about me

I have a deep passion and respect for the power of therapy to change lives, which I have been privileged to witness in my work with clients, as well as in my personal life, both through the consistent use of therapy as a part of my own self-care, as well as having spent the last 20 years raising two children with special needs. I place a high value on authenticity, empathy, and self-awareness, both for myself and my clients as individuals, but also as a critical part of the therapeutic process (I also take advantage of the healing power of laughter whenever possible!). I aim to normalize and validate my clients’ experiences without judgment, and above all, to provide the most basic of human needs: to feel seen and heard. 

My background has given me a great deal of lived experience to draw upon when building relationships with clients. I have had the privilege of having known, grown up with, and cared deeply about people from a variety of backgrounds, races, nationalities, gender identities, and sexual orientations. I have had exposure, either personally or through supporting a loved one, to the complexities of mental illness, suicide, addiction, sexual abuse, special needs, chronic illness/pain, estrangement, dissociation, mood disorders, autism spectrum disorder, AD/HD, divorce, parenting, emotional and financial abuse, and coercive control.

My previous experience includes providing psychotherapy to a wide range of demographics and diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, self-harm, suicidal ideation, schizophrenia, and dissociative disorders, as well as patients with severe mental illness, multiple hospitalizations, and those on permanent disability due to mental illness. Due to the large number of clients affected by some type of trauma, I have pursued additional training,  attending the  Traumatic Stress Studies Certificate Program led by Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score) through his Trauma Research Foundation. I also hold  a Clinical Certificate in Violence Against Women from Rutgers School of Social Work.

I hold an LCSW license in New Jersey, Connecticut, Oregon and Washington and  have an MSW from Rutgers School of Social Work. I also  have an MA in Music Education from NYU (I was a high school band teacher 25 years ago) and am licensed in NJ to teach K-12 instrumental and vocal music, with my primary instruments being voice and percussion  - just a fun fact!).