My Background:
As an experienced mental health therapist of over 16 years, I feel honored to listen to your story and work together toward change and healing. My style is very warm, supportive, emotions-focused and collaborative. I place the utmost importance on developing a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship. I do my best work with adult individuals affected by issues of depression, anxiety, trauma, borderline personality disorder, self-esteem, and attachment issues.
Originally trained as a family systems therapist, I view all of my clients through the lens of systems theory and their family of origin. In addition, I draw from my training and experience using other therapeutic modalities in my work including: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Attachment Theory, Narrative Therapy and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).
Education and Training:
I received my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California (2000) and completed my graduate degree at Drexel University receiving a Master's Degree in Family Therapy (2009).
I have also completed multiple trainings with Behavioral Tech and the EMDR Institute. I completed my EMDR Basic Training in 2017, and my DBT Foundational Training in 2019.
Specific DBT Trainings I have completed are the following:
- Doing Dialectical Behavior Therapy: An Advanced Intensive Training by Dr. Charlie Swenson & Dr. Shireen Rizvi, Behavior Care Center of NJ, June 2024
- Behavioral Tech, DBT Foundational Training by Dr. Janice Ko & Dr. Randy Wolbert, Gardena, CA, May 2019
- Behavior Tech, DBT Skills with Multi-Problem Adolescents by Dr. Seth Axelrod & Dr. Emily B. Cooney, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, June 2018
- Behavior Tech, DBT Essentials by Dr. Jennifer Sayrs, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, July 2017
I hold professional licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the states of Pennsylvania #MF000729, Oregon #T3508, and Maine #MF8916. I am available to work with clients who are current residents of any of these states.
When I'm not working, I love traveling, watching suspense/thriller movies and shows, reading, seeing live music (favorites: post-hardcore, post-rock & emo), thrifting/antiquing, all things fashion and makeup, spending time with my family and two cats. I've previously done freelance work as a wardrobe and props styling assistant for photo and film and love all things creative. I also frequently spend time in California, Colorado, and Hawaii, and work from there remotely at times too!