“I don’t trust anyone anymore” or “Is life really worth it?”. These are words I often hear from older children, teens, and young adults at the end of their rope. Hurt, pain, hardship– it’s all real. I am passionate about meeting you in the hurt and equipping you with the skills, perspective, and trust needed to carry on. I am passionate about listening when you feel like no one listens. I am passionate about remembering when you feel like no one remembers. You deserve to be heard and known, challenged and spoken honestly to.

I began my counseling journey working extensively at a homeless shelter and long term rehabilitation program for adolescents in the inner city of Buffalo, NY. I followed that with 3 years in the behavioral health hospital system in Northern Virginia. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to help clients overcome anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and high risk behaviors affecting one’s day to day functioning and overall well being. I also use psychodynamic and family systems approaches to help clients understand their roles in their family system, cope with family conflict and interpersonal relationship distress, and understand how the family system can impact one’s well-being. At your request, I am able to incorporate faith and spirituality into counseling. I work with clients of all faith perspectives and personally practice Christianity.

Originally from Buffalo, NY, I now live in Alexandria with my husband and daughter. I love the outdoors and spending time with my family. Drinking coffee and reading a book is how I relax, and I often try to taste coffee from every coffee shop in town, or wherever I am visiting! During football season, I spend my Sundays watching the NFL and am a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan.