Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience

WHO WE ARE

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About Us

Treatment for Families

Our Team

We help make the world a better place.

The Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families, LLC was founded by Patricia Brady to implement programs designed to support children and families coping with change and overcoming adversities, with a focus on working with families where there are parent child contact difficulties.

A collaborative team of clinicians is available to provide intensive services to referred children and families and will offer ongoing counseling support as may be necessary. Treatment plans will be designed based upon the specific needs of each family.

Clinical Director

Patricia Brady, M.S., LMFT, LMHC

Patricia Brady earned her Master Degree in Human Services and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. 

Patricia has experience in a variety of areas, and is most passionate about working with families, couples, groups and individuals of all ages. Patricia has worked with those impacted by trauma, adoption, grief and loss, divorce and parenting plans.

In January of 2017 the Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families was founded by Patricia Brady. This program is designed to provide resources for children and families, where there are child parent contact challenges.

Patricia Brady was a Consultant at MGH Law and Psychiatry dating back to 2007, an Adoption Program Director for MSPCC, and she was a Mental Health Supervisor for the Family Connections Program at Children's Hospital for five years.

Memberships & Positions:

Vice Chair for the Medford Behavioral Health Commission

Past Board Member of Melrose Alliance Against Violence - https://www.maav.org

Past President of AFCC - https://www.afccnet.org

Clinical Services Director of Children's Hospital Family Connections Program - http://www.childrenshospital.org/familyconnections

The American Professional Society on Abuse of Children - https://www.apsac.org

Services Offered:

Guardian Ad Litem, Reunification Therapy, Court Investigations, Expert Testimony on needs of children and families, Parent Coordinator, Family Therapy, Couples Therapy, Individual Therapy, Treatment Planning, Evaluator

Contact for Patricia Brady:

Email: patriciabradyandassoc@gmail.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Therapeutic Professionals

Katie O'Donoghue, MSW, LCSW

Katie O’Donoghue joined The Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families in 2022. Katie is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), and a Licensed School Adjustment Counselor. She has a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston University and specializes in trauma-informed work with children, youth, and families. She has spent several years working in middle and high school settings with diverse student populations. Katie focuses heavily on building a safe, trusting environment where clients feel supported in their growth.

Katie has worked with clients impacted by a number of experiences including anxiety, depression, gender and sexual identity, grief, self-harm, substance use, domestic violence, sexual assault, community violence, family conflict, and life transitions among many others. She has a flexible approach to therapy and always looks to the client to guide the work. Some of the treatment modalities Katie utilizes most often are narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, and play therapy. Katie believes that everyone can be successful with the proper support, and she looks forward to supporting new clients on their therapeutic journeys.

Services Offered: 

Individual Therapy, Reunification Therapy, Parent Coaching, Treatment Planning

Contact for Katie O'Donoghue:

Email: katieo@patriciabradyandassoc.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Ari Melech Israel, M.A.

Ari specializes in working with clients experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence. Ari believes that it is critical to examine the structures and dynamics that we both exist within and from which we often experience marginalization. Ari both has experience in and am greatly passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ clients, clients from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, and clients on the autism spectrum. Ari believes that an understanding of the way we navigate the world is integral to better understanding ourselves.

From the clients Ari has had the opportunity to work with and learn from, he has come to understand that the relationship is the single most important part of therapy being effective. Ari wants to create a comfortable, authentic space that allows for you to have opportunities to heal and grow. In terms of modalities, Ari believes that the therapist should adapt to the client and not the other way around. Ari has experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Internal Family Systems in manners that are tailored to be trauma informed. Helping to facilitate building trust and safety is one of his most important goals as a counselor.

Services Offered: 

Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Couples Therapy, Documentation for Gender Affirming Care

Contact for Ari Israel:

Email: ari.israel@patriciabradyandassoc.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Julia Merchant, M.A. 

Julia joined the Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families in 2021. She earned a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from William James College in 2021 and is currently continuing her educational journey to earn a Doctorate in Psychology. Julia has experience working with children, adults, couples, and families. She follows the lead of the client and adapts her approaches to best suit their needs.

Julia has a diverse range of clinical experience. She has worked alongside clients living with anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, severe mental illness, grief, self-harm, sexual assault, domestic violence, and marital & family conflict. Some of the treatment frameworks that Julia uses in her practice include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and solution-focused therapy. Julia works tirelessly to create a safe and trusting environment for clients to thrive.

