Licensed to practice in Massachusetts and accepts 8 insurances. Specializes in Trauma and PTSD and 6 more.
(he/they)
New to Grow
Hi, I'm Mac. Clients tell me I'm a good listener, have useful skills and suggestions, and am really good at explaining things. I'm a trauma-trained therapist, having studied healing modalities in the Self-help field for 35 years prior to becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in 2012. I am a TIST Certified therapist, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Training levels I and 2, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy therapist level 1. I am transmasculine and practice spirituality outside of a religious context.
This is our first chance to get to know each other. In the first session we will do a standard evaluation, which will give me a basic understanding of you (and fulfil insurance and legal requirements.) You get to ask me questions and address anxieties and concerns about our work. We begin working with Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) in the second session by learning the way TIST thinks about trauma, and begin applying it as you feel ready to dive in.
TIST is the best trauma work I have encountered in my own journey of self and professional discovery. It is based on the Structural Dissociation Model of Trauma, a way of thinking about trauma that is different than you've likely encountered before. It is simple to learn and execute, and it WILL help you make changes and improve your life. In session I bring my best calm, curious, and compassionate Self to help you feel safe and held. Feel free to pause any time you feel uncertain or scared. I will do my best to hold good session boundaries around time and attendance and hope you will do the same. You can learn more about TIST at janinafisher.com.
My ideal client is motivated to heal from trauma, old or new. Your trauma could be complex PTSD from extensive childhood wounding or single incident trauma that has left you with distressing reactivity. Clients may be new to therapy or having had standard therapy and are ready to go deeper. Be aware that I cannot heal your significant other, parents, children, siblings, or friends. But I can help you heal yourself so you can be better with them and maybe they will get interested in healing themselves. I love working with people who are not afraid of change and who want to live more authentically. Regarding substances, some use of alcohol or marijuana is ok, active substance use will have to be evaluated. Behavioral addictions respond well to this work.
Other specialties
I identify as
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) is a trauma-informed parts model created by Janina Fisher, PH.D. We begin to notice our Parts, distressing feelings, behaviors, or maladaptive patterns that are the legacies of trauma, then bring calmness, curiosity, and compassion, our Self, to see and understand our Parts' concerns and strategies. Using a simple, guided Parts Conversation process, we begin to transform our destressing or damaging feelings and behaviors. In TIST, we work backwards from the behaviors, without having to relive the memories or know where the behaviors are coming from. If you are ready to actively participate in your own recovery from trauma, let's work together to help you become the person you want to be.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Understanding and compassionately challenging our thoughts and beliefs can be a powerful transformational process. I often use some CBT work as a compliment to the TIST trauma process.
Mind-body approach
As a compliment to the TIST work or by itself, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can work backwards from physical symptoms and body sensations to bring release, healing, and a greater sense of calm.