The practitioners located at LivingWell *:
** Conditional until meeting the post-graduate clinical counseling requirements for full licensure
Counselors/psychotherapists:(alphabetical order)
*LivingWell is a community of independent practitioners who share a common philosophy regarding the promotion and maintenance of health and well-being. It is not a corporation, professional organization, or separate legal entity.
Click on the practitioner's name
for information.
Kripalu Yoga Instructor:
Massage Therapist:
Polarity Therapy and Reiki:
T'ai Chi Instructor:
836 Main Street ~ Westbrook, Maine 04092
207.856.0090 ~ sbs@livingwellcenter.info
Troi Boulanger, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Maine native, graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut in Human Development and Family Relations. The next 8 years were spent working in various mental health settings in Boston and Maine, focusing on individual and family therapy within multidisciplinary teams. In 1997, she graduated from New Mexico State University with her Master’s of Social Work. It was at New Mexico State University where Professor Gerald Vest who taught a holistic health class and developed a health practice called the 15-Minute StressOut influenced her work. From this point on, Troi’s perspective about wellness began to encompass the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of ourselves. Since that time, Troi has incorporated into her work principles and techniques of energy psychology, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, breath work, yoga, somatic healing, presence work and the use of narrative therapy-a holistic perspective with practical approaches. Her belief is that “we all have the capacity to know what is healing for us; however, there are times when we’re not able to access this information which often leads to depression, anxiety, stress, relationship and other life issues.” Troi feels that her work is to assist others with hearing their truths and developing skills to move forward from that place of deep knowing and compassion.
Tel. #: 207-761-1160
Sally Bowden-Schaible is the founder and coordinator of LivingWell. She received her MS in Counseling from the University of Southern Maine and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over 20 years of counseling experience. She is nationally certified as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) and is also certified as an Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). She has studied Nikaya and Theravada Buddhism since 1996 at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Barre, Massachusetts www.dharma.org, and she recently (2008-09) completed the year-long Integrated Study and Practice Program (ISPP) at BCBS. She facilitates a weekly Vipassana (insight) meditation group at LivingWell and a monthly Nikaya Buddhist study group which focuses on core Buddhist teachings www.insightcommunityofsouthernmaine.org. In addition, she is an adjunct faculty member in the Counselor Education program at USM, co-teaching with Dr. Reid Stevens Mind/body Techniques in Counseling, and Religion and Spirituality in Counseling. She provides education, training, and consultation to counselors, psychotherapists, agencies, and organizations on such topics as clinical hypnosis, Buddhist psychology and mindfulness-based counseling, Tourette's disorder, and the use of poetry in counseling (she is co-author with Dr. Jan Hitchcock of Lewiston-Auburn College, "Is it time for poetry now? Therapeutic potentials - individual and collective", published in the Journal for Poetry Therapy, September 2007). She also provides individual and group clinical supervision to counselors/psychotherapists. (She meets all criteria as a clinical mental health supervisor through the National Board for Certified Counselors.) Her counseling background includes working with adults and adolescents (16+) who experience personal and interpersonal difficulties related to transition and loss, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety disorders, Tourette's disorder, drug and alcohol abuse/addiction, major mental illness, and traumatic life experiences (i.e., sexual, physical, and emotional abuse). Other areas of interest include women's growth and development throughout the life cycle including relationship issues, family planning, and parenting guidance. She is also the founder and former co-executive director of Art Exchange for JustPeace www.artexchangeforjustpeace.org, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide funding for art supplies and art programs for children in impoverished and conflict-ridden places in the world.
Tel. #: 207-856-0090
Vicki L. Gayton received her MSW from Boston College and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She did her graduate internship at New England Family Institute, and she has held positions at Sedgewood Commons Alzheimer's Care Center, Mercy Hospital, Counseling Services, Inc., and Spring Harbor Hospital. Her counseling background is strong in geriatrics, cognitive behavioral therapy with adults, grief and bereavement, and working with couples and families. Current interests include behavioral medicine, hypnotherapy, and the use of mindfulness-based practices such as meditation in counseling. She is a member of the National Association of Social Work (NASW), and she is an Associate Member in the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). Her goal is to continue using the biopsychosocial and spiritual approach to the treatment of mental health problems and to expand her practice in the area of behavioral medicine. Related to this, she is participating in a year-long extern program with Daniel Brown, PhD which began in October of 2009. The focus of the program is in the use of clinical hypnosis to treat mind/body health conditions.
