Therapy That Meets You Where You Are—and
Takes You Where You Want to Go

If you’re feeling anxious, stuck in old patterns, or overwhelmed by all the roles you’re juggling, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to keep holding it all together on your own.

At LifeBalance Counseling Coaching and Wellness, we specialize in mental health care that actually fits your life. Whether you're navigating career pressure, shifting relationships, lingering trauma, or new roles like parenthood, we help you reclaim clarity, confidence, and control.

Your Experience Is Unique. So Is Our Care.

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Our multidisciplinary team brings together a diverse set of tools and perspectives—including EMDR, IFS, Integrative Nutrition, and Perinatal Mental Health expertise—to craft care that’s tailored to your identity, your story, and your goals.

You might come to us feeling burned out, emotionally drained, or unsure of who you’re becoming. And together, we’ll help you:

  • Untangle what’s beneath your anxiety or self-doubt

  • Build tools to manage stress and regulate emotions

  • Heal unresolved trauma in a way that feels safe and empowering

  • Redefine your identity with confidence through major life changes

  • Find balance without sacrificing your sense of self

    What Makes LifeBalance Different?

  • Collaborative Expertise: Our team consults across specialties, bringing layered insight and personalized strategies to each client's experience.

  • Inclusive, Identity-Affirming Care: We honor the full complexity of who you are—culturally, emotionally, relationally.

  • Purposeful Matching: You’re paired with a clinician who aligns with your goals and can guide you with compassion and clarity.

  • Whole-Person Wellness: Whether it’s therapy, nutrition, trauma support, or navigating the stress of new roles—your wellness matters here.

If you’re ready to stop just surviving and start living with intention, we’re here—and we’re ready when you are.

This is therapy that works for you.
Let’s build something steady, supported, and healing—together

Meet the Rochester Team

  • Professional headshot of a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, smiling, wearing a black floral blouse and a silver necklace, against a gray background.

    Alyshia Kelleher, LCMHC — Clinical Director (She/Her)

    Grounded Support and Clear Guidance When Life Feels Complicated

    Working with Alyshia is having someone truly in your corner—calm, perceptive, and focused on what really helps. As LifeBalance’s Clinical Director and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Alyshia brings deep compassion and seasoned expertise to therapy, supporting adults who are ready to stop just surviving and start moving forward with clarity.

    Since 2016, she’s helped clients navigate anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma, life transitions, and the emotional toll of stress. Whether you're feeling stuck, disconnected, or just unsure of how to manage what’s piling up, Alyshia listens with purpose and offers practical tools that feel both doable and transformative.

    Her approach is designed to help you quiet the noise, reconnect with your strengths, and find a clearer way through.

    Clients sessions with Alyshia leave you feeling grounded, reassured, and empowered.

  • A smiling man with glasses, short hair, and a blue sweater standing in front of a grey background.

    Brett Payeur, LICSW (He/Him)

    A Grounded, Compassionate Guide Through Life’s Most Tender Moments

    Sitting with Brett feels like finding a new path. His calm, thoughtful presence invites you to breathe, speak freely, and feel truly understood—especially when life feels heavy, messy, or uncertain.

    As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Certified Advanced Grief Therapist, Brett specializes in walking alongside clients during seasons of loss, transition, and emotional overwhelm. He creates a judgment-free space where reflection turns into insight, and self-doubt transforms into self-trust.

    Whether you’re navigating grief that’s hard to name, working through ADHD-related stress, redefining your identity, or rebuilding after burnout—Brett listens deeply and responds with compassion and empathy.

    Clients appreciate how Brett gently helps them reconnect with their inner strengths, gain clarity, and build practical coping skills they can actually use day-to-day.

    Step into a space where you don’t have to explain everything—just begin.

  • Man with short hair wearing a light blue button-up shirt standing outdoors in a park with green trees and sunlight in the background.

    Evan Berg, LICSW (He/Him)

    Your Ally in Clarity, Healing, and Growth

    Sitting with Evan feels like finally exhaling. He brings a calm, grounded presence that helps you feel safe enough to untangle the overwhelm, explore hard truths, and begin moving forward with confidence.

    As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Evan specializes in helping clients reconnect with themselves—quieting self-doubt, creating healthier boundaries, and discovering what balance really looks like in their daily lives.

    Whether you’re meeting with Evan in the Rochester office or through secure online sessions, you’ll find a therapist who listens deeply, adapts to your pace, and offers practical, evidence-based tools to support meaningful change. He works especially well with adults navigating stress, burnout, relationship dynamics, and life transitions.

    Clients often say they leave sessions with Evan feeling clearer, lighter, and more capable—not just surviving their lives, but living them with intention.

  • A young woman with blonde hair smiling outdoors in a park with yellow autumn foliage.

