About Us

Therapist, Addiction Specialist & Certified Life Coach

Susan is a licensed mental health clinician, addiction specialist, and certified life coach with over 20 years of experience transforming lives in the behavioral health field. Driven by a deep passion to help individuals realize their God-given potential, she brings extensive expertise in mental health counseling, substance use disorders, and holistic wellness coaching to her practice. Throughout her career, Susan has been blessed to support clients from all walks of life, meeting them with deep empathy and tailored guidance.

Beyond her clinical practice, Susan has held executive leadership roles in program operations for leading treatment centers. These positions sharpened her expertise in business development, management, training, and public speaking. A mentor at heart, she finds immense joy in stewardship—coaching, developing, and inspiring staff and clinical interns at every level of their professional journeys.

In 2020, Susan felt called to establish this practice. Guided by a vision to invest in the local community, she created a sanctuary that offers accessible services honoring the mind, body, and spirit. In recent years, she has developed a profound heart for marital counseling. Believing that strong marriages are the foundation of a thriving family and community, Susan feels deeply honored to help couples restore their commitment, heal their bonds, and place their families on solid ground.

Meet The Founder

Therapist, addition specialist and certified life coach Susan Figueiredo that is the founder of Positive Living a Health & Wellness Practice in New Bedford MA.

Susan Figueiredo

Rocks with mind, body and soul inscribed on them.

Our Vision

Our Vision is to offer a range of services geared at promoting health & wellness. While these services mostly target mind & body, our dream is that every person who engages with a service, staff or one of our onsite colleagues will experience a spiritual awakening. An understanding that at our Core we are spiritual beings, with a divine plan and purpose.

At the core of our practice is our counseling support. These services are focused on Strengthening the Family. Starting with family/marital counseling, parenting support, addiction treatment, and mood stabilization, we want to help every person live a life of purpose. 

We look at the connection between the body and the mind, focusing on the impact the body and nutrition have on mood, thinking and wellbeing. When we eat to feed our bodies and fuel our minds, we are better equipped to face the days’ challenges. We think clearly, feel better and become mentally stronger.

Our Services

Counseling

Nutrition Counseling

Life Coaching

Therapeutic Massage

substance abuse evaluation

Workshops

Learn More About Our Services

Core Values

Integrity & Ethical Practice

We are committed to adhere to the professional standards for our professional licensures as well as regulatory agencies.  We make every effort to secure client information, maintaining confidentiality, honesty and ethical behavior in all professional interactions.

Compassion & Respect For Human Dignity

“Love God, Love People” – We are called to these “helping” roles and are committed to reflect a genuine care and concern for our clients, treating each one with inherent worth and value, regardless of their circumstances. 

Community Engagement

We are committed to creating quick and easy access to services.  We recognize the importance of investing in our community, promoting health and wellness initiatives in our schools, places or employment, churches and other community agencies.  “We are better together”

Holistic Perspective

We recognize that health is not just physical, but encompasses spiritual, mental, emotional, and social aspects.  We will strive to support the whole person.

Woman sitting on a wooden dock overlooking a lake on a foggy day.

Individualized care

There are standard practices and tools used for common problems.  However we recognize that each person has unique need and therefore will require tailored wellness plans to support individualized goals. 

Meet Our Team

Our dedicated life coaches and counselors have been carefully selected to put your wellbeing first. They collaborate with you to determine and accomplish your individual wellness objectives, guaranteeing a motivating and encouraging path to a more balanced, healthy existence.

Jeff Giammalvo

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I

Learn More About Jeff

Troy Montgomery

Associate Counselor
PsyD Candidate

Learn More About Troy

Kalynn Martins

Associate Counselor MA

Learn More About Kalynn

Yolanda Nunes

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Learn More About Yolanda

Diana Rodriguez

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Learn More About Diana

Katiya Moniz

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Learn More About Katiya

Widaly Calderon

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor II

Learn More About Widaly
Administrative Assistant Marie Duarte that is part of the team at Positive Living a Health & Wellness Practice in New Bedford MA.

Marie Duarte

Administrative Assistant

Learn More About Maria

Felicity Penacho

Administrative Support Staff

Learn More About Felicity
My second massage at Positive Living. The people are professional, friendly and attentive and the space is clean and inviting. Thanks for an awesome relaxing experience!
Lynn C
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Jeff Giammalvo

As a teacher of inner city youth for over 20 years, Jeff has cultivated a love and a passion for the well-being of people. He firmly believes that a better version of ourselves exists on the other side of our struggles.  

The majority of his experience has been within the school climate, however he also has a strong passion for those experiencing difficulties overcoming addiction. He has done extensive work in the recovery community as well as developed and implemented the first ever course offered to high school youth to help them understand the root causes that can lead to addiction.

