Institute of Human Solutions

Seeking Solutions Across The Lifespan

IHS is a diverse, multi-disciplinary, behavioral health practice. We are comprised of senior clinicians who emphasize treating the whole person, utilizing a broad spectrum of evidence-based treatment modalities. Each of our clinicians brings to the Institute unique qualifications and competencies. We are currently providing sessions via telehealth to ensure the safety of everyone.

 

CLICK TO READ PROFILES BELOW

Andrew M. Bustamante, Ph.D.

Andrew M. Bustamante, Ph.D., earned his doctoral degree at Adelphi University, New York, in 1999. He has been practicing clinical psychology for over twenty years and has held supervisory positions in various therapeutic settings. He was lead psychologist at a medical health center for many years where he was director of the clinical psychology predoctoral internship and postdoctoral residency programs in affiliation with the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. He also headed the pediatric division of mental health there. His doctoral research showed the effectiveness in significantly reducing conflict in families with spirited youths using parent training groups based on strategic brief therapy principles.

Dr. Bustamante practices psychodynamic, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, and systemic (couple & family) psychotherapies, and advanced EMDR psychotherapy for those experiencing stress, anxiety, and/or trauma. EMDR is a structured and time-limited, brief therapy modality that has shown to provide rapid relief of these symptoms. Dr. Bustamante is fluent in Spanish, culturally competent in providing treatment to Hispanic populations and culturally sensitive to people of color and other minority populations. In 2008, he co-founded the Institute of Human Solutions, LLC, a privately owned group practice, with his partners, to provide collaborative, empirically-based and effective treatment modalities from seasoned clinicians, each who bring specializations and decades of experience to our clients. Dr. Bustamante continues to provide care at the Institute as a full-time provider and managing partner.

Angelique Lauren, LICSW

Angelique Lauren, LICSW, earned her master's degree at The Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City in 1998. Her master's thesis focused on the unconscious bias of providers toward individuals with alternative lifestyles. She has worked for over two decades as a clinical supervisor in various outpatient settings, as well as having worked with women post-mastectomy and amputees.

Ms. Lauren has worked extensively with difficult youths and their families. She was director of mental health and outreach services at an area medical center until becoming a founding member of the Institute in 2008. Ms. Lauren practices psychodynamic, interpersonal, cognitive behavioral and EMDR therapies in her work with adults. She specializes in culturally competent treatment of the LGBTQ population, and has continued her dedication in this area. Ms Lauren is a seasoned practitioner of advanced models of EMDR therapy for those individuals experiencing anxiety, stress and trauma.

Aidza Y Mckenzie, Ph.D.

Aidza Y. Mckenzie, Ph.D, is a bilingual, clinical psychologist. She earned her doctoral degree in 1998 at the Caribbean Center of Advanced Studies in Psychology in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She completed her internship at a mental health clinic in Springfield, MA, working with diverse populations. She has been a senior supervisor for over a decade.

Dr. Mckenzie has vast experience working with children and adolescents with severe behavioral problems, with couples and families, as well as with adults suffering from depression, anxiety and trauma. She practices cognitive behavioral and systemic therapies. She also received intensive training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which provides individual and group therapy for those with interpersonal relational issues, emotional dysregulation and poor stress tolerance.

Annita Sawyer, Ph.D.

Annita Sawyer, PhD is a psychologist licensed in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. She earned her BA and PhD at Yale. Dr. Sawyer has been in practice since 1981, primarily in the New Haven, CT area. She joined IHS in 2018, when she moved to Northampton.

Dr. Sawyer has been a member of the clinical faculty at Yale Medical School and for fifteen years supervised Yale pre-doctoral Fellows in Individual and Family Therapy. In 2008 she received a Distinguished Faculty Award for her supervision. She has worked with children, adults, individuals, couples, and families, integrating psychodynamic, interpersonal, trauma informed perspectives in the service of healing and long term change.

