Licensed to practice in 2 states. Specializes in LGBTQ, Child or Adolescent, Family Conflict and 7 more.
New to Grow
I am a quirky and challenging therapist who graduated from Northwestern University with a Masters in Counseling Psychology in 2014. Having worked extensively in partial hospitalization, therapeutic schools and private practice settings, I combine practical skill based solutions to increase emotional regulation alongside relational work to reshape the past. I provide individual adolescent and early adulthood trauma and gender affirming therapies in addition to IEP consulting, college preparation and parent coaching.
Whether in person or virtual, the therapy space is designed for you and for these walls to contain your feelings, thoughts and experiences. With an oversized couch, floor pillows and abundance of fidgets and games the first session can range from a formal assessment of your personal history to playing Jenga barefoot on the floor. The first step is to establish safety, set expectations and understand what every person needs.
The therapy room is a safe space for you to be able to vent and talk about the things that are too scary to say out loud. I am here to hold your fears, anger and joy with you, no matter how big. The goal of therapy is find healthy ways for you to be comfortable in the boundary of your own skin and move safely throughout the world with intention and insight. Typically I work with individuals who are looking to understand the origins of the behaviors and feelings in order to break habits and gain a sense of control over their identity. This can be done through individualized skill based interventions utilizing CBT and DBT as well as learning to have healthy boundaried relationships that starts with the therapist. While loving and sassy, I will also call things out as I observe them in real time. We are not to blame for our traumas and family systems however we are responsible for how we respond to them.
Our worlds are chaotic, messy and sometimes cruel. As a result it is easy to unknowingly repeat that disorganization in our own lives. My goal to challenge these patterns of behaviors and relationships that may be keeping adolescents and emerging adults stuck. I work with eccentric adolescents and emerging adults with strong personalities who have difficulty communicating their emotions with others. Many of my clients struggle with ADHD, trauma, self injury, suicidality and mood disorders or seeking a safe space to explore their LGBTQIA+ identity.
Other specialties
I identify as
Relational
My goal is to be different than other's in your world in order to give the space to explore how new relationships, thinking patterns and behaviors can promote change. Approaches include DBT and CBT skills to enhance coping while utilizing relational, internal family systems and emotion focused therapies to reshape the past.