(she/her)
New to Grow
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults and young adults navigating anxiety, stress, life transitions, and the impact of past experiences. Many of my clients are high-functioning on the outside but internally feel overwhelmed, stuck in patterns, or unsure how to move forward. I provide a direct, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can better understand how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. My approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, including CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care. I focus on helping you identify what’s maintaining your distress while also building practical tools you can use in your daily life. In our work together, we won’t just talk about what’s going wrong—we’ll focus on what actually helps. This includes learning how to regulate emotions, challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, set boundaries, and respond more intentionally rather than reactively. I also recognize that starting therapy can feel uncomfortable or uncertain, especially if you’re used to handling things on your own. My goal is to create a space where you feel understood, while also being challenged in a way that supports real growth. If you’re looking for a therapist who is both supportive and straightforward, and who will help you develop real, usable skills—not just insight—this may be a good fit.
In our first session, the focus is on getting a clear understanding of what brings you to therapy and what you want to change. I’ll ask questions about your current concerns, relevant history, and how your symptoms are impacting your day-to-day life. This helps me get a full picture of what’s going on and how to best support you. We’ll also talk about your goals for therapy—what you’re hoping will be different, and what progress would look like for you. If you’re not sure yet, that’s fine. Part of the first session is helping you clarify that. I’ll explain how I typically work, including the approaches I use and what you can expect from sessions moving forward. You’ll have space to ask questions and get a sense of whether my style feels like a good fit. Depending on time, we may begin identifying initial patterns or introduce a few practical strategies you can start using right away. The first session is more structured than ongoing sessions, but it’s still a conversation—not an interrogation. My goal is for you to leave with a clearer understanding of your situation and a sense of direction for next steps.
My greatest strength is my ability to balance insight with action. I don’t just help clients understand why they feel the way they do—I help them develop clear, practical strategies to actually change it. Sessions are structured enough to create direction, but flexible enough to meet you where you are. I’m also known for being direct while still supportive. I will validate your experiences, but I will also challenge unhelpful patterns and thinking in a way that promotes real growth. Many clients appreciate having a therapist who is honest, engaged, and actively helping them move forward rather than just listening. Another strength of my approach is how I integrate evidence-based methods. I pull from CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care to address both the underlying causes of distress and the day-to-day behaviors that keep it going. This allows clients to build skills they can consistently use outside of session, not just insight during it. I also focus heavily on helping clients recognize patterns—especially those shaped by past experiences—that continue to impact current relationships, self-esteem, and decision-making. Once those patterns are clear, we work on actively shifting them. Overall, my approach is results-oriented, collaborative, and grounded in helping clients feel more in control of their emotions, more confident in their decisions, and more capable in their daily lives.
I am best positioned to work with adults and young adults who are experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and difficulty navigating life transitions. Many of the clients I work with are high-functioning on the outside but internally struggle with overthinking, self-doubt, and feeling stuck in patterns they can’t seem to break. I frequently support individuals with trauma histories who notice that past experiences are still impacting their current relationships, self-esteem, and emotional responses. This often shows up as people-pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, fear of rejection, or heightened reactivity in interpersonal situations. I also work well with clients who want more than just a space to vent—they are looking for practical tools, structure, and clear direction. These clients are typically motivated for change but may feel unsure where to start or frustrated that what they’ve tried hasn’t worked. My approach is a good fit for individuals who are open to both insight and skill-building, and who are willing to examine patterns while actively working toward change. Therapy with me is collaborative, direct, and focused on helping clients build real, sustainable improvements in how they think, feel, and function.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have extensive experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in my work with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, mood disorders, and life transition stress. In practice, I use CBT to help clients identify patterns in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that contribute to distress. Many clients I work with struggle with overthinking, negative self-beliefs, or automatic reactions shaped by past experiences. CBT provides a structured way to slow that process down and examine what’s actually happening beneath the surface. I focus on helping clients recognize cognitive distortions, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and replace them with more balanced, realistic thinking. At the same time, I incorporate behavioral strategies—such as exposure, skill-building, and habit change—to support real-world improvement, not just insight. Because many of my clients have trauma histories, I apply CBT through a trauma-informed lens. This means we move at a pace that feels safe, while also addressing the core beliefs and patterns that are maintaining distress. My goal is not just symptom reduction, but helping clients develop practical tools they can consistently use outside of session to improve emotional regulation, decision-making, and overall functioning.
