Education and Experience
I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Mary Washington College (1999), and a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University (2007).
Much of my professional experience comes from working in local nonprofit and government agencies, which has given me opportunities to meet and help a wide range of people from different backgrounds and with different needs. I have worked with individuals who are in severe emotional pain, who deal with daily stressors and few resources, and who have experienced trauma and loss across their lifespan.
You're allowed to still become who you always were.
Why I do this work
From a young age, I knew I wanted to help people—I just didn’t know what that would look like. In college, I pursued psychology and learned about human development, brain science, and various theories and modalities. I’ve spent time supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, coaching individuals with disabilities, and working with children and families affected by abuse. As I continued my education, I realized I wasn’t interested in simply diagnosing what’s “wrong” and prescribing a fix. I wanted to walk alongside people on their journey—to help them uncover who they are, how life has shaped them, and who they want to become.
My Approach
My approach as your therapist is to develop a therapeutic relationship in which you feel safe and comfortable. We are in this together, figuring out what has affected you, what you want for your present and your future, and how to get there. This is a partnership. I don’t have all the answers, but I’ll be there as we figure them out.
I utilize a mix of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Expressive Therapies.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” — Barack Obama