Meet the Team
Lightwork Therapy & Recovery is far more than just a mental health facility; it is a sanctuary of healing and growth. We believe in a unique, compassionate approach where we blend empathy with advanced therapeutic strategies. Our commitment is to ensure that every woman who steps through our doors feels acknowledged, listened to, and appreciated. Our mission is straightforward yet profound: assisting our clients in discovering their inner strength, accepting their authentic selves, and illuminating the world with their unique brilliance. As you navigate through this page, you’ll get to know the dedicated team that makes this mission possible every day.
Jackie Lightner, LICSW
CEO
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Jackie Lightner, LICSW, MSW, RYT 200 is the founder and CEO of LightWork Therapy and Recovery. With over a decade of experience as a social worker and clinician in the mental health field, Jackie is passionate about creating programs that help women who are experiencing life changes, anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and addiction. Jackie founded LightWork under the foundational model of helping clients learn tangible skills and practices that they can take with them into the more difficult moments of life. Jackie has been featured as a keynote speaker and panelist at events such as NorthShore Chamber’s annual THRIVE summit and the MAHP Annual Conference, has been honored to be a guest on several amazing podcasts like NAPS’ Unswaddled and Point 1, and provides corporate trainings and speaking engagements at global companies such as EF Education First, and more.
Molly Hoopes, LMHC
Clinical Director
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Molly Hoopes, LMHC is a licensed mental health counselor and the Clinical Director at Lightwork Therapy and Recovery. She has been part of the Lightwork team from the very beginning and is proud to be a founding member of the organization. Bringing over 10 years of experience working in the field, Molly specializes in working with women with depression, anxiety, trauma, relational issues, self-esteem, transitions, and general life stress. Her approach integrates various modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness techniques. Molly is passionate about building clinical programs that empower women and encourage supportive, wrap-around services for healing. When she’s not in the office, she loves spending time outdoors, reading, and spoiling her dog!
Brett Barrier, LCSW
Clinical Lead
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Brett is a licensed clinical social worker and our Clinical Lead at Lightwork Therapy and Recovery. Brett utilizes a trauma-informed approach to ensure every woman feels heard, validated, and accepted. By incorporating a variety of evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical therapy, psychoeducation, and solution-focused therapy, Brett works to provide a safe space for women to grow towards emotional well-being. She is passionate about equipping Lightwork Therapy and Recovery clients with valuable skills to increase autonomy, self-determination, and lead fulfilling lives, regardless of challenges they may face. When she’s not in the office, Brett loves live music, sports, spending time in nature, and connecting with friends and family!
Kelly Matthews
Clinical Outreach
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As a member of our Clinical Outreach team, Kelly strives to make it possible for women to be informed about and have access to the healing and empowering resources LightWork has to offer. With Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology, as well as an Associate’s degree in Human Services, Kelly strongly believes that everyone should take pride in the time spent nurturing their mental health. Kelly loves to run, be near the ocean, and write.
Makayla Calouro
Operations Manager
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Makayla, our Operations Manager, brings her passion for wellness and helping others to the forefront of her professional endeavors. She focuses on the seamless operation of Lightwork Therapy and Recovery, playing a pivotal part in creating a supportive and empathetic environment. Her passion for mental health advocacy is reflected in her daily efforts to ensure that women receive the care and resources needed to navigate their mental health journeys. Beyond the walls of Lightwork, Makayla enjoys cooking, live music and outdoor activities.
Brooke McElroy
Admissions Director
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Brooke leads the admissions team with a deep commitment to supporting women on their mental health healing journey. With five years of experience working in the behavioral health field, she combines a passion for mental wellness with a profound understanding of the admissions process to guide prospective clients and their families toward the best possible care. Brooke works closely with our clinical staff on a daily basis to ensure that every potential client receives the personalized attention they need to build a foundation for their path to recovery. Outside of her enthusiasm for LightWork, she also enjoys yoga, meditation, adventuring in nature, and spending time with her family.
