(she/her)
New to Grow
Most of my clients describe me as being fully engaged, compassionate, intuitive, and challenging. I tend to be direct and kind. Over my 30 years of clinical practice, I have worked in a wide variety of settings, including mental health clinics, psychiatric hospital, corporate settings, taught graduate school and maintained private practice. I have also provided critical incident debriefings and corporate trainings. During COVID, I closed my on-site office and now maintain a 100% remote private practice.
During the first session, I will take a complete family history so that I have a big picture who you are, your family and cultural influences, what factors might have contributed to your current distress, your strengths and your struggles. From there, we will develop an initial treatment plan or "yellow brick road" path forward. Nothing changes if we stand still. Change is uncomfortable.
I am engaging, interactive, and may throw in some humor on occasion.... although I hold the silence well when needed. I have worked with people across cultures and ages and find that I can connect well with most people. I enjoy finding the commonalities - what connects us. Even in the era of telehealth, creating connection is crucial. Don't forget the tissue box!
I tend to dive right in, ask a million questions and then create a game plan during the first or second session. This plan (treatment plan) will create a path for us in therapy. I tend to assign homework (videos, worksheets) that will help to illustrate a concept that we are addressing or help you to identify where you are getting stuck. Follow through is crucial!
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
We often carry irrational beliefs or thoughts that negatively impact our emotions and outlook on life. When we challenge these. we can change our path forward. I incorporate worksheets and homework to have clients practice challenging these thoughts.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
Avoidance of discomfort is a common strategy to cope. The more we avoid, the bigger the discomfort. ERP is a way of strategically introducing tiny challenges to increase exposure to the discomfort, increasing courage, self-efficacy, and ultimately expanding possibilities in your life.
Grief Therapy
We all experience loss and grief at some point in our life. Job loss, death, divorce, separation, birth of a child, new home, marriage, moving, illness all involve some level of discomfort and uncertainty. When we can face our losses head on and fully embrace it -rather than avoid it- we can move forward, heal and grow.
Integrative
Over the past 30 years of clinical experience, I have been trained in a variety of clinical approaches which embrace the mind-body and holistic approach: nutrition for mental health, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and expressive art therapy. Depending on the clinical needs of the client. I can modify my approach to meet the needs of each individual. with the ultimate goal of living life to the fullest.