About Therapy
You’re ready for a change…
Maybe it’s an external change, such as a job or a relationship that needs to end, but you’re consumed with fear and “what ifs,” leaving you polarized to act.
Or maybe the change needs to come from within.
You’re too critical of yourself… and now your self-esteem has taken a hit. Battling shame, perfectionism, anxiety, and depression.
Not feeling good enough or having trouble ‘fitting in.’
Maybe drugs and alcohol are negatively impacting your life, and you need help.
I emphasize compassion and warmth with my clients.
Together, we will work at a pace comfortable for you.
I will listen intently to the concerns you have and ask for relevant history and other information important for me to know to best help you.
My goal in our first couple of sessions is for you to feel safe to share what needs to be addressed in therapy.
I’ll challenge you to grow – all the while supporting you.
I will support and challenge you with genuine care and keep you focused on working toward your goals in therapy.
With gentle redirection, I’ll acknowledge when I notice something is being avoided, always paying full attention to your level of tolerance and any rising anxiety.
Other issues may come up during this journey that I may encourage you to focus on. However, you have the final say, and we will only address problems you want help with.
Here’s how therapy can help…
You are an AMAZING person.
And I want to help you rediscover that wonderful someone who may be lost in stress, anxiety, worry, or depression.
We may need to dig deeper to get to some truths – and we may need to have you feel some feelings that have been pushed down and repressed.
By utilizing the therapeutic process together to help you address worry, doubt, and negative thinking patterns and feelings, you will have more freedom to be yourself and live a more meaningful life. This is because you will be freer to focus on those things that bring you joy instead of being distracted and managing negative emotions and feelings.
If you are ready, I’m here and ready, too.
Here is a brief list of what therapeutic interventions I may use in your therapy:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy (ISTDP)
Mindfulness/Meditation
Evidence-Based Treatment for Anxiety and Depression
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
About Me
After graduating from college with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Counseling, I was not ready to go directly to graduate school. I took a job at Blue Cross/Blue Shield in DC and spent several years in various jobs navigating the field of health insurance.
Yet, I had that gnawing sense that I wasn’t doing the work that I believed I was meant for – helping others be the best they can be. So off to graduate school I went – classes, internships, graduation, supervision, and eventually licensure.
You see, I truly believe that there is a happy place in all of us. And I recognize that someone’s negative life circumstances while growing up and/or one’s genetics may make it more difficult to find peace and happiness. And sometimes, well, the world can be a bit cruel.
I enjoy the work of helping others get back in touch with that person that they know they can be. I have purposefully learned several therapeutic modalities, as I believe different approaches work for different people and there isn’t a ‘catch-all’ application for everyone.
From getting to know you and your goals for therapy, I will recommend and discuss what therapeutic approach I believe will be most helpful for you.
I believe in on-going learning and self-development…
I like to stay pro-active, which means I have my own set of skills to ensure that I stay in a healthy and positive mindset. For example, I practice mindfulness and ascribe to daily 10-15-minute guided meditations.
Life will continually challenge us, and we need to be in a healthy place to deal with what life throws our way.
While we can always improve something about ourselves, it is important also to find that space to love and accept oneself just as you are and be okay with your imperfections.
Training and experience…
I am born and raised in the DC metro area and received a Master’s degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. I have practiced as a licensed clinician since 1998.
I have a wide range of experiences, including seeing adults in both a private setting and in the community. I have supervised graduate-level students, facilitated substance abuse groups, supervised a grant program, and worked in a crisis care facility.
I am currently in my second year at the Washington School of Psychiatry studying psychodynamic therapy (ISTDP) and was recently trained to conduct mental health assessments for individuals seeking asylum in the U.S.
A little about me outside the office…
I am a partner in a 21-year committed relationship including marriage for the past 5 years.
I am a loyal fan of DC sports teams, enjoy beach weeks in the Outer Banks, NC, and/or Myrtle Beach, SC… as well as traveling abroad.
I exercise regularly and enjoy volunteering at local non-profits such as the Golden Retriever Rescue, local food pantry, and metro DC PFLAG.
Are you ready to take that first step for positive change in your life?
Let me help you begin to feel better about yourself and start creating the life that you have always imagined.
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation where you can ask me any questions about therapy or my practice. Call me today:
(703) 203-4689.
I will ask you what you are looking for help with to be sure that I would be a good match for you.