About my approach

Life is a work in progress for all of us. It takes work and dedication to make the changes in our lives that lead us closer to a peaceful mind. There is never a bad time to decide that we want to be the best version of ourselves. Your therapy experience will be guided by your personal narrative as we identify the underlying issues holding you back and develop strategies to move through the discomfort and towards healing. Mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy as well as elements of DBT can be incorporated into short-term, goal-focused work or longer term more comprehensive and ongoing sessions. Our work together will help you discover greater self-love, self-acceptance, and mental resilience by working through past traumas and the challenges of the present.

About my work

My therapeutic approach is Person-Centered; and informed by certifications and training in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), solution-focused brief treatment (SFBT), motivational interviewing, suicide prevention, and mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches. I love this work deeply and strive to guide my clients through their transformative process with empathy, honesty, and kindness. I emphasize a collaborative approach; letting you set the agenda and pace of discussion while acknowledging the possible discomfort inherent in this process and reassuring you that your contributions are valuable. Using a person-centered approach, your personal narrative will illuminate forces of positive change and growth and guide the treatment process.

About my background and training

I have a Master of Social Work (MSW) and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker(LMSW-Connecticut/LCSW – Massachusetts) with licenses in CT, MA, and VT. I have worked in this field for 7 years, with diverse populations in a variety of settings. I have worked in residential settings treating clients with substance use disorders, acquired brain injuries, dementia, and serious mental illnesses. I worked as a Red Cross crisis clinician and emergency caseworker for active-duty military members on deployment and their families at home. Currently, in addition to RealTalkCT, I work full-time as an inpatient psychiatric social worker at a large free-standing psych hospital in Vermont. In an inpatient unit I serve adults across a wide variety of diagnoses and backgrounds who are in acute crisis. I work with my patients and stakeholders during their admission until they can be stabilized and equipped with the skills and resources to succeed in the community with outpatient support. My wide breadth of experience and personal connection to this work allows me to have a strong holistic and nonjudgmental perspective on mental health challenges.

About me

I am a New Englander born and raised and have returned to call it my forever home. I have worked, lived, and trained all across the US and I love to travel. I love dogs and cats and enjoy fishing, hiking, and looking for Vermont waterfalls. I love reading about emerging studies in psychology and neuroscience as well as international affairs, human rights and exploring local history.