About Us

Our Approach

Care For the Whole Person

When a client enters our office, we know that they bring with them a story. They are not just the problems they've been trying to solve or the feelings they don't want to experience anymore. They are whole people with a life that contains a tapestry of relationships, experiences, and beliefs about what life should look like. Many times, clients are seen as patients with symptoms to resolve. At Shoreline, we treat the whole person, considering emotional, relational, physical, and spiritual needs. We steward our client's trust and vulnerability with compassion and kindness. All of our therapists share a robust Christian faith which informs the way we see the world, but we work with clients from all backgrounds and beliefs and will bring faith into treatment on a client-informed basis.

Clinical Excellence

Our therapists are experts in their field. They are adept at working toward symptom reduction and wholeness for their clients. Each has been through a rigorous educational process to become skilled in their field. Our therapists receive high-quality supervision and training and adhere to the highest clinical standards and best practices in the field. We specialize in various issues, including trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and much more.

A Collaborative Process

While our therapists bring clinical excellence to the therapeutic process, we believe that our clients are experts in their own lives and the experiences they have been through. We work closely with our clients to collaborate on strategies to meet our clients' unique goals for healing and growth while utilizing their unique strengths and gifts.

Our Values

Hope

We believe that each of us, regardless of our wounds or fears, is able to find healing. We believe that our lives can have purpose and meaning and that there is a shoreline to find, no matter how lost at sea you feel.

Courage

Becoming whole often requires addressing things about ourselves and our past, present and future which scare us. That fear often bars us from real growth or healing- it keeps us from becoming what we long to be. At Shoreline we know that courage means taking action in spite of that fear.

Love

Thomas Aquinas defined love as “willing the good of the other.” Our staff sees their role not just as providing excellence in a clinical service but in truly caring for their clients and working for their flourishing.

Curiosity

Our emotions are informative. Even if they are unwanted or distressing, they hold wisdom about our past, our relationships, and our current situations. Curiosity gives us space to embrace even the most uncomfortable feelings so that they can be integrated into our understanding of ourselves, our world, and our experiences.

Security

Your information is secure, confidential, and protected in any medical office, but at Shoreline, we strive to create an environment built on trust and safety. Healing can only take place when vulnerability is safeguarded at the highest level.

Our Team

Our multidisciplinary team comes from a variety of backgrounds, experience, and skill sets. Each excels in providing high quality client care. We will match you with a clinician who is best suited to meet your needs.

Clinical Director/Senior Clinician

Emily Walsh, MSW, LICSW

Emily is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience working with individuals, couples and families. She received her Master of Social Work from New York University and her Bachelor of Social Work from Messiah College. The majority of her counseling experience is in the areas of depression, anxiety and couples counseling. Emily helps clients build awareness of current feelings of anxiety, grief, anger and other forms of distress and to make connections to their own past experiences, allowing for healing to occur.

Clinical Director/Senior Clinician

Jared Deame, MA, LCMHC

Born and raised in Dover, NH, Jared is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, specializing in the treatment of trauma and related issues. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Gordon College and a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. He believes in the inherent dignity and worth of every client and their vital role in the collaborative therapeutic process. Jared had a private practice in Dover for several years before joining Shoreline. As a therapist, he embraces a contemplative and curious approach with clients, believing in their own ability to recognize and act upon catalysts for change and healing.

Managing Director

Rev. Brandon Walsh, MBA, MDIV

Brandon Walsh is a priest in the Anglican Church (ACNA) and holds an MDiv from Duke University and an MBA from Fitchburg State University. He currently serves as the planting pastor at Great Bay Anglican Church and as the Managing Director for Shoreline Counseling Group. He wants to see people flourish and become all they were created to be.

Senior Clinician

Sharissa Sowell, MSW, LICSW, MLADC

Sharissa Sowell is a dedicated clinical social worker specializing in trauma-informed care and substance use treatment. With a Master's in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire, she is experienced in cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies, motivational interviewing, and harm reduction. Passionate about holistic care, she supports diverse clients through personalized treatment plans and compassionate interventions, making her an invaluable asset to anyone seeking professional support.

Therapist

Nancy Barnes, MA

Nancy earned a dual master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The majority of her counseling experience has been working with adolescents in the areas of anxiety, depression, panic disorder, suicidality, ADHD, and executive functioning. Her approach to therapy depends on the needs of each individual, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Existential Therapy. Nancy patiently provides a listening ear, undivided attention, and care for the whole person.

