LMSW-C, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges while creating healthier and more fulfilling lives. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of working with people from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique story, strengths, and struggles. These experiences have shaped my understanding of how deeply personal circumstances are influenced by larger systems, and how healing requires both compassion and practical strategies. My therapeutic style is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative. I believe that healing is not something I do for you but something we create together. I meet you exactly where you are, without judgment, and walk beside you as you move forward. My role is to provide guidance, support, and evidence-based tools that empower you to make meaningful changes while honoring your lived experiences. I specialize in helping clients manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges, but I also work with individuals seeking personal growth, clarity, or support during life transitions. Regardless of the circumstances, I view therapy as a space where people can feel seen, heard, and supported in ways that allow them to connect more deeply with themselves and others. At the core of my approach is the belief that every individual possesses resilience, strengths, and untapped potential. Therapy is a process of uncovering those strengths, identifying barriers, and creating a path toward balance and fulfillment. Whether you are facing a major life crisis or simply want to live with greater authenticity and joy, I am committed to helping you discover new possibilities for growth and healing. Together, we can build a foundation that supports lasting change and a more meaningful, empowered life.
Beginning therapy is a significant step, and I want to honor the courage it takes to reach out for support. Many people feel both hopeful and anxious about their first session. It is normal to wonder what will happen, what you should share, or whether you will feel comfortable opening up to someone you have just met. To ease those concerns, I want to give you a clear picture of what to expect when we meet for the very first time. From the moment our session begins, my primary goal is to create an environment that feels safe, welcoming, and supportive. Therapy is most effective when clients feel comfortable enough to speak openly without fear of judgment. In our first meeting, I will take time to introduce myself, explain how I work, and answer any initial questions you may have. You can expect warmth, compassion, and genuine curiosity about your experiences. Because this is our first meeting, we will not dive immediately into difficult or painful subjects unless you choose to. Instead, we will start with a conversation designed to help you feel comfortable. I may ask about your reasons for seeking therapy, what you hope to gain, and whether you have had prior experiences with counseling. These questions are not meant to put you on the spot but to help me understand where you are coming from and how I can best support you. During this initial session, you will have the opportunity to share whatever feels most important to you. Some clients come with a specific concern, such as anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, or stress. Others may be less clear about what they want to address, and that is perfectly okay. Together, we will explore what brought you here, what challenges you are facing, and what you would like to see change in your life. You can share as much or as little as feels right for you. In order to understand your unique situation, I will also ask about your history. This may include questions about your family, relationships, work, health, and any previous therapy experiences. We will talk about strengths and challenges, as well as coping strategies you currently use. This background helps me see the bigger picture of your life, but it is never meant to feel like an interrogation. You are always in control of what you choose to share, and we can go at a pace that feels comfortable. Therapy is most effective when it has direction. In our first session, we will begin talking about your goals. These goals do not need to be perfectly cle
When I reflect on what makes me effective as a therapist, I recognize that my greatest strengths are not just the skills I bring but the way I use them to create a supportive, empowering environment. Clients often share that they feel seen, understood, and truly partnered with in their journey toward healing. My therapeutic approach combines compassion with practical strategies, warmth with structure, and evidence-based methods with creativity. These strengths shape the way I practice and the results clients experience. One of my strongest qualities is my ability to build authentic connections with clients. I believe therapy works best when it feels like a genuine human relationship rather than a clinical transaction. My clients know I am invested in their well-being, and they feel safe enough to share deeply personal thoughts and feelings. By meeting people where they are and honoring their unique stories, I create a foundation of trust that allows meaningful change to occur. Clients often arrive in therapy feeling vulnerable or even ashamed of their struggles. One of my strengths is creating a safe space where judgment has no place. I understand that everyone’s journey is shaped by complex experiences, and my role is not to criticize but to support. This environment encourages clients to be honest about their challenges, which in turn accelerates the healing process. Another strength lies in my ability to balance deep empathy with concrete, actionable strategies. While clients value being heard and validated, they also want tools that help them navigate daily challenges. I draw on evidence-based methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused approaches, and strengths-based practices to provide practical steps forward. This combination ensures that clients feel both emotionally supported and equipped to make real changes in their lives. Many people enter therapy focused solely on what is not working. I view one of my key strengths as the ability to help clients see their own resilience and potential. By highlighting their strengths, I empower them to use existing skills and resources to move forward. This shift in perspective—from focusing only on problems to recognizing strengths—creates hope and motivation for growth. I bring a deep respect for diversity and inclusivity to my work. My experience with clients from varied cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds has strengthened my ability to adapt my approach to fit each indiv
