WE’RE HIRING!
Come join our team of 2000+ clinicians
FEATURED ARTICLE
A comprehensive guide to starting therapy
Book my first session
96% of clients feel supported and understood by their therapist
Get expert medication support, tailored to you
Check my copay estimate
Sessions cost $24 on average with insurance
Discover how starting Trauma/PTSD therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
4 therapists available in New Haven
I believe in creating a supportive and collaborative space where people of all ages can feel understood, empowered, and equipped t...
About
I believe in creating a supportive and collaborative space where people of all ages can feel understood, empowered, and equipped to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.
I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with 12 years of experience providing care across outpatient, intensive outpatient, in-home, and telehealth settings. I support children, adolescents, adults, parents, families, and older adults. My background includes crisis work and treating concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, family conflict, autism spectrum differences, grief, addiction, and life transitions.
I earned my master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Southern Connecticut State University. My experience includes community and clinical work supporting individuals with trauma, PTSD, OCD, and conduct disorders. I use cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, play-based, creative, and therapeutic-gaming approaches.
I aim to offer a culturally sensitive, collaborative environment where you feel valued and supported. Together, we will identify your strengths, develop effective coping skills, and explore new perspectives that bring clarity and relief. My goal is to help you move toward meaningful growth and create lasting change in your daily life.
Education and training
View more therapists in New Haven
I have been in the field of mental health for over 40 years, working in a wide array of settings with individuals, couples, famili...
I have been in the field of mental health for over 40 years, working in a wide array of settings with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Clevetta Gilliam, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, brings 40 years of experience supporting individuals through life’s challenges, including relationship struggles, loss, stress, and trauma. She is dedicated to creating a supportive, trusting therapeutic space where clients can explore their concerns and move toward more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Clevetta empowers preteens through seniors to discover resilience and embrace positive change, encouraging growth both personally and within their relationships.
Clevetta earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She integrates psychodynamic and family systems perspectives with cognitive-behavioral strategies, incorporating holistic stress management approaches such as mindfulness, diet, and exercise to help clients build healthier coping skills.
Clevetta is passionate about serving Black, Brown, and Caucasian adolescents, survivors of domestic violence, and those healing from sexual assault. She is committed to advancing research on generational trauma and strives to provide care that fosters empowerment, healing, and hope for every client she serves.
As a professional with a background in treating many different age groups, I understand the complexity of how behavioral health an...
As a professional with a background in treating many different age groups, I understand the complexity of how behavioral health and mental health symptoms co-exist with each other.
Melissa Pagan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. She is passionate about helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families address their unique challenges and live more fulfilled lives. Melissa specializes in depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, anger, behavioral issues, child therapy, family conflict, parenting, self-esteem, relationship issues, and major life transitions.
Melissa completed her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Southern CT State University. Melissa utilizes multiple treatment approaches including mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy (SFT), and much more.
Melissa is confident that she would be able to support you on your unique journey in order to gain new perspectives and techniques that allow you to cope with whatever you may be struggling with. Your journey is not a straight line, If you are ready to understand your journey and to work on it, schedule an appointment with Melissa today.
Ismaila Musah is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who specializes in depression, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, behavioral ...
Ismaila Musah is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who specializes in depression, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, behavioral issues, family issues, anger management, and trauma. He has extensive experience working with children as well as experience working with adolescents, adults, and families in different settings such as outpatient, community setting, and residential.
Ismaila believes in creating an open, safe, and judgment-free environment with clients and is multiculturally competent as well. His therapeutic approach includes cognitive behavioral therapy, family systems, solution-focused, and also an eclectic approach based on the needs of his clients.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
Not ready to book? Contact me
Look for a confirmation email in your inbox shortly. We'll help find you a provider and guide you through everything you should know about starting care at Thriveworks.
No membership fees or subscriptions
Evening and weekend sessions
Award-winning therapy & psychiatry
What support are you seeking?
You acknowledge that by submitting this form, you are providing what may be considered “sensitive data” and consent to Thriveworks Privacy Policy & Terms. By submitting this information, you consent to receive communication from Thriveworks about our services via automatic calls, artificial or pre-recorded messages, or texts at the phone number provided, or by email at the address provided. You have the option to opt out of communications.
We will contact you with availability updates based on the preferences you provided for up to six months.
I prefer to use cognitive processing therapy (CPT), which provides psychoeducation about trauma and how to develop coping mechanisms. This approach helps clients change their thinking about the trauma.
Throughout my years of experience, I have found that when trauma occurs, the brain will not allow any clear recall until the person is ready to process the event. Information about the trauma has to be presented slowly, with attention to the client's emotional state and boundaries.
Clients are making progress when they are no longer mentally going back to the time of the trauma, nor are they avoiding the subject.
When triggered, clients can attempt to change the narrative they are telling themselves in the moment.
In my opinion, the first session of PTSD therapy doesn't require preparation. I focus on meeting the client where they are and providing a safe and comfortable environment to help them discuss trauma.
At Thriveworks, Trauma/PTSD therapy involves dedicated efforts to address and navigate through past and/or recent traumatic events. Therapists specializing in trauma create a secure environment to process and heal from these experiences, aiming to reduce trauma-related symptoms and enhance overall quality of life.
Our Thriveworks providers use Trauma/PTSD therapy treatments like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR, CBT, and exposure therapy with the goal of helping clients process the traumatic events they have experienced so that they can to start feeling safe and secure again.
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can vary but often include:
The best way to overcome PTSD triggers is to seek the assistance of a professional therapist, such as those at Thriveworks, who can help you to understand and treat your PTSD triggers.
In most cases, a therapist who specializes in Trauma/PTSD therapy is the best type of mental health professional to address the symptoms of PTSD.
PTSD/trauma therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
If a client is working through a single traumatic event that occurred as an adult, trauma or PTSD therapy may only take a few months, but in general, it can take a year or more to effectively treat trauma symptoms and PTSD. The duration of treatment is highly dependent on the client and the severity of their symptoms.
The success rate of therapy for PTSD depends entirely on the individual’s symptoms, commitment to attending sessions, and personal abilities.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Shown in ET
Call us to book
Our team is happy to help you schedule your first session.
Book online
Find the right provider for you. Book your session online yourself in just a few easy steps.