What is your background?

While working as a Secondary English Language Arts teacher in Massachusetts, I discovered a passion and talent for helping others navigate mental health challenges. I began studying and interning in community mental health in 2016 and have offered outpatient treatment since 2018 for clients of all ages, backgrounds, and identities.

What is your education?

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, a Master’s degree in Education from the same university, and a Master of Social Work from Simmons University.

What is your style and expertise?

Clients have described my style as collaborative, direct, and conversational. I would be the wrong fit for a client expecting a mostly silent therapist. My expertise is eclectic, meaning that I borrow from a variety of theories and methods when treating mental health issues. With that said, I tend to borrow most from Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Person-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, and Narrative therapy. I also borrow significantly from Self Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Neurobiology, and the practice of Mindfulness. My specialties are in trauma (specifically religious, societal, childhood, and sexual trauma), navigating early adulthood, concerns about neurodiversity, and concerns about sexuality. I am also a gender-affirming, sex-positive, health-at-every-size, neurodiversity-affirming clinician (in keeping with APA guidelines and recommendations).

What should I expect from working with you?

The first step is having a short consult, in which we’ll discuss what difficulty you’re facing and whether we are a good fit. “Goodness of fit” is a concept I take seriously that can make or break successful treatment. At the end of this consult, I ask all clients to both think through the decision to begin treatment and do a “gut check”. If we decide we are a good fit, we will schedule our first 1 hour session in which we will complete an intake covering any information relevant to the issue you are seeking help with. From there, we will discuss your treatment goals and how we are planning to achieve them. After that, it is best if we meet weekly for 1 hour until the completion of your goals. If you are an established client, we may discuss a bi-weekly schedule after an appropriate interval and discussion of your progress. Therapy is an active process that will require your effort and dedication, often including activities between sessions. At the point that you’ve achieved your goals, we will be having a final goodbye to affirm and solidify the work we’ve done and celebrate our time together.

Please direct any other questions to the Contact form. I am happy to answer questions and expand this page as appropriate.