Caelyn N. Nordman, M.A., Associate Clinician

At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I earned my Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and Bachelor’s of Arts in English with a focus on Literature as History. This experience was defined by my involvement in a developmental psychology lab which focused on how biological and environmental factors affect brain development and subsequent behaviors. My research investigated how family chaos influenced brain development and emotion regulation in young children. I used fNIRS (a non-invasive neuroimaging technique) to chart these differences (and got to wear a cool cap because of it).

I also conducted independent research on how schools in Western Massachusetts better support children in the foster care system can. This work stretched my investigative experience into the realms of policy, education, and multicultural studies. This work extended into my graduate career, as I joined the Center for Thriving Children at Boston College and focused on developing integrated student support programs in schools across the United States and Ireland.

So…why get a second degree in English? Poetry has remained a genre of comfort and curiosity for me since my introduction to John Keats in high school, specifically his poem “Ode to a Nightingale.” You would expect such a dramatic reflection on mortality and remembrance to be accompanied by a birdsong that lulled you to sleep. That is what was so striking about this poem. If you have ever heard a nightingale sing, you know that it is truly an ugly sound. Many poets grapple with rather miserable topics in their work, yet they still find truth and reflection in the unsavory facets of our lives. Keats’s speaker begins at the lowest of lows, pondering the effects of hemlock and wondering about what it feels like to be embalmed, yet the freedom of the bird and his ugly yet timeless song brings the speaker hope. While his life remains the same from before the song to after, the speaker is left with a new path and mentality- to move forward.

Literary analysis has helped me develop the skill of active listening. This analytical, yet compassionate way of thinking is a cross-disciplinary skill that works your mind to be a more attentive, agile, and empathetic entity. I believe these are the foundations of empathetic counseling. Good poetry, and good counseling, are built on three legs: breakdown of the individual identity, commitment to truth, and finally, transcendence. I admire those who choose to sit down and grapple with the truth. Those who allow criticism and doubt inside their narratives as a route to enlightenment. I am left with profound respect for these courageous individuals, and motivation to integrate this interest into my career through reading and writing activities and interventions.

I earned my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College and completed my clinical internship at a school-based health center, where I deepened my passion for working with youth. At Codman Square Health Center in Randolph, I had the opportunity to work with middle and high schoolers and their families. Working within the school allowed me to become part of the school community and for students to recognize me as a familiar face that they could come to rely on for support. I bring this appreciation with me to Clearview as I engage in collateral work with my clients’ other providers, schools, and families.

Also at Boston College, I completed a graduate assistantship at The Center for Thriving Children in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. Much of my work involved conducting in depth policy research and tracking trends in educational statistics and outcomes. The most rewarding part of this work was the process of translating this research into actionable steps for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. What use is the information if those who really need it do not have easy access? This is a principle I bring into my work at Clearview– as education and resource collecting is the first step towards recovery. See the Our Work page for more information on Integrated Student Support.

I am also actively involved in research focused on improving mental health outcomes for Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY). My work in the Affirm Lab at Boston College keeps me attuned to the most recent developments in psychotherapy and helps me advocate for the rights of youth with stigmatized identities.

Since Fall 2024, I have been the project coordinator for the Gender-Affirming School Practices (GASP) study, which focused on developing and refining a training for school staff on how to better support their transgender and nonbinary students. Despite billions of dollars of cuts to NIH-funded research projects across the United States (my work included), my co-researchers and I remain committed to disseminating our work to ensure that transgender and nonbinary youth receive competent and affirming care. You can find a list of our most recent publications and resources here.

At Clearview, we use evidence-backed modalities to treat psychological conditions. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility when it comes to wellness. I meet my clients where they are and try to incorporate what they know makes them feel better into my treatment plans.

Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) – The pinnacle of OCD treatment! ERP has been shown repeatedly to be an effective treatment for reducing the debilitating nature of OCD. It’s hard to do the opposite of what your internal alarm system is telling you, and that’s why I’ll be there to guide you through this process, one step at a time.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – When we act in accordance with our values, we can begin charting a more fulfilling future for ourselves. That is what ACT teaches us. By focusing on what we want our lives to look like, we deviate from what our OCD, phobia, or anxiety is trying to control us with.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) — What is your story? These modalities are evidence-based treatments for children, adolescents, and adults who have been affected by acute stressors and trauma. They utilize classical CBT tools alongside narrative concepts to process and recover from traumatic and stressful experiences. Everyone, regardless of their age, has a right to their own story. I aim to give back that opportunity to the clients I work with.

Social Connectivity – “It takes a village…” This phrase permeates our current day-to-day so much we’ve lost the intent behind it. Isolation and loneliness are unfortunate realities of life with OCD, as shame and stigma prevent us from seeking comfort from others. How then do we build a village of support? I encourage all my clients to engage in activities that build a web of connections. From support groups to free art classes to simply working one day a week in office in a zoom world– to have a village, one must be a villager. Let’s build your community together, one act of solidarity at a time.

Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFCT) Couples Counseling – Relationships are central to our social, emotional, and physical well-being—yet many couples reach moments where communication breaks down or connection feels out of reach. The Gottman Method, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, is one of the most researched and effective approaches for strengthening communication, rebuilding friendship, and improving relationship satisfaction. I am currently completing my Gottman Level 1 and 2 certifications.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFCT) complements this work by helping couples understand their underlying attachment needs, break negative patterns of conflict, and build a more secure emotional bond. I weave these two evidence-based methods into my work to help couples navigate the hardest days with resilience, celebrate the best days with joy, and find meaning and connection in the everyday moments in between.