(she/her)
I am a Virginia based Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for helping women rediscover their mental and emotional strength, break free from hidden trauma, rediscover their truth, and let go of the pressure to "hold it all together." I have a bachelors and masters in social work and experience working with clients from the home to the hospital. Everywhere I go, I treat individuals with the respect and dignity they deserve.
In the first session, we are just getting to know each other; you can expect a conversation about your current concerns, your goals, and what you hope to get from therapy. My style of communication is warm, but direct and nonjudgmental. I will hold space for your full story including the parts that are tough to say aloud and the parts of you that you have diminished in order to survive. Overall, therapy works through relationship and trust - and that can take a few sessions to build and grow.
My greatest strength is being able to look past the trauma, hurt, and pain my client has endured and see them fully as strong, courageous, and brave. I believe in my clients and I believe they are stronger than they realize. It is my goal with every session to leave you feeling more empowered, strengthened, and ready to take on anything life may throw at you.
If you are used to be the "strong one" or the "fixer" but inside you feel exhausted, drained, anxious, or disconnected you are the person I want to help. I work with women who have carried emotional burdens for years without anyone noticing the weight that sit upon their shoulders. If you feel like your issues are not "big" enough, or you have not experience typical trauma-yet continue to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety please understand that you are not alone. I also work with individuals working through self esteem issues, toxic relationship patterns, work place stress, life transitions, and unhealthy family dynamics. I work with women who are considered high functioning, yet continue to feel overwhelmed, depressed, or even invisible. If you are willing to have impactful dialogue, trust the therapeutic process, and learn new skills you are my type of client.
ACT is a psychotherapy that utilizes mindfulness strategies and behavioral interventions to effectively reduce negative thoughts and behaviors and challenge current thinking patterns and long standing beliefs about yourself.
Solution focused therapy is ideal for individuals working through a specific challenging problem and searching for a therapist to help process, plan, and execute their decisions. This can include trauma informed care as well as supportive and strength based therapy influences.
Most therapist will focus on your personal goals and needs over what we may identify as blind spots in your life. Person centered is about putting the individual at the center of their therapeutic experience and empowering them with the tools, interventions, and perspective shifts to retake control of their lives. It is about valuing the experiences of the individual while improving insight and increasing confidence to lead to personal growth and non-judgmental exploration of thoughts and feelings.
This modality works with clients and highlights their strengths while assisting them in becoming more aware of their emotions, triggers, and thoughts to reduce autopilot responses.
It is imperative to approach clients with a history of trauma with compassion and empathy. I work with the client to build self-esteem and confidence as they reflect on the past and the effect it has had on their decision-making.