Native among Boston Business Journal’s ‘40 under 40’

Honorees represent the best and brightest in Massachusetts, publication says

Joey Barrett

Swampscott native Anna Svetchnikov, executive director of Longwood Care, has been declared a '40 under 40' by the Boston Business Journal.

Svetchnikov said she didn’t think anything of her husband nominating her to be honored as one of Boston Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” In September, the executive director at Longwood Care received word that she received the recognition.

“I was very surprised and extremely excited,” Svetchnikov said.

The award highlights Boston’s brightest young professionals who aim to better their communities. The 2020 group featured several non-profit leaders, innovators, and healthcare workers.

Twenty men and 20 women were selected in this year’s group.

Longwood Care is a family therapy and behavioral center with locations in Danvers and Lynnfield. The organization’s mission is to “build strong families and prosperous communities.”

The organization offers individual, couples, and family therapy. Longwood Care also provides outreach services and youth mentoring.

Svetchnikov is a family therapist who sees daily clients. Her patients vary in age, and she said her goals are to support the community and make her clients feel comfortable.

“I always try to work with the family unit,” Svetchnikov said. “It is important to involve parents in therapy and provide feedback and psychoeducation.”

The facility itself provides many rooms designed to support a specific population. Longwood has rooms for younger children, teens, adults, and families.

“Our rooms are designed as a home environment for children to feel comfortable in,” Svetchnikov said. “We have a variety of therapeutic games and tools to support children with anxiety, ADHD, behaviors, autism, and trauma.”

For Svetchnikov, she said she’s always wanted to be in a helping profession. At the University of Massachusetts, Boston, she earned not only a bachelor’s degree in psychology, but also a master’s degree in family therapy.

Svetchnikov has also worked for Children’s Hospital Boston, Otrada Adult Day Health Care, and The Home for Little Wanderers.

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Svetchnikov created a comic book for children about the virus titled, “Awesome Team and Corona Vera.”

She said she wrote the book in response to parental concerns and due to the unique times children are currently going through.

In the story, three superheroes clash against CoronaVera, a villain who wants to take over the world.

The book focuses on learning, teamwork, and proper safety. Svetchnikov scripted the story to be personable as well, as characters in the book are named after her three sons and mother.

Michael Svetchnikov is her spouse and president of Longwood Care. He said he admires his wife’s ability to take care of not only their three “very active” boys, but also her clients.

“Anna is an amazing wife and I am incredibly lucky to have her by my side,” Michael Svetchnikov said. “Anna is able to multitask and follow through with new initiatives to support our community.”

Svetchnikov’s co-worker, Alex Matlis, said he’s been working with Anna for about one year now and admires her work ethic both in and out of the office.

“She is an amazingly caring, dedicated, creative, hardworking and knowledgeable individual,” Matlis said. “Anna always strives to help those in need no matter their age or issues often working late into the night, while raising three young children.”

Svetchnikov’s book can be found for free on Longwood Care’s website. The organization’s Danvers location can be found on Cherry Hill Drive, and the Lynnfield site is located on Broadway.

Joey Barrett is a senior at Endicott College studying communication

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