New to Grow
I’m a licensed clinical social worker based in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I have a passion for working with adults 65 years of age and older, to help them navigate the unique physical, cognitive, mental, emotional, and social changes that are common to this demographic. I recognized early in my social work practice that there are very limited resources that are specific for older adults, and I have strived to be a part of the growing movement to change that, particularly with improving access to mental health care. In addition to psychotherapy, I have experience working with older adults who reside within different levels of care in Life Plan communities / continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). I have also worked in hospice care, at a community organization assisting older adults who are experiencing symptoms of hoarding disorder, and have undergone training with the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) to further develop a holistic approach to aging, dying, and death. Through my varied experiences and firm belief that all people should live and age well whenever possible, I hope to work with you to navigate any issues that are preventing you from living your best life.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
We will have a discussion to understand why you are seeking therapy and what your hopes and expectations are. This will help us navigate your short-term and long- term goals, and will naturally lay out the foundation for our therapeutic relationship.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I encourage my clients to guide our time together by sharing what they are inclined to focus on each time we meet. While I will spend a majority of our sessions providing space for you to speak about whatever is on your mind, I will occasionally interject with questions, not only to gain additional insight, but also to help you consider your experiences from different perspectives which can often lead to healing. At the end of most sessions, I will assign a task or exercise that you can incorporate into your routine until we next meet that can help you connect with yourself and your family, friends, and loved ones in different ways than before we began meeting.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I provide a welcoming and safe space for older adults who are experiencing negative thoughts and feelings that impact their daily lives as well as their relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. Whether your symptoms are related to anxiety, depression, trauma, end-of-life challenges, loss and grief, or caregiver stress, we will work together to assess your needs and outline your goals at a pace that works best for you. I look forward to hearing your individual stories, and helping you develop coping techniques and personalized tools that could provide relief for the issues that are weighing down on you.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are believed to be interconnected, and without being aware of our individual thought-feeling-behavior patterns, we can feel like we lose control when we find ourselves in certain negative situations. I encourage my clients to tune in to their internal reflections and physical sensations when they are in such situations to better understand how they react. From there, we will work together to better understand *why* they react as they do and then develop stronger personal insight and coping skills to alter behaviors, thoughts, and in time, even feelings.
Couples Counseling
Communication breakdown, shifts in our environments, emotionally developing at different rates, changes in personal values... there are many reasons why couples seek counseling. I have sometimes found that my coupled clients, especially those who have been married for several decades, can become so used to the patterns of behavior and communication in their relationship that a third-party is helpful in facilitating difficult conversations and navigating the roots of their conflict. Understanding each partners' current wants and needs and modifying how we communicate, collaborate, and compromise with each other are just some of the few tools that you will be able to work on together as you enter a new chapter in your partnership.
Grief Therapy
Grief is one of the most universal and yet misunderstood human experiences. All people have had someone or something that they have loved and lost and have had to continue on with that hard-to-describe feeling of having and then not having, or being and then not being. Understanding your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors - and identifying them as a response to grief - helps my clients feel ownership of their grief and develop tools that they can use to not necessarily move on *from* grief, but to move on *with* grief.
Strength-Based
All people have strengths that are the building blocks of who we are and how we connect to others, but sometimes it's hard to see those qualities in ourselves and truly love ourselves for them. By working together, I will help you discover your own strengths and use your findings to empower yourself and alter your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to improve your life and relationships.