New to Grow
Hello! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP) with active licenses in New Jersey, Florida, and Texas. As a CIMHP, I specialize in nutritional and integrative medicine for mental health, alongside medical social work, grief and loss counseling, trauma-informed care, and telehealth therapy. I work with individuals, families, and groups facing health-related challenges, including chronic illnesses like kidney disease and dialysis, hospice and end-of-life transitions, caregiving for loved ones with Alzheimer's or dementia, grief (especially for children and families), and the unique struggles that come with military service—such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, combat or deployment-related trauma, readjustment to civilian life, feelings of isolation or loss of purpose, anger management, sleep difficulties, and other stresses from service. With extensive telehealth experience through secure platforms (including virtual counseling for military-connected individuals), I provide compassionate, evidence-based psychotherapy in a warm, non-judgmental virtual space. Taking a holistic approach, I support the whole person—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual—to help you process difficult emotions, manage stress and trauma, develop effective coping strategies (including nutritional and lifestyle integrations for mental well-being), build resilience, honor your experiences and losses, and move forward with greater hope, strength, peace, and purpose in your daily life. If you're dealing with chronic health concerns, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions tied to medical experiences, or the emotional impacts of military service, I'm here to walk alongside you with understanding and expertise. Reach out—let's start your path toward healing together.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Here's what typically happens in our first telehealth session: Introductions and Building Comfort We'll start with a warm welcome. I'll briefly introduce myself, my holistic approach (compassionate, evidence-based, focusing on the whole person—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual), and answer any questions you have about therapy, confidentiality, or how telehealth works. Understanding What Brings You Here You'll share why you're seeking support right now—what's been challenging, what symptoms or feelings you're experiencing (like anxiety, depression, grief, stress, trauma, or adjustments related to health, loss, or life changes), and what you hope to gain from therapy. This helps us focus on your goals. Gathering a Full Picture Through a Psychosocial Assessment A big part of the first (and sometimes second) session is a collaborative psychosocial assessment—this is a standard, holistic way for me to understand your unique story and needs so we can create the most helpful path forward. We'll gently explore areas like: Your current situation and presenting concerns Mental health history (past experiences, diagnoses, or treatments) Physical health and any medical conditions or medications Family background, relationships, and social supports Life experiences, including education, work, living situation, and cultural or spiritual influences Coping strategies (what helps you through tough times) Any strengths, resilience, or positive resources in your life Risk/safety factors (e.g., thoughts of harm—we discuss this openly and supportively if relevant) I'll ask open-ended questions, but you control the depth and order. The goal is to see the full context of your life—not just challenges, but also your strengths and what makes you who you are. Discussing Next Steps Toward the end, we'll talk about what feels like a good fit moving forward—your goals, possible approaches (like trauma-informed care, grief work, or coping skills), session frequency, and any questions about logistics. We'll create a preliminary plan together. Many clients leave the first telehealth session feeling heard, understood, and hopeful—even if we don't dive super deep into everything right away. Therapy is a process, and this is just the beginning of building trust and working toward the healing, resilience, and peace you're seeking. If you're ready or have questions about getting started, reach out—I'm here to support you every step of the way. Looking forward to meeting you virtually!
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
What stands out most in my therapeutic approach is my commitment to helping you heal, rediscover your inner energy, and tap into the strengths you already possess—even amid pain or challenges. I create a truly safe, warm, and non-judgmental space where you feel truly heard and respected, allowing us to explore your concerns at your own pace. I tailor every treatment plan collaboratively with you, drawing on a person-centered, eclectic, and strengths-based framework. This means we focus on what is strong and resilient in you—your personal talents, coping skills, support networks, and cultural/spiritual resources—rather than just deficits. I integrate evidence-based interventions (such as cognitive-behavioral techniques, trauma-informed practices, solution-focused strategies, and grief-specific tools) while keeping everything flexible and customized to your unique needs, goals, and life context. My background in medical social work, grief and loss counseling, trauma care, and extensive telehealth experience equips me to support you through complex issues like chronic illness adjustment, end-of-life transitions, caregiving stress, bereavement (including for children and families), trauma, anxiety, depression, or life changes. Fluent in Albanian, I bring deep cultural sensitivity to ensure care feels inclusive and relevant. Ultimately, my goal is to empower you to grow through your struggles, process your pain, build lasting resilience, and move forward toward the life you envision—with greater hope, clarity, and purpose.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am best positioned to serve individuals, families, and groups who are navigating profound life challenges and seeking meaningful, lasting change. If you're someone experiencing: Grief and loss — whether from the death of a loved one, pet, relationship, or major life shift Anxiety, depression, or trauma — including persistent worry, low mood, intrusive memories, or responses to difficult experiences Chronic illnesses — such as kidney disease, dialysis, or other ongoing health conditions that affect daily life and emotional well-being Caregiving stress — especially as a family member caring for elderly loved ones, those with dementia/Alzheimer's, or chronic conditions (facing burnout, emotional strain, role changes, or guilt) Geriatric concerns — older adults adjusting to aging, health declines, end-of-life transitions, or loss of independence Military/veteran experiences — including PTSD, combat/deployment-related trauma, readjustment to civilian life, feelings of isolation, anger, sleep difficulties, survivor guilt, or purpose after service Other life changes/transitions — major shifts like retirement, relocation, family dynamics, or unexpected upheavals You're likely someone with an open mindset: ready to explore your emotions, tap into your inner strengths, and embrace a path toward healing—even if the journey feels uncertain right now. Your goals might include processing pain, reducing overwhelming symptoms, finding coping tools, rebuilding resilience, restoring hope, or rediscovering purpose and peace in daily life. My practice is deeply holistic, embracing the whole person by thoughtfully integrating the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional dimensions of well-being. I use an eclectic, person-centered approach, blending evidence-based interventions (such as trauma-informed techniques, strengths-based strategies, cognitive-behavioral tools, and grief-specific methods) tailored precisely to your unique needs, background, and goals. Fluent in Albanian and committed to cultural sensitivity, I create a safe, non-judgmental telehealth space where you feel truly seen and supported. If any of these challenges resonate with you, and you're ready to heal, grow, and move forward with greater strength and clarity—I'm here to walk alongside you.
