Michelle Metzler, LCMHC

Co-Owner, Therapist, supervisor
 

Michelle is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and Religious Studies from Warren Wilson College and her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Vermont. Her background and training is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and she has also completed training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy.

Michelle’s primary area of interest is working with queer clients, particularly at the intersections of queerness, spirituality and religion, and family. Michelle also enjoys working with issues around ADHD, sexuality, and relationship conflict. She is anti-diet, HAES-oriented, sex-positive, kink-positive, and generally aligned towards liberation of all kinds. Michelle works with both individuals and couples.

Check out Michelle’s website at www.michellemetzlerlcmhc.com

Michelle can be reached at 802-489-7235 ex. 4 or michelle@meridiandbt.com.

Kristina Syverson, LCMHC

Co-owner, Therapist, SUPERVISOR
 

Kristina Syverson is a licensed clinical mental health counselor. She earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Vermont in 2017. Kristina has received intensive training in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). DBT is a behavioral treatment that focuses on emotion regulation in order to decrease suffering and increase interpersonal effectiveness, developing healthy relationships, and creating a life experienced as worth living. Kristina specializes in the treatment of complex trauma, severe depression and anxiety, and treating problematic issues stemming from either emotional over or under control that increases suffering in daily life. 

Kristina provides outpatient treatment individually to adults and periodically provides group support by running coping skills groups, to assist community members in learning and mastering skills to successfully navigate the emotions and challenges of daily living. In addition to working with individuals, Kristina provides clinical consultation to various community agencies found throughout the state of Vermont, supporting teams with clients that have challenging presentations that negatively impact the ability of the team and individual to be able to help themselves. Kristina also provides supervision to graduate-level counseling interns, as well as therapists working towards licensure in both clinical and administrative skills. 

As a former athlete and coach, Kristina combines her training and experiences to provide sports psychology consultation, working with local athletes and teams at both the collegiate and high school levels, with the goal of supporting a mentally and physically healthy athlete and sports culture, allowing for growth vs stagnation and burn-out. 

Prior to her psychotherapy training and practice, Kristina was a nationally certified educator, developing programs to increase adolescent success in both academics and quality of life, as well as assisting families in supporting their children by increasing involvement and reinforcing effective communication. She earned her Secondary Education Degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. (1993)

Kristina can be reached at 802-489-7235 ex. 5 or kristina@meridiandbt.com.

Lauren Schnepf, MS

Therapist
 

Lauren Schnepf (they/them) is a counselor practicing under the supervision of Michelle Metzler, LCMHC. They achieved their Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the the University of Vermont in 2022. In 2020, Lauren completed their Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science with a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at the University of Vermont.

Lauren is currently being trained in DBT and works through a feminist therapy lens. They have a background working with homeless and insecurely housed adolescents and adults, as well as a research background studying post-traumatic stress disorder. Lauren identifies as queer and non-binary and is interested in working with LGBTQ+ individuals.

Lauren can be reached at laurenschnepf@hushmail.com or 802-489-7235 ex. 12.

Kayla Gilding, MA

Therapist
 

Kayla (she/her) is a counselor practicing under the supervision of Michelle Metzler, LCMHC.

Kayla is currently being trained in DBT, with a primary interest in working with adolescents and young adults on an individual basis. Areas of interest include depression, anxiety, body image, and identity development through life transitions.

Kayla has a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College where she studied psychology and education. Prior to joining Meridian DBT, Kayla worked as a residential counselor at a mental health crisis program for adolescents.

Kayla can be reached via email at kayla@meridiandbt.com or by phone at (802) 489-7235 ex. 15. She sees clients both virtually and in person at her office in Winooski, VT and is currently holding a waitlist.

Stephanie Dunn, MS

Therapist

Stephanie Dunn (she/her) is a counselor practicing under the supervision of Kristina Syverson, LCMHC.

Stephanie aims to empower clients to reach goals of both acceptance and growth. Stephanie is trained in DBT, and her practice is informed by feminist therapy, mindfulness, and non-violent communication. She has experience working with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, identity development, relationship issues, and trauma.

Stephanie earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree at the University of Vermont in 2023. Stephanie holds a BA from Bard College, and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education.

Stephanie can be reached via phone at (802) 489-7235 ex. 11, via email at stephaniedunnmhc@gmail.com, or online at https://stephaniedunn.clientsecure.me/.

Tessa Neubauer, BA

Therapist

Tessa (she/her) is counselor-in-training under the supervision of Megan Dunston, LCMHC. Tessa is currently a student at the University of Vermont, finishing her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling this year. Tessa completed her undergraduate degree in the Anthropology of Global Health, with a minor in Spanish. Afterwards, she worked at Howard Center, supporting clients with intellectual and physical disabilities. She then worked for Denver Human Services as a child welfare caseworker. She has experience working with families and empowering them to face life’s interpersonal and systemic challenges. 