    Kayla Anderson, LCMHC (She/Her)

    *Not accepting clients at this time

    Kayla is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with a passion for supporting adults in navigating life’s challenges. Since 2020, she has helped clients strengthen identity, process grief, manage anxiety and depression, and improve relationships. She takes a holistic approach, incorporating mindfulness, movement, and creative techniques into therapy. Her practice is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and acceptance commitment therapy—empowering clients to build on their strengths. Kayla offers appointments from our Rochester office and through online therapy or telehealth.

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing pearl earrings, a dark top, and a green blazer, against a plain white background.

    Stacy Carpenter, LICSW, MLADC (She/Her)

    When You’re Ready for Honesty, Humor, and Healing

    Sessions with Stacy feel like sitting down with someone who tells it straight—and still holds space for your story with heart. She brings over 20 years of experience and a no-nonsense, compassionate style that helps clients feel both seen and motivated to make meaningful change.

    As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Hampshire and Maine, and a Masters Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Stacy is uniquely equipped to support those navigating recovery, managing substance use concerns, or supporting a loved one through it. She works with individuals and couples who are facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, and relationship challenges—especially when life feels complicated and emotionally heavy.

    She meets you with wit and wisdom, helping you break through resistance, build real-world coping tools, and discover your capacity to shift—even when you feel stuck.

    Clients often say they feel more grounded, more accountable, and surprisingly hopeful after working with Stacy. She’s not just here to listen—she’s here to help you move.

  • A woman with long, light brown hair smiling, wearing a dark green top against a gray background.

    Susan Hamann, LMFT (She/Her)

    A Steady Guide When Emotions Feel Too Big for Words

    When you're holding pain that’s hard to explain—grief in your chest, anxiety behind your eyes, tension in your shoulders—Susan helps you begin where words can’t. Her calm, embodied presence creates a safe space to explore what hurt feels like in the body, especially when shame, trauma, or emotional overwhelm have made it hard to speak.

    With over 15 years of experience in emotional wellness, Susan works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families to unpack anxiety, mood fluctuations, and relationship struggles in a way that feels steady, structured, and supportive.

    She helps you gently reconnect with your body as a source of healing. Whether you're navigating complex emotions or just starting to notice how stress shows up physically, Susan meets you where you are—without judgment, without rush.

    Clients often describe sessions with Susan as grounding, spacious, and transformational. It's not just talk therapy—it’s whole-person care that helps you feel more at home in your skin, more in control of your responses, and more connected to your inner strength.

Meet the Hampstead Team

  • Woman with long brown hair smiling, wearing a black shirt, sitting indoors.

    Alyssa Beecher, LCMHC (She/Her)

    Steady, Thoughtful Support When Emotions Feel Like Too Much

    Being in therapy with Alyssa feels like opening space to breathe, reflect, and be met with deep understanding. She’s not here to judge or rush you—she’s here to help you explore the parts of your story that have felt too overwhelming or tangled to unpack alone.

    As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with certification in EDMR for trauma, Alyssa specializes in helping adults manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional dysregulation. If you often feel flooded by your emotions, stuck in patterns that feel out of control, or unsure of how to move forward—her calm presence and clinical precision make room for real healing.

    Alyssa helps clients find clarity, build resilience, and develop emotional tools that actually work—even in the moments when life feels loud or unstable.

    Clients say sessions with Alyssa feel validating, focused, and empowering. She’s there when you’re ready to heal deeply and learn how to respond to life with strength—not just react to it.

  • Portrait of a woman with long black hair smiling in front of a stone wall.

    Carina Sherman, LICSW (She/Her)

    Compassionate Support When You Need It Most

    Working with Carina feels like stepping into a space where you can finally slow down, exhale, and just be. With over 18 years of experience and a deeply genuine, caring presence, Carina creates a soft landing for teens and adults navigating the hard stuff—like anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and emotional overwhelm.

    She doesn’t rush your story. Instead, Carina meets you where you are—with kindness, curiosity, and the steady belief that healing is possible.

    She gently helps you build resilience, uncover inner strengths, and learn practical ways to cope and feel more grounded—even when life feels messy or unpredictable.

    Clients say being with Carina feels deeply affirming. She’s the kind of therapist who helps you feel safe being vulnerable, seen without judgment, and gently challenged in ways that lead to real growth.

  • A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair smiling, wearing a coral button-up shirt and a necklace, standing in front of a gray background.

    Jody Vourgarakis, LICSW (She/Her)

    Direct, Experienced, and Fully in Your Corner When Life Feels Unbearable

    If you’re in a moment where life feels unrelenting—grief, postpartum depression, infertility, emotional chaos—Jody brings clarity, strength, and a deep well of expertise to help you reclaim stability. Her straightforward approach, informed by over 17 years of experience (including inpatient and emergency mental health settings), cuts through the overwhelm and focuses on what actually works.