Eclectic
My practice is truly eclectic and deeply integrative—I thoughtfully select and blend evidence-based modalities tailored precisely to your unique needs, goals, and life story, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all method. I draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and related techniques to help reframe anxious or depressive thought patterns and build practical coping skills. I incorporate motivational interviewing to support meaningful behavior changes, lifestyle shifts, or motivation around health and wellness. Mindfulness-based practices, somatic awareness, and stress-reduction tools are woven in to foster present-moment calm and emotional regulation. As a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP), I integrate nutritional and complementary strategies—such as evidence-informed guidance on diet, gut-brain connections, micronutrients, and lifestyle factors—to support brain health, mood stability, energy, and overall resilience, always in collaboration with your medical team when needed. This flexible, person-centered approach is grounded in strengths, resilience, and cultural background. I uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion by blending culturally sensitive interventions—like narrative therapy to explore identity, family stories, or experiences across races, ethnicities, genders, and life transitions—ensuring therapy feels relevant, respectful, and empowering for you. Whether you're navigating grief, trauma, chronic illness, anxiety, depression, caregiving stress, military-related challenges, or major life changes, we co-create a plan that honors the whole you—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual—helping you heal, grow, and thrive in ways that feel authentic and sustainable.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Short-term, goal-focused CBT for anxiety, depression, or work stress. Teach cognitive restructuring: Identify automatic negative thoughts (e.g., “I’m failing at my job”) → challenge with evidence → replace with balanced thought (“I made a mistake, but I’m learning”). Assign behavioral activation homework (e.g., scheduling one enjoyable activity daily to combat low mood). Use CBT worksheets (thought records, mood logs) via telehealth portal.
Grief Therapy
Grief is not a linear path with fixed steps—it's fluid, unique to each person, and often nonlinear. I teach clients that the emotions of grief can ebb and flow, overlap, revisit, or even appear in different orders, which helps normalize the experience and reduces pressure to "grieve the right way." I draw primarily from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's framework (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) as a helpful, non-rigid tool to name and understand what you're feeling. These "stages" are common responses to loss, not a checklist everyone must follow in sequence. Kübler-Ross herself emphasized their flexibility—they describe patterns many people experience, but not everyone goes through all of them, and they can cycle or mix together. This model is especially useful for anticipatory grief (the grief that arises before an actual loss, such as during a terminal illness, chronic disease progression like kidney disease/dialysis, hospice care, or caregiving for someone with Alzheimer's/dementia). It provides a compassionate language for the complex emotions that come with watching a loved one decline, preparing for end-of-life transitions, or facing your own health challenges—helping you process fear, sadness, anger, or even moments of acceptance ahead of time. In our work together, we use this framework gently to: Validate and name your emotions without judgment Create a safe space to explore the full range of feelings Honor your unique journey through grief Build coping strategies, resilience, and hope as you move forward Whether you're grieving a recent loss, anticipatory grief from ongoing illness or caregiving, or the many layers of bereavement, my goal is to support you in finding peace, meaning, and strength amid the pain—on your own timeline, in your own way.
Mind-body approach
You can’t simply think your way out of a body that’s on fire. When chronic stress, trauma, grief, or illness keeps the nervous system in overdrive, the body holds onto that heat—through inflammation, tension, disrupted sleep, or persistent fatigue. True healing happens when we cool the body first, feed the brain with what it truly needs, and then support the mind to follow. As a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP) and holder of a Nutritional Consultant Certificate, I use a whole-person mind-body approach that goes beyond traditional talk therapy. I treat the interconnected layers of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, recognizing that the body often stores pain just as deeply as the mind—especially in cases of chronic illnesses (like kidney disease or dialysis), trauma, anticipatory grief, caregiving stress, or overwhelming anxiety/depression. In our sessions, I blend evidence-based mind-body techniques (such as somatic grounding, breathwork, mindfulness practices, and gentle movement awareness) with practical, nutrition-focused psychoeducation to help you: Reduce systemic inflammation and support the gut-brain axis for better mood stability Nourish brain health through targeted dietary insights and lifestyle adjustments (always coordinated with your medical providers) Calm the body's stress response so therapy gains deeper traction and feel more sustainable We make this collaborative and actionable: gentle psychoeducation to understand how your body and mind interact, personalized homework (simple, realistic steps like tracking sleep/nutrition patterns or trying a short grounding exercise), and ongoing progress tracking to celebrate wins and adjust as needed. This integrated path is particularly powerful when words alone aren’t enough—when chronic health challenges, unresolved trauma, or grief keep the body signaling distress. By calming the fire together, we create space for clearer thinking, deeper emotional release, renewed energy, and real, embodied healing. If your body feels like it’s been carrying the weight for too long, this approach may be the gentle bridge you've been seeking. I’m here to guide you with compassion, expertise, and practical tools—step by step. Let’s start cooling the fire and rebuilding from the inside out. 💙