teaching appointments at Boston University School of Medicine and Tufts University Medical School. Dr. Golden is past President of the Charles River District Medical Society and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
Nina Isakovich, MD
Nina Isakovich is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her post-graduate training in psychiatry at the Boston Medical Center and her specialty training in Women’s Mental Health at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Linda L. LeSage, APRN, BC
Linda L. LeSage is a board certified advanced practice registered nurse. A graduate of Boston University School of Nursing, she has extensive experience in treating patients with a variety of mental health issues. Her experience includes inpatient work at Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA and outpatient work at the Center for Better Living in Marlboro, MA. In both outpatient settings she developed and led Adult Incest Survivor Groups. For thirty three years she worked closely with her colleague, Nasir A. Khan, MD, at Khan Clinical Associates in Newton and from 2014-2018 worked at Square Medical in Watertown. She practices both psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. She is a member of the Nurses United for Responsible Service.
Susan L. Luckman, LICSW
Susan L. Luckman is a board-certified diplomate in clinical social work. She was previously Senior Social Worker on the Child and Adolescent Units at Westwood Lodge, Director of Rehabilitation Services at Dorchester Mental Health Center and Child Team Leader at South Shore Mental Health Center. Ms. Luckman’s faculty appointments have included Smith College School of Social Work, Boston College School of Social Work and Boston University School of Social Work. Areas of particular clinical interest are treatment of adolescents, adults, couples and families.
Rebecca Morgan, LICSW
Rebecca Morgan, LICSW is a graduate of Smith College School for Social Work and has been in practice for over 25 years. She has had broad experience in community mental health settings, student and staff supervision, case management, and work in both individual and group private practices. She is a board certified diplomate, with extensive experience treating individuals, couples and families. Particular areas of expertise include eating disorders, trauma related conditions, depression, and anxiety disorders. She has received specialized training in Thought Field Therapy and EMDR, both being holistic treatments aimed at alleviating severe stress reactions. Currently she is exploring the use of positive psychology and life coaching to integrate with a more holistic treatment perspective.
Caryl A. Morris, LICSW
Caryl A. Morris is a graduate of Brown University (Ph.D., Comparative Literature) and the Smith College School for Social Work. Over the past 25 years she has worked with individuals, couples, and groups in a broad range of clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatry, outpatient community and college mental health. She also served as supervisor and Coordinator of Counseling Services at the International Institute of Boston. After completing the Fellowship program at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, she went on to develop special interests in integrating mindfulness meditation and psychotherapy, and in writing and the other arts as pathways to healing.
Simone Obara, MD
Simone Obara is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency and served as Chief Resident at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard training program. She has additional training through the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. She holds an academic appointment through Harvard Medical School, and is a member of Massachusetts Psychiatric Society and of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.
Catherine Paluzzi, APRN, BC
Catherine Paluzzi is a board certified advanced practice registered nurse. She graduated from Binghamton University and received her graduate training at Hunter-Bellevue City University of New York. Her professional experience includes psychiatric inpatient work at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and extensive experience treating major mental illness at the Edinburg Center in Waltham and Lexington. She practices both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology with a particular interest in managing depression and anxiety with medication and cognitive behavioral skills. She is a member of Nurses United for Responsible Services.
Amanda Reed, LICSW
Amanda Reed is a graduate of Wellesley College and Smith College School for Social Work. She has worked with adults and families in various settings, most recently around solid organ transplantation at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Areas of clinical interest include substance abuse treatment and relapse prevention, chronic illness, major mental illness, depression, anxiety, caregiver stress, end of life issues, and grief and bereavement. Other areas of interest include young adulthood and LGBT identity development.
Rachel M. Reisman, LICSW
Rachel M. Reisman is a clinical social worker, in practice for 25 years in the greater Boston area. Rachel is a graduate of Brandeis University and obtained her MSW from Simmons College. She has provided clinical care in local hospitals, day programs and community centers. Most recently she was the Director of Wellness Services at a Massachusetts immigrant support center.
Rachel has years of experience supporting clients as they navigate relief from depression , anxiety, substance use , grief and loss. She is a firm believer in individual strengths and collaborates with her clients on goals and changes they wish to create in their lives. Rachel emigrated to the US as a child and remains dedicated to others on this journey, volunteering at local agencies and serving on the board of the Charitable Irish Society. Rachel is delighted to join Newton Wellesley Psychiatry.
Sharon A. Salter, MD
Sharon A. Salter is a graduate of Brandeis University and Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed postgraduate training in both psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology and is board certified in both specialties. Dr. Salter also completed a fellowship in clinical trials during which she conducted original research, published several papers, and received a departmental research award. She is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and a fellow of The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Salter is a member of the active staff of Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
Claire F. Schneckenberger, APRN, BC
Claire F. Schneckenberger is a board certified advanced practice registered nurse. She graduated from Boston University and since that time has been working with a wide variety of patients with various mental illnesses. For the past twenty years, she has worked at The Cambridge Health Alliance coordinating an outpatient psychiatric team. She has extensive experience in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and also enjoys teaching young clinicians. She is a member of the Massachusetts Nursing Association and Nurses United for Responsible Service.
Blake Smith, MD
Blake D. Smith, Managing Partner of Newton-Wellesley Psychiatry, is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School. He did his postgraduate training at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, a Harvard training program, where he served as Chief Resident. A board-certified psychiatrist, he is a member of the active staff of Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, the American Psychiatric Association and the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society. He taught at Harvard Medical School and has published articles on forensic psychiatry and psychopharmacology.
Debra Spitz, LICSW
Debra Spitz is a graduate of Boston University School of Social Work. She has 30 years experience in community mental health serving adults, families and groups with a wide range of illnesses and problems. Areas of interest include major mental illness and cognitive approaches to depression and anxiety.
Judith Street, MD
Judith Street, MD is a graduate of Yale College and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency at University of California, San Francisco and is a board-certified psychiatrist. She has additional training in psychotherapy from the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. She is a member of the staff of Newton-Wellesley Hospital and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society.
Tyler M. Sullivan, PMHNP, BC
Tyler M. Sullivan is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who practices psychopharmacology with cognitive behavioral therapeutic interventions. He received his postgraduate degree from Northeastern University, Bouve College of Health Sciences and his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Solomont School of Nursing. Tyler’s previous professional experience includes the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health in an inpatient forensic setting as well as outpatient practice at North Suffolk Community Health Association treating severe mental illness and substance abuse. Areas of clinical interest include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Functional Psychiatry and somatic treatments for mental illness.
Charles, E. Thompson, LICSW
Charles E. Thompson is a graduate of Bowdoin College and Boston University School of Social Work. He has worked in the field of mental health for thirty-five years as a clinician and as a clinical supervisor. His professional experience includes work at the Center for Mental Health in Waltham, the Department of Mental Health, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital, both in psychiatric ambulatory services and as an inpatient psychiatric social worker. He is interested in all areas of mental health and works with adult individuals and couples. His treatment approach is strongly informed by Cognitive-Behavioral precepts.