OUR CLINICIANS

Dr. Corcione received her doctoral degree from Palo Alto University.  She began her career as a clinical psychologist in 2003. She has practiced in the Manchester and South Windsor areas for more than a decade.  She provides psychotherapy services to children, adults, families and couples as well as psychological assessment.  

Dr. Corcione received specialized training at the University of Michigan’s Autism and Communications Disorders Center.  There she was taught by the developers of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule which is considered to be the “gold standard” in Autism assessment. She offers specialized services for children with developmental delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder concerns. Dr. Corcione has worked on the State’s provider task force, which is a collaboration between the Department of Developmental Services and the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership/Beacon Behavioral Health, to identify treatment gaps and develop services to meet the needs of children and families affected by Autism.

Dr. Corcione also received specialized training at the University of California’s School of Medicine at San Francisco General Hospital in the renowned Infant Parent Program. There she developed unique skills sets allowing her to provide evidence based early intervention services to children and families.  For many years she was the Director of the Birth to Five Program in Manchester, CT.  She has developed strong working relationships with local pediatricians and the Department of Children and Families.  She has built a reputation for providing quality treatment to children who have experienced trauma, attachment and loss including those involved in the foster care system.  

Dr. Mercado is a licensed clinical psychologist. She has an immense passion for helping individuals navigate challenging roads in their life and has devoted many years to the field of mental health. In the beginning of 2022, Dr. Mercado transitioned her focus to solely conducting comprehensive evaluations. Dr. Mercado has training in multiple theories of psychology, is trauma informed, and culturally sensitive, which assists in developing a comprehensive and well-rounded evaluation that can provide a robust understanding of one's functioning. 

Dr. Mercado has been trained in TF-CBT, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, and MATCH-ADTC. She also has received specialized training in the ADOS-2 and several risk assessment tools. 

Her educational experience expands across the US. She attended the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and received a Bachelors of Arts, with a double major in Child Psychology and Youth Studies, with a minor in Family Social Science. She then moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a Master of Arts degree, in Clinical Psychology w/emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Lastly, she moved east and settled in Hartford, Connecticut where she attended the University of Hartford. She received a second Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology w/emphasis in Child and Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Mercado is a member of the American Psychological Association. 

Dr. Jennifer Espinoza is a licensed clinical psychologist who has a passion for helping children, families, and adults achieve their fullest potential. She has worked with children and adults across a variety of settings including inpatient hospital units, community mental health clinics, private practice settings, and a therapeutic school setting. Dr. Espinoza focuses her practice on psychological assessments and has received specialized training in autism assessment. She is known for taking a warm, compassionate approach with her clients and enjoys helping individuals better understand themselves through psychological assessments. 

Dr. Espinoza attended Mount Holyoke College where she received her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology. She then went on to receive her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hartford. Dr. Espinoza is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Connecticut Psychological Association.  

Jennifer Avery earned her Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Services at Post University.  She is passionate about creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients of all ages can begin their healing journey. She specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions.  Her clinical approach is grounded in evidence based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), play therapy techniques, mindfulness, and strengths-based interventions.  She also utilizes a trauma informed, client-centered approach.  With children and teens, she focuses on helping them express their emotions in healthy ways, improve emotion regulation and strengthen their sense of self and safety.  She supports her adult clients in processing past trauma, navigating current challenges and reconnecting with their values and goals.  She provides parenting support to families of children with emotional and behavioral challenges and parents of children with special needs.  Jennifer strives to meet each client where they are, honoring their individual story while helping them build the tools and resilience needed for growth and healing. Jennifer Avery is supervised by Carla L. Corcione, Ph.D.