Danielle Harrison
Admissions Coordinator
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Danielle is a compassionate and driven individual who holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Social Work. With a strong dedication to helping others, she has proven her commitment through her work in detox, where she supported individuals on their path to recovery. As the newest member of our admissions team, Danielle leads with both an encouraging and informative mentality. In her personal life, Danielle enjoys running, walking her pup, spending time with friends and family, and relaxing with a comfort show and a nice cup of coffee.
Kate Adamson, LCSW
Mental Health Therapist
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Kate is a Licensed Certified Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist at Lightwork Therapy and Recovery. Kate’s approach to therapy is rooted in a holistic and client-centered perspective, focusing on the uniqueness of each individual and recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health. Drawing from an eclectic range of therapeutic modalities, Kate tailors her approach to best meet the specific needs and preferences of clients. Whether it be cognitive-behavioral techniques to address specific challenges, mindfulness practices to cultivate self-awareness, or narrative therapy to explore your personal story, sessions will be customized to support a client’s unique journey. Kate believes in cultivating an empathic and authentic therapeutic alliance to create a safe and non-judgmental space for women to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences while feeling validated, guided, and supported.
Alyssa Corrado
Mental Health Therapist
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Alyssa is a masters level mental health therapist at Lightwork Therapy and Recovery. She incorporates mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques into her practice. With a solution-focused approach, Alyssa is committed to empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. She provides personalized support, drawing from a holistic toolkit to help clients navigate life’s complexities and foster positive change. Passionate about mental health advocacy and holistic well-being, Alyssa strives to create a supportive and collaborative therapeutic environment for each individual’s journey towards healing and growth. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys live concerts, hikes, and spending time with loved ones.
Jenny Whyte, LMHC
Mental Health Therapist
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Jenny is a licensed mental health counselor and the evening dual diagnosis program therapist at Lightwork Therapy and Recovery. Jenny believes in an integrative approach to therapy, in which she utilizes evidence-based techniques and skills from modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and trauma-informed care. Her passion for helping others is rooted in establishing strong therapeutic relationships with her clients, creating safe and non-judgemental space for them to explore their thoughts and emotions. She is committed to providing compassionate care that is both inclusive and collaborative, working together with clients to address their unique needs and goals. As a firm believer in the power of continuous learning, Jenny strives to integrate new knowledge and skills into her practice. But when she’s engaging in self-care of her own, you can find her spending time with friends and family, reading up on (and solving) the newest true-crime case, and snuggling up with her hound dog mix.
Sami Sylvester
Clinical Coordinator
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Sami is our Clinical Coordinator. She is currently working on obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and looking forward to furthering her education in the psychology field upon graduation. Sami is passionate about mental health; she leads with love and kindness in her work to ensure an encouraging and a welcoming atmosphere for everyone to feel heard and prosper. When out of the office, you can find Sami at a concert, out for a run, or on a mountain skiing!
Alexa Cahill
Mental Health Technician
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Alexa is one of our Mental Health Technicians. She has her Bachelors in Psychology and in Criminal Justice, and is passionate about empowering individuals to explore and challenge themselves in their healing process. Alexa incorporates a variety of evidenced-based practices such as motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy to educate and assist in facilitating a space where individuals feel comfortable to be vulnerable, without judgement. Alexa strives to reduce stigma and shame surrounding topics such as trauma, substance abuse, and anger management. When Alexa is not working, she spends her time hiking, painting, and writing.
Paige Symon
Clinical Intern
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Paige is a recent graduate from the College of Charleston in South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Currently enrolled at Merrimack College, Paige is pursuing her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling while also serving as an academic advisor. Thrilled to be a part of the team at LightWork Therapy and Recovery, Paige’s passions extend beyond academics; she finds joy in the beach, cherishes time with her dachshunds, and embraces the therapeutic effects of running.
Angie Nguyen
Clinical Intern
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Angie, a proud graduate of Providence College, holds a Psychology degree with a concentration on Neuroscience. She’s currently pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Merrimack College. Angie’s primary focus is supporting clients as they navigate mental health challenges. Her experiences lie in addressing subject matters such as domestic violence and eating disorders, specifically in female-identifying clients. She believes in creating a strong therapeutic alliance rooted in mutual respect and non-judgment. When not in office, Angie also enjoys cooking, spending time with her orange cat, and reading.
