In the warmth of daylight, we grow.

-As featured on NPR-

Meet the team

Our team brings together decades of experience across mental health, education, healthcare, child welfare, and community-based support services. Our counselors bring a rich blend of professional and lived experience that helps clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to grow.

At Daylight Counseling, we believe in nurturing counselors as they grow in their profession. It is one of our greatest passions to teach and mentor. Our master’s-level counselors and interns work closely with experienced licensed supervisors, ensuring clients receive thoughtful, compassionate, and well-supported care. 

Karrah Briley – Owner/Founder, LICSW, PMH-C, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Thermalist Instructor

Karrah founded Daylight Counseling in 2023 following her passion to work with women, for women in creating a space where they can prioritize their needs.

Karrah works with women who are tired of being everything for everyone else—those who feel overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or unsure of where they’ve lost themselves along the way. Whether you’re moving through a life transition, navigating complex relationships, or unpacking old wounds, Karrah will meet you with empathy, gentle accountability and respect for your pace.

Karrah is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW), certified integrative nutrition health coach and Thermalist instructor. Karrah also holds certification in perinatal mental health (PMH-C), specializing in the emotional complexities of pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. Karrah earned a master’s degree in social work from Salem State University. Karrah has over 20 years of experience working with women, children and families. As the practice has grown, Karrah has been able to nurture her love of teaching through supervising and mentoring counselors as well as teaching at Salem State College.

Outside of session I am a wife, mom and proud dog owner. My greatest passion is travel and I am always planning my next adventure. I love spending time in the ocean year-round, but especially in the winter! I believe in deep connections, good food and that dog snuggles can cure most things. 

Contact Karrah – DaylightCounseling@gmail.com

 Julie Benson – LMHC, CCATP-CA, EMDR Trained 

Julie is a licensed mental health counselor with over 20 years of experience supporting clients in schools and the community. Julie is dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with clarity and resilience. Her work centers on fostering emotional and physical wellness, healthy communication, and personal growth.

Julie works with clients utilizing a range of evidence-based therapeutic strategies, including trauma-informed care, stress management, improving self-esteem, and fostering healthy relationships with others. She has a particular interest in supporting first responders and their families through the stress and unique demands of their roles.

Julie earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in school and community from Lesley University. Additionally, Julie holds a CCATP-CA certification, specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and teens.

Outside of sessions, you can find Julie on her Peloto cycling, running, and hiking with her dogs. She also enjoys exploring new recipes in the kitchen and spending time with her husband and two teenage boys.

Contact Julie – JBenson.Daylight@gmail.com

 Bridget Batcheller – LCSW

 

Bridget is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) with experience supporting teens and adults across the lifespan. She earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Simmons University in 2020 and discovered early in her career a passion for helping individuals manage stress and navigate life’s challenges through a holistic lens.

In 2019, Bridget completed her 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training. After experiencing the positive impact of yoga on her own mental health, she became interested in the therapeutic benefits of movement and mindfulness. Today, she thoughtfully weaves these practices into her clinical work and continues to deepen her approach through ongoing mentorship.

Bridget’s therapeutic style is rooted in mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), while maintaining a person-centered and strengths-based perspective. She creates a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel seen and supported.

Whether you’re facing anxiety, depression, life transitions, or everyday stress, Bridget’s goal is to help you better understand your emotions, develop coping strategies, and reconnect with your inner strength and potential.

Outside the therapy room, Bridget enjoys curling up with a good book and her dog, Sierra. She stays active by walking, spending time outdoors, and practicing yoga at home or in a studio.

Contact Bridget at BBatcheller.Daylight@gmail.com

Kelly Francis – M.Ed.

With over 18 years of experience as a school counselor, Kelly brings a deep commitment to supporting the emotional well-being of children, teens, and families. Before entering the school setting, Kelly worked with at-risk youth in an alternative high school program, an experience that shaped her belief in the power of connection, resilience, and respect.

Kelly works best with clients who value honesty and are open to building an authentic, collaborative relationship. Kally’s approach is grounded in empathy, practicality, and a belief that every person deserves to be heard and supported as they navigate life’s challenges. Kelly specializes in helping clients manage anxiety, build self-esteem, and cope with life transitions, whether it’s adolescence, parenting, or finding a new direction.

At the heart of Kelly’s work is this: She is a dedicated listener, a guide for realistic goal setting, and someone who shows up with both professionalism and heart.

Contact Kelly at KFrancis.Daylight@gmail.com

Sandy Manley – LICSW

My goal as a therapist is to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere from which we will work collaboratively to explore your life struggles and conflicts. I strive to be an empathetic, active listener to help you arrive at better self-awareness as you address long term issues or current life stressors.
My background includes working with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and challenging life transitions. I work with adults using a strengths based approach incorporating modalities such as CBT ( Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), Relational Therapy, Mindfulness and Solution-Focused Therapy.
I look forward to meeting you and seeing how therapy may benefit you at this time in your life. Feel free to email or call with any questions.

 

Contact Sandy at SManley.Daylight@gmail.com

 Elizabeth Daly – LICSW  

 

Beth is a clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience supporting adolescents, adults, and older adults through the complexities of life. Beth has a deep respect for the resiliency of women across all stages—from the pressures of adolescence to the demands of caregiving, career shifts, loss, and aging.

