Hi! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Virginia and Florida. After receiving my Master's degree in Social Work I specialized in experiential and expressive arts training including Psychodrama, Sandtray, Collage, and Soul Collage. I furthered my knowledge by taking specialized coursework in Play Therapy, concentrated working in the field of play therapy, and am an experienced Registered Play Therapist. I have been practicing for almost 9 years in private practice after working in a variety of other clinical and academic settings. In our work together I will draw from different proven interventions such as Psychodynamic Therapy, Play Therapy, CBT, Trauma-Educated or Trauma-Informed, and mindfulness practices. Ultimately I want to help you become the best version of yourself, so that you are more comfortable taking care of your emotional and psychological needs.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I use our first session to get to know you, your life experiences, and the areas of concern you wish to address in our collaborative work. I offer my non-judgmental self, listening skills, and supportive reflections to help you find what you need during this time. I will provide support in a safe, comfortable space where all of you is welcome. Take a breath and know that I don't expect you to know how to do therapy or even how to move through the appointment. Treat this like an experiment that you are trying out. Remind yourself that I will be there the whole time to support you and help with the process from start to finish. And remember this is a brave meeting between the two of us and we are just starting to get to know each other. It may feel hard or uncomfortable at first, just like it feels talking to a "stranger" about our feelings and personal life. That is quite natural and part of the process of building the therapeutic relationship.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I see my strengths as three-fold. As an eclectic, client-centered therapist I offer a unique skillset to help clients in diverse situations to the best of my ability. This informs how I provide therapy because I recognize that more than one technique can help someone working around a particular issue or multiple issues. This goes for people in general. Furthermore, the same technique may not be appropriate for different clients regardless of if they are working around very similar or like concerns or patterns. I can assess and plan quickly to most accurately and effectively provide therapeutic techniques to address ongoing issues. Finally, I am relatable, compassionate, and approachable as a clinician because I know that while I may be the expert around mental health concerns and family systems, you are your own expert of your self, your psyche, and your entire world. My goal is that this will always be the case.