About Us

Jessica Kantatan, Senior Reginal Director

With 15 years of behavioral healthcare and nonprofit management experience, Jessica Kantatan joined Averte in May 2022 as the Senior Regional Director. She oversees all New England-based business operations and strategic growth.

Jessica received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Western Michigan University and holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Rollins College. She did post-graduate work in Behavior Analysis and Therapy at Southern Illinois University before starting her career as a Behavior Analyst at Cornerstone Services in Joliet, IL, working with individuals in residential and day treatment settings to establish more effective responses to challenging situations. Although she enjoyed this work, she saw an opportunity to affect even greater change at the administrative level. Since that time, she’s made it her mission to create systems of care that support integrated clinical and residential treatment, first at Meridian Services in Minneapolis, MN, then at Lakewood Center in Fern Park, FL.

Jessica is a passionate mental health advocate and was honored to serve as President of the Board of Directors for NAMI Greater Orlando. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the American Residential Treatment Association.

When she is not working, you can find Jessica enjoying time with her family and dogs, exploring the great outdoors, and/or listening to Taylor Swift. Jessica is an avid runner, a foodie, and a lifelong learner, currently (attempting) to learn to ski and crochet.

Jessica can be reached at (802)-222-8028 or at jessica.kantatan@averte.com

Stephen J. Schramm, Sr. Advisor of Strategic Partnerships Manager

Stephen was with Merry Meadow Farm, now Averte for a few years in the late eighties and has been back since 1993 when he returned as a case manager, later assuming the assistant director position.

In 1999, Stephen took over the duties of CEO. Stephen works out of an office in Bradford as well as traveling to the other houses throughout the week.

In 2022, when Averte began their partnership with Trivium Life Services Steve took on the role of Sr. Advisor of Strategic Partnerships Manager

Stephen, lives locally with his wife Rebecca, Averte’s skills specialist, and has two grown children.  Stephen can be reached at 802-222-9394 or at Stephen@averte.com

Shannon Bergholm, Administrative Assistant

Shannon joined Averte in 2015 as our administrative assistant. Although formally educated as a paralegal, Shannon is passionate about mental health and enjoys being a part of the greatness that can be achieved when people come together for a cause.
She enjoys spending time with her son and grandson, reading, fishing, hiking, and enjoying what the upper valley has to offer.

Shannon can be reached at 802-449-7281 or at Shannon.Bergholm@Averte.com

Smita Lahoti,  MD,

Smita Lahoti,  MD,  is a psychiatrist with training and experience in treating adults with psychiatric disorders across several practice settings in the US and abroad.  She specializes in helping people build resilience with the use of ACT [Acceptance and Commitment Therapy] in addition to psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapy. 

Dr. Lahoti has years of experience in mindfulness and ran an innovative mindfulness-based relaxation therapy clinic in India before moving to the USA. Given her training/residency in OB-GYN, in addition to the standard psychiatric training, she has a particular interest in women’s mental health.  Treatment also can include medication prescription and monitoring when needed. 

Dr. Lahoti believes in tailoring her approach to each person’s needs and meeting them where they are at, with an emphasis on building a better quality of life.

Claire Wendling, MD

Claire Wendling, MD graduated from medical school at the University of Michigan, where she also completed her residency in psychiatry.

Since moving to the Upper Connecticut Valley in 2000, she has worked in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatry, consultation psychiatry, community mental health and the VA.  Over the past 21 years, she has treated people suffering from developmental disorders, psychotic disorders, affective disorders, and PTSD.  She currently works at the VA in the collaborative care program, and she joined the team at Averte in 2021.

Her primary interests are in community psychiatry and the management of complex and chronic mental health conditions.

Douglas L. Noordsy, Consulting Psychiatrist

Douglas L. Noordsy, MD, is Clinical Professor, Director of Sports Psychiatry, and psychiatrist on the INSPIRE Early Psychosis Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine

In addition to being the previous Medical Director at Meadow Farm since 2010, Douglas L. Noordsy, MD, was Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Psychosis Services at Dartmouth Medical School, and an Investigator with the Dartmouth Psychopharmacology Research Group. Dr. Noordsy earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at St. Lawrence University, and a Medical Doctorate at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed residency in Psychiatry at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and has served on faculty at Dartmouth since.

Dr. Noordsy provided psychiatric care and medical leadership at Dartmouth-affiliated CMHCs from 1989-2003. He currently serves as Attending Psychiatrist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. He is a reviewer for multiple journals, including The American Journal of Psychiatry, Schizophrenia Research, and The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Dr. Noordsy received the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in 2001.

Dr. Noordsy’s research interests are in treatments for people with comorbid substance abuse and severe mental illness, and in synergistic effects between medications and psychosocial rehabilitation that may facilitate recovery from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He is co-investigator on several randomized, blinded trials of second-generation antipsychotic medications funded by NIMH, NIDA or NIAAA comparing vocational, symptom, and substance use outcomes of various agents among individuals with both first-episode and chronic schizophrenia.

