About | Restorative Health & Wellness

Restorative Health and Wellness is a holistic mental health group practice dedicated to the health and well being of Black and Brown people and people who have historically been marginalized. Restorative Health and Wellness recognizes that the choice to focus on ones health has to do with not any individual faults but the stress society exerts on us all.

If you are experiencing issues or stressors related to work, raising your family, a romantic relationship, intergenerational family conflict, feeling stuck, unhappy or unhealthy we would love to assist you in navigating those circumstances. It is a common misconception that one has to have a significant mental health issue or ‘something wrong’ as an individual to access therapy nothing could be further from the truth one just has to be human as we all experience hardships and difficulties. Therapy offers you an unbiased, safe space to talk out any and all issues you may be experiencing.

Restorative Health and Wellness has clinicians primarily of color that are culturally competent and trained in multiple different therapeutic modalities including Strength based and person centered approaches, Cognitive Based Therapy. Additionally, RHW offers regular and restorative yoga groups/ classes, several groups and, has a reiki practitioner and nutritional counselor.

Shalonda Edwards MSW, LICSW

"I wake up, do yoga, go to the office, light incense, and put on my trap music while I drink my tea."

Shalonda Edwards MSW, LICSW is the Founding Clinician of Restorative Health and Wellness. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker LICSW with 15 years of clinical experience and yoga teacher who ethically integrates holistic and somatic modalities including Breathwork, Mindfulness, and, trauma informed yoga and meditation into her work with clients. As an avid yoga practitioner and teacher Shalonda has recognized the important benefits of facilitating a mind body connection via yoga/ somatic practices.

Shalonda is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and Westfield State University and has 15 years of experience in social work. She is an independently licensed social worker in MA and is also a Certified Holistic Practitioner, a Certified mindfulness Informed practitioner, Certified Trauma Informed practitioner, Level 1 certified Reiki and Energy Healer and also possesses a Mindful Communities Trauma informed Yoga Practitioner Certificate from the Veterans Yoga Project. Shalonda is an E300 hour yoga teacher working towards her EY500 hour certificate, She is the founder of Restorative Health and Wellness a private therapy practice with a Holistic lens that seeks to ethically integrate these practices into our work with clients and to offer them to the community at large.

Shalonda is a lifelong resident of Springfield, MA and has a vested interest in ensuring that communities of color and underserved communities have access to Holistic and Somatic modalities and clinical care that demonstrates cultural humility.

Madeleine Smith MSW, LCSW

"I dream of being a beach bum. I want to have a friend like me when I grow up."

Madeleine Smith is very passionate about mental health and wellness. Madeleine loves to travel and explore different cultures. She has been working in the human services field for over 20 years in many different capacities. She is a fierce advocate for social justice and equality. Madeleine is very strength based and believes in meeting clients where they are and building a successful therapeutic relationship with them in order to better meet their needs. Madeleine obtained her Masters of Social Work from Springfield College in 2007 and has a Bachelors Degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has worked as a Residential Counselor, Crisis Clinician, United Way Specialist, Field Instructor for Westfield State University and Springfield College. For the past 14 years, Madeleine has worked as a social worker with families.

Maria D. Mead, MSW, LICSW

(¡Hablo español!)

"In a world full of choices, each and every day I choose joy."

Let me meet you where you are, and together we will develop goals to get you where you aspire to be.

Breaking down and transcending the stereotypes of seeking mental health treatment for people of diverse backgrounds -- especially in the Latinx community -- is central to my practice. I strive to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for all human beings to process whatever they may be grappling with and help them to achieve their best quality of life.

I was born, raised, and continue to reside in Western, Massachusetts, and it is my goal to serve this community where I have grown, learned, and benefited from the help and example of others. It is by the grace, generosity, and commitment to caring of others that I am in the position to serve my community today as an individual and family therapy practitioner.