    She’s the clinician will help you feel less like you’re drowning and more like you’re driving your own recovery.

    Whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, maternal mental health challenges, or a period of massive transition, Jody helps you:

    Sort through the emotional mess with grounded, practical support

    Heal from losses that never got named or honored

    Restore control and hope, even in high-stress or crisis moments

    Clients say working with Jody feels empowering, clarifying, and refreshingly honest. If you’ve been through the ringer and need someone who knows how to hold space and help you mobilize—it might be time.

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black blazer over a floral-patterned blouse, standing against a dark background.

    Wendy Spalinger, LICSW (She/Her)

    Quiet Strength for Life’s Most Tender Crossroads

    With Wendy, therapy feels like stepping into calm. Her steady presence, quiet compassion, and thoughtful approach create the kind of space where you can finally let down your guard and begin to sort through what’s been weighing you down.

    As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience, Wendy supports children, teens, adults, and families through life’s most complex emotional moments—from grief and trauma to anxiety and change. She honors not just your thoughts and feelings, but your physical and emotional rhythms too, creating care that’s as intuitive as it is effective.

    Clients describe Wendy as a gentle but unwavering guide—especially helpful when everything feels foggy or too much.

    Whether you're quietly struggling with loss, facing transitions, or helping a loved one through theirs—Wendy helps you find clarity, feel grounded, and reconnect with what steadies you.

Meet the Online Therapy Team

  • Portrait of a smiling woman with long blonde hair, wearing a striped shirt, against a plain background.

    Kaleigh Santa Clara, LICSW (She/Her)

    *Not accepting clients at this time

    Gentle Clarity in the Midst of Emotional Storms

    With Kaleigh, therapy feels like settling into a space where you can finally let your guard down. Her quiet strength and nonjudgmental presence create the safety you need to unpack what’s felt heavy for too long—especially when you're unsure where the pain ends and you begin.

    Kaleigh is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Certified Grief Informed Professional who specializes in helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and complex emotional layers that often feel too tangled to manage alone. If life feels foggy, fraught, or fractured—she’s here to walk beside you, offering guidance that’s both compassionate and clinically precise.

    Kaleigh helps you make sense of your internal world, build resilience, and reconnect with the parts of you that feel whole—even if they’ve been buried beneath grief or emotional exhaustion.

    Clients often describe working with Kaleigh as validating, calming, and deeply empowering. She adapts each session to your needs and honors your pace—never pushing, always guiding.

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a maroon top, standing against a beige wall.

    Leslie Henderson-Pasquini, LICSW (She/Her)

    Thoughtful Support with Heart and Insight

    Therapy with Leslie feels like finding a steady, compassionate guide who genuinely sees your worth—even if you’ve had trouble seeing it yourself. She offers more than talk; she offers a space where you can begin to explore, heal, and laugh a little along the way.

    With 15 years of experience, Leslie is a Licensed Social Worker who helps clients build emotional resilience by unpacking old patterns, reconnecting with inner strengths, and creating new ways of being. Her sessions are designed to feel safe, clear, and meaningful—because healing works best when you feel both validated and gently challenged.

    Clients say Leslie is intuitive, calm, and refreshingly honest. She brings clinical precision and genuine warmth.

    Using evidence-based practices, Leslie supports your growth with a whole-person approach that acknowledges how life’s pressures show up physically, emotionally, and relationally.

  • A woman with long brown hair, wearing glasses, a black polka-dot blouse, and pearl earrings, smiling and sitting on a light-colored armchair with a white fluffy cushion in the background.

    Sarah Guth, LICSW (She/Her)

    Steady Support When Life Feels Like Too Much to Sort Alone

    Sarah knows that life gets messy—and that sometimes, the hardest part is figuring out where to begin. With over 18 years of experience supporting children, teens, and families in diverse settings, she brings depth, kindness, and clarity to every online session.

    Sarah works especially well with young adults and middle adulthood clients who are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stuck in executive dysfunction, navigating complex relationships, or simply trying to stay afloat in a world that doesn’t slow down. Her approach is trauma-informed, culturally inclusive, and tailored to help you meet life’s challenges with more confidence and less chaos.

    Sarah helps you build emotional resilience, reconnect with your goals, and move forward with greater clarity—even if you’re still figuring out what that future looks like.

    Clients say working with Sarah feels encouraging, grounding, and refreshingly practical. She meets you where you are—with empathy, strategy, and zero pressure to be anything but real.

Meet the Administrative Team

  • Professional headshot of a smiling woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a dark teal blazer against a neutral gray background.

    Jessica Wain, Client Care Coordinator (She/Her)

    Your First Point of Connection and a Steady Guide Behind the Scenes

    If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to navigate therapy logistics or unsure where to start, Jessica is the person who brings calm, clarity, and heart to it all.

