ENDURANCE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - Key Persons
Andrea Sawyer, MS, RN, PMNNP-BC is a board-certified family psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She received her Master of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University.
For the past 18 years, Andrea has provided psychopharmacological treatment for children and adolescents with complex psychiatric needs in outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings.
Andrea's goal is to provide comprehensive, compassionate, and quality mental health services to children and adolescents, to determine whether psychiatric medication may be a useful part of one's overall mental health treatment. She utilizes a strength-based, collaborative, and patient/family-centered approach to treatment, while creating a unique treatment plan specific to their needs and emphasizing the importance of combining psychoeducation and pharmacology with psychotherapy.
Outside of work, Andrea loves spending time with her family, friends, and playing with her cute Bichon puppy, Lenny!
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Cerissa is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in treating children, adolescents, and families. Cerissa earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University New England. She completed her predoctoral internship at Casa Pacifica Center for Children and Families, a non-public school, residential treatment program, and emergency shelter in Camarillo, California. Prior to starting Endurance, Cerissa worked as Clinical Coordinator for Direction Behavioral Health's Seacoast IOP.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Licensed Social Worker
Chris is a Licensed Social Worker who has worked with struggling youth since 2001. He served as a residential counselor and Assistant Residential Director at Nashua Children's Home, Southern New Hampshire's largest residential treatment organization, for over eight years. He then worked as Site Coordinator and Counselor for Direction Behavioral Health's Seacoast IOP until opening Endurance.
A former semi-professional football player, Chris enjoys spending time with his four daughters, cooking, and supporting New England sports.
After obtaining bachelor's degrees in Psychology, Health Care Administration, and Nursing, Danielle received her Master's of Science in Nursing from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, Massachusetts and is a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Danielle has served as the Medical Director of both the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Endurance Behavioral Health since these programs first began, maintaining a special interest and expertise in the unique needs of intermediate level of care.
Danielle is dedicated to improving the lives of adolescents and young adults affected by psychiatric illness by providing compassionate, specialized and effective clinical care. Her focus is medication evaluation and management, utilizing the highest quality evidenced-based pharmacotherapy interventions to reduce suffering and improve functioning of young people in the acute phase of illness so they may reclaim what is meaningful to them.
In addition to her job in psychiatry, Danielle has a special fondness for travel, country music and giant dogs, especially her beloved Newfoundland, "Bernard".
Outside of work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife and their two dogs, Luna and Ruby, working on his vintage BMW, and exploring the seacoast area's many trails and beaches.
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Erika is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in working with adolescents and families. Erika's experience includes working with adolescents involved in the child protection system, as well as providing family, group, and individual therapy.
Erika received her master's degree from Smith College School for Social Work, and her bachelor's degree in social work from Wheelock College. She completed her clinical placements at Brattleboro Retreat's adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit and at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she worked with women experiencing high risk pregnancies, pregnancy loss, and NICU care.
Before Endurance, Erika worked at Bay Cove Human Services, as a clinical supervisor in their Adult Community Clinical Services program, supporting adults with serious and persistent mental illness. Prior to that, she worked for Eliot Community Human Services as the clinical director of an adolescent girls' group home.
Outside of work, Erika enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, weekend trips to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, and hanging out with her dog, Bruce Willis.
Jessica wears many hats at Endurance (including updating the website!). She sits in on many intake appointments to take notes and help families complete the required paperwork. She is also your go-to person for questions about your insurance coverage and billing. Prior to scheduling your intake appointment, she will research your insurance benefits to ensure you understand any financial responsibility you may have.
Before joining the team at Endurance, Jessica taught high-school English and had a career in educational publishing. She spends her time away from the office playing with her daughter and enjoying the outdoors.
Jessie is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who specializes in working with adolescents and families. She obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire. Her areas of clinical interest include anxiety disorders, attachment and complex trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, and sensory processing challenges.
Before coming to Endurance, Jessie worked at Amoskeag Health, as a clinician in an integrated primary care/behavioral health program supporting at-risk children and their families. She also worked at Waypoint, as a family therapist in their therapeutic foster care program. She is nationally rostered with Child-Parent Psychotherapy, an evidence-based model used to support children and caregivers that have experienced attachment-related challenges and/or trauma.
Outside of work, Jessie loves to run, be outdoors, hang out with her Australian Labradoodle, Lily, and spend time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Therapist
Kelsey is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in working with adolescents with complex trauma and developmental disorders.