Shanna Meyer, MA, LCMHC, MT-BC, Clinical Director

Shanna received her Master’s degree in Expressive Therapies and Mental Health Counseling, with a specialization in music therapy, from Lesley University. She holds licensure as a clinical mental health counselor in Vermont and Massachusetts and is a board certified music therapist. Shanna’s past clinical work focused on treating adolescents with complex trauma in alternative school and residential settings. This work inspired her to pursue a post-graduate certificate in post-traumatic stress studies at The Trauma Center in Brookline, MA.

In 2014, Shanna became the Director at Pelham Academy in Lexington, MA, a residential program for adolescents healing from complex trauma. During her tenure as Director, she implemented a variety of innovative programs, including an expressive therapies program and the opening of a second campus designed to support residents in the development of independent living skills and access to the community. Shanna studied with Kristine Kinniburgh to become a trainer in the ARC Framework, which informed her work at Pelham Academy and most recently her role as the Area Manager of Children, Youth & Families Outpatient Services at HCRS in Hartford, VT.

She has served as Adjunct Faculty in the Expressive Therapies Division at Lesley University since 2010 and has supervised Master’s level interns from a variety of school and clinical training programs. Shanna has been an active member of her professional community, holding a board position with the New England chapter of the American Music Therapy Association and presenting at regional conferences.

Shanna currently lives in Newbury, VT with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys singing, cooking, yoga, meditation, spending time outdoors, exploring new places, and snuggling her pups!

Amy Woodward, MS, LCMHC, Clinical Program Coordinator

Amy joined the Averte team in 2012 to continue developing the clinical program and individualized treatment for its participants.

Amy began working in the mental health in 2004, working as a case manager for adults diagnosed with chronic mental illness at the community mental health center in Bradford, VT. For the next several years, Amy continued her work at the community mental health center, additionally serving as the Vocational Specialist and Access Specialist, providing her a diverse background in the provision of mental health services.

Amy received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Plymouth State University, in Plymouth, NH. Amy is credentialed by the State of Vermont as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health counselor. Amy’s professional interests include providing individual therapy services, utilizing cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior treatment modalities, as well as facilitating a variety of therapy groups.

Outside of her commitment to work, Amy enjoys traveling with family and friends, being outdoors, and introducing new experiences to her son.

Rebecca Schramm, BSW, Skills Specialist

Rebecca has been with Averte since 2003. Rebecca began her career with the Head Start organization in the 90′s then took the Directors position with the Orange County Parent and Child Center.

Upon starting a family Rebecca chose to scale back to part time and carries a small caseload at Averte, which has now grown into more direct contact hours as well as leading and co-leading groups at several houses.

Rebecca lives in Bradford with her husband and two children.

Cheyenne Dunnells, BS, Skills Specialist

Cheyenne has been affiliated with Averte for about 4 years, working as a support staff at the Bradford House full time and then eventually part time. Cheyenne has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University in 2020 while continuing to work in the mental health field.

Before transitioning into the Skills Specialist role Cheyenne worked at Clara Martin Center as a Behavioral Interventionist, assisting children and adolescents to make positive changes in their lives.

Having a passion for helping people lead healthy and confident lives Cheyenne became a Certified Personal Trainer and plans to bring that passion into Averte where she will lead a Healthy Living group as well as co-lead other groups.

Matthew Daly, Program Director

Matthew joined the Merry Meadow team in 2007 after a 12 years working for Upper Valley Services.

Matt became house manager at the Gray House in 2008 and remained in that position until transitioning to Program Director in 2015.

Matt lives locally with his wife and four children.  Matt can be reached at 802-222-4413 or at Matt.Daly@Averte.com

Brady Weigel, Gray House Program Manager

Brady came to us in July of 2021 after spending almost a decade in the hospitality industry.

Brady received his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Psychology and Human Services from Lyndon State College, where as a senior he completed his internship with Averte as a part of the clinical team.

Brady currently resides in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont with his wife and three kids.

Carissa Brissette, Main House Program Manager

Carissa joined Averte in 2014 and held a variety of positions until shifting to the Main House office Manager for several years.

In October of 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, Carissa accepted the role of  Main House Program Manager.

Carissa can be reached at 802-222-4413 or via email Carissa.Brissette@Averte.com

Rhonda Orr, Bradford House Program Manager

After many years of successfully managing the Hanover House, Rhonda transitioned to our local Bradford House in the summer of 2019.

Rhonda is an integral part of the team at Averte, and shows a consistent desire to provide both staff and residents with opportunities to grow and develop. Over the years Rhonda has engaged in professional development, and has successfully completed the management certificate course from the State of Vermont.

In her free time, Rhonda enjoys numerous outdoor activities such as camping, boating and spending time with her family.

Rhonda can be reached at 802-222-4601 or at  rhonda.orr@averte.com

LaDonna Bassett, Independent Living Program Manager

Ladonna Bassett is Averte’s Independent Living Program Manager. She has worked in this field for over 20 years in a variety of roles, including many years as a Residential Program Manager at Averte.

Ladonna is passionate about guiding/teaching individuals to gain the skills and confidence needed to obtain their goals to live independently. She specializes in helping individuals develop skills to live independently in their own environment.

Ladonna resides in Newbury, Vermont with her husband. Ladonna enjoys spending time with family, sharing with her grandchildren her many talents and knowledge, may it be gardening, cooking, crafts, and woodworking, and also enjoys the outdoors.