Amanda Parker
Clinical Intern
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Amanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Merrimack College and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Holistic Mental Health Counseling at Lesley University. Using a client-centered approach, Amanda incorporates a blend of CBT, internal family systems, mindfulness, and somatic therapies. As a Reiki Master and nutrition coach she also enjoys integrating energy work, spiritual healing, and whole-body wellness into her approach. She enjoys working with women who are struggling with relationship challenges, anxiety, and self-esteem, and believes in creating a safe space for clients to show up authentically. When she’s not in the office, Amanda likes attending concerts with friends, spending time in nature and snuggling with her two cats, Binx and Cleo!
Bridget Conlon
Clinical Intern
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Bridget holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Fairfield University. She is currently studying to get her Masters of Social Work from Simmons University. Using a systematic framework, Bridget looks at a client as an individual, in their community, and in a larger societal lens. Through these various systematic levels and the interplay, this shapes for more holistic treatment planning. Bridget also practices through a strength-based approach to reinforce that the client is in the driver’s seat of their life. She enjoys working with women because they are the best! In her spare time, she plays ultimate frisbee, watches reality TV, and eats ice cream!
Jill Manos, C-IYAT
Group Facilitator
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Jill is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) at Lightwork Recovery and Therapy. Jill believes we are all here experiencing many layers of discomfort everyday, both physically and emotionally, and the practice is trying to navigate how to be with them.
Jill utilizes a trauma informed approach to hold space for clients to be able to lean into the discomfort, to hear what is beneath its surface and respond rather than react. She offers unconditional positive regard allowing the clients to show up exactly as they are in that moment. She uses somatic engagement and inquiry to support listening in and responding rather than reacting then creates compassion to the experience of this present moment. She reminds us that the practice isn’t about forcing ourselves to stay present but to build our ability to welcome ourselves back again and again.
Jill utilizes a trauma informed approach to hold space for clients to be able to lean into the discomfort, to hear what is beneath its surface and respond rather than react. She offers unconditional positive regard allowing the clients to show up exactly as they are in that moment. She uses somatic engagement and inquiry to support listening in and responding rather than reacting then creates compassion to the experience of this present moment. She reminds us that the practice isn’t about forcing ourselves to stay present but to build our ability to welcome ourselves back again and again.
Danielle Lavallee, MS, RD, LDN
Group Facilitator
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Danielle is a registered dietitian and has a master’s degree in nutrition science from Boston University. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing her doctorate in psychology. She is the owner of Lavallee Wellness, a local dietetic practice that supports women and families in managing various nutrition-related health conditions and optimizing their lifestyles to feel their best. Danielle is passionate about empowering women to better understand themselves and their behaviors to support a positive relationship with their bodies and food. She believes nutrition education and meaningful clinical support can increase quality of life, de-stressing and uncomplicating food and eating. When she is not enjoying speaking with her patients or working with her team, she can be found reading a good book series or playing with her kids.
Darien Santana, LMHC
Group Facilitator
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Darien is a bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is the owner of Imperfectly Tuned Counseling, a therapy practice where she supports individuals with attaining emotional balance and healthy copings mechanisms. Darien received her master’s in clinical mental health counseling, specializing in music therapy. She has experience with incorporating music into her work. Believing that music can be a tool to help empower women in their recovery and healing. Outside of the “therapy office”, Darien loves to spend time with friends and family, watch movies, read and listen/play music.
Madison White, RN, BSN
Group Facilitator
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Madison White, RN, BSN is a spiritual healer, teacher and guide in the Lineage of King Salomon certified by the Modern Mystery School. She offers a path to spiritual self mastery through a series of activations and initiations that are designed to clear your mind, heal your emotions and help you embody your inner truth. She has nearly a decade of experience helping hundreds of people achieve and sustain their highest expression of self.