I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a master’s degree in clinical social work from Westfield State University, and 20+ years of experience in the social work and mental health field. I am a fluent English and Spanish speaker with extensive experience working with people of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds through Child Welfare, Intensive Foster Care, Substance dependence, Spiritual Counseling, depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, Crisis services, Inpatient Psychiatric Services, Higher Education, Emergency Departments, and Medical Floors in the Hospital.

Together, let’s make therapy a part of your “normal” routine that you participate in to maintain your total overall health. It is crucial that we tend to our minds, bodies, and souls. We can do this together. "Nosotros podemos hacer esto juntos."

Katherine Demaio, LCSW

"In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful."

I am passionate about destigmatizing mental health treatment because I believe true wellness can only be achieved when we take care of our bodies and our minds. Life can be hard and there should never be shame involved in accessing the care needed to find peace, balance, and joy. As a therapist I provide a safe, non-judgmental, collaborative space to facilitate healing and strengthen your ability to cope with and live a more fulfilling life.

The therapeutic approaches I use are individualized to your needs and goals. These approaches include, but aren’t limited to, CBT, Polyvagal Theory, Trauma Informed Care, Mindfulness, and Yoga. I am a 200CYT and have additional training in yoga for emotional health and wellness.

I invite you to reach out if you feel you would like to work together to reach your personal goals of growth and fulfillment.

Asia Higginson, LCSW

"I wake up everyday grateful for another day of life and living. The first thing I do is meditate. I leave yesterday’s worries and mistakes behind because it’s a new day and I get another chance to start over."

As a practitioner, I value holistic healing, and am passionate about working with families, and individuals. I enjoy seeing how the restorative power of healing, in conjunction with evidence-based theories, can have a transformational impact in the lives of peopleI have been privileged to serve. I have worked with families/ individuals struggling with strained family relationships, intergenerational trauma and challenges as well as, individuals dealing with depression, trauma, addictions and anxiety. I have obtained a wealth of knowledge and understanding with trauma, mood disorders, grief work, and women’s issues. I consider myself spiritual, compassionate and eager to help others manage their life in a more holistic manner.

I am experienced with CBT and MBCT. I have been working in the human services field since 2015 in various capacities. I have obtained a Masters of Social Work Degree from Westfield State and have years of experiencing supporting school aged youth, young adults and adults in working on their therapeutic goals. I am now accepting new clients during after school hours, evening hours, nights, and weekend appointments. I look forward to helping you work towards your goals.

Freda Malone, LCSW

"When I open my eyes, I express Gratitude for a new day. If I feel an unsupportive emotion showing up, I recognize that I’m not living in the present moment. I, then, have the power and ability to choose presence."

I am Freda Malone, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving individuals, couples and families in the state of Massachusetts. I consider myself to be a vessel for enacting change by taking a person-centered approach to therapy, reminding human beings that they are in fact self-healers, and I am simply here to help one on their path to enlightenment and navigating through the ebbs and flows of healing.

I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The University of Massachusetts – Amherst. I then went on to further my education and received my Master of Social Work degree from Springfield College in Springfield, MA.

I have 30+ years of experience working within the social work realm, primarily working with at-risk children and families. While on my own path of enlightenment, with a desire to be the change I wish to see, I’ve begun delving deeper into consciousness and the human mind, working with women and couples dealing with various forms of trauma who seek healing and change.

Primary Areas of Focus Include: Anxiety, Anger, Depression, Trauma, Family Issues, Women’s Issues, Work Issues, and Identity.

Primary Treatment Methods Include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

I look forward to connecting with you, in hopes that you too will become the change you wish to see and step back into your power as a self-healer.

Khiya Price, MSW

Hello, my name is Khiya. I am a pre-licensed clinician with an MSW from Westfield State University. While I have worked with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health challenges, I am particularly passionate about helping school age kids, Adolescents, and young adults learn how to develop coping skills to navigate daily life stressors .The majority of my practice focuses on supporting individuals with anxiety,depression, ADHD as well as, strained family dynamics, issues in school or educational environments and self esteem. My approach is strength-based grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns that can lead to problematic behaviors. My clinical work I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to emphasize a client's strengths and build on their existing abilities to resolve challenges. I look forward to working with you to reach your therapeutic goals. I am available to work with clients Tuesday/ Thursday during the day into the evening.