Tel. #: 207-854-0907
Dianne Harris, received her MSW from Boston University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). She did her graduate internship at Maine Medical Center’s Breast Care Center in Scarborough, Maine and currently works with HIV + patients at MMC’s Virology Treatment Center in Portland, Maine. For several years, she worked for Spurwink, Inc. as a Public School Counselor with adolescents and their families. She has also worked at the Mercy Recovery Center. As a therapist, Diane describes herself and her work as “very interactive, attentive, compassionate, and holistic based.” “I’m down to earth, feel that it is a privilege and an honor to work with people where ever they are on this journey called life, and having a sense of humor is important.” Areas of concentration include: life transitions, anxiety, grief, depression, medical issues, GLBT, addictions, self esteem, and life coaching using Cognitive Behavioral, Mindfulness and relaxation techniques along with expressive art and movement, Gestalt, and several other therapeutic modalities. In 1996, she completed a year long program at Spring Hill in Ashby, MA called “Opening the Heart” and was eligible to become a staff member for “Opening the Heart” workshops by Dr. Robert and Judith Gass, LCSW. In 2007, she became a certified “You Can Heal Your Life” leader based on the philosophy of Louise Hay. She is looking forward to offering Heal Your Life (registered), Achieve Your Dreams Workshops and groups in the near future. She has been a member of the National Association of Social Work since 1998. She takes several insurance plans and offers a sliding scale. She welcomes your call and can be reached at ucanhealu@aol.com.
Tel. #: 207-653-7885
Nancy Hathaway holds a Master's degree in Education (MSEd) with an area of concentration in Counseling Psychology and is a Registered Counselor. She has extensive experience in the study and practice of Buddhism (Zen, Tibetan, and Theravada traditions), beginning in 1974, and was ordained as a Buddhist clergy in 1980. In 1985, she became a senior dharma teacher in the international Kwan Um School of Zen. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Cambridge Zen Center, Providence Zen Center, and Kwan Um School of Zen , is currently on the Board of Directors for the Morgan Bay Zendo in Surry, Maine, and was President for many years of the Cambridge Buddhist Association. Nancy teaches at the Cambridge Zen Center and at the Morgan Bay Zendo, and formerly taught at the Empty Gate Zen Center in Berkeley, CA.. In 1990 in Cambridge, MA, Nancy founded the program, Being Present With Our Children: parenting mindfully, combining her love of meditation and parenting. In 1994, she interned with Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center's Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) clinic, and she worked with Kabat-Zinn in the Massachusetts prison system teaching mindfulness to prisoners. She also taught MBSR to the homeless at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. In 2005, Nancy founded the Center for Studying Mindfulness in Work, Family, Health, and Relationship, where she offers MBSR programs, as well as mindfulness-based counseling, for individuals, couples, families, and groups. She has also taught Zen and mindfulness programs nationally in such places as Harvard University's Family and Work Center, Brandeis University, MIT, and Holy Cross. She has led workshops in elementary and high schools, facilitated parent groups, and led family obesity programs at Blue Hill (ME) Hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center, and Bangor Mental Health Institute. Nancy presently hosts an early Friday morning short-feature radio program for parents called, "Tips for Mindful Parenting", on WERU 89.9. An essay she wrote, "I'm Breathing, Are You?", was published by Shambala Publications in two anthologies for mothers (Your Children Will Raise You -- the joys, challenges, and life lessons of motherhood, and Finding Your Inner Mama), both edited by Eden Steinberg, and was also included in The Best Buddhist Writing 2006, published in October 2006 by Shambala Publications. FMI, go to www.centerforstudyingmindfulness.com.
Tel. #: 207-664-6181
Eric Heintz received an MS in Counseling from the University of Southern Maine and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). Eric works with adults and adolescents around the issues of depression, anxiety, phase-of-life transitions, substance abuse, and trauma recovery. His practice is also open to clients seeking to optimize their creativity and performance—artists, musicians, athletes, and others. Eric’s work is grounded in the principles of mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral techniques. He believes that we each have the capacity for self-healing, and that we can rely upon our own wisdom as we heal and transform our lives. The focus and intention of his professional life is to support people on this path. Since 2007 Eric has worked with at-risk youth and their families at Day One in South Portland, assisting them in dealing with mental health and substance abuse. He can be reached at ericheintz@earthlink.net.
Tel. #: 207-807-9210
Karen Lane is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who specializes in working with young people and their families, as well as adults. Karen combines her family and behavioral work with teaching and practicing mindfulness and cognitive behavioral techniques to manage life’s stressors. Her work is grounded in a diverse and exciting background: with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School leading backpack and canoe trips for youth-at-risk in Maine, as a Professional Ski Patroller and Search and Rescue Volunteer in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and as a Peace Corps Volunteer teaching Health Education in Nicaragua. Most recently Karen has created a process called Life Ideals: six self-care practices toward a happier and healthier life by decreasing stress and increasing resiliency. Through observation and personal experience Karen believes that often when we attempt to make difficult positive changes we can be easily frustrated by our innate need toward perfection. Karen encourages a cultivation and development of patience with our selves and others in order to make our changes long lasting and sustainable. She can be reached at kblane@me.com.
Tel. #: 207-854-0907
Jeri Schroeder received an MS in Physical Education with an emphasis in exercise science and nutrition from the University of New Hampshire in 1981 and received her MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in mind/body expressive therapies from Antioch New England University in 1994. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Jeri is also a graduate of The School for The Work of Byron Katie and has been a facilitator of The Work since 2003. In 2007, she received training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and she is currently working towards certification. Also, in 2007, she received training in Heart Rhythm Therapy and Meditation from the Institute of Applied Meditation. Jeri has had over 30 years of experience in fitness, health, and wellness, including 12 years of experience in cardiac rehabilitation using a mindfulness-based approach to education and recovery. She also has had over 14 years of experience as a counselor/ psychotherapist working with adults (individuals and couples) using mind/body and expressive methodologies. She specializes in working with people with a diagnosis of heart disease who want to heal the physical, emotional, and energetic heart through risk-management, behavioral change, and heart rhythm meditation.
