Our Therapists


Terri LearTeresa Lear, PhD, LMFT
Dr. Lear is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Virginia and Delaware. She has a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Somatic Psychology and Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology. Dr. Lear is a graduate of a two-year postgraduate fellowship in Infant-Parent Mental Health at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. She is the Executive Director of the Center for Attachment & Trauma Services, Inc. and is certified in non-profit organization development.

Dr. Lear is a certified Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (“EMDR”) Clinician. She has specialized training in working with parents of children who have been diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder. She is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (“ART”), Brainspotting, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (“DDP” or attachment-focused family therapy), Emotional Freedom Technique (“EFT”), Theraplay, as well a variety of trauma- and attachment-focused interventions. Dr. Lear is also trained in the treatment of perinatal mood disorders, infant massage, and the Newborn Behavioral Observations System.

Dr. Lear conducts attachment/bonding/parental capacity evaluations, trauma assessments, and she has testified as a subject matter expert in over a dozen jurisdictions across the United States. Areas of expertise include attachment, trauma, human lactation, and infant-parent mental health. Dr. Lear works with couples, individuals of all ages, and families with adoptive children or children in foster care. Please contact Dr. Lear via email at terri@familyattachment.org.

Erin DalyErin Daly, LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She received her MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago and earned a post graduate certificate in Infant-Parent Mental Health from UMass Boston. Throughout her career, Erin has worked with individuals of all ages and is particularly passionate about working with children and families. Areas of focus include supporting those affected by trauma, attachment disruption, parent-child relationship struggles, emotional regulation struggles, and anxiety. Erin has been trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), EMDR, sand tray therapy, and different play therapy modalities. An aspect of the therapeutic process Erin enjoys most is witnessing individuals gain confidence in their strengths, abilities, and self-worth. She strives to create an environment in the therapy room that supports this growth. Email Erin at erin@familyattachment.org.

Amy PetersonAmy Peterson, LCSW, is experienced in facilitating individual, group, and family therapy. She has been with CATS since 2011. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Amy uses a playful approach, particularly when working with younger clients. She has a Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Passionate about education through public speaking, Amy has extensive experience presenting to clients and professionals at local and national venues. Additionally, Amy views interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals (the “team” effort) to be imperative for many clients. Amy describes her therapeutic approach as attachment and trauma focused, strengths based, and family systems oriented. She enjoys working with children and their caregivers, individuals, and families. Amy is an optimist and believes everyone possesses the power to discover, develop, and express full potential living. Email Amy at amy@familyattachment.org.

Bethany VanderbiltBethany Vanderbilt, LCSW, PMH-C, is a licensed clinical social worker and Certified EMDR Therapist with the Center for Attachment & Trauma Services. Bethany has an extensive history working with children of all ages and their families, which began during her master’s program at the Smith College School for Social Work. She has taken a particular interest in working with mothers/caregivers and young children, obtaining a Post-Graduate Certificate in Infant-Parent Mental Health from UMASS-Boston, completing Karen Kleiman’s 12-hour Post-Graduate Training Program at the Postpartum Stress Center, and most recently obtaining certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International. Additionally, Bethany is certified in both EMDR and the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method. Bethany believes in the power of connection: connection to one’s own inner sense of self, connection between caregivers and their infants/children to build healthy attachment patterns, connection between couples in the midst of parenting, and the healing connection that can occur through therapy. Email Bethany at bethany@familyattachment.org.

Nina McCormackNina McCormack, LCSW, BCN, has a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University (1994) and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University (2001). Nina draws on a variety of therapy approaches including strength-based, solution focused, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients meet their individual goals. For the past 14 years, Nina has been utilizing biofeedback and neurofeedback. She has experience working with several types of neurofeedback systems to include the LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System), Z- Score, S-Loreta, Amplitude, infra low frequency and HEG (Hemoencephalography) neurofeedback.

Neurofeedback addresses problems with mental health from an entirely different direction – by training our brains to self-regulate. Over time, this training improves brain flexibility and function and helps the brain to reduce negative thinking patterns, stuck behavior, and emotional dysregulation naturally.

Nina also has a broad range of experience providing individual counseling, group therapy and case management services to individuals of all ages in agency, community, and inpatient settings. Nina has counseled clients with depression, anxiety, ADHD/ADD, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse/dependence. Nina also has experience working with individuals with severe mental illness and developmental disabilities.

Nina served in the armed forces for 21 years. She has experience working with military members providing individual and group counseling on issues related to deployment, post-deployment, substance abuse, and PTSD. She has over 25 years’ experience helping clients reach goals, however she believes that after adding neurofeedback into her treatment with clients, dramatic changes started to happen much faster. Nina believes that a multi-dimensional approach to treatment can lead to higher treatment success, allowing a greater reduction in symptoms and improving overall quality of life. Contact Nina at nina@familyattachment.org.

Sarah GulinskiSarah Gulinski, MA, Supervisee in Clinical Social Work, earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Widener University where she focused on trauma-informed clinical practices. She has experience working with a variety of populations of all ages but has a knack for connecting with youth and young adults struggling with ADHD, strained family relationships, trauma, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Sarah also has a passion for helping parents who want to break the patterns of dysfunction caused by generations of trauma in their own family, but feel lost, stuck, and/or discouraged. Sarah’s post graduate training includes 80+ hours of Attachment & Trauma-Focused Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, EMDR, Brains = Behaviors, and Neurofeedback. She is also certified in the Safe and Sound Protocol, and the Focus Program by Unyte + Integrated Listening Systems. Sarah celebrates the inherent goodness of each client and parent, and uses genuine connection, curiosity, mindfulness, storytelling, music, art, humor, and evidence-based “brain hacks” to empower clients and their families to heal, grow and connect. Sarah’s Clinical Supervisor is Bethany Vanderbilt, LCSW. Email Sarah at sarah@familyattachment.org.

Donna BrooksDonna Brooks, Resident in Counseling as a License Professional Counselor (LPC), earned her master’s in Counseling from the Townsend Institute, Concordia University, Irvine California. Donna served in the armed forces and is a veteran, and CATS is proud to have her serve on our staff as well. Donna is a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT). She conducts academic therapy and intervention for children diagnosed with Dyslexia and specified reading disorders. Donna brings a unique skill set and is trained in the Basic DIR/Floortime (Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-based Model.) This method provides an intervention program tailored to the unique challenges and strengths of children with neuro-developmental and neurobiological differences and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Donna is a Certified facilitator using the FASCETS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Consultation Education and Training Services) Program. Donna helps parents understand the day-to-day challenges at home and in school for children who were exposed to drugs and alcohol. She can provide an understanding that is unique to parents to specifically understand their child who may experience cognitive delays, executive functioning, language, memory, adaptive behavior, and affect regulation challenges and provides real-time practices to best support the parent and child. Donna’s passion is to help families with children and young adults affected from the exposure of drugs and alcohol while in utero and have neurobehavioral differences. Donna is a Certified Professional surrounding betrayal trauma for partners of sex addicts from The Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists (APSATS). She helps couples struggling with intimacy and attachment disorders. Donna is on track to receive her certification for Attachment and Neurodevelopment on the Biology of Trauma. Donna is trained in the Family System Trauma (FST) Program. Donna has a passion for helping children and families create loving and lasting bonds while giving the tools to help families succeed. It is only through secure attachments that we can grow and flourish. Donna is certified as a Basic Accelerated Resolution Therapy Practioner and is trained in EMDR and FLASH. Supervisor is Angela Waugh, LPC. You can email Donna at donna@familyattachment.org.