Kelsey received her Master's in Science with a focus in Mental Health Counseling from Salem State University and her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Stonehill College. She completed her clinical placement at The Home for Little Wanderers, where she provided in-home family therapy across the city of Boston.
Before Endurance, Kelsey worked at The Home for Little Wanderers as a school-based outpatient therapist in the cities of Beverly and Somerville, Massachusetts. Here, she worked with high risk youth, ages 6-20 years old, navigating anxiety, depression, and complex trauma. In addition to individual work, Kelsey collaborated with schools and families in order to best support clients at home, in school, and in the community. Kelsey takes pride in taking a client-centered approach, while also leaning in to empathy and humor.
Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and Goldendoodle, Moxie. Kelsey also loves going to the beach on Cape Cod, as well as accumulating fun facts to share at the most random times (ask her about her impromptu audition for American Idol)!
Megan grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, right outside of Washington, DC. She attended Virginia Tech for her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, with a minor in leadership and social change. After several years working as a residential mentor, Megan pursued dual Master's Degrees in Social Work and Kinesiology from the University of New Hampshire. Megan has a strong passion for Adventure Therapy and Experiential Education and is currently pursuing both her Therapeutic Adventure Specialist Certification and her License in Clinical Social work.
Megan has previous professional experience at therapeutic boarding schools, private wilderness therapy inpatient programs, and residential treatment centers. She completed her clinical internship at Elements Traverse, a wilderness therapy company located in Utah. She is passionate about integrating adventure experiences into the therapeutic process and believes whole heartedly in the power of experiential education. Megan incorporates as many hands-on, experiential activities as possible into the therapeutic groups that she runs at Endurance Behavioral Health.
As an avid sports fan, Megan supports the Commanders, the Capitals, the Nationals, and the Hokies. She fills her weekends and vacations with hiking, biking, canoeing, and traveling. Megan recently completed hiking all 48 of the 4000' foot peaks in the New Hampshire White Mountains range.
Melody is a Master's level clinician who is pursuing licensure for Mental Health Counseling. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sustainability and her Master's degree in Counseling from Salem State University. She completed her graduate-level internship at Beth Israel Lahey in Gloucester, Massachusetts, focusing primarily on substance use disorders, trauma, and anxiety.
Before Endurance, Melody worked at Girls Inc. of Lynn, supporting at-risk girls and young women through advocacy, education, and enrichment programs. Melody aims to bring light-heartedness and humor to her work in order to support youth and families in an authentic and genuine way.
Outside of work, Melody loves to create art, cook, garden, spend time with her family and friends, and most of all, spend time rescuing and fostering guinea pigs.
Natalie Fekete, LMHC, PMHNP-BC is currently board certified as a family psychiatric nurse practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She received her Master's of Counseling Psychology at Northeastern University and her Master's of Science in Nursing at Boston College. She has been working in the field of mental health for over 18 years in various treatment environments.
With her training as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Natalie has always taken a whole-person approach to treating patients, understanding that oftentimes there are various contributing factors to the presenting symptomatology. She individualizes patient care to enhance treatment outcomes.
Outside of Endurance, Natalie enjoys being outdoors with her family, boating, fishing, hiking, playing tennis and snowboarding.
Nicole Butterfield, MSW, Therapist Nikki earned her Bachelor's Degree in Communications from San Francisco State University, and her Master's of Social Work from Simmons University in Boston. Her areas of special interest include Autism Spectrum Disorder and trauma. Her goal as a clinician is to foster a safe and healing space for her clients. Nikki completed half of her clinical internship hours at Lighthouse Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, where she provided individual therapy to clients of all ages. She will complete her remaining internship hours at Endurance, with a goal of becoming a licensed social worker. Before joining Endurance, Nikki worked at Future's Behavior Therapy Center in Massachusetts, with clients from ages 3-22 with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She also worked as the infant and child development specialist for CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse), a safe house for domestic violence in California. In addition, she has experience working with children in an Orthodox Jewish community in Las Vegas. Outside of work, Nikki likes to do puzzles, be outdoors, and play with her dachshund puppy, Charlie.
Steph is a registered nurse with a background in psychology, specializing in mental health and wellness.
Steph received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Keene State College and her Nursing degree from St. Joseph's College of Nursing in Syracuse. After working in Med-Surg in a busy Syracuse hospital, Steph moved into the mental health field, first working in private practice and then in Community Mental Health for the City of Manchester. Steph worked for two years supporting adults with serious and persistent mental illness, and is passionate about medication education, building social supports, and harm reduction.
Outside of work , Steph enjoys spending time with her family kayaking, hiking and gardening.