New to Grow
I love my work. It is such a privilege to walk alongside you as you grow and change. I have been both an ER nurse and a clinical psychologist simultaneously throughout my career. I enjoy balancing the team aspects of ER with the solitary nature of offering individual therapy work. The challenge of figuring out what will be helpful for an individual at that moment in their development, facing whatever struggles they bring is exhilarating. I've been fortunate to have an extensive education with amazing professors. My undergraduate degrees are in Nursing Science, and my Graduate degrees are in Clinical Psychology. I did a post doctoral certification with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation that prepared me to work with first responders. My clinical experience began in nursing. I worked in a teaching hospital, initially on units dealing with neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and head and neck cancer. I moved into the psychiatry department when I realized how words could heal. Later in my nursing work I was bitten by the emergency department bug and worked for 15 years in both suburban and urban emergency departments. My work in psychology has taken me to inpatient, outpatient, community and crisis mental health centers. I have maintained a private practice in outpatient psychotherapy since becoming licensed. I have had the privilege of participating with recognized critical incident teams in Ohio and New Jersey. As the director of Mercury Team I coordinated interventions for police, fire, and ems departments from Trenton to Vineland. In addition, it has been my pleasure to teach at most of my alma mater's as an assistant professor and to serve the New Jersey Police Training Commission as faculty for Crisis Intervention Team (Memphis model) mental health training for law enforcement across the state.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
My office is comfortable, quiet, and private. It is located in my home. You could be visiting a neighbor. There is no daunting office complex or waiting room filled with others you may know and have to explain your visit to. I offer you strict privacy and there are no visual or auditory recording devices that might inadvertently share your facial likeness. I begin our first session by asking how can I be helpful? You can feel free to share as you like and to ask me questions. I tend to be fairly active in sessions and openly share what I am thinking. A colleague of mine once told me I have a remarkable ability to help people feel safe very quickly so they can be vulnerable. I will offer you the things I have discovered that can help us all feel better and function better. I always encourage you to ask any questions you may have, both the first and subsequent sessions. Towards the end of the session I will go over my practice agreement verbally as I am required to do by my practice laws. This explains our agreement and lets you know a bit about the therapy process as well as standards that I must live up to. I will give you a paper copy to read in full at your convenience. Grow will take care of processing fees. If you feel comfortable, we will schedule a follow up appointment and chart a course for our work. In between sessions you are encouraged to reach out to me either by text, email or phone. Text is the quickest way to get a response. Share the struggles and triumphs at any time. If you are comfortable I will supplement our in session work with resources I think may be useful. If I know of an academically sound YouTube video's or ted talk, worksheets that you might choose to use, or books you might choose to read with your permission I will forward them in a text or email. Nothing I send is an assignment. Rather I offer you a menu and you choose what to try and what to leave alone.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I have experienced the benefits of effective psychotherapy on both sides of the couch. I know what courage it takes to ask for help. When I understand what you have experienced I am often able to see things as you do. I am fascinated by life stories. I love the complex interaction of human development, culture and history, biology and experience. I am accepting and warm. I am respectful of all ethnicities and lifestyles. In treatment, I strive to be absolutely present. Sometimes I fail. I am a voracious student and am constantly learning. There will never be judgement here. I work hard to express my authantic self. I welcome your feedback and will learn from you, as hopefully you learn from me. Give me a call and let's see if we're a good match.
Humanistic
As we talk, we develop a plan that is uniquely designed for your style and needs. Therapy is a warm soft place to land, free from judgement but informed by science to achieve your best results. Authenticity is key, both mine and yours. You will have my full attention in session and are encouraged to connect via text/email/or phone between meeting times. The therapeutic work doesn't end with the hour. Therapy can be a warm soft place to land where you can explore options in a safe, non-judgmental setting and engage in solutions that work for you.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Looking at how thoughts and emotions influence each other, we are often able to identify quick solutions for distress. Skills such as reframing, cost benefit analysis and values clarification can offer direction to our work. Of course practice is key, but a perspective shift can give rise to insight and change.