Jeffrey Lucero, PMHNP-BC
Jeffrey Lucero is the founder and owner of Thoughtful Psychiatry. He is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience providing mental health care. He has extensive experience treating patients with complex presentations including those with trauma, complex trauma, and personality disorders.
Daria Alaverdian, PMHNP-BC
As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Daria provides psychotherapy and medication management for children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of stress-related conditions. As a therapist and prescriber, she believes that each individual enters treatment with a unique set of circumstances and that it is essential to treat the person rather than focusing on symptoms.
Daria completed a fellowship in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at Massachusetts Institute of Psychoanalysis and Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Psychotherapy (EMDR), has completed Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1, and also has received training in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).
Daria is primarily accepting patients for medication management at this time and offers genomic testing. This testing helps specify which medications will be most effective in treating an individual’s mental health condition.
Gretchen Woodward, PMHNP-BC
Gretchen is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing compassionate and comprehensive psychotherapy and medication management for adolescents and adults. Her training in CBT, AEDP, ISTDP and GPM blended with her clinical experience, intuition, and attention to individual needs, allow her to provide personalized care. She treats a range of conditions including ADHD, stress related and mood related disorders. Gretchen currently has openings for medication management for those who are currently receiving therapy.
Krystina Smith-Claros, PMHNP-BC
Krystina is a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a Master of Science in Nursing from Regis College. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston College and worked for over 13 years as a registered nurse (RN) in various settings, including inpatient psychiatry and trauma/SICU environments. This extensive experience has endowed Krystina with knowledge in human anatomy and physiology, as well as the ability to think critically while working efficiently.
Krystina has a particular interest in mood, personality, and traumatic disorders. She believes promoting mental health involves a deeper process than simply treating or labeling a diagnosis; it rather includes considering an individual’s particular circumstances, needs, and goals in the therapy office and beyond. She is looking forward to applying her skills earned in various nursing settings to the environment of psychiatry for the betterment of patients’ minds and lives.
Nicholas Krause, PMHNP-BC
Nicholas (Nick) Krause is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He has been with our practice since March 2024. He began his career with Thoughtful Psychiatry as an intern while completing his nurse practitioner degree and has since stayed on to become one of our full-time nurse practitioners.
Nick is a graduate of Frontier Nursing University’s PMHNP program (2024) and received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from UMass Boston (2015). In his 10 years as a psychiatric nurse and 5 years as a mental health counselor, Nick has developed a diverse skill set across various psychiatric healthcare settings. He has extensive experience treating patients with substance abuse disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, personality disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. He has worked in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and home health.
Nick has dedicated his career to advocating for our most vulnerable populations, including patients suffering from dementia and homelessness. He enjoys working with a variety of disorders and age groups. He practices a holistic and trauma-informed approach to care that emphasizes self-compassion, improving insight, and fostering resilience. Nick is currently accepting new patients for both medication management and therapy.
Neillan Murphy, PMHNP-BC
Neillan is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a Master of Science in Nursing from Duke University. She began her journey with Thoughtful Psychiatry in 2024 as a student intern and now provides comprehensive medication management and psychotherapy to individuals across the lifespan. Her special interests include eating disorders, anxiety, ADHD, personality disorders, and adolescent/teen mental health.
With 10 years of experience in psychiatric nursing, Neillan has cared for individuals facing a wide array of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, personality disorders, trauma-related disorders, OCD, eating disorders, and ADHD. She embraces a person-centered, holistic, and evidence-based approach to care, prioritizing the unique needs and circumstances of each individual. Neillan deeply values the courage it takes to seek support and is committed to creating a therapeutic environment rooted in connection, empathy, and understanding. She is currently accepting new patients for medication management and psychotherapy.
Salman Mirza, PMHNP-BC
Salman is a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). He earned his bachelor’s degrees in Nursing and Psychology, followed by a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He brings a diverse clinical background, having worked with individuals facing mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. These experiences have shaped his ability to conduct thorough assessments, manage diagnostic complexity, and provide thoughtful, evidence-based care.
He is committed to building meaningful, long-term relationships with his patients. He views the therapeutic relationship as the foundation of effective treatment and strives to create a space where patients feel comfortable sharing openly, knowing they will be met with empathy and without judgment. His patient-centered and holistic approach combines medication management with supportive and insight-oriented therapy. He believes treatment should be individualized, focusing not only on symptom relief but also on improving overall functioning, self-understanding, and quality of life, thereby empowering patients to take an active role in their care. Salman is currently accepting patients for medication management and psychotherapy.
Stephanie Lucero, LICSW
Stephanie practices individual psychotherapy and care for adults of all ages. As a therapist, she practices Psychodynamic therapy, CBT and DBT, but she also incorporates mind-body therapies into her practice including MBSR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Stephanie believes in the importance of treating the body as well as the mind. She is also a practicing yoga instructor and has trained as a Pilates instructor and studied Reiki and nutrition.
Brianna Knight, LMHC
Brianna has worked in the mental health field since 2013, and as a mental health counselor since 2016. She is passionate about working with adults with substance use disorders and trauma. She uses a person-centered therapeutic approach and employs Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and other therapies as appropriate.
Brianna received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies Spanish Language and Literature from Wellesley College, and her graduate degree in Professional Counseling from Lesley University. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, playing with her dog, traveling, geocaching, and hiking.