Meet our Staff

Leigh is the owner of Inspiring Insight LLC, graduated from Boston College with a BA in Psychology and Education, and stayed at BC to obtain a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology.  She later returned to school at Northeastern University to attain a second Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology, culminating in an LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) and CAGS (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies).  Leigh has worked as a clinician in a variety of settings including an inpatient psychiatric unit, a community-based treatment program, a DYS facility, and an agency that provides intensive in-home counseling for families in crisis. Leigh worked in a group practice for four years before choosing to open her own private practice, later opening her own group practice, Inspring Insight, LLC.   Leigh is a member of the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association (MaMHCA). 

Jen is an LMHC with experience with a variety of clients in area mental health clinics.  She received her Master's in Counseling Psychology from Assumption College in 2001 and has been licensed in Massachusetts since 2003. Jen enjoys supporting families, children, adolescents, and adults as they navigate challenges and grow their strengths.  Her professional interests include anxiety, grief, PTSD, mindfulness, and CBT.  When not working, Jen enjoys hiking, knitting, and planning family trips. 

Whitney is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who has over 10 years of experience.  She graduated from Boston College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received her Master of Social Work from Simmons University School of Social Work in 2011.  Whitney has worked and trained in a variety of settings and has experience working with individuals and families experiencing anxiety, depression, illness, injury, life transitions, loss and grief, and end of life.  She believes in taking a relational and strengths-based approach to each individual client and utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques to assist clients in navigating through difficult times and transitions.

Heather believes you deserve to live your best life possible. She is an independent social worker licensed in Massachusetts with over 20 years of experience working in human services. She has worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, adoption, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, and ADHD. She has also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. Her counseling style is warm and interactive. She believes in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and does not believe in stigmatizing labels. Her approach combines cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, and rational-emotive counseling. She will tailor your dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. She believes our experiences are life lessons, not life sentences, and that we can learn and grow from our mistakes. She also believes that life is better with laughter, and many clients have commented on how her sense of humor has helped them through some difficult times. It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps toward change. If you are ready to take that step she is here to support and empower you and to be by your side every step of the way.

Mary is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who treats people across their lifespan. She has a Master’s degree from Columbia University School of Nursing, is Board-certified, and has buprenorphine prescribing privileges. Mary likes to work in collaboration with patients and therapists to understand patients’ concerns and target treatments for each person’s unique needs. She begins her care with an in-depth assessment of symptoms, history, and medical health in order to decide whether medication is needed and if so, to recommend ones that address the specific problems that each person has to handle. Mary believes that patients have the right to understand her treatment recommendations and to participate in evaluating their effectiveness. The combined expertise of patients (in their own physical feelings and emotions) and practitioners (in science and research) is the key to successful treatment. Mary is a firm believer in the value of therapy, and the role that medications can play for some people in supporting the work they do in therapy.

Email: mdinallo@inspiring-insight.com

Claire received her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University. She has worked as a clinician across a variety of settings including intensive in-home family therapy and outpatient counseling. Claire uses an eclectic mix of narrative therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and cognitive behavioral strategies to help individuals address a wide range of issues including anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, and relationship struggles. She particularly enjoys working with adult populations and navigating multicultural issues. In her free time, Claire enjoys cooking, gardening, and studying languages.

Donna Brennan graduated from Boston college with her MSW in 1983 and received her LICSW (licensed clinical independent social worker) in 1985.  She is experienced in insight oriented psychotherapy believing that we all have the capacity to change, heal and learn from within. She is curious and compassionate and wants to understand and connect in a validating and non intrusive manner, providing a safe space to explore feelings and thoughts that impact our behavior and a space to feel emotionally "held" in order to do so. She has worked with all populations, particularly older adolescents and adults who are struggling with mood, behavioral and thought disturbances, with the goal of working towards developing effective coping skills and increasing insight as we continue on life's journey.

"When the caterpillar thought the world was over, he became a butterfly."

