“In my work from an attachment-based perspective, I carry with me the premise that all behaviors make sense when you understand where they’re coming from.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
Outside of private practice, my experience includes numerous years working with children, adolescents, women, and couples. I have also worked as a mental health counselor in both schools and outpatient clinics and taught at the university level, helping students better understand their clients and build on their strengths.
What should someone know about working with you?
In my many years of working with my clients, I am continuously awed by their courage in reaching out toward mental wellness and growth, continuing to be present, despite many obstacles. In my work from an attachment-based perspective, I carry with me the premise that all behaviors make sense when you understand where they’re coming from. By listening carefully, I help uncover the patterns in your life and how they may be present in a variety of settings. In this nonjudgmental space, healing and growth are possible. I look forward to getting to know you and seeing how I can personalize the therapy to help you heal, grow, and tap into your creative strengths.
What do you do to continue learning and building competencies as a provider?
My clients are my biggest learning experiences. They guide me and navigate their individual paths in therapy by teaching me what works for them. In addition, I continuously attend training, as I have a love for learning and new experiences.
How do your own core values shape your approach to therapy?
I believe that every person has tremendous potential and strength that they can access when provided with the right environment. Sometimes, it's a matter of uncovering what is getting in the way of this natural process. At times, the struggles can run very deep, which is why it is so important to find the right setting where you feel comfortable and safe to explore the trauma.
Have you done any research-based work that you found particularly exciting? How does it inform your practice today?
In my research at Columbia University, I have witnessed the profound impact a person’s perceptions have on their reality. This helps build compassion toward my clients in understanding how their worldviews develop.
Describe your work with couples.
Emotional focused therapy (EFT) helps couples understand the patterns that have not been working and guides them in creating a new dynamic of attachment. EFT is an evidence-based approach with the goal of empowering you with skills for a happy and enduring marriage, long beyond the counseling sessions. EFT is based on the belief that the healing happens through a relationship. When your partner can be present for you and hold your hand through the pain, it repairs the attachment injury and mistrust from your past. This sets the path for a healthy relationship where the longings for connection are met with trust.
“I look forward to getting to know you and seeing how I can personalize the therapy to help you heal, grow, and tap into your creative strengths.”