What It’s Like to Work With Me
Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming. I know that when people are looking for support, they’re often less interested in where I went to school or how many certifications I have and more interested in one simple question:
“Will this person understand me?”
Or, if you’re a parent:
“Can this person help my child and help me know what to do?”
My goal is to make that answer clear.
I Keep Things Practical
I believe therapy should be helpful, not confusing.
You won’t hear a lot of jargon or complicated psychological terms unless they are genuinely useful. I like to break things down into simple, understandable steps that you can actually use in real life.
Whether we’re working on anxiety, depression, self-harm, emotional overwhelm, family conflict, or stress, my focus is helping you leave each session with something meaningful you can apply right away.
I Believe People Are Doing the Best They Can and They Can Change
One of the core beliefs that guides my work comes from DBT: people are doing the best they can with the skills, knowledge, and resources they have in this moment.
That doesn’t mean harmful behaviors are okay. It doesn’t mean we lower expectations. It simply means that most people are not struggling because they want to struggle. They’re struggling because they’re overwhelmed, hurting, stuck, or missing the tools they need.
At the same time, I also believe people can learn new skills, make different choices, and create meaningful change in their lives. These two ideas can exist together: you can be doing the best you can today and still have the capacity to grow tomorrow.
Whether I’m working with a teen who is overwhelmed by anxiety, a young adult trying to find their footing, or a parent navigating challenging behaviors, I approach each person with both acceptance and hope. My job is to help you build on your strengths, learn new skills, and move toward the life and relationships you want.
I Am Warm, But I Won’t Let You Stay Stuck
I am compassionate, patient, and accepting. I am also honest. If I notice a pattern that’s keeping you stuck, I’ll help you see it. If anxiety is making decisions for you, we’ll talk about it. If you’re avoiding something important, I’ll gently help you move toward it.
I don’t believe in shaming people into change. I believe in helping people understand themselves well enough that they can make different choices.
Therapy Should Feel Safe
My sessions are a judgment-free zone. You don’t have to have the “right” words. You don’t have to impress me. You don’t have to pretend things are better than they are.
You can be anxious, angry, overwhelmed, confused, embarrassed, uncertain, or emotional. You can simply show up as you are.
I know most people are already hard enough on themselves. My role is not to judge you. My role is to help you understand yourself and move forward.
I Love Working With Teens and Young Adults
Many clients tell me they appreciate that I talk with them, not at them.
I respect young people. I know they are often navigating enormous pressures while trying to figure out who they are. My goal is to create a space where they feel understood, supported, and challenged to grow.
Parents often tell me they appreciate that I help them understand what’s happening beneath their teen’s behavior while also giving them practical tools they can use at home.
I am a Die-Hard Optimist
Not in an “everything is sunshine and rainbows” kind of way, but rather I believe my clients can handle hard things if they challenge themselves.
Mind and Body Matter
My work is influenced by mindfulness, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance-based approaches, and DBT skills. That means we may talk about thoughts, emotions, behaviors, body sensations, habits, relationships, values, and coping skills.
Sometimes healing starts with understanding your thoughts. Sometimes it starts with taking a breath. Most often, it involves both.
Humor Helps
Therapy can be serious work, but it doesn’t have to be serious all the time. I believe laughter can be healing. Sometimes humor helps us step back from a problem, see it differently, and remember that we’re more than our struggles.
There is plenty of room for both tears and laughter in therapy.
A Few Fun Facts About Me
My happy place is running along beautiful South Florida beaches. My favorite candy is plain M&M’s and I love the smell of freshly cut grass. I enjoy watching Marvel movies, baking competition shows (but I don’t like to bake), organizing, lifting heavy weights, and spending time with my cat, Callie (who you might see show up during our sessions).
My Training and Experience:
After 30 years in the field, I have a broad range of work experience in multiple settings with young people and their caregivers. I have worked with a variety of clients and difficulties. I prioritize my continuing education around strengthening my current skills, learning new evidence-based techniques. and adding new skills to my therapeutic toolbox. In addition to being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I am a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor. I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children and teens; Certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy; and certified as Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional-Child & Adolescent. I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
But that’s not all: I am a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) and Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT) and trained in Jon Kabat Zin’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). And because I love running, I became an RCAA Certified Running Coach. I’m also a children’s book author. I wrote Shantelle, You Smell, to help children deal with bullying and Retrain the Brain, a book to help children understand the impact of trauma and how to manage emotions.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me. I look forward to meeting you!
