Aleesha Young, LMHC, PsyD

pronouns: she|her|hers

Dr. Aleesha Young joined Collaborative Insight Counseling Associates (CICA) as an independently licensed clinical psychotherapist in July of 2025.

Dr. Young is a licensed mental health practitioner with over ten years of clinical experience, characterized by humility and self-reflection in her approach. She holds two master’s degrees and completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2020, achieving all of this while being a single parent. While her academic achievements are impressive, it is her identity as a cisgender, Black, heterosexual, able-bodied woman that enriches her perspective in her work. Throughout her personal and professional journey, Dr. Young has faced race- and gender-related challenges. Rather than feeling discouraged, these experiences fueled her determination to transform potential obstacles into remarkable opportunities for advocacy and growth—not just for herself, but for others as well. 

She is committed to creating an affirming and supportive space for her clients, recognizing the unique experiences that each individual brings to the therapeutic relationship. She respects her clients as the experts of their own lives and prioritizes a collaborative approach to therapy. Utilizing interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Dr. Young tailors her methods to meet the individual needs of her clients. She often reminds them that taking the journey slowly can lead to profound and lasting change, emphasizing that significant growth takes time.

Her extensive clinical experience encompasses a wide range of diverse populations at various life stages, including children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She has worked with individuals who have had numerous mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Dr. Young has also worked in many clinical settings, including traditional outpatient treatment, individual and group therapy, hospitals, long and short-term residential programs for children and youth, mobile crisis treatment teams, and forensic settings. In these roles, she has embraced various supervisory and leadership positions, showing a commitment to challenging outdated practices that do not meet the needs of clients, particularly those who feel marginalized or other circumstances make it difficult for them to advocate for themselves.

In her commitment to social justice, Dr. Young advocates for equitable access to mental health services, recognizing that achieving this goal requires addressing individual, practitioner, systemic, and resource-based barriers. Her thoughtful approach aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. In 2022, Dr. Young received the Steven O’Walfish Award for developing the groundbreaking “Guide to Providing Culturally Competent Behavioral Health Services Through Telehealth.” Her article, published in the American Psychological Association’s esteemed journal, “Psychological Innovations,” became the most downloaded article of 2023 and is frequently cited, filling a significant gap in the literature. Currently, Dr. Young serves as the President of the Massachusetts Psychological Association for the 2024-2026 term, becoming the first woman of color to hold this position. In this role, she collaborates with key leaders to drive meaningful change and improve service delivery, legislative policies, and practices that impact mental health. Dr. Young emphasizes transparency, open communication, and shared decision-making, striving to achieve collective goals. These values also guide her interactions with clients, promoting self-reflection, personal empowerment, and the necessary skills to navigate complex situations and systems effectively.

Fun Fact: Aleesha is a big fan of the "Law & Order" television series, having named her cat, Jet, after one of her favorite female detectives. She often muses about welcoming a few more characters from the squad, embodying her admiration for strong figures.

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