Leigha Kerwin, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
​Staff MMT Clinician
She/Her/Hers

​Email: [email protected]
Phone: (617) 244-2700

Leigha Kerwin, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist | Staff MMT Clinician

Dr. Leigha Kerwin graduated from University of Hartford, in West Hartford, CT, where she received her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Kerwin also received a Master of Arts (MA) from University of Hartford and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Sociology from University of Connecticut.

Training Background
Before joining Copernican, Dr. Kerwin completed a post-doctoral residency at the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs hospital in Bedford, MA, specializing in health psychology and the intersection between physical and mental health. She collaborated with Primary Care providers to improve integration of mental health into medical settings and delivered short-term treatments to Veterans experiencing co-occurring physical and mental health concerns. She worked on interdisciplinary teams in the Pain Clinic and Behavioral Weight Management
clinic, alongside medical, psychiatric, pain medicine, dietetics, and physical therapy providers. In her work at the VA, Dr. Kerwin implemented evidence-based treatments including CBT-Insomnia, Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for
nightmares, CBT-Chronic Pain, ACT-Chronic Pain, and a treatment for co-occurring PTSD and chronic pain. Dr. Kerwin is also trained in biofeedback, a mind-body technique that uses sensors to measure automatic body functions such as heart rate and muscle tension, promoting awareness and control of physiological symptoms of stress.

Prior to her residency, Dr. Kerwin completed her predoctoral internship at Community Services Institute, a community mental health clinic in Springfield, MA. During internship, she provided therapy to adults, children, and families with a diverse range of diagnostic presentations and cultural identities. She received training in play therapy, community-and social justice-oriented outreach therapy, as well as somatic/physiological interventions for anxiety, trauma, stress, and performance. She also completed basic training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a treatment designed for individuals experiencing adverse reactions to traumatic events. Dr. Kerwin is currently receiving ongoing EMDR consultation in pursuit of EMDR certification.

During graduate school, Dr. Kerwin completed predoctoral practica at Eastern
Connecticut State University counseling center, Community Health Center where she provided individual and group therapy to adults, and Polaris Center clinical day school where she completed special education assessments and provided trauma-based therapeutic support and programming to students in grades K-12. Additionally, Dr. Kerwin trained at a State of Connecticut MDE (multi-disciplinary evaluation) clinic, where she conducted brief psychological evaluations for children between the ages of 0-17 who had been removed from care of guardians by Department of Children and Families (DCF). In this role, Dr. Kerwin worked alongside medical providers to facilitate comprehensive evaluations and make appropriate recommendations to DCF for the child’s ongoing care.

Clinical Experience
Dr. Kerwin’s extensive clinical experience has provided her with the ability to treat individuals across the lifespan, ranging from elementary school aged students through adulthood. Dr. Kerwin specializes in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and physical health concerns such as chronic pain, illness, or insomnia, and uses modalities including CBT, DBT, ACT, biofeedback, and EMDR. At Copernican Clinical Services, Dr. Kerwin provides individual and group therapy.

​Approach:

​Modalities:

  • Individual
  • Family
  • Group​
  • Neuropsychological and Psychological Testing

Clinical Expertise:

  • Veterans​
  • Children/Adolescents/Teens
  • Chronic Pain
  • Medical related health concerns
  • Trauma/PTSD
  • ​Depression
  • Anxiety
  • ​ADHD​

​Locations:

Newton:
    44 Thornton Street
     Newton, MA 02458

Lexington - Liberties:
    35 Bedford Street
     Suite #8, Courtyard Entrance
     Lexington, MA 02420

Lexington - Harrington:
​    394 Lowell St, Suite #6,
    Lexington, MA 02420

Insurance Options:

Sliding Fee Scale Available
​
In-Network Insurance:
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield​
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • Optum
    • ​United Health Care
    • Mass General Brigham Health Plans
    • Oxford
    • UMR
​
Out-of-Network Insurance:
  • None