School Cancellations, CLosing and Delays

 
Click Here
 
Clinical Resource Team

The LABBB Clinical Resource Team provides students with an individualized approach to their behavioral and emotional needs. Counseling, social work, and behavioral support are provided by experienced professionals who work together with other LABBB staff to offer an integrated service delivery model that is student-driven. Our clinicians work together with family, classroom staff, specialists, clinicians, and vocational staff when appropriate, to determine the specific techniques and supports that are integral for our students’ success in the classroom, home, and community. The overall goal of this department is to address our students’ emotional and behavioral needs so that they may achieve their full potential.
Our services are:

  • Student-driven
  • Individualized
  • Supportive of parent involvement
  • Team-oriented

Clinical Team & Approaches

The LABBB Clinical Resource Department includes licensed mental health counselors, licensed social workers, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and experienced clinical support staff. Clinicians utilize various methods and modalities of therapy, including reality therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, systemic family therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and Applied Behavior Analysis.
Clinicians spend time in the classrooms to build relationships with students, observe and monitor behavior, and assist with the implementation of classroom-wide strategies and individual behavior support plans. They also work with students in the context of individual counseling sessions to help students become more aware of their behavior, self-evaluate, and make required adjustments so that they can be more productive in class or at work. As such, counselors work with vocational staff oftentimes in the work settings so that they can help generalize strategies found to be successful in the school setting.

They also promote positive functional skill development and emotional wellness through weekly groups. These are often co-taught with our specialists (OTs and SLPs) and cover the following topics: womens issues, mens issues, mens only, wellness, hygiene, sex education, self-advocacy, disability awareness, character education, social pragmatics, and independent living skills.

Our clinicians also:

  • Work collaboratively with family members so that we can bridge the gap between home and school thereby facilitating the generalization of desirable behavior changes.
  • Conduct home assessments and school-based functional behavior assessments both for our collaborative students and for students in our LABBB member districts.
  • Offer in-service trainings to LABBB staff and to our member districts on an array of clinical topics, Applied Behavior Analysis, education, and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI).

Internship Program

LABBB is also pleased to work with psychology interns from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. We typically supervise two to three interns each year. The interns are closely supervised by our counselors as they support our students by integrating in our classrooms, conducting individual therapy sessions, assisting with groups, and working with families. This is a mutually beneficial program that allows the intern to gain valuable experience in our programs while our students have additional supports from developing clinicians.

 
Clinical Team Staff
 


Kelly Sexton - MSW, LICSW
e-mail: ksexton@labbb.net


Ms. Kelly Sexton, MSW, LICSW provides Social Work and Counseling services at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Ms. Sexton earned a Master of Social Work from Boston College in 2001 and carries certification as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, School Social Worker and School Adjustment Counselor.

Prior to working at LABBB, Ms. Sexton worked as a Social Worker in variety of settings including the Inpatient Psychiatry Service and Oncology Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, Cornerstones Residential School and the Department of Children and Families. In addition, Ms. Sexton worked on the Inpatient Bipolar and Schizophrenia Service at McLean Hospital and the McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry Service. In addition to working at LABBB, Ms. Sexton works as an Executive Functioning Coach at Beyond Booksmart.

Ms. Sexton has extensive experience working with students with various challenges, including PTSD, mood disorders, ADHD, psychotic disorders, developmental disabilities, reactive attachment disorder, autism and serious medical issues. Ms. Sexton utilizes a variety of modalities including Systems Theory and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to support both students and families.

   



Nathan Kittridge - M.S. Ed, BCBA, LABA
e-mail: nkittridge@labbb.net


Mr. Nathan Kittridge, M.S.Ed., BCBA, LABA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who supports our middle school and high school programs. As a behavior analyst, Mr. Kittridge consults with classroom teachers to identify challenging behaviors, establish data collection systems and develop effective intervention strategies.

Mr. Kittridge earned his Master of Science in Special Education from Lesley University and is a licensed severe special needs teacher. Mr. Kittridge earned his ABA certificate from Cambridge College. Prior to working at LABBB, Mr. Kittridge worked as a behavior analyst and educational team leader at a private residential facility. He has also worked in a variety of school and home settings prior to joining LABBB. Mr. Kittridge has extensive experience working with students with developmental disabilities, medical disabilities, physical disabilities and autism spectrum disorder who exhibit moderate and severe challenging behaviors.

   



Cori Purcell - MSW, LICSW
e-mail: cpurcell@labbb.net


Ms. Cori Purcell, MSW, LICSW is a Social Worker/Counselor for the LABBB Collaborative at John Glenn Middle School, Bedford High School, and Burlington High School. Ms. Purcell earned a Master of Social Work from the University of New England in Portland, Maine and a Bachelor of Arts from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She has experience as a social worker in educational, residential, and after school settings and is passionate about her work with youth and families.

   


Trish Costa - Counselor
e-mail: pcosta@labbb.net


Ms. Costa, MS. has been part of the LABBB Collaborative Program for the past 20 plus years. In that time she has worked mainly within various schools within the LABBB system. She received her Master of Science degree in Mental Health counseling from Salem State University and is also certified in Reality Therapy from the William Glasser Institute.

Ms. Costa has presented at many conferences as part of the Massachusetts Mental Health Counseling Association and William Glasser Institute, as well as locally working with Elementary and Middle school children running “Bullying” workshops. Her experience has been with working with adolescents who present with a wide range of diagnoses including, Autism Spectrum disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, and mood disorders.

   


Laurie B. Harrington - MSW, LICSW
e-mail: LHarrington@labbb.net


Laurie B. Harrington, MSW, LICSW provides Social Work and Counseling services for LABBB students in the elementary, middle school and high school programs. Ms. Harrington earned her Master of Social Work degree from Boston College and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. In addition to providing individual counseling and family consultation, Ms. Harrington serves as the LABBB Assessment Coordinator.

Ms. Harrington uses systems theory as well as cognitive behavior therapy in her work to optimize the success of students at LABBB. Ms. Harrington has considerable experience working with children and adolescents experiencing various challenges including developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and emotional and behavioral disorders. Ms. Harrington has been active in providing program wide staff education and consultation and serves as a liaison among school, family and community resources.

   



Amanda Penn - LMHC
e-mail: apenn@labbb.net


Amanda Penn, MA, LMHC is a Counselor for LABBB Collaborative in the programs at Lexington High, Burlington High, and Butler Elementary. Ms. Penn obtained her MA in Counseling Psychology at Boston College in 2012 and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Prior to working at LABBB, Ms. Penn provided outreach counseling to individuals and families in a community mental health clinic, early intervention ABA services, school consultation services for students on the Autism spectrum and crisis management evaluations in local emergency rooms. She is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy and has experience working with children and adolescents with various challenges such as PTSD, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, ADHD and Autism spectrum disorders..

   


Kerry Joachim - Counselor
e-mail: kjoachim@labbb.net


Ms. Kerry Joachim, MA, LMHC, is a counselor for the LABBB Collaborative at the Bedford High School and Burlington High School programs, and consults to other LABBB programs as needed. Ms. Joachim earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a School and Community Specialization from Lesley University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies from Assumption College. Ms. Joachim is certified as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and as a Licensed School Adjustment Counselor.

Prior to working for LABBB, Ms. Joachim worked as a shift supervisor and coordinator for a mobile crisis intervention team and as an outpatient clinician for a nonprofit agency specializing in work with children and families. Ms. Joachim has experience in risk assessment, safety planning, and crisis intervention. She has worked with children and adolescents with a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, autism spectrum disorders, and a variety of other psychiatric diagnoses.