LICSW, 12 years of experience
New to Grow
I am a graduate of Virginia Union University with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and I later went on to receive my Master's degree in Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health from Howard University. Throughout my studies, my practicum experience consisted of working with the Maryland Truancy Court Reduction Program and Outpatient Behavioral Health Services at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. I received post-graduate, intensive training at the Immigration Evaluation Training Center in the area of extreme hardship waivers, domestic violence (VAWA) & asylum immigration evaluations in Virginia and Washington, DC. Thereafter, I later went on to work in a variety of settings that have afforded me the opportunity to diversify my work and skill set with different populations and individual needs. This includes addiction, foster care & adoption, community support and residential treatment. My experience has afforded me the opportunity to learn from and support individuals who struggle with everyday life stressors, those that are impacted by mild, moderate, severe and chronic mental illness. My background includes adolescents, young adults, adults, and geriatrics who are struggling with mental health challenges. In 2017 I began working in leadership at Gateway Homes, Inc. where I gained expertise with serving individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. My practice opened in 2020 and I continue to provide direct services to individuals in the community who are struggling with different social, emotional and behavioral issues that are causing discomfort.
In our first session, my goal is to create a calm and welcoming space where you feel heard, respected, and at ease. We’ll start by talking about what brings you to therapy and what you hope to gain from our work together. I’ll ask some questions to learn more about your background, current challenges, and the supports or stressors in your life—this helps me understand the full picture and tailor our sessions to your needs. The first session often includes completing an initial assessment, but I approach this as a conversation rather than an interview. You’re always in control of what you choose to share, and there’s no expectation to open up about everything right away. My role is to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and begin identifying patterns or themes that can guide our work.
What stands out about my approach is the balance I bring between deep emotional exploration and practical skill-building. I work from a trauma-informed, attachment-based lens—helping clients understand how early experiences and relational patterns shape how they show up in the present. My style is warm, collaborative, and reflective, allowing clients to feel both supported and challenged in meaningful ways. I integrate methods from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Grief and Loss work, tailoring each session to the client’s specific needs. This means we may explore the stories that have shaped your identity, examine thought patterns that impact your mood, or strengthen your ability to set boundaries and practice self-compassion. Clients often share that therapy with me helps them gain clarity, emotional relief, and a stronger sense of self-trust. I strive to create a space where you can safely unpack the past, understand your emotions in the present, and develop tools that support lasting change and emotional resilience.
I’m best positioned to serve adults who are ready to explore the deeper patterns shaping their emotional well-being, relationships, and sense of self. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling stuck in cycles of people-pleasing, self-doubt, or burnout-often carrying the weight of early experiences where their needs or emotions were minimized. I work well with individuals who are seeking greater self-awareness, emotional balance, and more authentic connections with others.
In my clinical practice, I integrate Attachment-Based Theory to help clients understand how early relational experiences shape their emotional patterns, coping strategies, and current relationships. This approach centers on creating a secure therapeutic alliance as a corrective emotional experience, allowing clients to explore and reorganize internal working models of trust, safety, and connection.
In my clinical work, I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns, emotional responses, and behaviors that contribute to distress. CBT provides a structured, goal-oriented framework that empowers clients to become active participants in their own healing process.
I use Grief Therapy to help clients process and integrate experiences of loss, whether related to death, relationships, identity, health, or life transitions. I view grief as a natural, though often painful, emotional process rather than something to be “fixed.” My approach emphasizes compassionate presence, emotional safety, and meaning-making as clients navigate their unique journey of mourning and adaptation.
I use Narrative Therapy to help clients explore the stories they hold about themselves, their relationships, and their experiences. This approach is grounded in the belief that people are not defined by their problems, that each person has the capacity to re-author their story in a way that reflects strength, meaning, and preferred identity.