Vanessa Cruz, MSW

(¡Hablo español!)

"Everyday I wake up excited to be alive and chasing my dreams. Life is as beautiful as you make it."

My name is Vanessa and I believe we are all worthy of connecting with support in order to make positive changes in our lives. My therapeutic work utilizes the core strengths of individuals and together we explore emotions, behavioral patterns, thought processes and environmental factors in an effort to overcome and navigate through the challenges you are experiencing. My approach utilizes Brief Solution, Client Centered, Strength based, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy among other modalities.

I am passionate about helping individuals who are struggling with depression, anxiety, anger, and trauma. I am compassionate and nonjudgmental holding space while also utilizing direct, open, and honest communication. I know “The struggle is real”, and don't believe we have to navigate them alone.

I have a Masters degree in Social Work from Springfield College and have eight years of experience providing mental health services in various settings. I look forward to helping you reach your therapeutic goals. I am available for clients in the evenings and weekends.

"Yoga is a journey to the self while unifying the mind, body, and spirit."

Chaitali J. Brahmbhatt - Yoga Instructor

Yoga and Meditation have been a part of Chaitali’s life for the past 16 years. For many years, she practiced at home and learned a lot about mantras and breathwork from her mom. About 6 years ago, she decided to start attending yoga classes at a yoga studio to cope with some personal and medical challenges and it quickly became an important part of their healing. She wanted to learn more about this practice and the mind, body, spirit connection and decided to pursue her yoga teacher training. Chaitali completed her 200 Yoga Teacher Training in December 2019 from Karma Yoga in West Springfield, MA and is registered with Yoga Alliance. She has worked with various students with different skill levels and from different walks of life and embraces modifications during class. In her classes, she leads a style of Hatha Yoga with an emphasis on breathwork or pranayama. She enjoys teaching students about meditation and its benefits, as well as, exploring themed classes with chakras and affirmations. Chaitali is currently working on her 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training and Applied Yoga certificates with My Vinyasa Practice in Austin, TX. She is a part time Yoga Instructor at Breezeways Wellness in Springfield, MA and teaches gentle yoga classes at the Westfield Creative Arts Center in Westfield, MA. Chaitali loves sharing the true meaning of yoga which in Sanskrit “Yuj” meaning “to join” or “to unite”. Chaitali offers a very authentic practice to her students and looks forward to sharing her story and knowledge with you.

Yoga is not about tightening your ass. It’s about getting your head out of it.” – Eric Paskel

Katherine Josey - Yoga Instructor

For me, yoga started as an occasional physical practice, but it became so much more. My time on my mat has taught me lessons of grace, forgiveness, strength, and trust that have improved my life on and off my mat. As a LCSW I am fascinated by the benefits yoga has on the nervous system and mental health. The mind-body-spirit connection is a powerful thing. I am passionate about sharing yoga and it’s healing abilities to everyone, especially populations where access has been limited, because there is a place for EVERYONE in yoga.

Certifications: 200hr RYT, Children’s Yoga, Yoga for Emotional Health and Wellness

Katherine’s teachers include: Annie Q., Alanna Orland, Kate Graham LMHC, C-IAYT

"Those who say sunshine brings happiness, have never danced in the rain"

Alexis Frenette - Yoga Instructor

My name is Alexis and I’m so excited to share my passion with you all. Buti has been a huge part of my life for the past six years. When I discovered Buti, something changed inside of me. I found a part of me that I never knew existed. It awakened self love and self confidence and it healed my body inside and out. Buti allows me to release, to move freely and to build supportive relationships I never imagined were possible. So come join me and let’s shake some stuff out!

Certifications: 200hr Yoga Teacher