Therapy
Therapy Approach
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Washington, DC, working with patients dealing with anxiety, depression, perinatal issues, and difficult life transitions.
There are several basic avenues that therapy takes to effect change: through behavior, emotion, or thoughts. My focus is mostly on the underlying emotional landscape that causes us joy and pain.
Most people come to therapy with an emergent issue that's been hard for them to get a hold of. To that end, first our work will likely focus on immediate symptom relief. The more enduring therapeutic work comes from examining how past experiences unconsciously shape our present-day lives.
At the end of the day, research shows that the most important factor in successful therapy is the relationship that you and I are able to form. My main goal is to foster a deeply respectful, accepting environment to explore what is meaningful to you.
Counseling Experience
I graduated in 2011 with my master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have been practicing as a therapist ever since. I spent four years at Woodburn Center for Community Mental Health in Fairfax, Virginia, where I worked with adults experiencing depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and alcohol and drug dependency. I worked with children and families for over a year at Access Family Services in Asheville, North Carolina. Since 2016, I have worked in private practice in the District.
Emerging Adulthood
I have a particular interest in working with emerging adults as they transition out of college and face an enormity of challenges. There is so much uncertainty facing young adults as they establish independence, begin their careers in earnest, and work to define who they are. Because of the increase in stress, there is often a corresponding increase in anxiety and depression. My goal is to be a sounding board as the client embarks on this next phase of life where the stakes are very high and the possibilities are many.
Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders
I have a particular interest in working with mothers and parents transitioning to parenthood. The current estimates are that between 1 in 5 to 1 in 7 mothers experience postpartum depression and anxiety. It is the most common complication of childbirth and yet it is frequently inadequately screened for. Connecting new parents to mental health resources often falls through the cracks during a time when life has been turned upside down and the demands are greater than virtually any other season of life. My hope is to link with a client and their family as early as possible since depression and anxiety can be incredibly acute. I also work with fathers and partners adjusting to parenthood as well as women who have suffered pregnancy and infant loss, difficulty conceiving, and traumatic birth.
Specializations and Trainings
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Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder, Components of Care Training, Postpartum Support International (2020)
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Assessing and Treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, American Counseling Association (2018)
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Transforming Trauma: Using the AEDP Therapist's Bold, Embodied Presence, Cape Cod Institute (2018)
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How to Apply Mindfulness to Clinical Work, National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (2018)
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Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy Workshop, The Center for Family Based Training (2015)