Kathleen Nardella LICSW, LCSW-C

It is tremendously rewarding to be able to support families and individuals through some of life’s toughest moments. My journey as a therapist began in midlife, following a career as a practicing attorney and after staying home unexpectedly for a handful of years with my own children.

My interest in the field was sparked by the challenges I faced as a young wife and mother. The initial goal was to somehow integrate my prior legal experience with work in social services. With this in mind, I interned in corrections and community mental health while pursuing my master’s degree. Upon graduating I took a position in the Maryland courts completing child custody evaluations and adoption applications. Even though I encountered some severely distressed couples and families in this role, I found the work integrating and personally fulfilling.

I opened my private practice in Maryland in 2013 when family needs required me to work a more flexible schedule. My clients at this time were usually associated in some manner with the family courts. During the pandemic, I moved my practice to Massachusetts. This unusual time brought the opportunity to work with new moms who, because of the state of the world, often could not access support from their families. As the weeks wore on, I found myself working with the couple dyad as well, trying to help these young families get onto more solid footing. Gradually, I have added couples across the lifespan who present with other challenges to my repertoire.

My education includes a B.A. in English (Writing Emphasis) with Honors from Goucher College, a J.D. from Penn State Dickinson School of Law and an M.S.W. from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. I actively seek opportunities to learn in order to better meet my clients’ needs. Along the way, I have completed specialized trainings with Postpartum Support International (2009, 2019), The Postpartum Stress Center (2023) and the Psychodynamic Couple and Family Institute of New England (2025).