He has been given the opportunity to expand this work abroad, partnering with a treatment center, teaching trauma sensitivity and addiction to the islanders of Roatan, Honduras. This experience has not only been extremely fulfilling, but also taught him cultural sensitivity and exploring varying approaches to healing.  

His primary approach to care is rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy with an emphasis on solutions focused interventions.  He believes that we are all built with a deeply rooted understanding of the path to healing, and sees his clinical role to encourage, challenge, and guide the individual back to this place of origin.  Beyond his clinical work, he has a  love for music, the outdoors, exercising, and spending time with his family.  He is blessed to be an active part of a wonderful church community that is very active in being a tangible blessing to the area. 

He is confident that by collaboratively working together, finding deeper understanding and discovering root causes, that the byproduct will be the restoration of who the person was originally created to be.

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Troy Montgomery

Troy is a PsyD candidate in clinical psychology who works with adults and adolescents navigating emotional dysregulation, grief and loss, substance use recovery, and complex life transitions. His interest in clinical work has been shaped by both formal training and lived experience, along with a belief that growth and restoration are possible even in the midst of long-standing struggle.

He holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in fine art, backgrounds that continue to inform his work as a clinician. His training in education supports a structured, developmentally informed approach to care, while his foundation in the arts brings creativity and sensitivity to how individuals express emotion when words are difficult to access.

Much of Troy’s professional experience has involved supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns, as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This work has reinforced the importance of careful listening, thoughtful assessment, and helping people make sense of their experiences without reducing them to a diagnosis or label.

Troy approaches therapy as a collaborative and steady process that integrates practical skill-building with reflection and insight. He places particular emphasis on emotional regulation, personal responsibility, and responding differently in moments that historically lead to conflict or withdrawal. He respects the role of faith and spirituality when meaningful to the client and views these as potential sources of strength, accountability, and healing.

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Kalynn Martins

Kalynn Martins is a compassionate Christian counselor dedicated to helping individuals discover hope, healing, and purpose. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Services Counseling from Liberty University and thoughtfully integrates faith-based principles with evidence-based practices to support clients in their personal, emotional, and professional growth. 

With experience in counseling, ABA therapy, and job coaching, Kalynn has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan, from young children as young as three years old through adulthood, helping them develop practical life skills, strengthen emotional well-being, and achieve meaningful goals. Her approach is rooted in empathy, encouragement, and a genuine commitment to walking alongside each client through every stage of their journey. 

Kalynn is currently pursuing an additional Master’s degree in Social Work as she works toward becoming a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), further expanding her ability to serve individuals and families with excellence, compassion, and integrity.

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Yolanda Nunes

Yolanda Nunes, LCSW, is a dedicated mental health clinician with over 20 years of experience providing compassionate care to individuals across the lifespan. Her extensive clinical background spans work with adolescents, adults, and older adults in diverse settings, including community mental health services, residential programs, acute residential care, crisis intervention, in-home support, and elder care. She is known for her ability to meet clients where they are—offering empathy, understanding, and guidance that fosters trust, hope, and meaningful change.

Grounded in her Christian faith, Yolanda approaches her work with a deep sense of purpose and belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. She views each therapeutic relationship as an opportunity to serve with integrity, grace, and compassion, empowering clients to draw on both internal strengths and spiritual resources as they navigate life’s challenges. Her faith inspires her to offer encouragement during difficult seasons, to walk alongside individuals in their healing journeys, and to affirm that hope and restoration are always possible.

Yolanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work and Health Care Management. As a Licensed Certified Social Worker, she integrates evidence-based practices with a holistic, values-driven approach, tailoring interventions to meet the unique needs of each client. Her unwavering commitment is to promote emotional well-being, resilience, and recovery—helping individuals and families find renewed strength, peace, and purpose at every stage of life.

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Diana Rodriguez

Diana Rodriguez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and is working toward an LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker).  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Bridgewater State University. 

She has worked in the mental health/social work field for over 12 years, gaining experience with children, adolescents, and adults of all ages and backgrounds.  In the last 5 years she has worked with families involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).  This has allowed her to partner with families, helping them navigate grief and loss, life transitions, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. 

She recognizes that life can take challenging turns and as found that a holistic approach to therapy- focusing on mind, body and spirit can be highly effective. She aims to provide a supportive, nonjudgmental, and compassionate approach to treatment, enabling any person to experience healing and rise to their fullest potential.  

