New England Counseling and Consulting

Meet Brayden

Pronouns: He/They

Hi, I'm Brayden, a licensed therapist who works with adults (18+) who are navigating big life changes, managing anxiety or depression, or trying to figure out who they really are. I'm especially passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ clients and creating a space where you can explore your authentic self without judgment.

If you're looking for a therapist who's personable, curious, and genuinely interested in your growth—not someone who's going to sit silently and take notes—you've found the right fit.

I'm licensed in CT and have openings on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. I accept Aetna, United Healthcare, Optum, Oxford, Oscar, UMR, and Meritain.

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My Approach to Therapy

What to expect in your first few sessions: Our first meetings are about getting to know you. I'll ask open-ended, curious questions and give you plenty of space to share what matters most. There's no pressure to have everything figured out before you walk in the door. Together, we'll create a treatment plan that's realistic but also pushes you toward growth—something that feels achievable but challenging enough to create real change.

How we'll work together: I believe therapy works best when it's a real partnership. I'll help you set measurable goals, and we'll regularly check in on your progress using screeners that track how you're actually doing (not just how it feels). I also value a systems approach, which means if it makes sense, we can work collaboratively with other providers, family members, or support systems in your life—whatever serves you best.

Between-session work: Therapy isn't just what happens in my office. At the end of each session, I'll leave you with a thought or reflection prompt to sit with. The real change happens when you're out in the world, applying what you're learning. I'll also connect you with community resources that complement the work we're doing together.

What success looks like: My goal is for you to leave each session feeling a little lighter, a little brighter, and motivated to keep moving toward your next milestone. Real success might look like: finally having that difficult conversation you've been avoiding, feeling less anxiety about situations that used to paralyze you, understanding your patterns more clearly so you can make different choices, or feeling more grounded and clear about who you are and what you want.

Click here to read my Q and A and learn more about my professional background and personal experiences that have influenced my practice.

Who I Help

My personal and professional experience has enabled me to specialize in serving adults with a wide variety of needs.

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Adults Navigating Life's Challenges

Life is full of changes, and sometimes we need a little extra support to navigate them. I help adults facing:

Anxiety
Depression
Mood Swings
Relational challenges (peers, coworkers, family, etc)
Major life changes
Complicated family dynamics

Young Adults & College Students

Young adulthood can be tumultuous times. I support students and young adults dealing with:

Academic and/or social stressors
ADHD
Family conflicts
Identity exploration and self-esteem issues
Future planning anxieties
Depression
Peer and romantic relationships

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LGTBQ+ Therapy

Whether you're just beginning to explore your identity or have been out for years, therapy can provide a safe space to process:

Identity or gender exploration
Coming out
Family and cultural dynamics
Internalized stigma
Dating & relationships
Minority stress
Discrimination or traumatic experiences

How I Can Help You

I'm trained in several evidence-based therapy approaches, which means I don't use a one-size-fits-all method. Depending on what brings you to therapy, I might draw from:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — This helps you identify thought patterns that might be holding you back and develop practical strategies to shift them. For example, if you're stuck in a cycle of anxiety that's keeping you from applying for a job you want, CBT gives you concrete tools to challenge those anxious thoughts and move forward.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — This approach is particularly helpful if you struggle with intense emotions or feel like your feelings are all over the place. DBT teaches you specific skills to manage emotional intensity, improve relationships, and feel more in control. Think of it as a toolkit for emotional regulation.

Motivational Interviewing — Sometimes we know what we need to do, but we're stuck or ambivalent about actually doing it. Motivational Interviewing helps you explore your own reasons for change, so you're moving toward your goals because you want to, not because someone else told you to.

Person-Centered Therapy — This is all about creating a space where you feel genuinely heard and understood. I meet you where you are, without judgment, and we work together as partners in your healing.

I tie all of this together with a strengths-based approach, which means I'm not just looking at what's "wrong"—I'm also paying attention to what's working for you, what you're good at, and how those strengths can help you move through your challenges.

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On a personal note:

Outside of the therapy room, I'm a real person with real interests (I promise). I'm an avid loom knitter and love experimenting with tie-dye—there's something satisfying about creating something with your hands. I'm a huge fan of women's college and professional basketball, I enjoy reading and video games, and I love getting creative in the kitchen. I share my life with Petunia, a Maine Coon cat I adopted during graduate school.

I believe in the importance of therapists being humans too—people with hobbies, interests, and lives outside of work. It helps me relate to my clients better, and hopefully it helps you see that I'm not some distant professional in an armchair. I'm someone who gets that life is complicated, therapy is a tool, and growth takes work—but it's worth it.

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What insurance do you take?

Aetna, United Healthcare, Optum, Oxford, Oscar, UMR, and Meritain. You can see a full list of companies I'm in network with here.

What is your educational background?

I hold a bachelor's degree in psychological sciences with a minor in chemistry from Central Connecticut State University, and a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from CCSU as well. Before moving into private practice, I worked in community mental health centers, inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation, and intensive outpatient programs. That experience taught me a lot about resilience, how people change, and what actually helps.

Why did you become a therapist?

It has always been important to me to feel like the work I do has a direct impact on those less fortunate than me. CCSU has always felt like home and their MFT program was attractive to me because of the versatility of the degree. I knew I'd have the opportunity to not only work with individuals but to share space with couples, families, and even groups of individuals facing similar struggles. After finishing my undergraduate work in 2019 I went directly into my master's studies and began developing my skills as a marriage and family therapist.

What other professional experiences have you had?

I'm deeply committed to LGBTQIA+ advocacy and representation in the mental health field. I currently serve as secretary of the national Queer and Trans Advocacy Network within AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) and work on the DEI committee with CTAMFT to help make therapy more accessible and culturally competent.