 Tessa is interested in working with adults experiencing a wide range of life’s obstacles, including experiencing anxiety, depression, family and/or relationship struggles. She has a special interest in incorporating accessible mental health counseling practices tailored towards a neurodiverse population. She has a passion for supporting individuals through body image struggles, with a background in intuitive eating practices. Additionally, Tessa approaches her work using a trauma lens, centering social justice and advocacy in her work with individuals. Overall, Tessa values flexibility, aiming to make all spaces individualized and client centered. Tessa’s primary goal is to provide a safe and empowering space centered on a strong therapeutic relationship, incorporating mindfulness to create a compassionate and understanding space. 

Tessa can be reached at 802-489-7235 ex. 14.

Alexis Pless, BA

Therapist

Alexis Pless (she/her) is counselor-in-training pursuing her master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Vermont.  She is under the supervision of Michelle Metzler, LCMHC. After completing her bachelor's at Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, she went to work with the State of Indiana's Division of Mental Health and Addiction supporting the 1915i Adult Home- and Community-Based Services programs.  

Alexis has a passion for working with queer adults, victims and survivors of sexual violence, and people of color navigating their racial identity development within a socially unjust society.  She recognizes the inherent trauma of living with marginalized gender, racial, ethnic, and religious identities and is interested in working alongside folks as they navigate the experience of marginalization as it impacts their ability to live a fulfilling, satisfying life.  She truly believes that security and life satisfaction begin with the ability to connect and feel integrated into one's community (however they may define it) and that a social justice-oriented practice is integral to this process.  

Alexis can be reached at 802-489-7235 ex. 10.  

Ruth Chavez, BS

Therapist

Ruth Chavez (she/her) is a counselor-in-training under the supervision of Megan Dunston, LCMHC. Ruth is working on getting her master’s degree in counseling at the University of Vermont. Ruth has an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, where she earned her bachelor’s in psychology and Classical studies. After undergrad Ruth worked as a Peer specialist in a community organization which focused on providing pre and post crisis supports for adults who had a myriad of lived experiences with mental health and substance use. 

Ruth is interested in working with individuals in the LGBTQ and POC communities. Ruth is excited to explore with clients the various avenues of healing, working to ensure they are accessible, autonomous, and trauma informed. The journey to attaining wellness looks vastly different from person to person, and Ruth’s hope is to be able to support and empower each client throughout this process. 

Ruth can be reached at 802-489-7235 ex. 17.

Cael Barkman, BA

Therapist

Cael Barkman, B.A. (they/them) is a counselor in training under the supervision of Kristina Syverson LCMHC. Currently, they are working towards their master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UVM. They spent the past 14 years at Howard Center prior to enrolling in graduate studies where they worked with a range of individuals with intellectual and physical Disabilities, and folks with co-occurring disorders. While at Howard Center they facilitated DBT skills groups, LGBTQ+ affinity spaces, and training on Person Centered Thinking and Unconscious Bias.

As an ardent believer in client empowerment, Cael seeks to foster a therapeutic relationship that creates space for vulnerability and growth. They bring a trauma-informed lens to each session, aiming to meet clients where they’re at. Cael specializes in DBT and skill building, employing a few different modalities during the course of therapy, such as internal family systems, somatic work, and feminist theory. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Cael is drawn to working with people who hold marginalized identities and feels strongly about making therapy accessible to those who have historically (and currently) been left out of therapeutic spaces.

Cael can be reached at 802-489-7235 ex. 16.

Hella Douglas, P/MHNP-BC

Psychiatric Provider
 

Hella Douglas, practicing under the business name Dimensions in Psychiatry, is a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who has worked both in private practice and at local facilities including the University of Vermont Medical Center, Thomas Chittenden Health Center and Crossroads Treatment Program. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Vermont.

With more than 16 years of dedication to being a psychiatric provider, she specializes in assessing, diagnosing and treating patients with a wide range of mental health issues by providing individual and compassionate care and a strong knowledge base of psychopharmacology to complement other therapeutic modalities.

Hella can be reached at 802-489-7235 ex. 8.

Amanda Long, MSW

Therapist

Amanda Long, MSW (she/her) received her Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University and currently focuses on providing comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and phone coaching) to adolescents and young adults (13-25) as well as families. Amanda is intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for adolescents and families, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE), and EMDR. Amanda is a pre-licensed clinical social worker and rostered psychotherapist in the state of Vermont under the supervision of Megan Dunston, LCMHC. Her previous experience includes working with children, families, and adults in intensive outpatient, outpatient, hospital, criminal legal, and other systems-involved settings. Amanda practices from a person-centered, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive lens, where the therapist and client collaborate as equal partners in the therapeutic process. Amanda seeks to help clients identify and understand their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, find self-acceptance, and support them to change so they can create a meaningful life for themselves. She specializes in treating depression, anxiety, complex trauma, difficulty coping, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use disorder. Amanda also facilitates DBT skills groups for adolescents and young adults and is a member of an active DBT consultation team.

Amanda sees clients out of her office in Montpelier or via telehealth. Amanda accepts most insurances. For referrals, please contact (802) 489-7235 x 13.