Beth’s approach combines warmth, humor, validation, and collaborative problem-solving. She draws from a range of therapeutic modalities including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness practices, allowing treatment to be tailored to each woman’s unique needs and life experience.

Beth specializes in treating anxiety, depression, grief, chronic illness, and substance use, with a particular passion for helping women navigate transitions, reconnect with their inner strength, and prioritize their own well-being. With two decades of experience in a high school setting and additional years working in medical care with the elderly, Beth brings a lifespan perspective that honors the wisdom, complexity, and evolving needs of women at every age.

Contact Beth at EDaly.Daylight@gmail.com

Candace Zale – M.Ed.  

 

Candace is an empathic counselor who works with children, adolescents, and young adults, supporting them as they navigate a wide range of life challenges. She helps clients cope with family changes, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and school- or work-related stress, while also encouraging the development of healthy, balanced lifestyles.

Candace is committed to creating a safe, judgment-free space where clients feel welcomed, understood, and supported in building a strong therapeutic relationship. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solution-focused approaches to help clients meet their personal goals, reframe unhelpful thought patterns, and build resilience.

Her work emphasizes emotional processing, self-awareness, and the integration of both emotional and physical well-being. Candace partners closely with clients to identify personal strengths and develop practical coping strategies that can be applied to everyday life.

Candace’s loves to travel to the white mountains to snowboard, hike and swim with family and friends. She also enjoys going to fitness classes and listening to podcasts with her husband. 
 

Contact Candace at CZale.Daylight@gmail.com

Nicole Longo – LCSW  

Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of experience supporting women, children and families. She earned a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Children and Families from Salem State University. She has worked for several years as a medical social worker in child welfare addressing the well-being and complex medical needs of children through a trauma-informed lens. Nicole is a Massachusetts Certified Early Intervention Specialist and holds a clinical certificate in the treatment of trauma from Simmons University School of Social Work.

Nicole works with women across their lifespan who are experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, parenting stress, and significant life transitions. She brings particular depth and insight to her work with women managing high-conflict relationships, shifting family dynamics, and the emotional demands of caregiving.

Nicole integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Motivational interviewing into her work. Her style is insight-oriented yet practical, helping clients not only understand patterns, but also develop meaningful tools for change. Nicole creates a warm, authentic, and empathic space. She offers compassionate guidance and support, where women can explore their emotions and experiences, gain clarity, and fostera stronger, more grounded sense of self.

 

Contact Nicole at NChaffeeLongo.Daylight@gmail.com

Mya Kermelewicz – MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling

 

Mya is a counselor who is deeply passionate about supporting women as they reconnect with their voice, power, and sense of self. She believes that every woman carries a story worth honoring and a strength that deserves space to shine. Her goal is to create safe, supportive spaces where clients feel empowered to prioritize their healing and cultivate a life that feels meaningful.

Mya works with teens and women navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, and issues related to self-worth and identity. She has a particular passion for supporting survivors of sexual assault and dating violence. Mya draws from feminist, narrative, and cognitive-behavioral approaches as well as integrates mindfulness and creative practices to support emotional processing. 

She values a trauma-informed, collaborative, and relational approach to therapy, where clients can explore their experiences at their own pace. Mya believes many of the struggles women face are rooted not in personal failure, but in the expectations, experiences, and systems that have shaped them, and that healing begins when those narratives are explored and rewritten.

Mya is passionate about advocacy, education, and creating spaces where women feel heard and supported. Outside of the therapy room, Mya enjoys reading, spending time at the beach, crafting, and connecting with friends and family. She also loves quiet moments relaxing with her cat and believes deeply in the importance of slowing down and creating space for joy.

Contact Mya at MKermelewicz.Daylight@gmail.com

Elizabeth Sweeney – MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern

 

Elizabeth is a clinical mental health counseling intern currently pursuing her Master’s degree at Rivier University. With over 10 years of experience in education and a background as a certified Special Education teacher, Elizabeth brings a thoughtful and compassionate approach to supporting adolescents and young adults as they navigate life’s challenges.

Elizabeth has a special interest in working with neurodivergent individuals and understands the unique emotional, behavioral, and educational experiences that can shape a young person’s sense of self. She is passionate about helping clients manage academic stress, build confidence, strengthen relationships, and move through periods of transition with greater self-understanding and resilience.

Elizabeth believes that healing and growth begin with feeling seen, understood, and genuinely connected. Her approach is warm, supportive, and collaborative, creating a space where clients can feel safe to explore their experiences while building practical tools for everyday life.

Outside of her clinical work, Elizabeth enjoys continuing to learn about neurodevelopment, mental health, and holistic approaches to wellness.

Contact Liz at Esweeney.daylight@gmail.com

Emily Hertzberg, Office Manager 

 

Emily is a true master of organization and a people person through and through. She has a history of working in therapeutic settings, where she’s made a real knack for creating a warm, supportive environment. Emily is excited to bring her expertise and collaborative spirit to the team at Daylight Counseling.

Contact Emily at EHertzberg.Daylight@gmail.com