Jessica, or Jess, received a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling with Trauma and Addiction specialties from Cambridge College in 2015, as well as a Master of Science in Human Services Counseling Studies from Capella University in 2010. She has worked in the Mental Health field since 2011, in multiple aspects from Direct Care to In-Home Therapy and Out-Patient. She specializes in working within the field of trauma and addiction care, as well as working with children, Military Veterans, and the LGBTQ+ community. She currently works as a licensed EMT and volunteers her time with her town's Fire Department as well. She is an avid animal lover, and you will sometimes see her Service Dogs in Training at the office. Jess is currently in the process of going back to school to further her education by getting her Ph. D. in Neurophysiology Testing and Clinical Psychology.

 Pete is a holistic health and wellness coach who takes a results-focused approach. He is a Certified Hypnotist with the National Guild of Hypnotists, a Professional Certified Empowerment Life Coach (PCELC), a Master Usui Reiki Practitioner, a Master Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT). He has spent the last 10 years working with individuals who experience anxiety, and depression, building new habits and feeling stuck in their current life to create a new way of living. He believes in taking a result-based approach to each individual and uses a variety of techniques to transition into their new way of living. 

Amanda Scianna is a Certified Life Coach (CLC) and Director of the Mentorship Program here at Inspiring Insight. She joined Inspiring Insight, LLC due to the long waitlists experienced by many therapy practices. We wanted to create this program to provide a quality alternative to therapy supervised by licensed therapists. There are several distinctions between coaching and therapy. The primary difference is therapists work towards understanding why an individual is behaving in a particular way; to come to a place of mental wellness. Coaching leans towards how a person can make behavioral changes to reach a specific goal. Therapy digs into the past to establish the roots of current issues. Life coaching explores previous successes and sources of inspiration, not instances of past trauma or abuse that may have triggered current behaviors. Life Coaches start in the client's present and work with them toward a better future. Amanda’s office provides a positive and unbiased safe space where her clients can feel comfortable and unjudged, using encouragement to explore thoughts and emotions. She will help motivate you, checking up weekly, additionally to your scheduled appointment, to provide continuous support. Amanda enjoys building self-confidence, understanding and identifying our emotions, dealing with bullies or difficult people, effective communication, social skills, and anxiety or “worries.” Amanda has personally experienced a variety of obstacles in her life, many of which she has overcome. She shares her real-life experiences to better relate to her clients by helping them find meaningful solutions to obstacles and celebrating their achievements.

Email:  ascianna@inspiring-insight.com

Phone (Call or Text):  (401) 281 - 9889

 Christine Hickey is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Student working at Inspiring Insight. She has been a nurse for 5 years and is currently working at Boston Children’s Hospital. Some fun facts about her are she just got married! Christine loves the outdoors with her favorite hobbies including traveling, camping, and hiking. She has been to 21 National Parks and 35 states and LOVES animals. If you come to the office for your appointment feel free to stop by her office and say hi! 

  Al Dewsnap is a 200-Hour certified yoga teacher and lifelong student of yoga. Al first started practicing yoga during her time as an undergrad at UMass Amherst, at a time when she was very overwhelmed by the pressures of her coursework. Each time she got on the mat, she felt more and more connected to the body and inner world, providing an increasingly solid foundation to stay grounded through those stressful and challenging times. In 2015, Al took an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training, which formally introduced her to the art of meditation and how the practice translates to situations off the mat. Yoga and mindfulness have since become a cornerstone of her well-being, and as her practice deepened, so did her desire to share it with others. Al completed her 200-Hour Yoga Alliance-certified Teacher Training with Common Ground Yoga in 2020. As a yoga teacher, she is inspired by creative and powerful, yet nurturing flow sequences that challenge and inspire students to get to know the strong, resilient warrior within and cultivate empowered habits of self-care. She guides students with the intention to coordinate movement with breath, bring awareness to our inner world, become more in tune with the body, and remain grounded and balanced in the face of challenges both on and off the mat. 

Email: aldewsnapyoga@gmail.com

Website: DewTheYoga.com

YouTube: Dew The Yoga

Instagram: @aldewsnap

Facebook: Dew The Yoga