>>>Approach
My work is:
Collaborative. I am your equal. I may bring my knowledge and expertise to the table, but you bring your lived experience. Together, we will work to help you achieve your goals.
Intentional. There are many approaches to psychotherapy, from less directive to very structured approaches. My natural style falls somewhere in between, but is easily catered to meet each individual’s preference. Whatever your preferred style, I always keep your goals in mind, as an intention for our time together.
Individualized. You are unique. You may find your symptoms on the list provided below, but that is just one piece of your story. I start with where you are and tailor my experience and knowledge to fit you–not the other way around.
>>>Experience
I have had the privilege of supporting and witnessing the work of a diverse group of individuals. I am experienced working with:
• Adult women and men, teens and children
• Individuals, families, couples and groups
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Relationship challenges
• Attachment issues
• Trauma
• Sexual and physical violence (victims, witnesses and perpetrators)
• Challenges expressing or working through anger
• Shame
• Teen or Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA)
• Avoidant, unhelpful, or harmful behaviors
• Self-injury
• Eating Challenges
• Life Transitions
• Grief and Loss
>>>Influences
Theoretical frameworks that I integrate into my work include:
• Systems Theory: We are influenced by the people and environments around us
• Relational Theory: The therapeutic relationship is a space where healing and growth can happen
• Nonjudgmental, strengths-based approach: We are often doing the best we can AND we often have the capacity to do more, sometimes with the help of untapped or yet to be discovered internal or external resources
• Trauma-informed, feminist empowerment perspective: There are some patterns of thought and behavior that society stigmatizes, that are in fact “normal” responses to traumatic events, including oppression
• Culturally sensitive, anti-racist and LGBTQ-affirming practice: I treat all clients with equal respect, while recognizing that treating everyone the same is not only unhelpful, but can also be hurtful
>>>Interventions
If appropriate, I can incorporate the following specific strategies into our work together:
• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP), working with the body to develop resilience and heal trauma
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based trauma treatment
• Mindfulness
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Imagery, including Transformative Insight Imagery
• Expressive arts
>>>Biography
Prior to going into private practice, I worked as a psychotherapist at the Center for Contextual Change, a group psychotherapy practice specializing in the systemic treatment of trauma. I also previously worked at Sarah’s Inn, a domestic violence agency serving Chicago’s west side and western suburbs, where I helped develop the agency’s counseling program. I continue to supervise recent MSW graduates, and previously ran groups for men who have abused their partners.
I hold a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago. Prior to graduate school, I held executive leadership, program management and fundraising positions at Chicago-area nonprofits serving refugees, domestic violence survivors, children and teens, and homeless youth. I received my bachelor’s degree in journalism and international studies from Northwestern University, which included an editorial internship at National Geographic and studying abroad in Ghana, West Africa, with a focus on the African Diaspora and independent research on child labor.
A Florida native, I live in Evanston, and can frequently be found at the beach, running, or practicing yoga.