Mark Lange, MEd., LMHC, LMFT

is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, with a Masters degree from Springfield College. He has worked as a psychotherapist for 20 years, serving individuals and couples, and developed groups for anger management, stress management, and recovery from addictions. Mr. Lange is an adjunct faculty member of Western New England University and has provided extensive supervision and training of psychotherapists over the last decade. He practices a mindfulness-based, collaborative form of therapy, which seeks to empower individuals and couples to access their best selves and to live authentically.

• Individual Therapy

Individual Therapy

Psychotherapy--Clients work with their psychotherapist to identify and remove obstacles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. The process of therapy may involve either resolving internal conflicts, developing skills to master challenges, learning to manage intense emotions and improving quality of relationships. There are many models of psychotherapy (click on other modalities for more information).

• Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy

Couples and Family Therapy recognizes couples and families as individuals comprising an organized, social system. The family therapist conceptualizes presenting symptoms and problem behaviors in an "identified patient," as reflecting a problem with the system, or social organization that needs to be corrected or modified. The family therapist assesses the rules, relationships, communication style and problematic interactions underlying the presenting complaint. The family therapist collaborates with the couple or family to reorganize the family structure so that it can effectively meet the developmental needs of its members. This allows the family to adapt to current developmental challenges or stressors. Through healthy family relating, children can self-differentiate, develop a healthy identity, and gradually separate from their nuclear family to explore the world with a sense of security and self-assuredness. Couples learn to meet one another's needs and relate to each other in a healthier manner, which creates a strong foundation for family and other relationships.

• Family Therapy

Family Therapy

Couples and Family Therapy—Recognizes couples and families as individuals comprising an organized, social system. The family therapist conceptualizes presenting symptoms and problem behaviors in an "identified patient," as reflecting a problem with the system, or social organization that needs to be corrected or modified. The family therapist assesses the rules, relationships, communication style and problematic interactions underlying the presenting complaint. The family therapist collaborates with the couple or family to reorganize the family structure so that it can effectively meet the developmental needs of its members. This allows the family to adapt to current developmental challenges or stressors. Through healthy family relating, children can self-differentiate, develop a healthy identity, and gradually separate from their nuclear family to explore the world with a sense of security and self-assuredness. Couples learn to meet one another's needs and relate to each other in a healthier manner, which creates a strong foundation for family and other relationships.

• Play Therapy

Play Therapy

Play is the healing agent for children and adolescents. It is used to establish trust and develop a meaningful relationship with youths. Play is the medium through which children resolve internal conflicts, trauma and fears, learn social skills and a sense of mastery over developmental challenges. Children easily and effortlessly project parts of themselves onto stuffed animals or other objects and allow their imaginations to run free. The therapist harnesses and mobilizes the child's internal potential and resources towards healing. Play can be combined with other therapies (EMDR, family, social skills based therapy), or used as a reward for dialogue as well.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

A structured approach that focuses on the interplay of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are underlying the individual's presenting complaints. Clients and therapists work collaboratively to identify and modify negative thoughts and beliefs affecting feelings and behaviors. CBT is goal-oriented with an emphasis on current issues and the development of coping skills to manage symptoms and life stressors. CBT has a wide range of applicability, which includes anxiety, mood disorders, anger management and substance abuse.

• Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

A psychotherapy modality that focuses on developing insight into the unconscious dynamics that affect emotional and interpersonal functioning. Clients develop insight into unconscious conflicts, motives and fears that underlie presenting symptoms or relational problems. They explore unconscious or automatically employed defenses that have served to protect them in the past, but now interfere with functioning and well-being. Focus may be on individual or interpersonal dynamics, or both. The therapeutic relationship is emphasized more than other therapy modalities and the emphasis is on providing the client with a corrective emotional experience. The goal is for clients to develop a sense of security and healthier relationships, as a function of the changes that result from gaining insight and working through past emotional injuries and experiences.

• Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

A structured therapy that focuses on clients' interpersonal functioning. A basic tenet is that relationships play a key role in the development, maintenance and/or exacerbation of psychological symptoms. IPT focuses on building interpersonal skills in four areas: grief and loss; conflict resolution; adaptation to changing roles; and problems stemming from social isolation. It is commonly distinguished from other forms of individual therapies in its emphasis on interpersonal processes, rather than intra-psychic ones. This modality has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of depression for youths and adults.

• EMDR (anxiety, stress & trauma therapy)

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

A psychotherapy model developed by Francine Shapiro, a psychologist researcher, designed to treat trauma, anxiety disorders and stress. EMDR is considered by some to be an integration of CBT and psychodynamic therapies with additional elements that are unique to this modality. I.H.S. providers have undergone advanced training in EMDR for children and adults with complex trauma histories. This modality facilitates the assimilation and resolution of distressing memories that underlie post traumatic symptoms and behaviors to achieve emotional stability and adaptive functioning. Additional applications for EMDR include phobias, depression, anticipatory fears, life stressors and challenges, performance anxiety and maximizing performance potential.

• Group Therapy

Group Therapy

A modality that harnesses the group as a powerful healing agent. The group provides a sense of belonging, cohesiveness, and mutual support. The group, like a family, is a social system that offers opportunities for healing that may be captured in live, real time social interactions. Group members provide one another with support, feedback, understanding, healthy adversity, validation, and camaraderie. Groups may focus on themes that are common among its members to maximize support and minimize loneliness and isolation. These may include groups for individuals coping with family members who have severe mental illness, those with mood and anxiety disorders, cancer survivors, bereavement, social skills, emotional dysregulation, medical illness, writer's block, trauma, and so forth.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—Is a broad-based cognitive behavioral model developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to treat clients presenting significant problems in many different areas of functioning. These areas include behavioral, cognitive and interpersonal problems as well difficulties with self and emotional dysregulation. This model of treatment has been used across settings and diagnoses with significant results in improving overall functioning. Clients develop skills to reduce behaviors that are causing distress and improve interpersonal functioning. They also learn to increase their awareness and acceptance of the present moment, tolerate stress and regulate their emotions while making the necessary changes to improve their quality of life. DBT can be administered in a group or individual format (i.e., clients can work with their provider alone for more personal and individually tailored guidance).

• Parent Training Groups

Parent Training

For parents of spirited youth (children and adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Disorders -- ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder). Strategies used are based on family therapy principles and meeting developmental needs, in contrast to traditional behavioral modification. Parents learn hands-on strategies to manage episodes of defiance, tantrums, verbal insults, dawdling, academic failure and delinquency. They learn to advocate for their children and adolescents at school and to approach and work with teachers to address behaviors and academic problems in the classroom. Parents, when indicated, are guided through legal and social services systems to manage delinquency (drug use, truancy, theft, etc). The group setting provides support and reinforcement for developing and implementing strategies, as well as cost effectiveness. Parent training can be administered in a group or individual format (i.e., parents can work with their provider alone for more personal and individually tailored guidance).

• Telehealth Sessions

Telehealth Sessions

The Institute provides telehealth sessions as an alternative to in-person visits for those who are concerned about health issues or may not otherwise have the ability to meet in person. We provide a HIPAA-compliant platform to ensure privacy.

• School and Agency Consultations

School and Agency Consultations

School, Agency and Workplace Consultations—The Institute consults to schools, mental health agencies and work settings. We use a collaborative, solution-focused approach which involves incorporating the input of collaborating individuals involved in identifying the problem, generating strategies and assessing their effectiveness. Solutions may be strategies or interventions that target school or workplace bullying, behavioral problems in the classroom, cultural sensitivity, sexual harassment, managerial effectiveness, workplace morale and motivation, or employee compliance with policies.

• Psychological Assessments

Psychological Assessments

A diagnostic evaluation involves a thorough assessment of presenting problems and an in-depth history, which may be supplemented by psychological testing. Psychological testing may be used to clarify complex diagnostic concerns. It may also be used for personality assessments and identifying learning or attentional problems impacting behavior and learning. The result of psychological testing is a report with diagnostic clarity and recommendations for treatment interventions.