My view of therapy

I love sitting with people and coming to know them as a whole person. I believe that the best therapy starts with a safe place. I work to create a space (whether in-person or over telehealth) in which my clients can trust that I can hang with the tough stuff. Therapy and personal growth also require all kinds of courage.

I am here to help you find a pace that feels both safe AND brave. If we don’t take enough calculated risks, we may lose momentum and confidence in ourselves to change. If we move too quickly, we often don’t reach meaningful depths (think of a bug quickly gliding along the water’s surface). Sometimes I may slow you down. Sometimes I may give you a gentle push. And I welcome you to push back!

Therapy is a place to practice, not to be “perfect.” I often tell my clients “say it wrong” first. My goal as a therapist is to help my clients to tune into their internal world with self-compassion.

I am a neurodivergent therapist and have training in neurodivergent-affirming therapy. I strive to accommodate each of my client’s specific needs. I know that therapy can feel daunting for many reasons, and it is my goal to help make it more accessible to you.

Education and Experience

I completed my bachelor’s degree in psychology with a gender study minor at Randolph College (formerly Randolph-Macon Woman’s College). I went on to complete my master’s degree in clinical social work at George Mason University. During and after graduate school, I worked with people experiencing homelessness, sexual assault survivors, and people experiencing mental health crises. I’ve worked with families, schools, police officers, doctors, psychiatrists, and treatment teams. My experience has taught me the value of working as a team, and not just in isolation. Part of my role as a therapist is helping you connect with other resources that you may need. Soon after I earned my LCSW in 2018, I began my journey as a therapist.

Training:

Eye-Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

Internal Family Systems (“parts work”)

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (based in attachment science)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention

Working with Autistic Young People

Working with Preverbal Traumatic Memories

The Nuances & Complexities of Working with Transgender Youth and their Families

Child-Centered Play Therapy & Sand Tray Therapy

Professional Associations:

EMDR International Association