Biography

If you are feeling overwhelmed, invisible, hopeless, or as though something just doesn’t feel quite right and you can’t put your finger on what that something is, then you have come to the right place. Here at April L. McCarthy, LMHC, PLLC we will build upon your strengths, skills, and supports to enhance wellbeing and work collaboratively to improve your overall mental health.

I am April McCarthy, practice owner, and a mom of two. For me, my passion for this profession has been heavily influenced by personal experience. Beginning in high school, my own encounter with grief and loss prompted my journey into the world of Psychology as both student and client. After learning a lot from both in class instruction and formal mental health support, I knew I was meant to be part of the Psychology industry in some capacity, so I enrolled as a Psychology major in college. As my undergraduate program was coming to an end, I felt overwhelmed by the pressure to commit to more education in order to remain in the field, and ultimately decided to enter the workforce to take my time exploring my options. There, I meandered between different jobs in Healthcare Administration for a few years exploring not only my professional self, but also working on my personal growth and development. I greatly value those years of my journey, because they gave me the perspective I needed to help steer me back on the Psychology path, ultimately leading me to attend graduate school.

While enrolled in graduate school, my personal life continued onward, and my partner and I welcomed our first child just a couple months after I completed my Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. It was the transformation to motherhood and the complications I experienced in my own journey that led me on the path to specializing in perinatal mental health. I found so many barriers that impacted my own access to care at such a vulnerable time in my life, that I felt inspired to help support others. In time, I completed the certification program offered through Postpartum Support International, and continuously work to grow my knowledge and network of perinatal mental health resources and supports.

Volunteering within the community has been a profoundly rewarding experience for me. It has taught me the power of empathy and the importance of giving back. It is a humbling experience that I'll always treasure, and it reinforces my belief in the positive impact we can make when we come together to help those in need.

I am particularly passionate about patient experience and advocacy, and volunteer my time at Lowell General Hospital, helping to increase mental health awareness by speaking at the New Moms Group, and serving on committees such as the Patient Family Advisory Council, the Maternal & Child Health Advisory Board, and the Experience Advisory Group. My work there allows me to connect with new parents, support them through the early stages of the postpartum period, and share my knowledge and expertise about perinatal mental health with patients and staff alike. I am always open to learning of new opportunities for community engagement, education, and collaboration.

Outside of the office I enjoy spending time with my family, taking part in a variety of activities in our community, going for walks with our dog Millie, and having family game or movie nights at home. I also enjoy making time for my hobbies which include volleyball, pilates, dance classes, reading, and doing jigsaw puzzles.