I obtained my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The George Washington University and completed my internship at the University of Michigan. My training background includes the provision of clinical and assessment services to children, adolescents, and adults in community, hospital and university counseling settings.

My style combines a warm, compassionate and collaborative approach with gentle challenges and authentic feedback to help you work on your goals. My work is grounded in the belief that relationships are foundational in life and people strive for authentic connection. When we lack meaningful relationships, or our current relationships are strained, we suffer. I have found that an individual’s history of relationships profoundly influences their current relationships; by working through the legacy of these past relationships, healing and self-understanding can be achieved. People are often doing the best they can with the resources they have. Importantly, I see each person’s struggles as patterns that were once adaptive and helpful given their experiences. While I strongly believe that our current behaviors and emotions make sense and serve a function, therapy can help each person identify these functions and create alternative modes of meeting your needs in a healthier, more adaptive way. This translates to less stress, more joy, and better relationships.

My academic research focused on the interplay of “nature vs nurture” on the development of adult personality. My work demonstrated that each individual’s reaction to their environment often depends on their specific genetically predisposed traits; in other words, nature and nurture interact uniquely for each individual. As a clinician, this research offers an especially informative lesson: the chances of successful therapeutic outcomes are greatly increased by working collaboratively with each client to create individualized and tailored interventions. Therefore, my practice incorporates and integrates several styles of therapy including relational, cognitive-behavioral (CBT), mindfulness-based, and insight-oriented approaches.

While I work to understand what makes each client unique, I am also drawn to the common struggles that bind the human experience—the search for meaning, the search for social justice, the search for belonging. In this way, I resonate with psychologist Irvin Yalom, who writes that, ultimately, a clinical encounter is a meeting of “fellow travelers” working together in navigating an uncertain world. In my clinical work, I approach clients knowing that we both have important information, which, when used together, can create beneficial change. While I can offer certain expertise and skills, you are the expert of your own life. Together, we can work to improve your functioning and help you live a more authentic, fulfilling life.