Maureen Lennon-Schafer, LCSW

founder of Presence of Mind Therapy

Maureen Lennon-Schafer, founder of Presence of Mind Therapy, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 17 years of experience providing mental health support to individuals at multiple levels of care.

Maureen is certified in Trauma, Grief, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). In her work Maureen draws from CBT, DBT, Spirituality, Somatic Processing, Psychodynamic, Polyvagal, and Systems Theory.

Maureen’s background in Social Work has afforded her opportunities to advocate for marginalized and oppressed populations. Maureen is passionate about empowering others and the collective healing of Mother Earth.

"We function in the context of the larger systems we are a part of, and therefore must reject the notion that we are individually flawed."

Erin Guzman,

LSW

Erin is a Licensed Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work degree, as well as two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Psychology, all from Rutgers University. Erin understands that mental health is important at every stage of life and impacts everyone’s physical health and overall functioning. She will work to meet you where you are in the present moment and help you to identify treatment goals that will help you get to the place you want to be. Erin aims to empower her clients to create the space, balance, time, and strength to process and embrace their emotional and mental needs through the utilization of a strengths-based approach combined with various evidence-based treatment therapies. 

Rachel Christensen,

LMSW

Rachel (she/her) is a Licensed Social Worker who received her Masters degree at New York University, and has been selected to train at Ackerman Institute for the Family in the Fall of 2024. Her experience includes individual and group work with children, teens, adults, families, and couples. She is passionate about perinatal health, as well as helping adults recover from childhood trauma. Rachel approaches therapy with warmth and humor. She believes that everyone is capable of healing. She works hard to make her clients feel safe, comfortable, and curious about themselves. For those who like jargon, her work is primarily a blend of relational, psychoanalytic, psychodynamic,

attachment-based, and systems-oriented modalities. Before changing careers to become a therapist, Rachel spent 18+ years running social media teams for major brands, publishers, and nonprofits, including the American Civil Liberties Union, where she spent three years during the Trump administration fighting for immigration rights, racial justice, abortion rights, human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, disability justice, voting rights, and free speech.

Kathryn Smilowitz,

LSW

Kathryn is a Licensed Social Worker who received her master's degree from Rutgers University and a Bachelor's in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Seton Hall University. Kathryn aims to provide a safe space for children, teenagers, and young adults navigating life. Kathryn draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness concepts while working with clients. She is passionate about meeting the client where they are at that particular time and working alongside the client to develop goals and foster empowerment. Kathryn is also currently training at the Sakala School of Integrative Teaching to become a Trauma-Informed Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). This training provides additional mind-body skills to incorporate yoga practices and ideas in sessions, especially working with those who have experienced trauma.

Patty Thaute,

Licensed Massage Therapist

Patty Thaute is a licensed massage therapist with over 20 years of experience in spa and medical settings. With a focus on reducing pain, stress, and anxiety, each session is tailored to the individual needs of the client to create an environment of healing for the mind, body, and soul. Patty offers craniosacral therapy, manual lymph drainage, jin shin jyutsu (acupressure), and reflexology.



Additionally, Patty has a passion for working with hospice patients providing palliative bodywork and is trained as an End of Life Doula.

Angelina Holden

Intern

Angelina is a student with an aspiring interest in Psychology and Social Work adding to her experience in the field as she supports Presence of Mind Therapy via professional community outreach and psycho-education. Angelina is an affiliate with National Alliance on Mental Illness, has received a certificate from National Council for Mental Wellbeing for USA Teen Mental Health, and is an active participant in Mental Health Awareness club. Angelina often spends her free time exploring current psychological research findings and doing deep dives on psychology theory. Angelina aims to create a welcoming view of Presence of Mind Therapy and what the practice has to offer, educate those in need through various social media outlets, and assist with administrative tasks as needed. 

Jamie Wirth

Intern

Jamie is a student at the College of Charleston Honors College. She is studying Psychology and Neuroscience. Jamie is certified from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing in Adult Mental Health First Aid. At school Jamie is involved in research focusing on Relationship Nostalgia in romantic relationships and has presented this research at the Eastern Psychological Association in Philadelphia. She also volunteers on the Neurology unit at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is the secretary of CofC’s chapter of Psi Chi, the Psychology National Honor Society, and an active member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Jamie is an avid foodie who enjoys trying new restaurants in Charleston and reviewing them on her Instagram page IsItWirthIt.