Dr. Clara DeFontes is a postdoctoral clinical fellow at Home Base and earned her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She completed her APA-accredited clinical internship at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Medical Center, where she provided clinical care to Veterans with a focus on trauma-related disorders and acute psychiatric concerns, such as suicidality. Prior to graduate training, Clara was part of a clinical research team conducting treatment trials for PTSD at Yale University and the West Haven VA Medical Center.

Throughout her clinical training, Clara gained experience with multiple evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Written Exposure Therapy (WET), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). However, having worked within diverse communities and various treatment settings, Clara prioritizes culturally responsive, person-centered care, focusing on the unique needs and goals of each individual and tailoring treatment to meet those specific goals. To do so, she focuses on individuals’ strengths and fosters a strong therapeutic relationship with each person. Clara often draws upon individual, cultural, and systemic factors to meet each person’s needs.

When she is not working, Clara can often be found at a concert, café, or on her couch. She enjoys hunting for the best food spots, exploring new places, reading a good book, and spending quality time with friends and family. Originally from the West Coast, Clara looks forward to any opportunity to travel back to see friends and family.