Our Team
Learn about the people that run The Bridge
(The Rev.) Scott A. Ciosek
Executive Director
Scott is the Executive Director and founder of The Bridge: A Center for Hope and Healing. He is also an Episcopal Priest and Pastor of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Dartmouth. A native of Somerset, Scott is a 1993 graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and received his Master of Divinity Degree in 2000 from St. John's Seminary in Brighton, MA. In 2013, he received a Certificate of Advanced Theological Study from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. Scott has also served for many years in hospice bereavement and grief support ministry at Beacon Hospice in Plymouth, MA and was an Adjunct Professor at Bristol Community College in Fall River where he taught a humanities course, Coping with Life and Death, as well as Introduction to Philosophy. Scott currently serves on the Opioid Task Force for the City of New Bedford. Scott is passionate about connecting people and creating new, visionary expressions of community. He has a deep interest in liturgy and spirituality as well as providing opportunities for people to discover hope and healing in their lives.
Karen Goddard, LICSW
Psychotherapist
Karen is a graduate of Boston College School of Social Work and comes to The Bridge: A Center for Hope and Healing with over 20 years of experience working with children, families and adults. Karen enjoys working with people across the lifespan. She brings her talent and creative spirit from her sewing studio and weaves it into the therapy. Karen brandishes an eclectic style including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Play Therapy, Family Systems and Couples. Karen has worked in a variety of setting within the Mental Health Field, which includes residential, intensive home-based, school and private practice. She is a life-long learner, and continues to expand her skills, with most recently completing Certification in Thanatology, and Gerontology. She embraces a holistic outlook, including spirituality, essential oils and Reiki. If she is not at The Bridge, you may find her volunteering, gardening, walking the beach, practicing yoga or planning her next quilting project.
Christine M. Homen, LICSW
Psychotherapist
Christine is a New Bedford native, graduate of UMASS Dartmouth, and Boston University, with degrees in Psychology and Masters in Social Work. Her areas of focus include elder studies, women's health; with post graduate work in trauma and attachment theory. Christine offers an interpersonal, individual process, employing cognitive/behavioral/dialectical theory and practice, with focus on growth, healing, and self-empowerment. Music has always been a source of relaxation, joy, and creativity in her life, especially in liturgical settings , with guitar and voice. Christine feels feels doubly blessed to be with the Bridge.
Gina Rezendes, LMHC
Psychotherapist
Gina is a licensed mental health clinician with over 15 years of experience. She received her master's from Boston University in 1995 and completed 1 year of training at MSPP. Gina currently treats a wide range of issues including; relationship issues, depression, anxiety, self-mutilation, eating disorders, trauma, parenting problems, divorce, and life transitions. She uses an integrative approach that includes relational, insight oriented, and behavioral based therapies. Gina is currently pursuing training in Internal Family Systems therapy and is blessed to have a family who continues to teach me about life and love every day.
Michael Ferreira, LICSW
Psychotherapist
Michael is a graduate of Wheelock College School of Social work with 10 years of experience working with children, families, and adults in the mental health field.
He has worked in settings such as high school, community-based support programs, elder services, at-risk young adult programs, and private practice. Currently, Michael’s focus is working primarily with adults and utilizing therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral and Trauma-Focused Therapy. Michael has also a passion for Mindfulness and Spirituality which also informs and strengthens his practice.
When he is not providing therapy at The Bridge, he most likely will be hiking, writing poetry, reading, practicing meditation, or learning guitar.
Carin Comer-Villeneuve, LICSW, BCB Psychotherapist
Carin Comer-Villeneuve received her Master’s in Social Work through Boston University and a Master of Arts in Counseling at Rhode Island College. She is also board certified in Biofeedback. She has specialized in medical social work since 2000. Her experience involved assisting clients that suffer from chronic pain, anxiety and significant life changes in lifestyle due to medical issues, physical injury and pain. Her approach teaches clients how to improve mind-body connection and gain control over unwanted, involuntary physical and emotional responses to stress. She also works with those who want to achieve Optimal Health and Peak Performance such as athletes, students, musicians, etc.
Carin wants to be able to put your health and well-being back in your own hands. Improve your ability to relax, manage stress and bring your body back to balance. She helps to address the “inner chatter” of negative self-talk; she builds increased confidence in clients. Approaches and tools that are incorporated are-if appropriate are: CBT, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness along with self-regulation techniques (breath training, muscle tension awareness & more).
In her spare time she is an assistant martial arts instructor for children and adults. Carin also values spending time with her family and going on adventures with them.
Nicole Wilkinson
Office Manager and Scheduler
Nicole joined our team with an extensive background in customer service. She has a personal knowledge of the mental health field based on her experience as a special needs mother. She brings a compassionate approach to scheduling appointments and works to make every client a priority. Nicole enjoys taking an active role in the community. She is a licensed Zumba instructor and is looking forward to sharing her love of joyful movement at the center in the future.
Michelle L. Letts, EFPM
Financial Administrator
A Southcoast native, Michelle has over 35 years of experience in medical practice management and accounting including human resource, payroll, HIPAA, medical billing , accounts payable, accounts receivable, budgets, projections and business restructuring.