When clients first come to see me, they’re surprised by my unconventional approach to therapy. First I get a confused look, then a second glance or a laugh, and then they often say, “You’re not like any therapist I’ve had before,” or “I didn’t know a therapist could be so down-to-earth.”

I don’t subscribe to the theory that a psychotherapist has to be serious and unemotional—personally, I wouldn’t want to open up to someone who was, regardless of how educated, experienced, and highly recommended they were. And I don’t expect you to, either.

Therapy is difficult, and chances are that painful emotions will surface during our time together. And when that occurs, I’ll be there for comfort, emotional support, and encouragement.

I have a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in social work, and I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Prior to creating my solo private practice and transitioning into psychotherapy full time, I worked in management in the healthcare field. In this role, I led a team of therapists in providing best practices of care, reported to and worked in collaboration with the facility administrator and corporate consultants, and developed and maintained professional relationships with providers of care to our clientele, often representing the facility as a whole. As a result, I understand the struggles of people in leadership roles, who many times are not in a position to discuss their troubles among their coworkers.

The primary populations served at the facilities at which I worked consisted of adults suffering from serious debilitating mental illness, adults with physical disabilities, seniors no longer able to care for themselves, Alzheimer's and dementia patients, and patients’ family members navigating the healthcare maze. Common issues of concern among this diverse population were crisis management, coping skills, treating the symptoms of mental illness, bereavement, midlife issues (e.g., marital conflict, maladaptive family dynamics), caretaker stress, and end-of-life planning.

As a result of this experience, in my private practice I excel at treating clients struggling with the following issues:

• Partner conflict
• Mood disorders (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder) 
• Grief & loss
• Social isolation
• Conflict resolution
• Professional career adversities
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) & attention-deficit disorder (ADD)
• Life transitions
• Addiction & recovery
• Elder issues (retirement concerns, loss of former abilities, and changing roles within the family and society)

First and foremost, my goal is to get to know you—your goals, your strengths, what you value, and how you see the world. These aspects of your identity help me determine which approach to therapy will work best for you. For example, for someone coming to me with the specific goal of overcoming a fear of open and crowed spaces (agoraphobia), solution focused and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be most appropriate. On the other hand, someone coming to me with general symptoms of depression and anxiety might benefit from a more exploratory approach, such as narrative or Gestalt therapy. 

I adjust my approach to fit your needs, drawing from the following approaches:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Solution-focused therapy
• Interpersonal therapy
• Gestalt / holistic theoretical approach
• Motivational interviewing
• Narrative therapy