welcome to advance on location at leverett elementery school
85 Montague Rd, Leverett, MA 01054
Amherst Psychotherapy Practice (APP) is proud to partner with Leverett Elementary School to offer exclusive access to psychotherapy services for students, parents and families, and staff. The school welcomes experienced and specialized psychotherapists who will be providing therapy in a private setting on location. Most insurances are accepted.
Since 2019, APP has served the greater Amherst area both for in-person and remote psychotherapy services. Due of the current demand for pediatric mental health treatment in the community, APP and Leverett Elementary School have teamed up to provide services on-site in the school during (and after) the school day. Students (and even staff) can have direct access to therapeutic services without ever leaving the building.
How it Works
Select which therapist you’d like your child to begin seeing (below). Click on the “Book At-School” link and fill out the form to begin the process. Indicate “Leverett Elementary” and the therapist you are requesting.
We will verify your insurance details and your therapist will reach out to you to begin the process (electronically signing consent docs, etc.) as well as discuss your child’s mental health needs.
The therapist will work with school administration and teachers to determine the best time your child should be seen at school as to minimize impacts to classroom/learning time.
Copays (if applicable) will be automatically and securely charged through our electronic healthcare system.
Meet our Therapists
Leah Martinelli, LICSW
Leah has over seven years experience working with adults, adolescents, children and their families in outpatient and school based settings. Her style is approachable, empathetic, and warm. She strives to create a safe space for others to share their stories, increase self awareness, and develop skills to reach their goals.
Prior to pursuing a career in social work, Leah worked in early childhood education where she gained useful knowledge and experience in childhood development and attachment. While she enjoys working with people of all ages, Leah has a particular interest in working with adolescents and young adults.
Leah is psychodynamically trained and incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed interventions in her work. She believes in altering her approach to the individual and meeting people where they are at.
Leah earned her Bachelor's degree at Smith College and Masters of Social Work (MSW) at Smith College School for Social Work.
Chris Watkins, LICSW
Chris takes multi-disciplinary approaches to working collaboratively with others. He incorporates fundamentals and principles from multiple psychodynamic schools of thought and supplements these ideas with skills from DBT, CBT, Control Mastery, and narrative therapy. Chris is determined to recognize each client’s strengths, and works diligently to adapt to every client’s own needs, whether they come from internal or external challenges in their lives.
Chris’ clinical interests include working with individuals across all identities. He has been a resident in the Pioneer Valley for over a decade. He has many years of experience advocating for people with developmental disabilities, and has spent extensive volunteer time at local agencies that support child adoptees. He also has a long history of collaborating with advocacy organizations that focus on gender and sexual identity. It is important for him to exercise cultural humility alongside his advocacy work. Additionally, Chris has had coursework and training on how to provide therapeutic services to assist clients in accessing gender-affirming medical care.
Chris has worked in various settings providing individual therapy for children, adolescents, young adults and their families. He has worked as a therapist in a local elementary school, a Five College University, and an outpatient clinic. Chris has also run multiple therapeutic groups, and he has prior experience working with couples and families in various environments.