Tel. #: 207-415-3733
Patrick Young, LCPC-C**, CADC received an MA in Education with an area of concentration in the education of exceptional children from San Francisco State University, and he also holds as MS in Counseling from the University of Southern Maine. In addition to his conditional licensure as a Clinical Professional Counselor, he is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) and is registered as a National Certified Counselor (NCC). With over 30 years of experience working with "at-risk" youth who have a variety of educational and mental health needs, Patrick has spent the past 19 of those years as the director of Future Builders School (www.futurebuildersschool.com) which he founded in 1989. The school provides "contextualized" educational and mental health services to middle and high school learners who have experienced limited success in more traditional environments. Patricks's counseling work with adolescents and adults is grounded in mindfulness-based approaches such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He has found that ACT, in particular, provides an especially useful approach for addressing a wide variety of difficulties experienced in life. During the past five years, Patrick has discovered for himself the joy that can be experienced through "beginner's mind" and living with a more present moment awareness.
Tel. #: 207-310-8038
Massage therapist:
Cherie Cayer is a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) with over 500 hours of comprehensive training and practicum in relaxation, deep tissue, reflexology, and sports massage techniques. She is also a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and has worked as a mental health case manager for over 15 years. In that time, she has had extensive training in areas of traumatic abuse and its consequences on the mind/body and soul. Her goal as a massage therapist is to assist in the restorative, integrative process that brings mindful awareness back to the body in a caring and nurturing way. Her approach is both respectful of boundaries and engaging of a person's individual needs for healing. Each session begins with a conversation and intake that allows for the client to voice any issues, concerns, or problems -- physically, mentally, or emotionally -- so that each person has an active role in the healing process. Cherie is a firm believer in the transformative power of healing touch within the context of a safe and nurturing environment and has experienced firsthand the benefits of therapeutic massage.
Tel. #: 207-712-9741
Polarity Therapist and Traditional Reiki Master/Teacher:
Patricia Keene, offers individual Polarity Therapy that is augmented with Therapeutic Touch, Reiki and basic Craniosacral Therapies. For over 30 years, she has delivered Therapeutic Touch services to a broad clientele as well as area hospice and hospitals. Receiving certification from the Polarity Realization Institute of Ipswich, MA, in 1995, Patricia has conducted numerous workshops for education and healthcare facilities. She completed her Reiki Master/Teacher training degree in 2000 and in 2003, completed Craniosacral I and II with the Upledger Foundation. She offers private Polarity Therapy, integrated with the above modalities and teaches Reiki I and II certification classes. Patrica also teaches Reiki I and II certification to volunteers, clinical and non-clinical staff at Maine Medical Center in conjunction with a state of the art Reiki Volunteer program offered to patients and families at no cost. She facilitates a Reiki Wellness group in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Patricia mentors Reiki Master/Teacher level students in a comprehensive, year long apprenticeship.
Tel. #: 207-240-9974
T'ai Chi Instructor:
Louise Poppema, LCPC-C** has studied and practiced T'ai Chi for the past 17 years, and she continues her formal studies with Paul Channic and Master Waysun Liao, founder of the 30 year old T'ai Chi Tao Center in Chicago, (www.taichitaocenter.com.) Louise has five years of experience in leading T'ai Chi classes, emphasizing the internal tradition of T'ai Chi which views it as much more than a form of exercise. A tradition of moving meditation, T'ai Chi helps individuals connect to their life energy through relaxation and compassionate acceptance of who and how they are. In addition, Louise completed University of Southern Maine's Clinical Counseling program and is conditionally licensed as a Clinical Professional Counselor. Louise also encourages and supports the deeply healing human/animal bond with over two years of internship practice in equine facilitated learning/psychotherapy and through Head to Heart, a private practice of 10 years in animal communication. FMI, go to www.headtoheart.net
Tel. # 207-332-8402
Yoga Instructor:
Maria Sanchez Cron is a Kripalu Certified Yoga Instructor with over 200 hours of intensive hours of instruction. She specializes in therapeutic programs for individuals who need more attention and a gentler approach, facilitating their healing process with the use of restorative poses. Maria is also a certified LifeForce practitioner, a yoga practice designed to alleviate depression and anxiety. She has taught specialized classes to trauma survivors, refugees, immigrants, and deaf individuals. As a trauma survivor herself, personal experience plays an important role in her work as a yoga instructor. Yoga transformed her life, so much so that she felt compelled to share with others the experience that has replaced her despair with hope. An immigrant from Peru, Maria teaches her classes in English, Spanish, and with an American Sign Language interpreter.
Tel. #: 207-272-2071
