Launch Psychological Associates, 591 North Avenue, Unit 5

11/03/2025

🌟Welcome to Launch, Casey McGoldrick, LCSW 🌟

We’re thrilled to welcome Casey to the Launch team! Her goal is to meet people where they are and create a space where everyone feels safe to be themselves.

Casey is a Certified Child Life Specialist who’s supported children and families through illness, grief, and emotional challenges. After earning her MSW with a Trauma Certificate from Simmons University, she’s continued helping preteens and teens navigate mental health and learning differences — empowering them to find their strengths and thrive.

Her specialties:
• chronic illness,
• grief & loss,
• trauma-informed care,
• family dynamics,
• anxiety,
• depression,
• crisis management
• neurodiverse social-emotional support.

Her approaches: CBT, Narrative, Psychodynamic, Motivational Interviewing & Solution-Focused Therapy.

📞 781-208-0780 | 📧 admin@launchpsych.com
Now accepting new clients!

10/31/2025

🌟 New Blog Post Alert!
Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
In her new blog post, Dr. Julie Ca****la clarifies what OCD really is and explains to us how to overcome this condition.

💡 “OCD can make people feel isolated or ashamed of their thoughts and behaviors — but shame only strengthens the disorder’s grip.”

The blog highlights:
✔What Is OCD?
✔OCD is treatable
✔No shame in seeking help

✨ Read more and discover what OCD really is:

https://launchpsych.com/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/

📞 781-208-0780 📧 admin@launchpsych.com

10/21/2025

🌟 New Blog Post Alert! Helping Children Build Bravery: A Parent’s Guide to Anxiety: In her new blog post, Dr. Ilana Blatt-Eisengart explores how parents can support children who struggle with anxiety—helping them face challenges with confidence instead of avoidance.

💡 “When we help kids avoid safe but scary situations, they may receive an unspoken message: You’re right—you can’t handle this.”

The blog highlights:
✔ Why avoidance makes anxiety stronger
✔ How parents can validate feelings while encouraging bravery
✔ Four practical steps to help kids take small, manageable steps forward

✨ Read more and discover how to support your child in building confidence and resilience: https://launchpsych.com/helping-children-build-bravery-a-parents-guide-to-anxiety/

📞 781-208-0780 📧 admin@launchpsych.com

10/16/2025

🌟 Clinician Spotlight: Emily McDonough, LICSW 🌟
Congratulations to Emily, who recently passed her independent licensure exam and is now a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker! She helps children, teens, and adults navigate life’s challenges with warmth, humor, and a “come as you are” approach. 💚

Specialties:
✔ Anxiety, Panic, PTSD, ADHD, Depression
✔ Self-esteem, Body Image, Binge Eating, Bariatric Counseling
✔ Trauma-Informed Care
✔ Bereavement & Chronic/Complex Medical Issues
✔ LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care
✔ Social Skills for Neurodiverse Youth & Young Adults
✔ First-Gen College Students & Professionals

Approaches: CBT • DBT • ACT • Solution-Focused • Motivational Interviewing • Empowerment

Her Commitment: Emily is dedicated to building genuine relationships with her clients and tailoring therapy to meet each person’s unique needs. She creates a safe, supportive space where meaningful growth can happen.

👉 Learn more at launchpsych.com or call 781-208-0780

10/14/2025

💙 October Awareness at Launch Psychological Associates: October is a powerful month for mental health awareness. Several important national campaigns overlap—and together, they highlight how interconnected our well-being truly is:
•National Depression & Mental Health Screening Month – A reminder that early screening and open conversations can help identify mental health needs before they become overwhelming.
•National Bullying Prevention Month – Bullying impacts self-esteem, relationships, and mental health at every age. Creating safe, supportive spaces for children, teens, and adults helps reduce the long-term effects of bullying.
•Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Abuse: whether emotional, physical, or psychological—takes a deep toll on mental health. Healing begins with safety, support, and access to compassionate care.
•ADHD Awareness – ADHD affects focus, relationships, and daily life, but with understanding, strategies, and support, individuals can thrive. Awareness reduces stigma and builds acceptance.

While each awareness highlights a different challenge, they all remind us that mental health touches every part of life—at home, at school, and in our communities. Awareness, prevention, and support are deeply connected. At Launch, our caring clinicians provide therapy for depression, bullying, trauma, and ADHD. You don’t have to go through it alone.

📞 Call us at 781-208-0780 🌐 Visit launchpsych.com 💚 Schedule an appointment today.

10/10/2025

Whining. Tantrums. Endless nagging. Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever said “no” and watched things spiral, here’s what’s likely happening: intermittent reinforcement. This is one of the strongest patterns in behavioral science. It means that when a behavior sometimes gets rewarded, even by accident, it becomes more persistent.

Picture it:

Your child asks. You say no.
They whine. You hold firm.
They escalate. You give in.
Result? You just became the slot machine. Now they’ll try even harder next time.

This doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means there’s an opportunity to shift the pattern using tools from CBT skills for parents and solid behavior science.

Here’s a two-step fix that’s simple:

Reward asking nicely when you can say yes. This teaches kids which behavior works.

When you do say no, hold the line. You’ll likely see a spike in the behavior at first. That’s called an extinction burst. Stick with it, and you’ll usually see a drop.

This approach works across common family challenges: bedtime battles, mealtime battles, chore routines, and more. The key is consistent boundaries, not punishment. And if you're feeling stuck, it's okay to ask for help.

At Launch Psychological Associates, we help families build positive parenting tools that actually fit real life. If you're ready to reduce outbursts, stop the stop-giving-in cycle, and feel more confident in your responses, we’ve got your back.

