Licensed Clinical Social Worker,
Founder & CEO, Connecticut Psychotherapy

Linnea is a seasoned clinician and the visionary behind Connecticut Psychotherapy, where she blends over 12 years of clinical experience with a passion for accessible, high-quality mental health care. A graduate of Smith College and the University of Pennsylvania, and a former Yale University Bioethics Fellow, Linnea’s academic foundation is as rigorous as her clinical practice. Licensed to serve clients across Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Florida, she has built a premier multi-state practice that prioritizes both evidence-based excellence and operational innovation. Whether meeting clients in-person at her Westport flagship office or via comprehensive telehealth infrastructure, Linnea is dedicated to meeting people exactly where they are.

Specializing in Couples Therapy, Adolescent Mental Health, and Perinatal Care, Linnea utilizes a sophisticated toolkit of DBT, CBT, and trauma-informed interventions. She is particularly known for her expertise in helping partners navigate complex conflicts, supporting teens through the nuances of modern anxiety, and providing a compassionate harbor for families facing pregnancy and postpartum challenges. Her commitment to patient care is evidenced by her exceptional patient satisfaction ratings and her practice’s dedication to efficiency—maintaining a standard where clients experience minimal wait times. This reflects her belief that the therapeutic process should be as seamless and professional as it is deeply personal.

Beyond the therapy room, Linnea is deeply committed to social impact, currently serving as the Executive Director of a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young women from underserved communities. In this role, she helps equip the next generation with the vital communication skills and confidence necessary to lead and succeed in traditionally male-dominated professional environments. Her unique perspective as both a healthcare CEO and a community leader allows her to bridge the gap between individual wellness and broader advocacy. By accepting a wide range of insurance plans and offering free initial consultations, Linnea remains dedicated to removing barriers to care and fostering resilience across all the communities she serves.

Licensed Master Social Worker

Charlie Leahey is a warm and personable clinician who believes that healing happens best in a space that feels real and comfortable. Her path to therapy was deeply personal; originally a biology major set on becoming a surgeon, her own "rollercoaster" experiences with mental health—and the impact of a therapist who showed up as a genuine human—inspired her to change course. Today, she blends her clinical training with her authentic self, sometimes even bringing a bit of goofiness into the room to ensure one human is simply helping another human in a grounded, welcoming environment.

Charlie is dedicated to supporting individuals of all ages and backgrounds, holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Sacred Heart University. She has extensive experience working with clients ages 5 and up, addressing concerns such as emotional dysregulation, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. While she utilizes a sophisticated toolkit of DBT, CBT, and Trauma-Informed care, her style often includes art, humor, and games to foster creativity and emotional expression. She has a particular professional interest in helping clients navigate ADA accommodations for service animals and, for those interested, thoughtfully incorporates Christian counseling and faith-based practices into sessions.

Her mission is to help clients realize that their worth and strength go far beyond a diagnosis or the labels placed on them by the world. Outside of the therapy room, Charlie is a "pretty simple person" who values quiet time, reading her Bible, and connecting with friends. She finds balance through the beach, drawing, and spending time with her dogs. Something that might surprise her clients is that she is currently learning sign language and already knows how to sign along to several of her favorite songs.

Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Brian is a direct, calm, and curious psychotherapist who focuses on helping clients recognize their "daily wins" and the inherent power they have to improve their lives. He retired from the Connecticut Army National Guard, where he served as a unit Assistant Resiliency Trainer, providing one-on-one mental health support and facilitating stress management training for over 100 soldiers. As a Veteran, Brian brings this deep well of lived experience to his clinical work, offering a "safe face" that many people can identify with while bridging the gap between individual wellness and resilient leadership.

With a clinical approach grounded in empathy and collaboration, Brian engages adults through evidence-based interventions including CBT processing groups, Solution-Focused therapy, and Trauma-Informed care. His dual licensure as an LMSW and LADC allows him to offer expert guidance for those navigating the intersection of mental health and substance use. Brian believes that true healing is defined by the ability to face the issues that once controlled you and finally take control of them yourself. He focuses on practical solutions for immediate concerns while simultaneously exploring and healing the deeper origins of his clients' challenges.

Outside of his practice, Brian draws strength from a long line of blue-collar roots and maintains his own resilience through restorative hobbies. He is an avid reader and gamer who finds a sense of grounded focus in woodworking. His personal approach to perseverance is best captured by the song "Superman" by Goldfinger, which reflects his commitment to holding onto one's authentic self while doing everything possible to move forward. Whether working individually or facilitating a group, Brian remains dedicated to helping his clients build the strength and resilience necessary for lasting mental health.

Licensed Master Social Worker

Lisa offers a calm, collaborative, and reflective space where clients can explore long-standing patterns at a pace that feels manageable. Driven by a lifelong curiosity about how early relationships and stressors shape adult identity, she helps individuals make sense of their experiences to move toward lasting change. Lisa believes that healing is not about erasing past pain, but rather developing a kinder, more flexible relationship with oneself so that the past no longer defines the present.

