Mental Health Team Profiles

Bharati is a Licensed Mental Health Professional with 20 years of experience working in the field of mental health. Bharati is rooted in the notion that all mental health issues must be considered with a social justice lens. She is enthusiastic about working alongside people from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, using a collaborative and anti-oppressive framework. Bharati has extensive experience in collaborating with women and LGBTQIA+ people, as they have navigated challenges with depression, anxiety, complex trauma and substance use. She integrates EMDR, Brain Spotting, Narrative practices and yoga in her work. As a part of her passion for addressing systemic challenges and barriers to care in the field of mental health, she serves on the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy and the Minnesota Culturally Informed and Culturally Responsive Task Force.

Riley graduated with a Master of Social Work from Saint Mary’s University and is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker. According to Riley, working in the field of social work has always been her passion, and she is grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. For the past three years, Riley has worked side-by-side with a multidisciplinary team at Avivo. Prior to Avivo, she spent seven more years in the mental health field in the community and as a mental health case manager. Into every environment she works, Riley brings an energy of acceptance and the belief that as providers, we meet people where they are. Her mission as a therapist is to empower individuals by identifying and removing obstacles while facilitating personal growth through an individualistic approach. Her clinical practice incorporates CBT, Behavioral Activation, and mindfulness. Riley states, “I am excited to continue to advocate and assist clients within our community, while also being able to offer therapeutic services.”

Dr. Field is board certified in general and addiction psychiatry. He studied medicine at Temple Medical School and trained in psychiatry at NYU Medical Center. He later studied psychotherapy at the Minnesota Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis and completed a certification program in refugee trauma and recovery through Harvard Medical School.

His areas of interest include psychotherapy, cross-cultural psychiatry, refugee mental health, addiction and trauma. Much of his career has been devoted to working with disenfranchised and underserved communities in the Twin Cities. For more than 25 years, Dr. Field has worked in a variety of settings including community clinics, private practice, and major teaching hospitals including the Center for International Health, Center for Victims of Torture, Regions Hospital, and Veterans Medical Center.

Dr. Field strives to work in a collaborative manner with his patients and his co-workers. He is also able to provide psychiatric services in Spanish.

Hillary is a compassionate and dedicated clinical social worker with over two decades of experience. Hillary holds a Master of Social Work from Augsburg College and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota.

Currently serving as a clinical supervisor at Avivo, Hillary is more than a leader. She is a mentor, passionately guiding her team while upholding ethical standards. Her commitment extends to ensuring each client receives the best possible care, aligning with ethical standards and best practices.

Hillary’s person-centered approach in clinical assessment, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, and advocacy are fueled by a personal mission to make a positive impact, allowing individuals to live their best lives in ways they feel valued and heard. Hillary is a lifelong learner, staying informed about the latest research and interventions in order to contribute meaningfully to the field. In both her professional and personal pursuits, Hillary is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people she serves.

Miatta is a mental health case manager at Avivo and has been working in the mental health field for seven-plus years. She also has 24 years in the health field as a registered nurse in Liberia, West Africa. Her philosophy is about treating everyone as you would like to be treated – The Golden Rule. Miatta is passionate about working with the whole family so that all members have peace, understanding and mental stability. Miatta aspires to become a Licensed Marriage and Families Therapist. She is currently interning with Avivo as a clinical mental health counseling student.

Dar is a program manager with Avivo’s family navigation and transitional recovery housing programs. They hold a Master of Science in Social Work. They have been in the field for more than ten years and were recently convinced to use their knowledge in a clinical setting. Dar is passionate about honoring people as their full and authentic self and working with them to meet their personal goals. Dar has an eclectic experience background and currently works mostly with families and individuals in recovery. 

Jamie has completed her practicum hours for graduate level licensing in social work as an intern with Avivo’s Mental Health Clinic. Jamie graduated from Capella University in December and is now preparing for her licensing exam to become a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW). She also works as an Avivo employment counselor.

Jamie has worked in the field for over fifteen years. Her depth of life experiences, education and knowledge of sociocultural anthropology combines to offer exemplary rapport building skills with a myriad of diverse communities and focus areas. Jamie excels in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for positive-thought reframing. She believes that direction and determination will always find a way, and that nothing is impossible through perseverance. Jamie is passionate about collective liberation. Jamie finds work with youth populations to be the most rewarding as she strives to meet people where they are to identify individual strengths and help them build a path toward sustainable, brighter futures.

Shari is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who has been working in the field of mental health for over 20 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in child psychology with an emphasis in emotional & behavioral disorders from the University of Minnesota. She has a Master of Social Work from Augsburg College. Shari believes in the inherent worth and dignity of all people, the wisdom of our bodies, and in supporting recovery as a journey that happens within the many systems involved in a person’s life. Shari is passionate about helping people break free from the limitations and constraints that are the living legacy of trauma. Shari works with teens and adults in individual or family therapy. Her areas of focus include trauma, stress and anxiety, depression, addiction, ADHD and relationship problems.

Ayanna is a seasoned professional with a Master of Social Work from Augsburg University. She has dedicated more than six years to Avivo, advancing from her role as a housing case manager to leadership position of service area director. Holding credentials as an LADC and LICSW, she prioritizes continuous learning for herself and her team. Ayanna’s versatility is evident in roles such as housing case manager, housing team lead, housing program manager, intake and access program director in the substance use disorder treatment center, and her current role as service area director for Avivo’s community chemical and mental health division.

Ayanna’s expertise encompasses interventions for anxiety, mood disorders and chemical dependency, while utilizing approaches like CBT, ACT, trauma-informed therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness. Ayanna is trained in EMDR and is a certified IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory) administrator. Employing a person-centered approach, she has delivered both group and individual services, specializing in diverse areas. Her comprehensive background, clinical experience, and unwavering dedication position her as a valuable clinician committed to delivering high-quality services across Avivo.

Ayanna’s approach to client care is “Participants are the main attraction, and I am just the backup singer. I work to form a partnership with participants to meet them where they are in their therapeutic needs, while assisting them in progressing to where they want to be.”

Mai Yang, LGSW, is a Clinician/Targeted Case Manager at Avivo. She has been with Avivo for six years. She has worked with at-risk homeless youth populations in mental health settings and drop-in-centers. Mai got her Master of Social Work from Capella University. During her time in her master’s program, she focused on breaking down mental health stigmas and employment instability barriers and improving the well-being of marginalized communities. Mai did her clinical practicum at Avivo’s Mental Health Clinic, providing mental health support and services to youth experiencing homelessness served by YouthLink and completing diagnostic assessments for individuals to determine eligibility for mental health services.