Compassion Focused
I incorporate Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) into my work, particularly with clients who experience high levels of self-criticism, shame, and chronic feelings of not being “good enough.” This is common among individuals with anxiety, trauma histories, and perfectionistic or people-pleasing patterns. In practice, I use CFT to help clients understand how their internal self-talk developed and how it continues to impact their emotional functioning. Many clients operate from a threat-based system—constantly scanning for mistakes, rejection, or failure. CFT helps shift that pattern by strengthening a more balanced, compassionate internal voice. I guide clients in recognizing harsh self-criticism and learning how to respond to themselves in a way that is firm but not punitive. This includes developing awareness of emotional systems (threat, drive, and soothing), practicing self-compassion exercises, and building tolerance for difficult emotions without escalating into shame or avoidance. I often integrate CFT with CBT and DBT strategies, using it to deepen cognitive work and improve emotional regulation. The goal is not to eliminate accountability, but to help clients relate to themselves in a way that supports growth rather than reinforces distress. Over time, this approach helps clients reduce shame, increase emotional resilience, and develop a more stable sense of self-worth.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I have strong experience using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with adolescents and adults who struggle with emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, interpersonal conflict, and high levels of stress. In my practice, DBT is used to help clients build concrete skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Many of the clients I work with feel overwhelmed by their emotions or react in ways they later regret. DBT provides a clear framework for slowing that process down and responding more intentionally. I focus on helping clients identify triggers, understand the function of their behaviors, and apply specific skills in real-time situations. This includes learning how to tolerate distress without escalating, regulate intense emotions, communicate needs effectively, and set boundaries while maintaining relationships. I also incorporate the core dialectical principle of balancing acceptance and change—helping clients feel validated in their experiences while still working toward meaningful behavioral change. DBT is especially effective for clients who feel stuck in reactive patterns, and my goal is to help them develop reliable tools they can use outside of session to improve stability, relationships, and overall functioning.
Eclectic
I take an integrative (eclectic) approach to therapy, meaning I tailor treatment to each client rather than relying on a single model. My work is grounded in evidence-based practices, including CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, and compassion-focused approaches, which I draw from based on the client’s specific needs, goals, and presenting concerns. In practice, this means I assess how a client thinks, feels, and responds to stress, then select interventions that will be most effective for them. For example, I may use CBT to address unhelpful thought patterns, DBT skills to improve emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning, and trauma-informed strategies to process underlying experiences that continue to impact current behavior. This approach allows for flexibility while still maintaining structure and clinical direction. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method, I adjust the pace, focus, and techniques as clients progress, ensuring that treatment remains relevant and effective. My goal is to provide therapy that is both practical and responsive—helping clients gain insight while also developing concrete skills they can use in their daily lives.
Existential
I incorporate existential therapy into my work, particularly with clients who are navigating questions around identity, purpose, meaning, and major life transitions. This is often relevant for individuals experiencing anxiety, feeling stuck, or struggling with a sense of emptiness or direction despite external success. In practice, I use an existential lens to help clients explore how they relate to themes such as responsibility, choice, uncertainty, and personal values. Many clients come in feeling overwhelmed or disconnected, and this approach helps them step back and examine what is actually meaningful to them versus what they feel expected to do. I support clients in identifying patterns where they may feel “stuck” and help them reconnect with a sense of agency in their decisions. This includes exploring fears related to change, failure, or the unknown, while also clarifying values that can guide more intentional choices. I often integrate existential work with more structured approaches like CBT and DBT, balancing insight with practical strategies. The goal is not just to reduce symptoms, but to help clients build a life that feels more aligned, purposeful, and internally driven.