She describes herself as a supportive listener, and can provide a faith-based approach to therapy at a client’s request.   She has experience integrating a personalized solution-focused, strength-based, and motivational approach to therapy, working collaboratively with clients to assist them in gaining the skills and tools needed to find solutions to overcome challenges, quiet the inner critic, and achieve goals with confidence.

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Katiya Moniz

Meet Katiya, our clinical mental health counselor with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and over a decade of experience in the human services field. She integrates evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with a holistic perspective that honors the connection between mind, body, and spirit to support lasting healing and personal growth.

With extensive experience working with older adults, Katiya brings empathy, patience, and understanding to each session, helping clients navigate life transitions, grief, and emotional well-being. She is also dedicated to supporting individuals across all stages of life and backgrounds, addressing a wide range of mental health concerns with compassion and respect.

Rooted in her faith, Katiya values the role of spirituality in the healing process and welcomes clients who wish to incorporate faith into their counseling journey. Her approach respects each person’s unique beliefs and seeks to create a space where spiritual and emotional growth can align.

Fluent in both English and Portuguese, Katiya is committed to serving diverse communities and creating a safe, supportive environment where individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered on their path toward balance, wholeness, and fulfillment.

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Widaly Calderon

Widaly Calderon is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling intern who is passionate about helping individuals navigate life’s challenges while strengthening their emotional well-being and resilience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Studies and has several years of experience working in the healthcare and human services field supporting individuals and families.

She is also a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor II (LADC II) and a certified Community Health Worker. Through these roles, she has worked closely with individuals experiencing substance use concerns, behavioral health challenges, and barriers to accessing care. These experiences have shaped her commitment to advocacy, education, and helping clients connect with the resources and support systems that promote overall well-being.

Her counseling style is compassionate, collaborative, and client-centered. She believes each person’s story matters and strive to create a space where individuals feel heard, respected, and supported as they work through life stressors, transitions, and personal challenges. Her goal is to help clients build coping skills, increase self-awareness, and move toward meaningful and lasting change.

As a bilingual clinician, she provides services in both English and Spanish and values supporting individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds with empathy and cultural humility.

Her approach is also influenced by her Christian faith. She recognizes that spirituality can be an important source of strength and healing for many individuals and welcome clients who wish to incorporate faith into their counseling journey. She aims to create a supportive environment where emotional and spiritual growth can be explored in a way that aligns with each person’s values and beliefs.

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Administrative Assistant Marie Duarte that is part of the team at Positive Living a Health & Wellness Practice in New Bedford MA.

Marie Duarte

Meet Marie, our Administrative Assistant. Marie has been working in the healthcare field for over 26 years. Beginning as a Certified Nursing Assistant, where she found her love for people and caring for them and their families at what can be the most vulnerable time in their lives. Marie began working as a Health Unit Coordinator and then a Patient Access Advisor over the last 18 years of her career where she paired these skills with the hands on skills of being a Nursing Assistant and multiple years of private home care provided to all ages.

Grace, understanding, and patience are very important to her and she strives to demonstrate these attributes to everyone around her.

Marie has recently graduated from the School of Ministry at New Life Southcoast, she has also graduated from Bristol Community College with her Associate in Science, Cum Laude in August 2024.  She is now working on her Bachelors degree in Healthcare Administration at the University of Umass Dartmouth and is very excited for the ways she can help her community in the future.

Marie went on her first mission trip to Roatan, Honduras in June of 2024 and is excited to be planning her second mission with her church ministry this coming June, 2025.

As the administrative assistant, Marie feels it is important to greet clients in a warm and welcoming manner and to help in every way possible. To be the face of the practice, or the first face people see when they walk in, is very important in her opinion and she wants each and every person she greets to know that she cares and is invested in making their visit as easy and stress free as possible. From checking in, assisting with any forms, to checking out, she wants to be as helpful as possible and be sure every person she comes in contact with knows that they are her main priority.

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Felicity Penacho

Felicity serves as an Administrative Support Staff member, bringing a unique blend of deep clinical compassion and exceptional organizational skills to our counseling practice.

As a practicing Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA),Felicity also works full-time with individuals navigating the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. She possesses a profound heart for the geriatric population and considers it a true blessing to witness and support the joyful, positive moments her residents experience each day.

At our practice, she is eager to welcome and support new clients as they navigate the intake and admission process. She understands that entering care can feel overwhelming, which is why she works tirelessly to locate helpful resources and patiently guides families through what is often a complicated insurance maze.

In her administrative role, she also serves as a driving force in our community outreach. Felicity actively connects with local schools, churches, and physicians, ensuring that vital referral information is readily available to anyone in need of mental health or substance use counseling. Her warmth, dedication, and expertise make her an invaluable first point of contact for our clients and community alike.