    As LifeBalance’s Client Care Director, Jessica is often the first voice you’ll hear—and one of the most important people working tirelessly to make your experience feel easy, supportive, and aligned with your needs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and brings over a decade of lived and professional experience from residential and inpatient treatment settings. That means she understands what it’s like to face emotional overwhelm and knows how to meet people where they are—with empathy, patience, and warmth.

    Clients often say they feel immediately welcomed by her—never rushed, never judged. Whether you’re reaching out for the first time, exploring your options, or figuring out next steps, Jessica is here to walk you through the process and make sure every detail feels manageable and clear.

    She’s been with LifeBalance since the very beginning, and we truly wouldn’t run as smoothly without her steady leadership. Her role isn’t just administrative—it’s relational, grounding, and absolutely essential to the care we provide.

    Questions about starting therapy or navigating services? Jessica’s got you. She’s your behind-the-scenes advocate, making sure your path into healing feels supported from day one.

  • LifeBalance logo

    Julie Parker, Client Care and Billing Specialist (She/Her)

    Detail-Oriented, Tenacious, and the Quiet Force That Keeps Things Running Smoothly

    When you’re trying to sort out the details of insurance, billing, or benefits, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s where Julie shines. She’s the kind of person who spots the error no one else caught, makes the right phone call at just the right moment, and doesn’t give up until your billing concerns are truly resolved.

    Julie joined LifeBalance in 2023, bringing with her a sharp eye, real-world experience, and an unwavering commitment to client care. Whether it’s managing disputes, navigating denials, or coordinating complex eligibility checks—she digs deep, advocates fiercely, and keeps everything organized behind the scenes.

    She’s not only the expert on the logistical details; she’s also the friendly face greeting clients at our Rochester, NH office a few days a week. Julie ensures the space feels welcoming, tidy, and stocked with everything your visit needs to go smoothly. She’s the glue of our admin team—a calm and capable multitasker who makes sure nothing slips through the cracks.

    Need help getting started, untangling insurance, or just navigating the intake process? Julie’s got your back. She brings warmth, precision, and a whole lot of dedication to everything she touches.

  • A woman with long red hair, glasses, and a green sweater smiling against a gray background.

    Riley Brooks, Client Care and Marketing Support (She/Her)

    A Familiar, Supportive Face from Your Very First Step

    Riley has been part of LifeBalance’s journey since 2021, starting as an undergraduate intern and growing alongside the practice with purpose and heart. Now a Master's-level social worker and full-time community mental health clinician, she continues to show up in meaningful ways for our team—and for you.

    You’ll often find Riley at our Rochester, NH office or connecting by phone as one of the first people welcoming you into care. She helps clients navigate the intake process, answers questions with clarity and kindness, and makes sure your first steps into therapy feel smooth, supported, and low-pressure.

    Clients describe Riley as thoughtful, approachable, and truly helpful—especially when starting therapy feels intimidating or uncertain. Her lived and clinical experience gives her a deep understanding of what it’s like to reach out for help—and she’s here to make that process feel grounded and affirming.

    Whether you’re calling for info or checking in for an appointment, Riley is there—helping make your care feel connected from the start.

A woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing a beige blazer and jewelry, standing on a city street with blurred background of buildings, cars, and trees.

Jessica M. Pinkham, LICSW (She/Her)

Founder, Visionary, and Relentless Advocate for Whole-Person Wellness

Jessica is the founder and owner of LifeBalance Counseling Coaching and Wellness, and the heartbeat behind its mission. With over 23 years of professional experience as a psychotherapist and more than a decade spent building and leading one of New Hampshire’s most integrative and inclusive mental health practices, she’s not just a provider—she’s a culture shaper and community builder.

She specializes in supporting individuals across diverse identities and life experiences, guiding clients through anxiety, depression, burnout, and major life transitions with a person-centered, trauma-informed lens. As a certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, Jessica brings holistic and nutritional assessments into care, deeply honoring the connection between mental, physical, and systemic wellness.

Though not currently accepting new clients, Jessica offers high-level consultations to support those working with other LifeBalance clinicians—ensuring continuity, ethical integrity, and care that actually feels connected.

And her commitment to helping others thrive doesn’t stop there.

Zenova Consulting—Turn Your Practice Vision Into Reality

Jessica recently launched Zenova Consulting, a new venture dedicated to empowering clinicians, wellness providers, and visionaries to create practices rooted in authenticity, sustainability, and real-world results. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, Zenova offers:

  • Strategic guidance to grow aligned businesses

  • Systems support and ethical frameworks

  • Real-world tools rooted in lived experience and success

If you're ready to lead with purpose and build a practice that reflects your values—Zenova is ready to walk with you.

🔗 Learn more about Zenova Consulting by clicking the link below.