New to Grow
Hi! I'm so glad you're here. I appreciate you taking time to find the right therapist for your needs. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I have been practicing since 2010 providing individual and group therapy. I have a background in substance abuse counseling as well as working in several university counseling services (RPI, Vassar and Boston College). I have worked with my clients on issues such as adjustment, depression, anxiety and trauma.My approach involves CBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy strategies to help clients understand and cope with symptoms. By challenging thoughts, feelings and behaviors, clients learn to take new perspectives that leave the door open for healthy, positive changes. I also have a strong background in motivation enhancement and Internal family systems. My hope is that clients will find a safe and protected space to be curious about their internal emotional experience. I aim to validate and affirm as well as provide new perspectives, so that clients feel able to make meaningful change.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
During our first session the focus is on exploring presenting concerns as well as learning as much about your history as possible. It is important to have a thorough family history which provides a lot of context to the current issues. I also ask clients to share the questions they bring for themselves into therapy.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
What I hope people take away from their experience with me is that you can come to session and speak about anything without fear of judgement. I see everyone that I work with as singular which ensures that I'm not taking a "one size fits all" approach. I bring genuine curiosity to every session and encourage clients to slow down and be curious with themselves. People often think that therapy is a race to find the answer and it's important to remember that therapy is an investment and can't be rushed.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I will always enjoy working with clients who consistently show up for themselves in therapy. It is difficult work and persistence is so important, even when you feel as though things aren't getting better yet. I know that people worry about failing at therapy and I ask those people to remember that there is no right way to engage in the work.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can benefit clients by helping them develop psychological flexibility—the ability to stay present, open, and engaged even when facing difficult thoughts or emotions. Rather than trying to eliminate distressing experiences, ACT teaches clients to relate to them with acceptance and compassion, reducing their impact and influence. Through clarifying personal values and committing to meaningful actions, clients often feel more empowered to move toward the life they want, even in the presence of challenges.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) can benefit clients by helping them understand and build compassionate relationships with the different “parts” of themselves—such as protective parts, wounded parts, or reactive parts. By approaching these inner experiences with curiosity rather than judgment, clients often experience reduced inner conflict and greater emotional balance. IFS also helps individuals access their core “Self,” a calm and centered state that can guide healing and decision-making. This process can lead to deeper self-understanding, improved coping, and more harmonious internal and external relationships.
Psychoanalytic
Psychoanalysis can benefit clients by helping them uncover unconscious thoughts, feelings, and patterns that influence their current behavior and emotional struggles. Through exploring early experiences, dreams, and recurring relational themes, clients gain deeper insight into the roots of their difficulties. This increased self-awareness can lead to lasting change, allowing individuals to break old patterns, understand their emotional reactions, and experience greater freedom in their relationships and daily life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can benefit clients by helping them identify and change unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and problematic behaviors. By learning practical skills to challenge negative thinking and experiment with new behaviors, clients often experience reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT is structured, goal-oriented, and collaborative, empowering individuals to build coping strategies they can continue using long after therapy ends.