When I think about the clients I feel most honored to serve, I imagine individuals, couples, and families who are ready to take meaningful steps toward change, even if they feel uncertain about how that change will look or what it will require. My ideal clients are not defined by a specific age, background, or circumstance but by a willingness to engage in the process of self-discovery and healing. They may arrive feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or discouraged, yet underneath those struggles lies a genuine desire for growth, understanding, and peace. Many of the people I work with are navigating significant life transitions, whether that is moving through a divorce, coping with the loss of a loved one, adjusting to a new career, or facing the challenges of becoming a parent. These moments can feel disorienting, filled with uncertainty and questions about the future. My ideal clients in this space may feel unprepared or even resistant to change, yet they also carry a deep awareness that standing still is no longer an option. Together, we work to acknowledge the grief and anxiety that transitions can bring, while also cultivating the skills, resilience, and vision necessary to step into the next chapter with confidence. I am deeply committed to supporting individuals who experience anxiety, depression, trauma, or chronic stress. These clients often come to therapy carrying invisible burdens that affect their sleep, concentration, relationships, and ability to find joy in daily life. They may feel exhausted by constant worry or weighed down by emotions that seem unmanageable. My ideal clients in this category are people who want to reclaim their sense of balance, learn healthier ways to cope, and develop strategies that allow them to thrive. They may not believe healing is fully possible when they arrive, but they are open to exploring new perspectives and practices that can provide relief and hope. Another group of clients I am particularly passionate about working with includes couples and families who desire stronger, more fulfilling relationships. These clients may feel disconnected from one another, stuck in cycles of conflict, or struggling with communication barriers. My ideal couples often want to rebuild trust, restore intimacy, or simply rediscover the joy of being together. Families may seek help navigating generational differences, co-parenting dynamics, or challenges related to life stages such as adolescence or caregiving for aging parents. These
n my practice, I frequently incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a core treatment approach. CBT is an evidence-based method that focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I value it because it provides clients with practical tools to challenge distorted thinking patterns, reframe negative beliefs, and develop healthier coping strategies. My experience with CBT includes working with individuals, couples, and families presenting with concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma responses, relationship conflict, and stress management. I use structured techniques such as cognitive restructuring, thought records, and behavioral activation to help clients gain insight into how their internal dialogue influences their emotional well-being and actions. In session, I often blend CBT with other therapeutic modalities depending on the client’s needs, but I find CBT particularly effective for helping clients set measurable goals, track progress, and experience tangible improvements in daily functioning. I also encourage clients to practice CBT skills outside of sessions, using homework assignments and reflection exercises to reinforce learning and promote self-efficacy.
In my practice, I also integrate Attachment-Based Therapy (ABT), which emphasizes the importance of early relationships and their influence on emotional development, self-concept, and relational patterns in adulthood. This approach helps clients explore how attachment experiences—secure or insecure—shape the way they connect with others and manage emotions. My experience with ABT has been particularly meaningful in working with clients who present with relational difficulties, trauma histories, or challenges in trust and intimacy. I use this method to create a safe therapeutic alliance where clients can begin to explore and heal attachment wounds. Through reflection and exploration, clients gain awareness of how past attachment patterns influence their current relationships, both positively and negatively. In session, I often use ABT to guide clients in developing healthier ways of relating, increasing their capacity for vulnerability, and improving emotional regulation. With couples and families, this approach allows me to highlight interactional cycles, identify unmet attachment needs, and foster new ways of connecting that strengthen bonds.
In my practice, I provide Couples Counseling to support partners in strengthening their relationship, improving communication, and navigating challenges together. I view the couple as a system, where patterns of interaction, unspoken expectations, and individual histories all play a role in shaping the relationship dynamic. My experience in this area includes working with couples facing concerns such as conflict resolution, infidelity, trust rebuilding, parenting challenges, financial stress, and life transitions. I create a safe, balanced environment where both partners feel heard and respected, which is essential for fostering growth and healing. In session, I often draw from approaches such as emotionally focused techniques, communication skills training, and solution-focused strategies. I guide couples to identify and break negative interactional cycles, practice healthier ways of expressing needs, and build emotional safety within their relationship. Homework assignments, reflective exercises, and skill-building practices help couples carry the progress made in therapy into their daily lives.