We work with families in Wakefield MA, across the Boston North Shore, and all of Massachusetts through telehealth.

📩 DM us for support or practical ideas tailored to your child.
👥 Share with another parent who's navigating tough moments.
💾 Save this for when you need a reminder.

launchpsych.com
📧 admin@launchpsych.com

📞 (781) 208-0780
📍 591 North Ave, Unit 5_1A-A
Wakefield, MA
Telehealth in MA

10/10/2025

🌍💚 World Mental Health Day – October 10th 💚🌍
Today, we join people around the globe in recognizing World Mental Health Day. This day is dedicated to raising awareness, breaking stigma, and mobilizing efforts to make mental health care accessible for everyone.

At Launch, we are committed to supporting our community through compassionate, evidence-based care for children, teens, and adults. While today is a global reminder, our mission continues every day—to ensure no one has to navigate life’s challenges alone. Together, let’s make mental health a priority worldwide—and right here at home.

📞 781-208-0780 🌐 launchpsych.com

09/30/2025

💚 September is National Su***de Prevention Month: As we move into the next month, we want to share an important reminder: every life matters, and no one has to struggle alone. Together, we can spread awareness, hope, and connection.

National Resources:
•988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for immediate support, available 24/7.
•Crisis Text Line – Text HELLO to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
•American Foundation for Su***de Prevention – afsp.org

Local Support:
At Launch Psychological Associates our team of caring clinicians provides therapy for children, teens, and adults. We are committed to walking alongside you through life’s challenges with evidence-based, compassionate care. Reach out to us at 781-208-0780 or visit launchpsych.com to learn more about our services and how we can support you or your loved ones.

✨ You are not alone. Help and hope are always within reach.✨

09/25/2025

🌟 Clinician Spotlight: Alicia McGee, LICSW 🌟 With more than 20 years of experience, Alicia McGee provides authentic, compassionate care for children, teens, and adults. She integrates CBT, mindfulness, motivational interviewing and a strengths-based approach to empower clients, build resilience, and foster lasting change.

Her expertise includes:
✨ Coping strategies for stress, anxiety, & depression
✨ ADHD & Autism support
✨ Teen confidence & healthy relationships
✨ Women’s health, body image, & self-esteem
✨ Trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care

Alicia is also leading Real Talk: A Supportive Group for Teen Girls. This group offers a safe, supportive space for teen girls to build confidence, strengthen social skills, and connect with peers.

Contact us today at: 781-208-0780 | admin@launchpsych.com | launchpsych.com to learn more about Alicia and our groups.

09/18/2025

Push or protect? When your child feels anxious, it can be hard to know what to do. Many parents fall into what we call the rescuing and anxiety trap—stepping in to soothe or avoid the moment altogether. It feels loving in the short term, but it can unintentionally reinforce fear and start an avoidance cycle.

Over time, kids may begin to think:
"This is too big for me."
And with fewer chances to practice, anxiety grows. Life gets smaller.

Instead of rescuing, try a "coach-don’t-rescue" approach. It helps kids stay regulated while still building confidence and independence.

Here’s a simple script to try when anxiety shows up in important moments:
“We see you’re scared. We’re right here with you, and we know you can do this. Let’s take a few deep breaths and try the next small step.”

This kind of exposure basic - staying present while encouraging action - helps calm an anxious child without reinforcing fear. It also builds real-world coping skills for kids that stick.

At Launch Psychological Associates, we use CBT for child anxiety to support families through moments like these. Whether you’re parenting an anxious child, navigating teen anxiety support, or just need new strategies, we’re here to help.

We serve families in Wakefield MA, across the Boston North Shore, and throughout Massachusetts via telehealth. Our goal is to make family mental health support practical and accessible.

Got questions? Not sure where to start?
📩 DM us for guidance or next steps.
💾 Save this post so you’ve got it when you need it.
👥 Share with a parent who’s navigating similar challenges.
✅ Follow Launch Psychological Associates for real strategies that actually work.
Launch Psychological Associates

launchpsych.com
📧 admin@launchpsych.com

📞 (781) 208-0780
📍 591 North Ave, Unit 5_1A-A • Wakefield, MA • Telehealth in MA

09/16/2025

🌟 Exciting News from Launch this Fall! 🌟
We’re thrilled to announce new small groups starting soon, including:
✨ Real Talk: A Supportive Group for Teen Girls
✨ Chronic Illness/Pain Support Group
✨ Whole Brain Moms: Support and Skills Group for Moms of Elementary Aged Kids
These groups are all about connection, encouragement, and support 💙.
📅 Spots are limited—learn more and join us at www.launchpsych.com

09/09/2025

🌟 Launch Lunch Spotlight: Debbie Sharp: Last week, we were honored to have Debbie Sharp join us for Launch Lunch! Debbie is an educator, author, and passionate advocate for children with special needs and those impacted by PANS/PANDAS.

📘 She shared her book, I See You, I Hear You (and I Understand): A Collaborative Guide Through the Special Ed Journey, which helps families navigate the special education process.

💻 Debbie also created Who’s Learning Now, a resource hub for parents that offers free tools and guidance. You can connect with her here:
👉 Website: whoslearningnow.com
👉 Facebook: Who’s Learning Now
👉 Instagram:

💙 Debbie also spoke about her upcoming October 5th walk to raise awareness and funds for PANS/PANDAS—a condition that often first presents with mental health symptoms. She reminded us of the importance of early recognition and referral so families can access the medical care they need.

We are so grateful for Debbie’s time, insight, and dedication to helping children and families thrive!

Launch Psychological Associates

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