Therapist

Caroline Brewer, MSW

Caroline has extensive experience in the social work field and has been serving clients' mental health needs for the last decade. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of New Hampshire and a Masters in Social Work from the University of South Dakota. She is certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and is skilled in supporting clients in the development of skills to significantly improve their quality of life.

Therapist

Jason Strzepek, MA

Jason is from the east end of Long Island, New York. His experience includes international and domestic work in higher education as well as social work in the greater Boston area. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Gordon College, a Master of Arts in Counseling and a Master of Arts in Theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Jason’s approach is collaborative and supportive, helping clients integrate their experiences, disappointments and hopes as they make changes and move toward healing and flourishing.

Therapist

Ashley de Souza, MA

Ashley is a first-generation Brazilian-American who works with clients
ages 5 and up. She has a master's degree in counseling from Gordon
Conwell Theological Seminary. She loves to incorporate art and play
into therapy sessions. As a therapist, she leads with holistic
curiosity and supports clients in becoming healed and empowered
narrators of their own stories of life.

Therapist

Phil Lewis, MA

While originally from Massachusetts, Phil has resided in the seacoast area for the last 15 years. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2013 and is his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. He is also working towards his national certification through the National Board of Certified Counselors. Phil worked as a youth pastor at Durham Evangelical Church for seven years prior to transitioning into the mental health field. While he enjoys working with people from all backgrounds, his main focus is helping teens, young adults, marriages, families, and men. His hope is that those he works with will experience healing, transformation, and encouragement to become and experience all for which they have been created to do or be.

Therapist

Carolyn Bristow, MA

Carrie is a Third Culture Kid who grew up overseas and has spent the last 10 years in the Midwest and New England. She has a master’s degree in counseling from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She has a background in film and enjoys incorporating narrative therapy and storytelling into her work.

Carrie has experience working with adolescents and young adults in the areas of anxiety, depression, shame, grief, and trauma (emotional, sexual, and religious). She works with clients ages 12 and up. She is a process-oriented therapist who approaches sessions from a compassion-focused, strengths-based, and collaborative posture, prioritizing her client's growth in having a holistic understanding of who they are.

Therapist

Sara Bollacke, MA

While originally from Connecticut, Sara has been transplanted to the Northern part of New England since the beginning of her undergraduate education. Sara completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Gordon College and her Master of Arts in Counseling at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. During her graduate education, Sara was afforded the opportunity to walk alongside individuals impacted by trauma, anxiety, depression, academic distress, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and relationship difficulties. Sara also has extensive education in the area of family therapy and couples counseling.

Sara is a clinician passionate about understanding the whole person and establishing a strong therapeutic relationship to bring about healing and positive personal growth. Sara’s counseling is infused with the understanding that all people have inherent dignity and worth. As a therapist, Sara integrates counseling approaches that take into account emotion, cognition, behavior, and family history while approaching the client from a curious and supportive posture, seeking to listen intently to the story of your life.

Therapist

Brittany Cardoza, MA

Brittany received her MA in Counseling at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and she is passionate about walking alongside others as they pursue healing and wholeness. She believes that counseling can be a space to explore your story and unique challenges + strengths in order to become more free and at-peace. She sees clients aged 5+ and has experience counseling college students/adolescents, children, and adults, particularly in the areas of anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma, self-esteem challenges, and interpersonal relationships. She is interested in the intersection of life and faith and what this looks like in the realm of mental health. Brittany believes that the counseling process can be uniquely tailored to the needs and individuality of each client, and she would be honored to get to know you and be part of your journey towards wholeness.

Therapist Intern

Susanna Im

Susanna is a second-generation Korean American from Queens, New York. She is completing a Master of Arts in Counseling degree at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and she also holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in neuroscience from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Susanna is passionate about working with people from diverse backgrounds and journeying alongside youth and adults to find meaning and empowerment in their life experiences. She is also interested in the intersection of counseling and neuroscience to tailor empirically supported treatments. She holds a collaborative approach to counseling, seeking to holistically understand individuals and uphold their inherent personhood.

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Billing and Intake Manager

Emily Friend

Emily loves people and wants to be a part of helping people flourish, even in the small ways of helping set our clients up with their clinicians. As a person who has been deeply formed by her own experiences in counseling, Emily is a huge proponent of seeing counseling as an imperative part of caring for ourselves as whole people.

Office Administrator and Data Analyst

Nora Nelson

Nora helps with any administrative needs behind the scenes, working to support this wonderful team so that they can focus on what they do best.