I create a safe environment for clients to feel comfortable and safe to be able to open up and express their feelings and thoughts.

I strive to provide clear, supportive, and direct communication throughout the therapeutic process. I view the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative partnership, where we balance space for emotional exploration with practical strategies aimed at improving your symptoms and overall well-being.

I believe that the innate nature of human beings is to survive and be well, and that varying degrees of life experience and trauma create psychic structures that inhibit that natural process from occurring. My job is to help client's develop compassionate awareness for these structures that are no longer functional in their lives and help them to build tolerance for the underlying feelings being protected by these structures. And ultimately to help client's choose and develop healthier more functional thoughts, feelings and behaviors to expand their well being, life satisfaction and treat themselves with loving kindness.

I work collaboratively with my clients to help them learn new coping skills, create positive changes, and attain the goals they have for themselves. My clients view me as supportive, nonjudgmental, and practical. I work with professionals, including MDs and attorneys, as well as stay-at-home moms and students. I specialize in helping people manage anxiety and stress, perfectionism, self-esteem issues, codependency and relationship concerns, and depression. I also support clients who are navigating in vitro fertilization (IVF) and a challenging fertility journey. I help my clients create a more balanced, meaningful, and fun life for themselves. This can include managing negative self-talk, learning to be more assertive and set boundaries, and re-evaluating self-care.

My approach to therapy is integrative, which means that I draw from a number of different theories and techniques and tailor my approach to your specific needs and goals. In addition to more traditional western approaches, I find that many of my clients benefit from the integration of mindfulness and self-compassion practices into our work. For more information about my approach to counseling and psychotherapy, please visit my website.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, and I’m so glad you’ve taken the first step by exploring your options. Whether you’re looking to heal from past trauma, make sense of difficult relationships, or feel less weighed down by everyday stressors, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I’ve worked with individuals facing a wide range of concerns, including sexual and physical abuse, family conflict, relationship and intimacy challenges, low self-worth, and depression. My work is grounded in trauma-informed care, and I’m trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). While these approaches are powerful tools, I believe therapy should never be one-size-fits-all. I take time to understand your unique experiences, strengths, and goals so treatment feels supportive, collaborative, and tailored to you. I believe healing is possible, and my role is to walk alongside you as you move toward it. Finding the right therapist can be overwhelming; when you’re ready, I welcome you to reach out with questions and see if we might be a good fit.

I’m a Psychologist who uses a contemporary psychoanalytic approach that looks beneath the surface to understand patterns, emotions, and the deeper story shaping your life. My style is warm, curious, and collaborative. I don’t just listen; I help you connect the dots. Together, we make meaning of your struggles, fostering lasting change, healing, and a more authentic way of living.

From my perspective life is about learning and growing. We have continual opportunities to learn and grow. Sometimes this means accepting ourselves and our situation with more realistic expectations- grieving or forgiving ourselves or others. Sometimes this means making a conscious choice about how we want to live differently and having the courage to make the first steps in that direction. As my mentor therapist used to say---- a therapist's role is to comfort the discomforted and discomfort the comfortable- we need both at different times. My role is to help guide you and walk with you in your journey. Thank you for the privilege and honor of walking with you and helping you navigate life in more balanced and authentic ways!

I believe every individual has their own strength and weaknesses. It is my hope to provide a safe and secure environment in which people can explore their emotions and reach their personal goals to find happiness. In my experience having safe and secure connection with the therapist allows individuals to truly work on their inner feelings and achieve progress.

I provide short- and longer-term treatment by collaborating with clients to determine an approach that best meets their needs. SPECIALTIES: anxiety, depression, racial trauma, family conflict, LGBTQ challenges, parent-child relational issues, foster care, aging milestones, and parenting and divorce with high-conflict personalities. MODALITIES: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and brief solution-focused therapy. I have over 10 years of professional experience working with individuals and families involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, as well as adult and aging services, and I provide individual and family counseling. I received a B.A. in Radio and Television from The George Washington University and spent 17 years in the television industry (C-SPAN, Fox News, Al Jazeera English, and the Discovery Channel). I have an MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University, and I began my social work career with foster care families before working with older adults.

Searching for a therapist to guide you on your journey towards healing, change, and empowerment can be time-consuming and daunting. Everyone has the right to quality and affirming care, and that starts from the first moment you reach out to me. I will strive to always provide a safe, open, and non-judgmental atmosphere that will foster the positive therapeutic alliance needed to help you achieve your goals. My approach is not one-size-fits-all, and I only see a limited number of clients, which allows us the opportunity to set a focus and the pace you require along your path.

Do you get extra nervous around other people—especially new people or people that you do not know very well? Do you find yourself overthinking everything you say because you are worried about saying the "wrong thing"? Or after a conversation, you replay the entire conversation in your mind and get stuck on worrying that you embarrassed yourself? Perhaps there is a social activity that you would like to do, but you avoid it due to how anxious it makes you feel? Everyone can have experiences like these sometimes, but if you find that anxiety about interacting with other people is interfering with your life, then social anxiety may be the cause. If so, then I can help: I specialize in working with people who are struggling with social anxiety. First, we'll do a thorough assessment just to make sure that social anxiety is the best explanation for what you are experiencing. If it is, you will learn to identify and challenge the thoughts and beliefs that are feeding into your anxiety, reduce the power of your thoughts and feelings, gradually confront the very situations that are making you feel so anxious, and move toward your values. By doing this, you can start to feel better. While that does not always mean that your anxiety will completely go away, it means that the anxiety will likely be much more manageable—you will be able to do more of what is important to you and actually enjoy it. To help determine whether working together would be a good fit, the next step is to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation—no pressure, just a conversation. You can schedule online by going to my website, send me a message (best way to reach me), or give me a call. I will get back to you very quickly, usually within 24 hours!