LCSW, 35 years of experience
New to Grow
I’ve been a psychotherapist for over 30 years, providing individual therapy to adults and older adults. I specialize in working with clients navigating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and the long term effects of trauma and grief. My approach to therapy is flexible and responsive to each client’s unique needs. I focus on understanding how past experiences and unresolved conflicts impact the present, with the ultimate focus of making life more satisfying and meaningful in the here and now. I focus on providing a supportive and safe space to explore your concerns and how they are affecting your life. I draw from psychodynamic, relational, and trauma-informed frameworks, in addition to problem solving, always aiming to help clients feel seen, understood, and empowered. In addition, I am the grandmother of a child with Autism. I have first hand knowledge of navigating a complicated system, and the grief and fear that can come from a diagnosis of Autism, as families work through their own feelings and learn to accept and love their child.
In our first session, I focus on creating a sense of safety and allowing you to share your story at your own pace. I ask questions to better understand your experiences but never push you to go further than you’re ready to. We’ll talk about any past therapy you’ve had—what helped, what didn’t, and what you’re hoping for now. I also welcome feedback and encourage open dialogue to make sure we’re aligned in our work together.
I’m a thoughtful, empathetic, and nonjudgmental listener. I believe in creating a space where clients can feel safe, supported, and comfortable being their full selves. While I take my work seriously, I also think it’s important to find moments of lightness and connection—even laughter—along the way. I want clients to feel like whole people, not problems to be solved. I do this work because I feel most alive and grounded when I’m connecting with others. I love helping people solve problems, but even more than that, I value offering care, presence, and understanding.
At the very start of my career, I was asked to facilitate a women’s group. As it turned out, most women in the group had experienced sexual abuse or other types of trauma. I was deeply moved by both the pain they carried and the resilience they showed—how fiercely they worked to reclaim their lives and not let the ghosts of their past determine their future. That group is what set the course for the rest of my career. Over time, my interest in trauma work expanded to include individuals of all genders living with PTSD and other long-term effects of trauma. This continues to be a central focus of my work. An additional focus of my practice is working with grief and loss. I’ve seen how powerful it can be to create space for people to honor their loved ones, to speak their pain out loud, and to give shape to a healing process individualized for each person. Supporting people through their grief has become one of the most meaningful parts of my practice—alongside my ongoing work in trauma recovery and families with an Autistic child.
I believe that each person is unique, and therefore, therapy should be customized to meet their individual needs. Using an eclectic approach, I draw from a variety of modalities—including psychodynamic, humanistic, and problem-solving techniques—tailoring my methods to best support each client's personal journey.