Kate Lyons, LCSW, LICSW (she/her)
Clinical Director
Licensed in PA, MA, ME, OH, NY, VT
Who was your child before the world told them what they should be?
How much do children and teens sacrifice themselves, their sweet quirks and unique gifts, to conform to the expectations of their peers and society as a whole?
Have you heard them say things like "I'm not good enough,""no one understands me," or "things would be better if I weren't here."
How I work
Simply put, I want your teen to own themselves, in their most authentic form. I believe there is strength in vulnerability, and telling one’s story is an act of great courage. I love working with teens, young adults and families to cultivate self esteem and foster healthy relationships that allow them to flourish.
Over the last ten years, I’ve worked with a range of clients including trauma survivors who want to relearn how to be present with themselves and restore a sense of safety in their bodies, folks who have historically held space for others and want to find their voice and folks who are experiencing depression, engage in self harm, or feel like things would be better off if they weren’t here. My experience working within both a residential treatment facility and a special education program have provided me with an understanding of various levels of care, and inform my systemic approach.
I love working with teens, young adults and families to cultivate self esteem and foster healthy relationships that allow them to flourish. Something you may hear me say in session is there are no “bad” parts of you-everything we do serves a purpose. We just need to understand ourselves, and if something isn’t working for us, explore how to meet our needs in a healthier, more sustainable way. My clients who have been in therapy before often remark on how different our experience is, because our relationship is warm, caring, and build on a foundation of mutual respect and appreciation.
My Education & Trainings
I graduated from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. I have many certifications including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and Comprehensive Internal Family Systems Therapy. With these certifications, I help clients approach challenges from a place of curiosity and compassion rather than judgement.
The relationship with your therapist is a large part of your success. Here’s more about me!
I’ve always cherished the art of storytelling. When my brother and I were little, my grandparents spent countless hours reading to us. My appreciation of literature was magnified every summer when my little brother and I would voraciously tear through as many books as we could to earn stickers on the sheets we received from our local library.
My parents taught me how to tell stories through music, and in my spare time, I still love to play my guitar and sing at local coffee shops and festivals.
My Italian roots inspired a love of cooking. My grandparents were pie masters (lemon meringue and coconut custard were always a hit during the holidays)-when we weren’t baking, we were crafting the perfect meatballs, drying fresh pasta, and of course, making homemade sauce (or gravy-depending on which side of the family you’re talking to!). Turns out sticking an onion full of individual cloves was an ideal method of releasing the flavors (or a handy task to occupy two curious kids). From an early age, we learned a lot about the importance of intentional connection and uninterrupted quality time.
I love dirty chai lattes and sushi (extra ginger, hold the roe!) and despite popular belief I am not a vegan, though one of my clients once told me that I dress like I am capable of foraging without getting poisoned (they insisted it was a compliment). I’ve always found myself surrounded by animals, whether I’m volunteering at a local therapeutic riding camp or hanging out with my pups-I adore all creatures (my friends can attest to the fact that we even commit to capturing and releasing bugs-no squishing around here!)
I find myself grounded through physical activity and time spent outdoors. I’ve camped throughout New England with my family - there’s a spot in New York call Indian Lake which was my favorite because the campsite was its own little island, accessible only by kayak. At night the stars were impossibly bright and I fondly recall many evenings spent fireside under a fantastically brilliant smattering of stars.
All of this has informed my perspective that it’s a gift for us to share our stories with others, and that’s something that should never be taken for granted.
Working With Me
I’m available on our telehealth platform on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. At our Wellesley, MA. office, I see clients Wednesday and Thursday during morning, afternoon and evening hours. Individual 50 minute sessions are offered at a rate of $220.