Her clinical practice is grounded in evidence-based modalities, including CBT, DBT-informed strategies, and Cognitive Processing Therapy. With specialized training in trauma-informed and attachment-aware perspectives, Lisa is particularly drawn to working with thoughtful, motivated adults who feel "emotionally stuck" due to adverse childhood experiences or unspoken family dynamics. She balances structure with flexibility in every session, ensuring the work remains purposeful while allowing clients to feel genuinely safe and understood.

Outside of the therapy room, Lisa prioritizes a life of balance and restorative simplicity. She finds joy in creative activities that allow her to slow down, such as baking, reading, and spending time with her cats. Whether she is enjoying a quiet morning at home or a moment of reflection, these practices help her stay grounded and present, allowing her to bring a sense of steady intentionality to her work with her clients.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Daniel Hayes strives to be the "anchor on stormy seas" for his clients, providing a calm and grounding presence during life’s most turbulent chapters. His journey into therapy was sparked by his own experience navigating burnout in a career that had become his entire identity. This personal evolution transformed him into a life-loving optimist who believes that "liberation is a personal journey" and that healing is fundamentally about learning to be your own best friend.

With a Master of Social Work from UCONN and a background in healthcare labor organizing and hospice care, Daniel brings a unique, trauma-informed perspective to his clinical work. He is a "Neurospicy" queer person with lived experience in disenfranchised and complicated grief, making him a deeply empathetic advocate for those navigating sexual orientation, gender identity, and family estrangement. His practice integrates CBT, DBT, and Mindfulness to help adults—from young adults to the elderly—manage anxiety, chronic illness, and the complexities of caregiver burnout.

In sessions, Daniel’s style is open and collaborative, focusing on empowering clients to find their inner voice and prioritize their own joy. He believes therapy is most successful when built on a strong therapeutic relationship and a shared commitment to clear goals. Outside of his work, Daniel is an avid traveler and music enthusiast with an extensive record collection who finds balance through quiet mornings, great coffee, and time spent with his family.

Licensed Professional Counselor Associate

Shontay Russ-Phulbas is a calm, uplifting, and deeply caring therapist who strives to create a sanctuary where clients feel genuinely safe and understood. Her journey into the profession was a natural evolution; for years, people instinctively trusted her with their deepest struggles, secrets, and fears. This lifelong role as a trusted confidante led her to realize that providing professional support was her true calling. Shontay operates from the belief that healing involves nurturing the mind, body, and soul to restore total emotional and physical well-being. Guided by the mantra, "This too shall pass," she offers a gentle, judgment-free space where feelings are validated and hope is restored.

With a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology specializing in trauma and a Bachelor’s in Human Services, Shontay brings a rigorous academic background to her clinical work. She works with adolescents, young adults, and adults navigating the complexities of substance use and mental health challenges. Her approach is a sophisticated blend of CBT, Mindfulness-Based techniques, and Trauma-Informed care. Shontay is a firm believer in the power of accountability paired with encouragement, often acting as a mirror for her clients to recognize their own resilience and strengths even when they are struggling to see them.

In sessions, Shontay prioritizes a natural flow, allowing conversations to develop at the client’s pace through listening, validation, and a warm, approachable presence. Outside of her clinical practice, she is a lover of the arts, culture, and travel. She finds her own balance by writing poetry, hiking, and listening to music. A unique side of Shontay is her passion for classic automobiles, and on a typical free day, you might find her staying indoors working on creative DIY projects to reset and recharge.

Licensed Master Social Worker

Joi Yarbrough (pronounced "Joy") brings a warm, empathetic, and straightforward presence to the therapeutic space. She is driven by a deep curiosity about how relationships, life experiences, and the systems we move through shape who we become. To Joi, healing isn't about erasing the past, but rather learning how to carry those experiences differently by building the insight and confidence needed to move forward. She views therapy as a collaborative partnership where the client is the expert on their own life, and she is the guide walking alongside them. Her philosophy is summed up by the reminder: "Don’t let the hard days win."

Joi holds a Master of Social Work from Tulane University and a Bachelor’s from Jacksonville State University. Her unique clinical perspective is informed by over a decade of experience as a State probation officer in Georgia, which gave her an invaluable understanding of accountability and the real-life systemic barriers people face. Today, she works with a wide range of individuals—including teens, adults, couples, and families—navigating trauma, substance use, court involvement, and grief. She draws from a flexible toolkit of DBT, CBT, Solution-Focused, and Person-Centered strategies to ensure each session is tailored to what the client needs in that specific moment.

Personally, Joi’s life is shaped by her role as a mother to neurodivergent and special-needs children, which has deepened her capacity for patience, advocacy, and creative problem-solving. She is a passionate fan of heavy rock music, finding that artists like Korn and Slipknot offer a powerful emotional release for themes of trauma and rebuilding. When she isn't at a concert or traveling out of state for a live show, Joi enjoys reading, volunteering, and the detailed craft of crocheting amigurumi. Her weekends are lively and full of family time, laughter, and tackling new projects with her three children.