I am grounded in Psychodynamic Theory, Attachment Science, Person-in-Environment Theory, Anti-oppressive Frameworks, and Trauma-informed Care. With these as my foundation, I use interventions from therapies including:

I integrate this foundation into techniques from Structural/Strategic Family Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Attachment-focused Family Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, CBT, DBT, Mindfulness and Somatic Therapies, Problem Solving, and Case Management.

Yes and no. In my work with teens, I prioritize meeting not only with the teen, but also their caregivers (ideally, I involve other important family members as well).

This approach is rooted in well-established research on teen mental health that shows the irreplaceable role of family involvement in improving a teen’s mental well-being long after therapy ends.

While I do conduct individual sessions with teens, this is done in addition to family and parent meetings.

If you would like a therapist who will meet exclusively with your child, I may not be the best fit.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am trained to recognize and assign a diagnosis from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

I am required to assign a DSM diagnosis for clients who are paying for therapy through insurance.

In situations where diagnoses do not align with my clinical philosophy, or fall outside my area of expertise, I will promptly inform you and may offer referrals to clients seeking specialized assessment.

Having a diagnosis can provide many people with a sense of relief, clarity, and connection to others. However, many diagnoses also have a history of causing harm.

This is especially true for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, neurodivergent, trauma survivors, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Therefore, I exercise extreme care when assigning a disorder and intentionally avoid disorders that are proven to cause additional harm.

This includes personality disorders, disorders that stigmatize normal human responses, and disorders that cause service providers to have a negative bias toward clients. If a diagnosis is required, I will assign the least stigmatizing disorder.

What matters more to me is delving into your specific situation with curiosity and non-judgement to uncover your unmet needs that can help you feel better.

While I consider this a strength of my practice, I may not be a good fit for those who prefer a strict medical model or who expect me to assign disorders with problematic histories.

I work closely with you while working with your teen.

In addition to meeting together as a family, working with me often looks like one-on-one parent/caregiver meetings in which we explore your unique experiences, areas of struggle, and strengths. This approach acknowledges that your journey will naturally impact your relationship with your children. However, a parent's past often serves as a powerful motivator to persevere through hard times—it’s why you will never stop trying to help your teen.

If you're open to engaging in these kinds of conversations to gain a deeper understanding of the present and strengthen your relationship with your teen, we could be a good match.

I bring warmth, gentleness, curiosity, and playfulness to each session. I believe these qualities resonate well with people who experience intense emotions, grapple with shame, are navigating overwhelming feelings, or seek a secure, nurturing environment.

Additionally, as someone who deeply values learning your history to better understand your current context, I work well with people who are open to exploring their past experiences.

Rest assured, I specialize in supporting trauma survivors. Your comfort and safety come first—I'll never push you into a conversation you're not ready for.

I may not be the best fit for people who seek a manualized approach to therapy that focuses solely on present-day coping strategies and quick fixes.

While I do provide structure and suggestions that can bring immediate relief, my primary focus is on addressing the underlying relational causes of symptoms.