New to Grow
am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience providing trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health services to diverse and underserved populations. I have worked across community mental health, correctional settings, unaccompanied children shelters, and medical environments, supporting clients with depression, anxiety, trauma, and crisis-related concerns. My clinical approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT, and I integrate these models to help clients build insight, strengthen coping skills, and improve emotional regulation. I have experience providing individual, family, and group therapy, conducting psychosocial and risk assessments, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to support comprehensive care. I am passionate about serving individuals facing complex life stressors and limited resources. I approach my work with a strengths-based, culturally responsive, and compassionate lens, with a strong commitment to client safety, growth, and long-term well-being.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, my priority is creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can begin to share what’s been bringing you to therapy. We’ll spend time getting to know each other, and I’ll invite you to talk about your current concerns, goals, and what you hope to gain from therapy—at a pace that feels comfortable for you. I’ll also ask some questions to better understand your background, stressors, and overall emotional well-being. If you’re feeling anxious about starting therapy, that’s completely okay, and we can talk about that too. I take a gentle, collaborative approach and believe therapy should feel supportive rather than overwhelming. We may review coping strategies or grounding tools if needed, and I’ll check in about safety and support. By the end of the session, we’ll discuss next steps and begin outlining goals for our work together. You don’t need to have everything figured out showing up is enough, and we’ll take things one step at a time.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
What stands out about my approach is the balance I bring between compassion and practical, evidence-based care. I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space while also helping clients develop concrete tools they can use in their daily lives. I believe meaningful change happens when clients feel both understood and empowered. My work is trauma-informed and grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT, allowing me to tailor treatment to each client’s unique experiences, strengths, and goals. I focus on helping clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, build emotional regulation skills, and reduce patterns that keep them feeling stuck or overwhelmed. I have extensive experience working with individuals facing high levels of stress, trauma, and systemic barriers, which has shaped a flexible, culturally responsive approach. I regularly check in on progress, adjust treatment as needed, and collaborate closely with clients to ensure therapy feels relevant and supportive. Many clients report feeling more confident, emotionally regulated, and better equipped to manage challenges both during and outside of sessions.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am best positioned to work with individuals who are experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, emotional overwhelm, and difficulties related to life transitions or chronic stress. I often work with clients who feel stuck, disconnected from themselves, or unsure of their sense of purpose, and who want support building confidence, emotional regulation, and healthier coping skills. I have extensive experience supporting clients with complex trauma histories, including individuals impacted by violence, displacement, family separation, incarceration, and systemic barriers. I work well with clients who may feel hesitant about therapy, are seeking a gentle yet structured approach, or want a therapist who listens, checks in, and collaborates with them at their pace. My approach is especially supportive for clients who want practical tools alongside emotional processing those who are motivated to understand their thoughts and emotions, improve daily functioning, and work toward meaningful, realistic goals. I also work effectively with clients navigating high-stress environments, limited resources, or ongoing life challenges, and I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel supported and empowered.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have extensive experience utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a core, evidence-based treatment approach across diverse and high-acuity populations, including adults with serious mental illness, unaccompanied minors with complex trauma histories, incarcerated individuals, and underserved communities facing significant psychosocial stressors. I am formally trained and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and integrate CBT principles consistently throughout my clinical practice. In my work, CBT is used to help clients identify and understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, particularly as they relate to depression, anxiety, trauma responses, and maladaptive coping patterns. I collaboratively support clients in recognizing unhelpful thought patterns, developing cognitive restructuring skills, and practicing healthier behavioral responses. Interventions are tailored to each client’s developmental level, cultural background, and current level of stability, with an emphasis on safety, empowerment, and skill-building. Within trauma-informed settings, including unaccompanied children shelters and correctional environments, I apply CBT and TF-CBT techniques to address trauma symptoms, emotional regulation, and behavioral activation while maintaining a strengths-based and client-centered approach. This includes psychoeducation, grounding techniques, coping skills development, affect regulation, and gradual processing of traumatic experiences when clinically appropriate. I also incorporate CBT into group therapy, crisis intervention, and interdisciplinary treatment planning. In supervisory and leadership roles, I guide clinicians in the ethical and effective application of CBT interventions, ensuring fidelity to evidence-based practices while remaining flexible to client needs and environmental constraints. Overall, my use of CBT is practical, collaborative, and goal-oriented, supporting clients in developing insight, increasing emotional regulation, and building sustainable coping strategies that improve daily functioning and overall well-being.