New to Grow
I’m a licensed psychologist in New York with more than 30 years of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, grief and loss, chronic illness, life transitions, and identity exploration. My approach is warm, collaborative, and practical — I believe therapy works best when you feel understood, respected, and actively involved in the process. I draw from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and insight-oriented work, integrating strategies that support both emotional understanding and real-life change. Some clients come to me feeling overwhelmed or stuck; others want a space to reflect more deeply or strengthen resilience during difficult seasons. In our work together, we’ll move at a pace that feels safe and meaningful for you. My goal is to help you better understand your patterns, develop tools that fit your life, and create a sense of steadiness — not just in sessions, but in everyday living.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session is getting to know each other, and explanation of "why now?," with regards to therapy. It's finding out whether you feel comfortable with me and whether I feel I can help you. Establishing a therapeutic alliance is critical, and as a client, you can ask me anything you want to know. In other words, I work in a collaborative fashion.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I have experience first as a social worker, including as a Hospice grief therapist, and then as a licensed psychologist. My career spans 30 years, including as a tenured college psychology professor at a State University of New York college. I have worked for various agencies alongside of practice. My approach is integrative, and Integrative therapy simply means you’re not limited to one rigid model — you intentionally combine approaches so treatment fits the person, not the theory. An integrative therapist draws from multiple evidence-based frameworks and blends them thoughtfully, based on the client’s goals, personality and history, symptoms, stage of change, and what’s working (or not working). It’s not “mixing randomly.” It’s intentional integration.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work best with clients who have concerns such as anxiety, be it situational or generalized, depression and its symptoms, and the grief one feels, namely those who have lost a loved one to death, separation, or divorce. Whether a client has goals to work on, such as relief from the above, or those who just need someone to talk to, I believe we can establish a meaningful connection.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use an integrative approach, often integrating CBT and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use ACT's approach to accept feelings and thoughts, even if distressing, and experience rather than suppress them. Suppressing often makes them stronger and more distressing, along with loss of control..