I know what it is like to struggle with emotional pain and to overcome significant life challenges. My own journey has taught me that we do not have to struggle alone, and that we can learn from the wisdom of others who have survived similar experiences.

Our mental health

When we are feeling mentally and emotionally well, we function at our best and are able to work through stress and challenges. When our mental or emotional health is less than optimal, we may struggle to work through challenges and problems and feel overwhelmed. Sometimes the pain may be more than we can manage and we need a counselor or therapist to help us work through it and heal. Like physical illness, some mental or emotional pain is short-term, and some is more chronic.

Some people may feel a sense of failure or shame in admitting that they struggle with things like depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, or other mental health issues. Painful events such as job loss, divorce, death, or traumatic experiences can lower our ability to manage the normal stresses that life can bring. At some point, everyone experiences some level of mental and emotional pain, which sometimes leads to depression, anxiety, mood disorders or other mental health issues.

Who i am

I am a licensed clinical social worker and certified grief counselor with over fifteen years of experience working with individuals and families impacted by mental illness and emotional health challenges, such as eating disorders, traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and adjustment to difficult life transitions. I developed a support group for women seeking recovery, provided group therapy in an intensive outpatient setting, and have spoken at workshops and to groups about the impact of eating disorders, body image and self-esteem.

In my work as a therapist, I use a strengths based approach and incorporate mindfulness and dialectical behavioral therapy to assist and support my clients. I believe that a collaborative approach is key in finding healing and wholeness, and will incorporate spiritual beliefs with those clients who feel this would be helpful.

I am also trained in and, when appropriate, utilize EMDR, a powerful method of psychotherapy that has helped people of all ages relieve many types of psychological stress.

In my personal life, I strive to live with empathy and authenticity and to put into practice the principles that I talk with others about.