Licensed to practice in Maryland and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Addiction, Anxiety, Mood Disorders and 10 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
With 26 years of experience in the mental health field, my background spans a wide array of treatment settings and diverse populations. My journey began in wilderness programming for adolescents, witnessing how nature and challenge foster powerful change. I then transitioned to residential programs for at-risk youth—including those with severe behavioral challenges and adolescent sexual offenders—and provided substance use treatment for youth and adults in detention facilities. Since 2016, I have focused heavily on the intersection of mental health and addiction, treating them as deeply interconnected. Today, I specialize in treating all types of addiction, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and certain personality disorders. My passion lies in helping adolescents (ages 14–18) and adults navigate their struggles with honesty, support, and practical solutions. Taking an eclectic approach, I incorporate Person-Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, CBT, DBT, and Mindfulness into my practice. I also integrate creative modalities like sand tray and art therapy, knowing healing doesn’t always happen through words alone. Over my career, I have run numerous therapy groups and worked with a broad range of individuals, including LGBTQ+ and deaf clients. Academically, I earned my bachelor’s in Psychology and Sociology from Frostburg State University (2000) and my Master of Social Work from Salisbury University (2011), obtaining my LGSW in 2011 and my LCSW-C in 2014. At my core, I believe a fulfilling life requires balancing and nurturing the body, mind, and soul. My therapeutic approach is straightforward, genuine, and transparent: I don’t sugarcoat things, and what you see is what you get. I entered this field with a singular, clear purpose—to help people—and that remains my exact intention every day.
Because everyone’s goals and comfort levels are a little different, we can tailor this to whatever feels right for you. However, a typical first session is really just a collaborative, low-pressure conversation designed to help us get to know each other. Here is a general roadmap of what you can expect: 1. Getting Settled & The Logistics We will start by making sure you are comfortable and that our connection (if we are meeting virtually) is working smoothly. We will briefly review the initial paperwork, touch on important housekeeping items like confidentiality, and answer any immediate logistical questions you might have. 2. Sharing Your Story This is your space to share what brings you to therapy at this specific moment. We will talk about: The primary challenges or stressors you are currently facing. What a "good day" looks like versus a difficult one. Any relevant history or background you feel comfortable sharing. Note: You are entirely in the driver’s seat here. You only need to share what you feel ready to share—there is absolutely no pressure to deep-dive into heavy topics right away. 3. Exploring Your Goals We will talk about what you hope to get out of our time together. Whether you have highly specific goals (like learning new coping strategies) or more general ones (like simply having a safe space to process your thoughts), defining these helps us build a roadmap for future sessions. 4. Wrapping Up & Next Steps Before we finish, we will check in on how the session felt for you. Therapy is built on a strong, trusting relationship, so it’s important to see if our dynamic feels like a good fit. If you feel comfortable moving forward, we will discuss a general plan for our upcoming sessions and handle scheduling. What major goals or specific challenges are you hoping to focus on as we get started?
As a therapist, my goal is to provide a collaborative, low-pressure space where you feel entirely in the driver’s seat of your own healing journey. I bring a robust clinical toolkit to our sessions, blending a deep knowledge of various treatment modalities and diverse listening and communication skills with a genuinely empathetic, down-to-earth approach. I believe that meaningful growth happens when clinical expertise meets authentic human connection, which is why I bring my true, genuine self to our work—complete with a sense of humor, a basic understanding of life's complexities, and a strong desire to guide, educate, and support you. Our first session together is simply a comfortable, collaborative conversation designed for us to get to know one another. We will take care of any quick logistics, explore what brings you to therapy at this specific moment, and begin mapping out your unique goals. There is absolutely no pressure to deep-dive into heavy topics right away; you only share what you feel ready to share. Together, we will check in to ensure our dynamic feels like a good fit, creating a reliable roadmap for future sessions built entirely on trust and mutual respect.
My ideal clients are adolescents (ages 14–18) and adults who are ready to approach their healing with honesty, accountability, and a genuine desire for practical solutions. Whether navigating addiction, anxiety, depression, PTSD, or the complexities of a personality disorder, the individuals who thrive most in my practice are those open to an eclectic, collaborative approach—whether that means exploring evidence-based tools like CBT and DBT, or engaging in creative, non-verbal modalities like sand tray and art therapy. Because my style is straightforward, transparent, and grounded in real-world change, I work best with clients who appreciate a therapist who doesn't sugarcoat things, but instead offers a safe, genuine space to build resilience and nurture the balance of body, mind, and soul.
Other specialties
I identify as
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a down-to-earth way to help you stop spending all your energy fighting difficult thoughts and emotions. So often, we put our lives on hold, waiting for anxiety, pain, or self-doubt to completely disappear before we start doing what matters to us. With ACT, we change that approach. Instead of trying to force negative feelings away, we learn to acknowledge that they are a normal part of being human, drop the exhausting tug-of-war with them, and refocus on what you can actually control. Together, we figure out your core values—what truly matters to you and the kind of life you want to live—and then we map out real, actionable steps to move you in that direction. It is all about learning to live a rich, meaningful life with your challenges, taking them along for the ride rather than letting them sit in the driver's seat and keep you stuck.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I view Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a practical tool for mapping out how your thoughts, your feelings, and your actions are all connected. Often, when we are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck, our brains get caught in negative loops or unhelpful patterns of thinking that make a tough situation feel even heavier. In our sessions, we work together like detectives to notice those automatic thoughts, pause, and look at them with real honesty. We don't just talk about the problem; we focus on real-world strategies to challenge those negative patterns and shift your perspective. By changing the way you look at a situation, you can actually change how you feel and how you react to it, giving you concrete, everyday tools to take control of your life and move forward.
Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
When it comes to handling thoughts of suicide, I believe we are a team, and we work through it together. I don't use a rigid, checklist-style approach that leaves you feeling like a number or a problem to be solved. Instead, we have an open, honest conversation where you can safely talk about how heavy things have gotten without feeling judged or immediately rushed into an institutional setting. Together, we look at the whole picture—figuring out what is fueling that pain, recognizing the signs that things are escalating, and identifying what keeps you anchored. From there, we actively build a personalized safety plan that you actually feel comfortable using, focusing on practical steps, trusted coping strategies, and real-world support to keep you safe and help you find a way forward.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
For me, culturally sensitive therapy simply means that I meet you exactly as you are, with total respect for the unique background, community, and life experiences that make you who you are. I know that your identity—whether it is shaped by your race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or being part of the deaf or hard-of-hearing community—deeply affects how you experience the world and face its challenges. In our sessions, I don't use a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, I make sure our work respects your personal values and cultural realities. I view you as the ultimate expert on your own life. My job is to listen with an open mind, learn from your perspective, and ensure you feel completely seen, safe, and understood for exactly who you are.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I use mindfulness as a down-to-earth, everyday tool to help you notice how your body and mind react to stress. Instead of looking at it as just sitting in silent meditation, I see it as a practical way to slow down and find your calm when life feels overwhelming. Together, we will learn how to check in with your thoughts, physical feelings, and emotional triggers—like anxiety or cravings—without beating yourself up for having them. This acts as a steady anchor, giving you the tools to pause and take a breath before reacting to a stressful situation. My goal is to take the mystery out of mindfulness and give you simple, straightforward techniques to help you stay present, clear your head, and bring a healthy sense of balance back to your body, mind, and soul.