About Dr. Vannicelli

I am a licensed psychologist in Cambridge, MA, serving clients throughout the Boston area. For more than 35 years, I have combined clinical practice, teaching, supervision, and writing to help people create meaningful change in their lives. My therapy and counseling practice is grounded in experience and a commitment to helping individuals, couples, and families move forward.

My Approach to Therapy

My style as a therapist is warm, collaborative, and goal-focused. Clients describe me as interactive and practical, offering both understanding and clear strategies. I work with a wide range of people, including executives under stress, parents coping with adult children struggling to launch, adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs), and individuals with alcohol problems and their family members.

Clinical Leadership

For more than four decades I held staff and faculty appointments at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, becoming an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. During my first two decades at McLean, I founded and directed the Substance Abuse Outpatient Clinic, one of the hospital’s earliest specialized programs addressing addiction.

Beyond Boston, I have been invited to share my expertise nationally, serving as a consultant to organizations such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These leadership roles reflect my commitment to advancing best practices in mental health and addiction treatment while also enriching the care I provide to clients here in Cambridge and the Boston area.

Writing, Teaching, and Recognition

In addition to my clinical practice, I have written extensively about psychotherapy and counseling — with more than 70 professional publications and two books published by Guilford Press. I have been invited to give over 200 lectures, presentations, and media appearances across the United States and internationally.

As a teacher and mentor, I have taught and supervised hundreds of clinicians in individual, couples, and group therapy — at McLean Hospital, William James College (formerly the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology), and mental health agencies throughout the Boston area.

My contributions to the field have been recognized with honors such as Who’s Who in American Professional Women and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy.

Personal Perspective

My professional and personal values are deeply intertwined. I am committed to helping people overcome obstacles that limit their potential, and I extend this commitment to political activism supporting human rights and the environment.

Education and Credentials

• Ph.D., Tufts University, Medford, MA
• Clinical Internship: McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
• Licensed Psychologist, Massachusetts (#318)
• Certified Health Care Specialist in Addictive Disorders
• Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association