Hilary Curtis, PhD, LMHC
LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
Ayer, MA
Online & In-Person
Free initial consultation
About me
In therapy, some of our most difficult thoughts and feelings need a safe and supportive place to be heard. I am committed to creating a therapeutic relationship grounded in trust, respect, and emotional safety—where clients can speak openly, feel understood, and work collaboratively toward meaningful change.
"Healing begins when experiences are taken seriously and met with understanding rather than judgment."
I provide individual, trauma-informed psychotherapy for adolescents age 16+ and adults. Clients who connect well with my approach are often looking for an engaged, practical dialogue that balances exploration and insight with support, validation, and active problem-solving. My style is collaborative, down-to-earth, and informed by cognitive-developmental, trauma-informed, and neurobiologically informed perspectives.
Many of the people I work with are navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use concerns, grief, or major life transitions. Together, we work through reflection, skill-building, and emotional processing while remaining attentive to nervous system regulation and the ways the mind and body adapt to stress and relationships. I believe meaningful therapeutic work can be serious and compassionate while still leaving room for humor, joy, and the quirks that make us human.
In over 30 years of clinical practice, I have worked across inpatient, residential, outpatient, school, and court-based settings throughout Massachusetts. These experiences have shaped how I understand the systems that people often encounter during times of crisis, including mental health care, substance use treatment, medical systems, and legal or community-based services. My goal is to help clients feel less overwhelmed by these systems while keeping the focus on the individual experience at the center of the work.
I earned my BA from Cornell University, my MEd from Harvard University, and my PhD from Boston College. I welcome clients of all gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, races, and cultural backgrounds, and I am committed to ethical, high-quality, trauma-informed care.
License
License(s)
Board certification
Education
Boston College
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Fees and insurance
Cost per session
$130 - $175Accepted payment methods
- Cash
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Credit Card
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Accepted credit cards
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover
Accepted insurance plans
- United Healthcare
- Aetna
- Anthem
- Out of Network
- Medicaid
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Optum
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Tufts Health Care
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- Wellpoint
- Wellsense
- MBHP
- Carelon
Specialties and clinical interests
- Alcohol or Drug Use/Addictions
- Anger Issues
- Anxiety
- Criminal Justice Involvement
- Grief & Loss
- Law Enforcement/First Responders
- Learning Disabilities
- Men's Issues
- Mental Health Professionals
- Relationships
- School Performance
- Self-Esteem
- Sexual Abuse
- Stress/Stress Management
- Substance Use Disorders
- Trauma & PTSD
Therapy types
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Interpersonal Neurobiology
- Mindfulness
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Trauma-Informed Therapy
Community specialties
- Trauma Survivors
Location
Maxant & Curtis Mental Health
190 Groton Road
Suite Suite 230
Ayer, MA 01432 US
Office is ADA Accessible
Licensed to see clients in
Years in practice
Service types
- Therapy / Counseling
Types of clients
- Adolescents (13-17)
- Adults (18+)
- Individuals
Languages
- English
Website and social media