ABOUT ME

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with professional experience working in private practice, community mental health, medical settings, and higher levels of care including partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs. I received my Master’s degree from the University of Chicago in clinical social work, with a focus on contextually-focused behavior therapy. In my work, I utilize contextual behavioral practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and mindfulness. I have seen the ways in which these interventions can support people in feeling empowered to make difficult changes in the service of their goals and values

I believe in the power of therapy and I approach the therapeutic relationship with warmth and authenticity.  I work hard to foster a therapeutic space where clients feel heard, supported, and free to explore, question and process. Sometimes people hope to use therapy as a space to build awareness and talk through things, other times people are looking for a space that is more skill-based, directive, and structured. Therapy is a collaborative process.  As a clinician, it is important to me to help create a space that feels most beneficial for the client and their needs. My work is informed by both my academic and professional training, past professional roles, and my own experience of building a family.

ROLE TRANSITIONS, MAJOR LIFE CHANGES, AND MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS

I work with clients to process and heal from major life transitions, including grief and loss, to manage their emotional responses,  practice self-compassion, and make sense of their new reality.  The experience of grief or loss can stem from a variety of events; the loss of a loved one, a miscarriage or pregnancy loss, the decrease in supply of breastmilk, the loss of a job, the ending of a relationship, or things we traditionally think of as positive changes like graduating, expanding our family or moving can bring up feelings of loss or loss of identity. 

When someone experiences loss, there is no one right way to grieve. Sometimes loss might hit us like a ton of bricks, sometimes we feel “too emotional”, and sometimes we might not feel “emotional enough.”  Sometimes people struggle with feeling like they are not responding to their grief “correctly.” Whatever your experience looks like, I am here to support you. 

Grief and loss, and new or reemerging mental health symptoms are all experiences of change. Whether planned or unplanned, change can elicit a complicated range of emotions including feeling out of control, feeling disconnected from yourself and others, and feeling uncertain. My goal is to help create space to process all these experiences and support clients in gaining tools to manage symptoms, reconnect to themselves and their values and feel capable to address current and future challenges head-on.

I also specialize in treating anxiety and depression, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. These experiences can range from mild stress and worry to low mood and low motivation to overwhelming anxiety or depression. No matter where you fall, therapy can be a helpful space to process and normalize your experience and gain tools and strategies to feel supported and less alone.  

I understand that asking for help is not easy; thanks for taking these first steps with me.

 I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to see how I can help you.  

Still feeling unsure? This complimentary screening tool is the quickest and easiest way to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.