When I started my training, a mentor taught me a lesson I carry with me always: “Lead with your humanity.”

I received my Masters of Social Work, with a specialization in Trauma and Interpersonal Violence, from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts in 2014. I have spent much of my career in community-based mental health settings, serving young populations whose lives have been shaken by family violence, childhood physical and sexual abuse, and the emotional consequences of lives lived on the edge. I started my private practice to reach children and teenagers struggling with these issues and with anxiety, depression, peer and family difficulties, and who are experiencing an overall decline in functioning. I also partner with caregivers in working through challenges related to oppositional and defiant behaviors in children and teens. I continue to focus much of my clinical work on developmental trauma and mental health, and in helping young people reach beyond their experiences to find their full potential.

I employ a relational approach, grounded in evidenced-based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I have training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) as well as TraumaPlay and Synergetic Play Therapy. My job is to collaborate with my clients and their families to determine the best approach.

I have experience in inpatient, outpatient and home-based mental health settings. I’ve worked with children and adults with serious mental illnesses and those facing the crossroads of a major life change. Every single day I feel the weight of the enormous privilege of being invited into the lives of remarkable people whose resilience and determination to live amazes me.