Services Offered:

Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy

Contact for Julia Merchant:

Email: julia@patriciabradyandassoc.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Elizabeth Kirshenbaum, M.A.

Elizabeth Kirshenbaum (Liz) has joined the Center for Achieving Balance in Medford, MA. She has earned a master’s in counseling from Regis College. Liz has had the opportunity to develop her counseling skills – including intake and risk assessment, cultural and theoretical case conceptualization, diagnostic assessment, and treatment planning. She applies motivational interviewing techniques that show empathy and compassion to her clients while providing them with a safe and comfortable environment. Liz has experience in counseling the young adult population and helping them with issues that include race, gender, and sexuality disparities. She adheres to an ecological systems perspective that strives to understand the ways clients’ surroundings and worldviews affect how they cope with their challenges. Liz’s approach, which is informed by feminist theory, supports clients of all gender identities and sexual affiliations to understand the ways in which institutional and political barriers have affected their positions of power and status in society in the service of overcoming these obstacles and promoting their own personal growth.

Services Offered: 

Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Couples Therapy

Contact for Elizabeth Kirshenbaum:

Email:
elizabeth@patriciabradyandassoc.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Abby White 

Abby earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology from Montclair State University in 2021, immediately following the completion of my Bachelor's in Forensic Psychology at Florida Institute of Technology in 2019. After the completion of my master's degree, Abby started my doctoral degree (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology at William James College. Abby is currently in her second year of the program and is concentrating in Forensic Psychology.

Abby specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults with matters relating to law and mental health. Abby helps clients resolve challenges regarding anxiety, depression, relationships, divorce, child custody, school/work adjustment and transitioning homes adjustment. Additionally, Abby helps clients of all ages face day to day life challenges. Abby offers a collaborative, empathic environment and an integrated approach that combines aspects of mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, dialectal-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and solution focus treatment to help you and/ or your child understand and change unwanted behaviors and thoughts. Building a strong relationship with my client is essential for the therapeutic work. Abby wants to create a space that is calm, safe, and comfortable for my clients to be able to heal.

Contact for Abby White:

Email:
abby@patriciabradyandassoc.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Hannah Rawnsley, M.A.

Hannah Rawnsley joined The Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families in 2023 after earning her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Regis College. In addition, a former teacher, Hannah holds a Masters in Education and Special Education. She taught elementary and middle school students in New York City public schools prior to relocating to Massachusetts. 

Hannah has clinical experience working alongside adolescents and adults living with anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, grief, domestic violence, PTSD and family conflict. She seeks to create a warm environment for her clients of all ages to safely explore who they are and how they interact with the world around them. She often has an eclectic approach to therapy: incorporating aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy, solutions-focused therapy and family systems therapy. Hannah’s approach is one that is compassion-filled, client-focused and strengths-based.

Services Offered: 

Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy and Family Therapy

Contact for Hannah Rawnsley:

Email:
hannah@patriciabradyandassoc.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Administrative Professionals

Coordinator - Gina Pasquale 

Gina Pasquale has been with The Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families since 2021. Currently, she operates the Center and coordinates all supervised visits.

Gina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development with a concentration in child life from Wheelock College, making her a strong asset to the team. She has experience with high conflict parenting dynamics and parent-child contact problems. Gina helps to facilitate smooth transitions for children and parents alike, alleviating stress in the visitation process.

Services Offered:

Coordinator of Supervised Parenting Time 

Contact for Gina Pasquale:

Email: centerforabc@patriciabradyandassoc.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Office Manager-Valerie Smith 

Valerie Smith is the Office Manager for the Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families. Valerie has been working with Ms. Brady since the inception of the program. Valerie provides a welcoming presence to everyone who visits the office. Valerie has a business background and excellent interpersonal skills allowing her to provide comfort to those in crisis, overseeing intakes, and supervising parenting time sessions. Valerie brings a warmth to the office making her a strong member of the team.

Services Offered:

Business Inquiries, Billing, Scheduling

Contact for Valerie Smith:

Email: centerforabc@patriciabradyandassoc.com

Phone: (781) 350-4430

Christina Peledge 

Christina is the Assistant Office Manager for the Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families.

patriciabradyandassoc@gmail.com  /   (781) 350-4430   /   42 High Street - 2nd Floor, Medford, MA, 02155

Disclaimer: No legal services are provided by the Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families or its personnel. The Attorney-Client Relationship does not exist between the Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families and its Clients.