Mental Health and Wellness at Nobles: Meet with a Counselor

Jen Hamilton
Director of Psychology and Counseling
Licensed Educational Psychologist
Office location: Pratt 200
Office phone: 781-320-7073
Email: Jen_Hamilton@nobles.edu

Jennifer Hamilton, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and Licensed Educational Psychologist, joined the Nobles faculty in 2001. Her goal is to create a space where all adolescents feel comfortable talking about their concerns. Hamilton is particularly interested in the relationship of anxiety to achievement, learning and connectivity. She espouses a strengths-based, positive psychology approach to counseling and is interested in finding ways to share tools to enhance the well-being of all students. Jen enjoys teaching The Science of Well-Being and advising “Nobles Heads Together,” a student-run club that aims to decrease the stigma around mental health challenges and promote wellness. She is also on the planning committee for the annual AISNE Health and Wellness Symposium. Before Nobles, Hamilton worked at Winston Preparatory School in New York City. She earned both her graduate and undergraduate degrees at Tufts University.

Mark Spence
Dean of Student Engagement, Counselor
Office Location: Shattuck 125
Phone: 781-320-7158
Email: Mark_Spence@nobles.edu

A Middlebury College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Spence played minor league professional hockey before returning to Middlebury as an admission officer and assistant men’s hockey coach. At Boston University, he earned a master’s degree in mental health and behavioral medicine while interning in the psychiatry unit at the Boston Medical Center and counseling both BU and Tufts students. Before Nobles, Spence was a clinician for Child and Family Services in New Bedford. Spence joined the Nobles faculty in 2007. Prior to his appointment as dean of student engagement, he also served as Nobles’ dean of students and director of counseling.

Mary Batty
Upper School Counselor
Office Location: Shattuck 227
Phone: 781-320-7072
Email: Mary_Batty@nobles.edu

Mary Batty rejoined the Nobles faculty in 2003, years after beginning her career as an English teaching fellow. What she loved most about that year was getting to know students and helping them figure out how to deal with the challenges in their lives. After her TF year, she earned her master’s of education in school counseling from Boston University. Batty has been the director of counseling at Worcester Academy and the Pingree School. When a job opened at Nobles, Batty says she “jumped at the chance to return to the school that had inspired me to become a counselor.” After many years in the world of private schools, Batty maintains that “Nobles is a special place.”

LaTasha Sarpy
Counselor, LICSW
Office Location: Shattuck 228
Phone: 857-288-8756
Email: LaTasha_Sarpy@nobles.edu

LaTasha Sarpy has been working in the social work field for about 15 years. Outside of Nobles, she primarily works with women and children but also works with male clients. She specializes in trauma-focused/informed therapy modalities, women's issues, issues related to race and cultural competence, anxiety and ADHD. She loves to laugh and eat, so you should expect many of your discussions to include food and lots of laughter. She would like you to know that when you enter into her space, it is a judgement-free zone and that all should feel welcomed.

Hannah Puckett
Counseling Intern
Office location: Pratt 100
Phone: 781-320-7086
Email: Hannah_Puckett@nobles.edu

Hannah Puckett is currently working on a master's degree in counseling and psychology and mental health counseling licensure at Lesley University. Since 2014, she has worked at Nobles as a member of the history department and also serves as an EXCEL (Experiential and Community-Engaged Learning) travel coordinator. She has developed an interest in adolescent wellness and mental health while working as a teacher, coach, EXCEL trip leader, and advisor to hundreds of students in the upper school. She is particularly interested in mindfulness/meditation and nature-based wellness practices, and the ways that these can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression and help folks reconnect with themselves and others. She is excited about this new adventure and eager to work with students in a different capacity.