New to Grow
Hi! I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) with over 20 years of experience in behavioral health. Over the years I’ve worked in many roles — including supervision, leadership, and training — but what I value most is sitting down with people and helping them make sense of their lives. I work with adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, relationship stress, and major life changes. I also have considerable experience supporting people living with more complex mental health conditions, including psychosis, schizophrenia, and dissociative identity disorder. I’m especially mindful of the added layers that can come with intercultural relationships and blended or restructured families. I also support families navigating the challenges of a loved one living with hoarding disorder. While I take this work seriously, therapy with me isn’t stiff or overly clinical. I aim to create a space where people feel comfortable being real — where we can talk honestly, think together, and even laugh along the way.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session is mainly about getting to know each other and making sure you feel comfortable. You can expect a warm, engaged conversation — not an interrogation. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in right now, what you hope might feel different in your life, and what feels most important to focus on first. You don’t need to have everything perfectly organized before you arrive. Most people don’t, and part of the work is sorting through things together. My hope is that you leave that first meeting feeling heard and with a clearer sense of direction about what working together might look like.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One strength I bring to therapy is the ability to balance depth with practicality. I enjoy helping people understand the “why” behind their thoughts, emotions, and patterns, but I’m equally focused on helping them figure out what to do next. Insight matters, but real change happens when insight leads to action. I also bring the perspective that comes from more than two decades in behavioral health. I’ve worked with people across a wide range of situations — from everyday stress and life transitions to serious and persistent mental illness. That experience allows me to stay grounded and steady even when conversations become difficult or complex. Just as important, I approach therapy as a genuine human relationship. Curiosity, honesty, and respect guide my work, and a little humor often finds its way into the room as well.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Many of the adults I work with look like they’re managing life on the outside but feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck on the inside. Others arrive during periods of transition — relationship changes, family stress, or moments when old coping strategies simply aren’t working anymore. My approach balances insight with action. We’ll look honestly at how your past experiences and relationships may shape the present, and then we’ll focus on what can actually change going forward. My work is trauma-informed and grounded in attachment and relational approaches. Together we’ll identify patterns, strengthen coping skills, and experiment with new ways of responding to the challenges you face. The goal isn’t just to understand yourself better — it’s to help you experience more flexibility, stability, and choice in how you move through your life.
Psychodynamic
We will look beneath the surface of your thoughts and behaviors. Together we explore how past experiences — especially early relationships — may still be shaping your emotions, patterns, and reactions today. By bringing those influences into awareness, you can begin to understand yourself more fully and make different choices in the present.
Attachment-based
I help you understand how early relationships with caregivers shaped the way you experience trust, closeness, and safety with others. In therapy, we build a secure and supportive relationship where those patterns can be understood and gradually shifted. Over time, this can lead to stronger emotional regulation and healthier relationships.
Humanistic
I approach therapy from a person-centered perspective. I believe everyone deserves to be met with respect, kindness, and genuine curiosity. In our work together, I see us as partners — two people in the room working toward understanding and change. I also believe each person has the capacity to grow, even when life feels stuck.
Motivational Interviewing
I will help you work through mixed feelings about change. Instead of telling you what to do, I help you explore what matters most to you and what might be getting in the way. The goal is to strengthen your own motivation so that change feels meaningful and sustainable.
Psychoeducation
I combine learning with therapeutic support. I help you understand your mental health, your symptoms, and the tools that can help you manage them. When people understand what’s happening and why, they often feel more empowered to make choices that support their wellbeing.