Who We Are

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Associates, LLC. (CBTA) is a group of highly specialized licensed psychologists and other healthcare providers serving Massachusetts, including the Cape and Islands, via teletherapy. Using cognitive and behavioral therapies, our therapists work together with patients to solve their puzzles one piece at a time.

Our Services

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the therapy of empowerment. It helps people change the way they think, feel and act through collaboration between a skilled therapist and a motivated patient.

Thoughts shape who we are and what we see around us. Our thoughts color all of our experiences and relationships. Some people may see their experience in black and white, good or bad. The therapists at CBTA try to help our patients develop a broader palette from which to paint their world.

Learn more about what we treat.

Our practice offers psychological assessment for those involved in immigration-related issues such as asylum cases, deportation orders and spousal abuses, among others. We work with many of the largest immigration practices in the Greater Boston Area. References are available upon request.

CBTA offers competitive fees and speedy services for attorneys in need of immigration-related consultations. We do thorough and professional evaluations that yield comprehensive psychological reports for use in filings.

In the past, our clinical interviews have helped clients in cases involving:

  • Family separation and its psychological consequences
  • Psychological assessment of past persecution and/or fear of future persecution
  • Spousal/partner abuse and violence
  • Comprehensive psychological reports for use in filings

Our Therapists

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James A. Vermilyea, Ph.D., ABPP, Fa.Clin.P., MBA

Dr. Vermilyea is the director of CBTA and has been a practicing psychologist for over 30 years and is an expert in cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral therapy. His specialties cover a broad range, including but not limited to cognitive and behavioral treatments for all types of anxiety, phobias, and depression. Dr. Vermilyea works primarily with adults 18 years old and up.

He trained at McLean hospital and worked on call at several hospital emergency rooms. Dr. Vermilyea had been a Clinical Instructor at the Harvard Medical School where he supervised interns and residents. He has supervised post-doctoral students through Boston University and through Tufts Medical School. He was a senior psychologist and assistant to the chairman of Lahey Clinic’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. His graduate training included studying with some of the world’s preeminent researcher-clinicians in the fields of anxiety disorders and depression. He has been licensed in Massachusetts as a psychologist and health service provider since 1987.

  • Board Certified in Clinical Psychology
  • American Board of Professional Psychology #4604 (1996)
  • Licensed Psychologist Massachusetts #4233 (1987)
Call Dr. James Vermilyea (Ext 701)
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Peter Harakas, Ph.D, MBA

Dr. Harakas is a licensed clinical psychologist with training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and with a specialization in health psychology and primary care behavioral health. He has been with CBT Associates, LLC since 2013. He has extensive experience in helping clients and their caregivers cope with medical conditions and the emotional problems that often accompany medical problems. He regularly works with adolescents and adults with issues related to: depression, anxiety and phobias, including school refusal, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), high-functioning autism (Asperger’s), trauma and PTSD, coping with chronic illness, career issues, work-related anxiety and stress, and couples or marital difficulties. A U.S. citizen who has also lived in the U.K. and Greece, Dr. Harakas appreciates the role culture plays in our daily lives and works with clients with diverse backgrounds. He also provides psychotherapy in Greek.

Dr. Harakas holds an undergraduate degree with a double major in Psychology and Marketing from the American College of Greece, a Masters of Science (MSc) degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Surrey in the U.K., and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Arizona State University. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in Primary Care Behavioral Health at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Bedford, MA, and has also completed the University of Massachusetts Family Medicine program’s Certificate in Primary Care Behavioral Health.

Dr. Harakas’ clinical training includes positions in outpatient psychotherapy, university student health, family medicine and primary care, spinal cord injury, and various departments within hospitals. He has specific experience working with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients and with veterans and their families. As a clinician, Dr. Harakas believes in establishing a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust and respect and adopts a collaborative approach with clients. He incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and emotion-focused perspectives. As a researcher, Dr. Harakas has experience and publications in the areas of chronic pain, smoking cessation, and motivational interviewing. As a psychologist with an academic background in marketing, an MBA in leadership and transformational change, interests in consulting psychology, and work experience in leadership development, Dr. Harakas is uniquely positioned to understand the challenges faced by business professionals and executives.

  • Licensed Psychologist Massachusetts #9635
Call Dr. Peter Harakas (Ext 708)
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Jennifer Weinstein, Psy.D.

Dr. Weinstein is a licensed clinical psychologist. She enjoys working with adults who are struggling with issues such as OCD, emetophobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder as well as personal growth and spiritual development and issues related to self-esteem, self-care, and empowerment.

Dr. Weinstein received her undergraduate degree with a major in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She received a Master’s Degree in clinical practices and her Psy.D. from the Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology at the University of Hartford. She did her internship at Stoney Brook Counseling Center in Chelmsford, MA and her postdoctoral hours were completed at Seven Hills Behavioral Health in New Bedford, MA.

Dr. Weinstein has had clinical training in various outpatient settings including college counseling and community mental health centers. She has experience treating those suffering from a wide variety of mental health issues. She has worked with people of varying ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic groups and appreciates diversity. Dr. Weinstein has been involved with research projects at Yale University and the University of Hartford and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Hartford and Curry College. Clinically, Dr. Weinstein blends CBT and ERP with other techniques such as mindfulness/ meditation and solution-focused therapy. She believes in building a strong therapeutic alliance with an emphasis on collaboration and values helping people to reach their highest potential.

Call Dr. Jennifer Weinstein (Ext 702)

Contact Us

By Mail

20 Forest Street,
# 1020,
Medford, MA 02155

Phone: (617) 531-7133
Fax: (781) 281-0644